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Going to hunt Lioness in SA 5/20. I have .300 Tikka Win Mag. I'm not really up on ammo. What would you suggest as a good bullet and grain for my hunt? I have seen they can go up to 240 gr. from some suppliers. Also, what is the difference from a win mag and remington mag. Will the bullets interchange?
Thanks much for your input.
Scott
Take a .375 or .416.
Sounds like you need to do a little reading by your post. To which Remington mag do you refer? The .30 Ultra mag? If so yes the bullets interchange as they are both .30 cal or .308 diameter. The Ultra mag is more powerful. Most .30 cal bullets do not exceed 220 grs. Having said that, there are much better choices for hunting lion, though properly hit with a good bullet a .30 mag is adequate. I would personally prefer at least a .338 Win mag with 250 gr bullets or even a .375 H&H as minimum but your time is running short so if you plan to use a .30 mag, get some good advice on bullets and get in lots of practice. Good lion bullets are Nosler Partitions, Swifts, Barnes TripleShoks, and there are many more, but it must be a quality soft nose, no solids. Lion are tough and dangerous animals and not to be taken lightly. The .375 H&H is the legal minimum in some countries, not sure about RSA. Also this is not the place for that 4-20X scope. Use a lower power variable, no more than 3-10X and keep it on lower settings unless you need the extra power for a longer shot. Good luck, hope you get one.
I have not been able to hunt in Africa but have read a lot about it and remain hopeful.
ALL the reading agrees with what sestoppelman says. The lion is a animal to be respected. I would look for the best .308 bullet of not less then 200 grains that is accurate in your rifle.
The 375 H&H would be a better choice, it is THE lion rifle.
Kiwi505,
Your best bullet on lion will be any type of expanding soft. If you would be taking something like the .375, I would recommend the Woodleights. I am a huge Barnes fan, but only really concentrate on the monolithics, so not quite sure what they have or if they have something like a woodleighs. But, my choice for lion would be Woodleighs.
Best Regards
Marius Goosen
Hi Scott
It is all about a good bullet and placement i hunt a good number of lion every year in South Africa, i like the 375 with a 280 gr bullet in woodleigh but some of my clients from Mexico and Russia have used my 30-06 on lion with 180 gr woodleighs, lion is a thin skin animal and it does not take much to get into the lung hart area it all depends on angle, i do not recomend the 30-06 but i have seen it doing the job a number of times. The best to me is the 375.
Keep well Johan
Add me to the list of recommending the .375. But if you're set on the .300WM and it is legal, I also have that calibre in the Tikka T3 Lite. It loves 200gr Nosler Partitions.Quote:
Originally Posted by spk1142
I've hunted quite a few lions in South Africa. Most of the time, it's a shot that needs to be made with some brush in the way.
A heavy bullet is very important, but it must be soft, like a Nosler partition, to do maximum damage after penetrating the soft skin. Do make sure that your PH carries a .375 or bigger..
Good luck and enjoy the hunt.
Can't help with your .300 WM question,but I agree with all the Gentlemen advocating the .375. Watched two 'problem' lions dropped with hand-loaded 250gr Sierra GameKing's from a .375,and the results only strengthened my belief in this combination.
I would use a heavy soft point, there are many brands, Nosler Accubond, Nosler partitions, Hornady Interbond, Swift A, Barnes Triple shock.
SPK1142
You dont say if you handload or not - or even where you live but, assuming you dont handload, if it were me I would seriously consider Barnes VOR-TX Factory 300 win mag ammo with 180grain TTSXs if you can get them. They do just on 3000 fps at the muzzle, hit hard, and open up easier (TTSXs have the blue plastic tip) than the Barnes TSX (Triple Shock and no plastic tip) and will be therefore more effective on a thin skinned animal like lion. They will however hang together and high velocities and dont shed much weight at all. A very effective projectile that will peform as well as conventional 200 grain (bonded) projectiles like Woodleighs.
Barnes VOR-TX AMMUNITION | Barnes Bullets
http://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-cont...velocities.pdf
My second choice would be Federal Factory ammo with 180grain Barnes TSXs as I am sure they will do the job too......similar velocity to the Barnes Ammo.....
Federal Premium - Rifle Ballistics
Naturally I would also discuss this choice with you PH - and ultimately take his advice. I would be surprised if he were not happy with these two options in a 300 win mag though!
Good luck!