308 ammo for Africa

[dory]

Okay all you ballistic nuts out there .
$ months to go before I leave for Africa and I still have not decided what sort of 308 ammo to take with me .
Who has hunted with a 308 in Africa , what ammo did you use and how did you go .
Come on guys give me some ideas .


Cheers Dory .

 

[Divernhunter]

150gr Swift Scirocco or 165gr Swift A-Frame
150gr Nosler PAR
150gr Barnes TTSX (NOT TSX)

 

[dory]

150gr Swift Scirocco or 165gr Swift A-Frame
150gr Nosler PAR
150gr Barnes TTSX (NOT TSX)

Thanks but I need factory ammo .
Do you know any brands that load these .?

 

[TokkieM]

Barnes TTSX or Norma factory ammo will work just fine. I would see which my rifle prefers and stick with that.
Enjoy your trip.

Tokkie

 

[brushmore]

I am going with Norma USA American PH Ammunition 180 Grain Oryx. When I first tried it my groups were all less than an inch off the bench at 100 yards. So after that there was no doubt for me what I was going to use.

I'll let you know how it performs in Africa but from everything I have read I don't expect any issues.

 

[Divernhunter]

Federal makes factory ammo with the bullets I suggested.
Or you could get someone to load some for you.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I use Norma with bullet Oryx 11,7g/180gr.
Witold

 

[CAustin]

Try Winchester Ballistic Silvertip. It worked very well for me on two hunts although I was shooting 300 win mag 180 gr

 

[gizmo]

Federal in 150 grain is my go to .308 round for everything pretty much if I'm shooting my .308. As drivenhunter mentioned they have loads with premium bullets and they won't break the bank.

 

[Rob404]

165Gr Sierra Gamekings knocks them Dead every time

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I also use cartridges from RWS with bullet UNI CLASSIC 11,7/180gr.
Witold

 

[dory]

Thanks guys .
Ill get onto it right away and see what I can get here in New Zealand .
Cheers Dory .

 

[Spooksar]

Depending on what you are after, I would use ammo with a 180gr premium bullet. I would be more concerned about penetration then speed. In 4 hunts in Africa my longest shot was 250 yards.

 

[Velo Dog]

Part owner of Duke Safaris / PH, John Luyt has a bolt action .308 for clients who do not want to bring a PG rifle.
He loads it with 180 gr Swift A-Frames.
To quote John on this topic, "I have never seen an A-Frame fail."

I believe that bullet is available from either Remington or Federal or both in live factory ammunition.
Cheers.

 

[BWH]

I'm a Barnes TTSX guy..... They work!!!

 

[ActionBob]

A light recoiling, flat shooting option could be 150 grain Hornady Superformance GMX. My wife used the 30-06 vversion to great effect on PG including a one shot kill on a very large zebra. Perfect expansion on every shot, devastating penetration even on quartering shots. I would avoid the whitetail loads like the SST.

 

[tarbe]

Assuming you are going to shoot stuff larger than Impala, Bob is right on the SST. I have killed a half-dozen whitetails with the 165gr version in 308 and they are too soft, even at 308 velocities, at 100 yards or less. Might be ok at 200+ yards? Certainly not a bullet I'd want to throw at a Wildebeest or Zebra.

I was shooting them in hot loads out of a 26 inch bbl, so probably closer to typical '06 velocities, in all fairness though.

 

[ROCKET]

I have had the experience of being hunted om my first Safary in South Africa with the most .308 cheaper bullets that can be found in the Market..........I rented a rifle and when I saw the ammunition I wanted to die bacause I knew it......I had use it in my own country......PMP, standart soft point in a ligths 150 grains.
Cheap ammo and not the beast quality no doubt.
Long story short.......I took ten wonderfull trophies in the open Karoo with shoots from a 130meters up to 220 meters to mention my longest one there.
I would never have used that ammunition forAfrican PG but finally it works from Sprimbock, up to Kudu, Orix and Zebra.

I think that any ammunition to those recommended here above are plenty to do the job required.......any premiun by Federal, Hornady, Norma, etc.......will work more than well.....!!!!!

Off course accompanied of a good bullet placement.....that´s is all about I guess.....!!!!

 

[IdaRam]

+1 with CAustin on the Winchester Ballistic Silvertip. I have shot deer and bighorn sheep with this bullet and been very impressed with performance at .308/.30-'06 velocities. Good penetration and perfect mushroom with good weight retention. One shot DRT kills on both animals. By the way, the ballistic silver tip is a Nosler Accubond with lubalox coating.

 

[archer36]

I used Federal Vital Shok 180 gr Nosler Partitions in my .308 Savage. I took Kudu, Wildebeest, Gemsbok, Impala, Blesbok, and Warthog all 1 shot kills. All under 125 yds. No kidding.