Excellent comments from many experienced Nilgai hunters. Thank you and keep them coming please. I enjoy over-thinking my rifle and cartridges. Variety is good for me. Too many comments for me to quote but some of the take aways so far:
- Nilgai are tougher than Kudu and more like Blue Wildebeest to kill - Noted
- Vitals are positioned more like African Antelope and further forward than deer - Agreed
- 338WM seems the odds on favorite - I agree
- All three options would work but if using the RCM do not used the SST bullet
- While shots inside 200y can be had, be ready for shots at 200-300y. I always like to practice at distances that exceed my expected max range to build my confidence. In this case we will shoot at 200/300/400y regularly off sticks regardless of which weapon we choose. At 400y my 375HH shoots great groups on steel with precision but with a 6x scope it is pushing the limits of my ability to aim well so the accuracy on tgt is only marginal. Drop with 300g TSX is about 2.5mil at 400y. Below is a pic of one of the better groups at that range. I limit it to 250y not due to lack of accuracy but due to lack of velocity.
400y group with 375HH using Barnes 300g TSX ammo - shot from bench not sticks
- Lots of us (me included) do not understand why my guide does not like the TSX bullets.
- No native African trackers in Texas - a real handicap
- I expect that many guided hunters lack the skills to make good 200y and longer shots off sticks leading to lost game when using marginal cartridges. While a perfect shot with a small caliber will kill it, a less than perfect shot with a 300WM or larger is more likely to succeed than a bad shot with a smaller rig.
- Even with a perfect shot on Nilgai it may run a good distance (think WB) before falling. Hard to find the further it runs.
- Nilgai often do not bleed much. Especially if hit too high or too far back. I had the same issue with a double lung shot on a Gemsbok with my 308 last year. PH said I missed it and I said "No Way, my shot was true". I found one drop of blood at the spot where it stood and nothing after that. Two PH's failed to track it and insisted that I missed it until, I showed them the blood. A team of native trackers found it within 5-10min only 60y from the point of impact.
Since this will be a hunt where two hunters share the same guide, my son and I will probably take a 338WM and a 375HH into the field and flip a coin to choose who the primary shooter will be for the first animal and then have the secondary shooter stand by. We will hunt together and both stalk each bull found.
If possible, the Primary shooter will take the first shot on game with the 375HH limiting shots to 250y. If the shot is further, he will use the 338WM aiming for the vitals. The secondary shooter will be aiming on the tgt also and upon the 1st shot will attempt to shoot the bull in the neck or upper shoulder to anchor the animal. If successful, we will then swap places for the next bull. I know lots of variables can foil this plan but it is a basis that might get good results. I watched two men who are brothers who hunt Cape Buffalo this way with good results. Buffalo is lots closer and larger tgt but if we can get in two hits quickly, it is less likely to be lost. If the bull is aware of us, the primary shooter is to shoot as soon as he can get ready on the sticks and not wait for the 2nd shooter. It will be up to the 2nd shooter to carry his own sticks and rifle and set himself up for the shot safely, quickly and quietly as long as conditions permit. It is unlikely to expect more than a few seconds to ready for the shot unless the bull is completely unaware of us.
As long as we are not too far away to use it, the 375 would likely get a quicker kill but the difference is not enough to matter. That 300g TSX photo that expanded so much on Nilgai is impressive. Please tell us what the range was? I took a Blue WB last year with my 375HH using the 300g TSX. 1st shot was at 160-180y frontal that expanded to 2x and penetrated about 3ft hitting one lung and top of heart lodging in the paunch. WB ran 60y and fell but was still attempting to get up. 2nd shot was in neck at 60y and it was a thru and thru shot. WB was still moving so 3rd shot was into chest from 10y to finish him. That shot expanded to 2.2x and was found under opposite skin. I don't understand my guides aversion to the TSX but will respect his wishes and use AccuBonds, TBBC or A-Frames. All are good bullets.
Two 300g TSX bullets recovered from Blue WB in 2024, bottom-left bullet was 1st shot at 160-180y
