JG26Irish_2
AH enthusiast
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2023
- Messages
- 440
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- 1,220
- Location
- United States
- Media
- 12
- Member of
- Bluegrass Safari Club, SCI
- Hunted
- RSA-Limpopo, Free State, USA - KY, WV, TN, ND, SD, NM
My son and I are planning a Texas Nilgai hunt with some friends for early 2026. This will be a new experience for all of us. I am in the process of choosing a rifle (or two) to take on the trip. I would appreciate inputs from all of you experienced hunters and especially those with past experience with the Texas Nilgai and long range shooting on large plains game. Question being which rifle caliber to select for this hunt? I have three choices that I will outline below.
To set the table for this exercise, please allow me to explain that I am a reasonably experienced big game hunter with two African Safaris under my belt including larger animals such as Wildebeest, Kudu, Gemsbok and Cape Buffalo. I already own a pair of fine 375HH rifles either of which can kill a Nilgai. But, I enjoy the process of evaluating and testing different rifles and I like to take a tool that is optimal for the hunt, if I can. Plus, the outfitter will not allow me to use anything smaller than a 300 Win Mag on his ranch. I have a 1/2moa 7mm Rem Mag that I wanted to bring but he refused, said the Nilgai are very tough and they run too high a risk of losing the animal if it runs off to die since they often do not leave much of a blood trail. I get that. I do not want a 300wm since it is too close performance wise to my 7mm Mag. Finally, the terrain is mostly flat, East Texas Gulf coast with chances of longer shots in the 200-300y being highly likely, longer is possible. I can shoot my 375HH very well but normally limit it to 200y shots and have never taken game beyond that range with it. It is capable of a 300y shots with 250g or 300g ammo but the trajectory becomes more rainbow out past 200y leaving more room for error and failure. They both wear 1-6x LPVO scopes more suited to Limpopo, or Zambia than long range Texas or Free State style shooting. And, I have no plans to replace those optics.
I would rather buy a new rifle, (lol). Recently, I traded to a nice little Ruger M77 Hawkeye compact magnum in 338 RCM. This cute stubby little cartridge is able to almost match the factory ammo ballistics of the 338WM but with a short action and a 20" bbl. That is stellar performance. But... The 338 RCM is a nearly dead cartridge. The only ammo available today is Hornady 225g SST loads. My guide in Texas tells me that the SST is too frangible for Nilgai and he had other derogatory comments that I will not share. He also does not want me to use my tried and true 300g Barnes TSX loads in my 375HH saying they penetrate too much. I know, in the end I am the hunter and the client and will make my own choices. Still it helps to listen to the experience of others who have succeeded and failed at the same or similar tasks.
So, the two best options that I had on hand are not favored by the Guide/Outfitter or I have my own reservations. I love the 375 but not for 300y and longer hunting. I also like the little 338 RCM but am not a fan of non-bonded bullets for large thick skinned game either.
Finaly, the Guide said that Nosler Accu-bond, Nosler Partitions or Trophy Bonded Bear Claws were his recommended projectiles. All good bullets that I have no issues with. He also said Swift A-Frame or Sciroccos were good if I can get them. I do not believe for one minute that Nilgai are tougher than Kudu, Eland or Wildebeest. All of those could be killed with a well placed 308 or 30-06. I understand the need for a rifle that will not just kill but kill quickly, but that is more about adequate power and great accuracy/precision. I am getting some custom reloads for the 338 RCM using Nosler AB's in 200g but the reloader can only promise me velocities of about 2650fps which is 100fps slower than my proven 225g factory ammo with the so called $hit SST bullet. Meaning I will be giving up some energy to use a preferred bullet. I also have three boxes of old Federal ammo for the 375HH loaded with 250g TBBC's. They are a great choice, but still are only good out to about 250y after which their velocity drops below 2000fps and you risk low or no expansion and again a lost animal. I do not want to gear up to reload for the 338 RCM or the 375HH so, that is out of the question. The Ruger 338 as much as I like it is not a tack driver. It prints about 1.5 or 2" groups at 100y and while it can hit an 8"x8" steel plate at 200y, it will miss it sometimes when shooting off a bench and even more often off sticks. I have shot it once at 300y where it was hitting a 12"x12" plate and at 400y where is was totally useless. Unless the Accu-Bond ammo prints better, I am concerned that it is not up to the long range hunting task. It is a choice but I was looking for options.
I recently bought another rifle. It is a Sako Model 85 in 338WM. Should be at least as accurate as the Ruger and is expected to be a sub MOA rifle based on my other two Sako's. It is not substantially faster than the RCM but has more factory ammo options available. I can get 225g Nosler Accu-Bond loads from Federal that has MV of 2750fps. That is an honest 400y load and could be pushed to almost 500y in a pinch. My 375HH with the 250g TBBC is also a sub MOA rifle but the speed drops below 2000fps before 250y. Shots beyond that may not expand enough. I also have some 300g AccuBonds for it but they also begin to fall off at the same distance.
To summarize, I have three available options for this hunt. Which would you use?
1.) Light handy Ruger 338 RCM has 400y energy but accuracy that will limit it to about 200-300y at best. Am still working on getting better precision out of this one. It has been bedded and floated already. Limited ammo choice. Either faster 225g SST at 2750fps or 200g AB's at 2650fps.
2.) New, un-tested Sako 85 in 338WM which should be more accurate and should also be adequate out to 400y. Testing and development needed over next 5 months. Use 230g Norma Oryx Bondcore at 2756fps or 225g AccuBond ammo from Federal at 2750fps
3.) Very nice, Safari Proven Custom 375HH that is a sub MOA rifle but should be limited to 250y on game. Use 300g AccuBond at 2450fps or 250g TBBC ammo at 2690fps. The AccuBond ammo is slower but has a better BC so they retain velocity a bit better than the Bear Claws do.
At the moment, I am leaning toward door #2 as long as it shoots with better precision than the Ruger and at least close to the 375 in precision. I think it will do the job OK up close and give me options out past 250y that the others cannot. 2nd choice is the 375HH using the 300g AccuBond ammo. I will just have to use more patience and pass on shots much past 250y. Your experiences on Nilgai or with 338WM on PG or just opinions based on experience are greatly appreciated. I have a good friend who killed an American Bison last year with one shot with a 308 loaded with 180 Remington Core-Lokt ammo (very similar in construction to the SST). Is a 600lb Nilgai tougher than a 1200lb Bison? Doubt it. What say you?
To set the table for this exercise, please allow me to explain that I am a reasonably experienced big game hunter with two African Safaris under my belt including larger animals such as Wildebeest, Kudu, Gemsbok and Cape Buffalo. I already own a pair of fine 375HH rifles either of which can kill a Nilgai. But, I enjoy the process of evaluating and testing different rifles and I like to take a tool that is optimal for the hunt, if I can. Plus, the outfitter will not allow me to use anything smaller than a 300 Win Mag on his ranch. I have a 1/2moa 7mm Rem Mag that I wanted to bring but he refused, said the Nilgai are very tough and they run too high a risk of losing the animal if it runs off to die since they often do not leave much of a blood trail. I get that. I do not want a 300wm since it is too close performance wise to my 7mm Mag. Finally, the terrain is mostly flat, East Texas Gulf coast with chances of longer shots in the 200-300y being highly likely, longer is possible. I can shoot my 375HH very well but normally limit it to 200y shots and have never taken game beyond that range with it. It is capable of a 300y shots with 250g or 300g ammo but the trajectory becomes more rainbow out past 200y leaving more room for error and failure. They both wear 1-6x LPVO scopes more suited to Limpopo, or Zambia than long range Texas or Free State style shooting. And, I have no plans to replace those optics.
I would rather buy a new rifle, (lol). Recently, I traded to a nice little Ruger M77 Hawkeye compact magnum in 338 RCM. This cute stubby little cartridge is able to almost match the factory ammo ballistics of the 338WM but with a short action and a 20" bbl. That is stellar performance. But... The 338 RCM is a nearly dead cartridge. The only ammo available today is Hornady 225g SST loads. My guide in Texas tells me that the SST is too frangible for Nilgai and he had other derogatory comments that I will not share. He also does not want me to use my tried and true 300g Barnes TSX loads in my 375HH saying they penetrate too much. I know, in the end I am the hunter and the client and will make my own choices. Still it helps to listen to the experience of others who have succeeded and failed at the same or similar tasks.
So, the two best options that I had on hand are not favored by the Guide/Outfitter or I have my own reservations. I love the 375 but not for 300y and longer hunting. I also like the little 338 RCM but am not a fan of non-bonded bullets for large thick skinned game either.
Finaly, the Guide said that Nosler Accu-bond, Nosler Partitions or Trophy Bonded Bear Claws were his recommended projectiles. All good bullets that I have no issues with. He also said Swift A-Frame or Sciroccos were good if I can get them. I do not believe for one minute that Nilgai are tougher than Kudu, Eland or Wildebeest. All of those could be killed with a well placed 308 or 30-06. I understand the need for a rifle that will not just kill but kill quickly, but that is more about adequate power and great accuracy/precision. I am getting some custom reloads for the 338 RCM using Nosler AB's in 200g but the reloader can only promise me velocities of about 2650fps which is 100fps slower than my proven 225g factory ammo with the so called $hit SST bullet. Meaning I will be giving up some energy to use a preferred bullet. I also have three boxes of old Federal ammo for the 375HH loaded with 250g TBBC's. They are a great choice, but still are only good out to about 250y after which their velocity drops below 2000fps and you risk low or no expansion and again a lost animal. I do not want to gear up to reload for the 338 RCM or the 375HH so, that is out of the question. The Ruger 338 as much as I like it is not a tack driver. It prints about 1.5 or 2" groups at 100y and while it can hit an 8"x8" steel plate at 200y, it will miss it sometimes when shooting off a bench and even more often off sticks. I have shot it once at 300y where it was hitting a 12"x12" plate and at 400y where is was totally useless. Unless the Accu-Bond ammo prints better, I am concerned that it is not up to the long range hunting task. It is a choice but I was looking for options.
I recently bought another rifle. It is a Sako Model 85 in 338WM. Should be at least as accurate as the Ruger and is expected to be a sub MOA rifle based on my other two Sako's. It is not substantially faster than the RCM but has more factory ammo options available. I can get 225g Nosler Accu-Bond loads from Federal that has MV of 2750fps. That is an honest 400y load and could be pushed to almost 500y in a pinch. My 375HH with the 250g TBBC is also a sub MOA rifle but the speed drops below 2000fps before 250y. Shots beyond that may not expand enough. I also have some 300g AccuBonds for it but they also begin to fall off at the same distance.
To summarize, I have three available options for this hunt. Which would you use?
1.) Light handy Ruger 338 RCM has 400y energy but accuracy that will limit it to about 200-300y at best. Am still working on getting better precision out of this one. It has been bedded and floated already. Limited ammo choice. Either faster 225g SST at 2750fps or 200g AB's at 2650fps.
2.) New, un-tested Sako 85 in 338WM which should be more accurate and should also be adequate out to 400y. Testing and development needed over next 5 months. Use 230g Norma Oryx Bondcore at 2756fps or 225g AccuBond ammo from Federal at 2750fps
3.) Very nice, Safari Proven Custom 375HH that is a sub MOA rifle but should be limited to 250y on game. Use 300g AccuBond at 2450fps or 250g TBBC ammo at 2690fps. The AccuBond ammo is slower but has a better BC so they retain velocity a bit better than the Bear Claws do.
At the moment, I am leaning toward door #2 as long as it shoots with better precision than the Ruger and at least close to the 375 in precision. I think it will do the job OK up close and give me options out past 250y that the others cannot. 2nd choice is the 375HH using the 300g AccuBond ammo. I will just have to use more patience and pass on shots much past 250y. Your experiences on Nilgai or with 338WM on PG or just opinions based on experience are greatly appreciated. I have a good friend who killed an American Bison last year with one shot with a 308 loaded with 180 Remington Core-Lokt ammo (very similar in construction to the SST). Is a 600lb Nilgai tougher than a 1200lb Bison? Doubt it. What say you?
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