FIRST AFRICAN HUNT - 338 WIN MAG Bullets Recommended

My Son and I will be going on our first Safari to the Limpopo region this Summer. We will be using our 338 win mags on this trip.

We will be hunting:

Zebra
Kudu
Gemsbuck
Blue Wildebeast
Impala

Since we hand load, I will like to receive some guidance as to the type of bullet used for the above species.

Please advise,

Thank you

BAndryc

Big fan of Core Lokt bullets. Also fan of TBBC. Good luck and have a great hunt with your son.

Nosler AccuBonds or Partitions. Barnes Triple Shock, original or the new one. I used Hornady InterBond in that region in '09 but feel they lost too much weight, over 50 percent, however everything hit properly died. Still a supposedly bonded bullet should hold together better. A friend uses Hornady InterLock with great success over there too. Good luck, enjoy!

Any of the premium bullets should serve you well. barnes (T)TSX, Nosler Partition, Swift A-frame, North Fork, Woodleigh, etc. I've used both the partitions and TSX bullets in Africa, which worked well. However, the more I use the Barnes bullets, the more I'm impressed with them. Basically, all my new loads start with a Barnes bullet now.

Good luck!

I have shot most of your list with a 338. 250 grain swift a frames with amazing results.

+1 on those suggested, pick the one that shoots most accurately in your rifles.

I take 225 and 250 Gr for my 338 win mag.

Nosler and Remington...plus Barnes

These will do a great job.

Originally Posted by James.Grage

I take 225 and 250 Gr for my 338 win mag.

Nosler and Remington...plus Barnes

These will do a great job.

Missing you in Dallas James!

I'm currently hooked on Barnes TSX and TTSX. Over the past two years I've taken 16 animals with them ranging from duiker to moose. Three needed to be shot more than once. Those three were a pronghorn shot a bit too low in the shoulder, a gemsbok shot first in the jaw, and a very dead wildebeest that we thought might need insurance. Except for the gemsbok, no kidding, nothing went more than 40 yards. Most were DRT. Good enough for me and my handloads do consistent 5/8" groups at 100 if I do my part.

That said, I'd experiment and use the premium bullet that shoots the best in YOUR rifle. Barnes, A-frame, and Partition are certainly good. I don't have enough experience with North Fork, Woodleigh, or Berger to give opinions. Just stay away from the usual N. American whitetail softpoints and you'll be OK. I wouldn't use accubonds for the first four critters on your list. In .338 they'd more than likely be fine, but less than optimal things do happen and wasting a day of safari tracking a bleedalope is no fun.

Originally Posted by PHOENIX PHIL

+1 on those suggested, pick the one that shoots most accurately in your rifles.

I take 225 and 250 Gr for my 338 win mag.

Nosler and Remington...plus Barnes



You have it all here already.
Happy loading and good luck.

Phoenix Phil

jury duty...have to check every evening and at 11:30 daily for dockets.

many different ones...missed my go around for the big criminal trial yesterday. Drat z.

looking at the web and having some pictures sent to me by Olivia N. & Craig B.

Thank you all very much for your responses. I now know what to buy.

Much appreciated!!

BAndryc

Look forward to the story posting here in August. Lots of pictures.

225 gr TTSX it will make me smile as a PH