Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Norma Oryx

Where do you all place the Norma Oryx bullet in the grand scheme of things? Construction,application,quality. They are expensive.

No more expensive than many other "premium" bullets, such as Barnes or Nosler. Some Oryxes with be a little more and some a little less.

I like 'em a lot. They tend to open wider than Nosler Partitions or even Accubonds, but that means they make a bigger hole. Can't remember one that didn't penetrate enough, though due to the wide mushroom they tend to exit less often, though every one I've recovered has been under the hide on the far side.

Have found them generally easy to get to shoot well, as in an inch or less at 100 yards, but they aren't a long-range bullet, either in accuracy or BC. That doesn't mean they won't work well at 400 yards, which as about as far as I've used 'em.

As usual, I agree 100% with MD here.

I used the 180 grain in a 30.06 extensively in Africa on everything from the smallest to the largest of plains game with very, very good results.

The PH provided them for his personal rifle that I used on my first trip there and he was quite impressed with them, as was I.

Thanks Guys.

John. Do you think the wide frontal area would be detrimental to using them in the 243? 300 yds and in. Maybe opting for an exit wound would be better.

I think they would work very well in the 243. What are you going to shoot with them?

MD,
Since Oryx bullets open wider, do you think they put animals on the ground any quicker than other bullets? I realize the answer to that is very subjective, but I was just wondering what you've seen.

Deer mostly. Possibly black bear.

Shoot away. The Oryx is also one of my favorite bullets.

I don't think it would be my first choice for shoot deer at 20 yards at 3600ps, but I love it in normal speed cartridges.

JayJunem,

A wider mushroom makes a bigger hole, and on average bigger holes kill quicker--especially with bullets that retain a high percentage of their weight. The relatively few Oryxes I've recovered have averaged 89.4% weight retention--and the animals those killed never took a step after the shot.

Thank you. They sound like good bullets.

Sounds like what the Dr ordered. I don't shoot the 243 a lot with hunting rounds,so a little extra jingle for bullets is OK. Complete energy dump in deer sized critters would be desirable.

How about in my '06 for Brown bears in Alaska...Oryx 200 vs. Nosler Partition 200? I won't be shooting past 150 yards, tops. I have the partitions but this thread has me thinking...

The Partition will probably penetrate a bit deeper due to a smaller frontal diameter. The Oryx make a bigger wound channel.

You'd have to pick one or the other as more important. I think the Oryx would smack them harder. If you don't need more penetration then I would choose the Oryx.

Partition