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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,003
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,003 |
Here's a recovered .375 Barnes TSX bullet from a bull Nilgai, shot at just under 200 yards. Hit behind the shoulder, bullet recovered from under the far side hide. Not a lot of critters will stop a .375 Ruger shooting Barnes bullets!
I'd rather be a free man in my grave, than living as a puppet or a slave....
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,044
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,044 |
Last big bull I walked up on I was on my way to the quail killin' fields back in January. He was a big un! I ease my way back to the cabin and got my 9.3x62 and came back. Tracked him to the neighbors fence. Let's see,,,, boys that have shot em on the place have used 30/06 with 180 Partition, .338 win mag with Fed blue box ammo, and .458's and I cannot remember the bullet. We general ambush or still hunt known trails.
I knew the old game warden there in Rivera (now deceased) fav was a Ruger #1 in 220 Swift. Actually I believe he lived in Sarita. I miss him. Heck of a fellow!
An interesting story, While I was still at the gun shop spoke with one of the locals who mentioned a cousin heard a hell of a commotion in his carport/garage on the outskirts of Rivera and found two Bulls going at it as Mudhen mentioned. Evidently they had fought their way across the yard and ended up in the garage. He slew em both with a 30/06 if I remember correctly. If they were already in the garage, it would be fairly easy to get the steaks to the freezer!
"The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that lightening ain't distributed right." - Mark Twain
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105 |
If they were already in the garage, it would be fairly easy to get the steaks to the freezer! Thinking the same thing, myself... DF
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,114
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,114 |
Ingwe can borrow one of my .270's.
Life Member SCI Life Member DSC Member New Mexico Shooting Sports Association
Take your responsibilities seriously, never yourself-Ken Howell Proper bullet placement + sufficient penetration = quick, clean kill. Finn Aagard
Ken
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 31,605
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 31,605 |
If they were already in the garage, it would be fairly easy to get the steaks to the freezer! Thinking the same thing, myself... DF I would have definitely considered it a good hunt!!!
Founder Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored."
WS
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,477
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,477 |
Re picture of hide... I"ve mounted a fair amount of them. The "hide" gets even thicker than on the one pictured.
I'd have no issues witha 223, but its going to be a head shot....
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,110
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,110 |
One thing I suspect, after seeing quite a few on the ground, is that smaller-diameter bullets of the "petal" type (whether the Combined Technology Fail Safe, Barnes X, Nosler E-Tip or Hornady GMX) penetrate the off-side hide somewhat better, because the mushroom isn't nearly as as large. As an example, on my last nilgai hunt a couple years ago saw the .30 caliber 150 Hornady GMX completely penetrate one big bull broadside, leaving a nice blood trail--which really wasn't needed. Also saw the same thing with more than one .270 Fail Safe during a hunt a number years ago, when a dozen bulls were taken with .270 WSM's.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,546
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,546 |
Hard cast bullets in the 444 Marlin seem to do the trick: South Texas Nilgai Hunt Copy and paste below of the last paragraph of the story linked. There are some pics with the original post on the shootersforum. Our stalk across the open to get within shooting range of this bull took two and a half hours. When Greg and I reached 115 yards there was not one stick or blade of grass between us and the animal. When the animal looked away, I rose to a braced sitting position and shot the animal through both front shoulders. I heard and saw the Lee TLC432-285-RF impact the bull and it immediately fell. Just as quick, it was back up and thundering towards the nearest brush with two busted shoulders. Greg rose and fired twice with the 375 H&H, I wasn't sure if he was hitting it as it was falling each time its front hoofs hit the ground but quickly rebounding. I rose, and shot right at its anus and hit it a few inches above in the spine. The whack the bullet made echoed across the plain as the animal fell dead. The two cast bullets from my 444T were the only two that connected. I was pleased.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,984
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,984 |
Nilgai is not some magical mystery species that requires uber-powerful rifles. They fall to good shot placement with decent bullets from ant reasonable "elk caliber". Exactly! I killed a young bull with a .270 to the neck. DRT!
Kelly
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,984
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,984 |
Well, since I live here and have shot a bunch, I guess I can weigh in. I have killed big bulls with a 7x57 using 160 A-frames and 140 Trophy Bonded bullets from a .280. We generally recommend a 30-06 and ALWAYS recommend premium bullets like Partitions, A-frames, or Trophy Bonded no matter what cartridge. Running head shot with a 25-06. No sweat!
Kelly
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 22,274 |
wait a minute...
...oh darn there is a .375 Whitworth here...
"...the designer of the .270 Ingwe cartridge!..."
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,751
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,751 |
Well, since I live here and have shot a bunch, I guess I can weigh in. I have killed big bulls with a 7x57 using 160 A-frames and 140 Trophy Bonded bullets from a .280. We generally recommend a 30-06 and ALWAYS recommend premium bullets like Partitions, A-frames, or Trophy Bonded no matter what cartridge. Running head shot with a 25-06. No sweat! Yeah, probably running in waist deep mud. 'Course your hunting partner can take care of that by flapping his arms, yelling and jumping around, to keep you from shooting another! LOL
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,477
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,477 |
One thing I suspect, after seeing quite a few on the ground, is that smaller-diameter bullets of the "petal" type (whether the Combined Technology Fail Safe, Barnes X, Nosler E-Tip or Hornady GMX) penetrate the off-side hide somewhat better, because the mushroom isn't nearly as as large. As an example, on my last nilgai hunt a couple years ago saw the .30 caliber 150 Hornady GMX completely penetrate one big bull broadside, leaving a nice blood trail--which really wasn't needed. Also saw the same thing with more than one .270 Fail Safe during a hunt a number years ago, when a dozen bulls were taken with .270 WSM's. Nilgai are exactly what proved to me that the Barnes was head and shoulders above anything else in overall all types of performance, and I saw a fair amount shot pre and post barnes. Its why i trust them for anything. Not that other stuff doesn't work....
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,114
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,114 |
Yeah those 444's sure smack like a BFH.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,075
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,075 |
How is the hunt plan going? I would like to take part if the timing is right.
Richard
NRA Life Member TSRA Life Member
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 47,136
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 47,136 |
just got back to this thread. if doing a hunt down to the land cut around the jan or first part of feb the temps are not that bad. hunting there is by boat 40 mile run from flour bluff. have to carry plenty of ice and water plus spare gas. i can borrow one boat that can carry 3-4 depending on how much gear is loaded, my boat would be good for me plus one and gear. the cabin i had been using down there is gone, burned up by wetbacks/smugglers, but my buddy is building another. if in jan can also hunt deer and ducks plus fish. but like doc posted if we kill one on kartada its a long walk across the mudflats, that island is the only one that can legally be hunted on the weat side of the cut. the other islands on the east side(padre island)the boat can be pulled right to them.
God bless Texas----------------------- Old 300 I will remain what i am until the day I die- A HUNTER......Sitting Bull Its not how you pick the booger.. but where you put it !! Roger V Hunter
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 22,274
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 22,274 |
I wasn't quite ready to buy a boat, but.... Yeah I'm interested. May need another freezer, though
"...the designer of the .270 Ingwe cartridge!..."
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