OK, I"m heading to South Africa in August. I'll be hunting everything from Steenbuck to Eland. I plan on taking my Weatherby Ultralight in 7mm RM. My question, 140gr Barnes TTSX or 160gr Barnes TSX/Accubond? I'm partial to the 140gr TTSX but know those animals are tough, even the little guys. Thanks.

Split the difference 150 TTSX

What about the Barnes LRX 145g or 168g ?

I'm looking at the bullets listed above as I know my rifle likes them. I'm open to others through, I have been thinking of trying the LRX line..

I'd go the 160TTSX in the 7RM.

I intend to take my 300WSM and use the 168TTSX.

I have a friend here that went to namibia last fall with his 7mag. He killed impala to eland, 13 total animals, with 175 partitions. He said he culled a few animals with a 160 tsx.

I used the factory Federal 175gr TBBC in my 7mm RM and they performed flawlessly on springbok, impala, and gemsbok.

Just another option to look at.

That would be my choice but stand by for the all you need is a 243 crowd...

If you're hunting in the northern Province (Limpopo) your shots will be close, 200 yards being an extremely long shot. Most of our hunters are shooting 50-125 yards for all the game. It's thick bush habitat. The 7MM Mag is a very long range tool and you will be using it for a very short range application ( in the NP).

You would be wise to choose the heavier bullets as the impact velocities would be extreme and put a lot of pressure on any cup and core, or bonded core bullet. The best choice are the TSX monolithic bullets with the ranges you will have. I (we) always prefer to fall on the side of heavier side when using the Magnum Long range rifles.

Remember that people without a lot of experience will suggest many things to you. But you have to wonder with the input they share how many animals were taken and how many trips were involved. What country and habitat were they in? South Africa has a vast diversity of habitat, from Kalahari Desert to Natal jungle Rainforest, Coastal open flats with rolling grassy hills, and Mountains with snow that are exactly like hunting the wyoming rockies. Be prepared for lots of comments from folks who have no idea which of these habitats you will be in, and many don't even understand the diversity.

If you're hunting the Eastern Cape or Kalahari, the ranges will be much better suited to the 7mm long range rifle you have. In those areas much like Namibia you will likely shoot 200-300 plus yards as a normal distance.

My Loaner Rifle is a 30/06 shooting the 165grain TSX and has been a flawless Performer on game here. If you shoot 175 grain bullets at 3000 ish that would mirror closely the 30/06 loads of mine that are 165 grain at 2950ish fps. This combination has accounted for well over 1000 animals ..........it works with good placement every time.

Thanks JJ, looks like I'm hunting the Mata Mata area. I'm thinking the 160 TSX is going with me. I do have a 338WM but I've shot it very little and I only have about 6 months to get used to it.

Well, you're going to be in a very unique habitat in South Western Africa. It's open country with rolling hills and scarcely wooded then the More common safari destinations. You will have longer shots here on average.

The 7mag will be a good choice as this area will let you watch the game you shoot run quite a distance. In many cases we just drove up to recover them and stopped the truck next to them. Not much brush, in the way, but the sand makes travel difficult. This is right near the border of Namibia. Certainly not a Prime Safari destination when considering how many hunters are going and how few to this area.

It will surprise you at some point in the future if you hunt other regions of South Africa to see the huge difference in landscape. How do you get there from Joburg? Are you driving? it's a very long way from the airport in Joburg. However that drive will show the diversity of habitat as you will drive through the Bush on the way to the desert habitat you will be in.

Do a google earth search and you can see the city (town, village) of Mata Mata, and the surrounding habitat. This will give you an idea of the open habitat you will be in.

Both your 7mm and 338 will be running rather high velocities which are not always condusive to bushveld hunting, specially with lighter type projectiles.

Prepare to have a shoulder mount or a Euro mount for the steenbok as both calibers are going to destroy the rest of the trophy. If you have monolithic solids it may work out differently or either borrow your PH's 375 with a solid for the steenbok.


Mata Mata sounds like the very far North western part of the country which is right on the border with the Kalahari. Your shots should be on the longer side so 145 gr will work super. Go for a good lung shot on the eland and do not try to reach the vitals via the rear end.

I would try the Remington Safari line with the 160gr Swift A-Frame bullet-

Having had lots of clients with bonded bullets and theTSX, the TSX wins hands down. If recovery of a very pretty mushroomed bullet is the goal, nothing better then the bonded bullets. For my money, and advising my clients as well. I want that bullet to travel through as much as possible and exit when ever possible.

Bonded Bullets on average escape the hide maybe 50% of the time. The TSX will exit the opposite side about 90% of the time or more!

When you have seen hundreds or thousands of animals shot, and then had the responsibility to find them. The TSX stands head and shoulders above all other ammo.

I know you didn't mention this bullet but I'd surely be thinking about the 175 Noz. One incredible bullet and combo out of a Big 7.

Dober

Used the 160TSX in the 7mm WSM and 168 TSX in the 300 WSM. Hit the shoulder on a 1900# eland At about 70 yds.. It went about 90 yds and went down, required a finisher or two in the dark. If the bone had been missed it would have a short blood trail. I think the heavier bullet within reason the better. Nothing was shot past 200 yd. The 160 was plenty flat shooting. Got a good shoulder mount on a bushbuck. ! 1/2" exit on chest.

I wouldnt hesitate to use the 160 TSX...

I'm personally not a 7mm RM for Africa fan, but many swear by them. Your choice of the 160 TSX is a good one, as is the 160 grain Remington Swift A-Frame someone mentioned.

I shot a large eland in Namibia this past October using a .338 loaded with 225 grain TSX's at 312 lasered yards. Second shot was at 230 and the finisher at 80. Eland are very large and IMO, a bullet that is capable of breaking large shoulder bones is a plus. Were I to do it over again, a .375 with 300 grain TSX's or A-Frames would have been a better choice. When they butcher your eland, the size and mass of the shoulder bones will definitely impress. You may not be able to get into position for a picture perfect broadside shot and for a quartering shot, bigger is better, even with good shot placement.

Enjoy your hunt!

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it. I'm going to move forward with using the 7mm with 160gr TSX at the moment. I will be shooting the .338WM with 225gr TSX as well, if I feel confident by August it may go. Pics when I get back..

you shoot straight and they won't know the difference in 20 gr of bullet weight with a Triple Shock . Use the 140 gr if that is what you like the best.

On my trip to Botswana last August, I killed 22 animals that started with the Steenbok and ranged to Eland and Giraffe. I am a huge fan of both the 7mm Rem Mag and the trusty old 30.06 and was intent on using my PH's 7Mag until I got there and began to handle his rifles. The custom '06 felt so good in my hands that I quickly chose it and never looked back. It's the caliber that I cut my large game hunting teeth on and I will always be loyal to it to a degree. Using Norma 180 grain Oryx factory ammo, I had great success on all animals hunted, electing to go for a head shot on the Giraffe. The Eland absorbed a couple of rounds before going down, but the first one was well placed and woulda been enough. I shoot 'em til they're on the ground though.

I believe that either of your choices of ammo in the 7mm RM will work if placed in the right spot, but the animals there are well constructed, although not indestructible. Heavier is always better IMO. Just make sure that you shoot a Blue Wildebeest very well, as they pretty much wake up and go for a run once shot! And even though one should always concentrate on making the first shot count, don't be guilty of standing there admiring your work... if the animal is still standing, shoot him til he ain't!

For African plains game, get the heaviest bullets for whatever caliber you end up using. Controlled expansion bullets like Swift A-Frame and the Barnes TSX will all work very well. Pick whichever one that shoots the best in your rifle.

African animals seem much tougher than North American game and are NOT impressed with light, high velocity bullets that rapidly expand. Several years ago, my father shot a gemsbok with a 7mm Magnum using rapid expansion bullets that would work wonders on a white tailed deer. His first shot hit right on the shoulder and the gemsbok, while obviously seriously wounded, did not go down. He shot it again, this time hitting slightly behind the shoulder and it did not go far before expiring.

When examining the gemsbok afterwards, they discovered that the first shot broke the shoulder bone and caused horrific damage to the shoulder muscles, but it broke up and did not actually enter the body cavity! Fortunately, the second shot hit behind the shoulder and hit the heart and lungs.

Keep this in mind and ensure that you use bullets that will expand, but at the same time still penetrate deep enough to reach the vitals of the animal and hopefully exit. This will save you lots of time, effort, and heartache on your hunt.

160 grain Nosler Partition!