My Question Answered

[sheephunterab]

So before we went to Tanzania I really couldn't decide what bullet to shoot for hippo. I was really leaning toward a solid after all the stories I'd heard about how tough they were and did take some with me but in the end used the 250-Grain GMX out of the 375 H&H. On the first shot to the brain it dropped the hippo on the spot. I followed up with one to the neck and one to the lungs just to ensure he didn't run anywhere. Penetration was excellent even though the bullet did shed its petals. It did what it needed to do.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Congratulations! Where in Tanz did you hunt and anything else on the salt?

 

[sheephunterab]

We were in the Selous near the Rufiji River. We also took a couple buff, a leopard and a Nyassa wildebeest.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

We were in the Selous near the Rufiji River. We also took a couple buff, a leopard and a Nyassa wildebeest.

Nice! Report and photos to follow soon, I hope.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Did you take everything with the 250 GMX?

 

[sheephunterab]

Nice! Report and photos to follow soon, I hope.

Just home last night and catching up in office between dreaming about Africa but will as soon as possible.

 

[sheephunterab]

Did you take everything with the 250 GMX?

You bet.

 

[CAustin]

Great hippo there sir! Glad you got him! Was he on land when you took your shot!?

 

[sheephunterab]

Great hippo there sir! Glad you got him! Was he on land when you took your shot!?

Several miles from the river in a very small pond, maybe 15 feet in diameter that was less than a foot deep so basically yes. It's a great opp0ortunity for hunting them on foot. We'd walked several miles when we found him.

 

[cpr0312]

Very nice, congrats and thanks for sharing!

 

[sierraone]

Hippo, leopard, 2 buffalo and a wildebeest? Sounds like you had a heck of a hunt!!!

 

[Hank2211]

Curious why you went with a small-for-calibre bullet? I assume it wasn't because you were looking for more velocity . . .

 

[sheephunterab]

Curious why you went with a small-for-calibre bullet? I assume it wasn't because you were looking for more velocity . . .

Lower recoil, superb accuracy and the additional velocity does turn it into a pretty decent 300 yard PG rifle as well.

 

[Shootist43]

A great hunt. Looking forward to the complete report with pics.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Accuracy is king for a head shot.
It will be interesting to compare the three bullets, if recovered.

Congrats on your success.

 

[sheephunterab]

Accuracy is king for a head shot.
It will be interesting to compare the three bullets, if recovered.

Congrats on your success.

They all looked really similar...shed petals but base intact.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

They all looked really similar...shed petals but base intact.

 

[BRICKBURN]

They all looked really similar...shed petals but base intact.

I thought the lung shot might have kept the petals on.

 

[sheephunterab]

I thought the lung shot might have kept the petals on.

It was pretty close range at about 2850fps so I'm not too surprised. Had no idea how thick hippo skin was.

 

[sheephunterab]

On Vanessa's buff, we found the bullet in far side hide and it too had shed a few petals but the petals were right beside the bullet. Still trying to figure out the physics on that one. Have one theory but need to do a bit more research.