Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Need Nilgai Advice

I may very well have the chance for a free nilgai hunt down in the Rio Grande Valley and am needing some advice from those with experience with them. If the hunt goes through, and I believe it will, I will be looking for a cow since it is the meat I'm after. My problem is I have zero experience with nilgai but I do have a lot of experience with elk since I grew up in elk country in CO and from what I've read a cow nilgai is slightly smaller than an average cow elk so I know I can handle the carcass. my question comes down to rifles.

Down here in the RGV I have 2 rifles. One is a T/C Compass in 308 Win that I have a really good handload for but that handload is the 130 gr Barnes TTSX. I have shot a lot of deer and hogs with the rifle and have also used it for black bear and pronghorn at ranges up to 250 yards. I have full confidence that I can hit what I shoot at in normal hunting ranges with my handload and I know the Barnes TTSX is a deadly bullet. I also have a Rem 700 in 7mm Mag down here that I am going to do a barrel swap for 300 H&H Mag but that hasn't been done yet. This was one of my late father's rifles and I have never shot this particular rifle (but I do have my own 7mm Mag that I've been shooting since I was 14) and I can go to the Bass Pro in Harlingen for ammo if I need to. I'd probably look for 160-175 gr ammo loaded with a good bullet and would have to sight in. My question is which would be the better option? Use the 308 which I know I can hit with and look for a shot where I can place the bullet at the base of the ear or go with the 7mm. I know neither rifle is ideal but my 375 H&H and 9.3x62 are both up in Athens TX and that is an 8 hr drive each way. Considering the hunt needs to be done in the next 2 weeks I can't go get my bigger guns.

So, for a cow nilgai (I will intentionally pass on a big bull) would those with actual experience suggest the 308 or the 7mm? Any input of advice is appreciated.

Your 308 will do the job,no problem. I have killed Nilgai with a .243 Male and Female, get some good ammo that shoots in your rifle and your Golden. Rio7

Buddy went down and killed one with a 7mag and Federal Premium ammo I think was Partition. Had zero issues

I'd take the 308. The 130 TTSX wouldn't be my first choice but it will probably work.

Keep us posted.


Okie John

Take the rifle you shoot best. Use a stout bullet - TTSX, A-frame, Partition, etc. I’ve killed several with a 7x57.

Last nilgai I killed was with a .303 British. One before that was with a 30-40 Krag. Both one shot. Both bulls.

What Rio7 and Bristced said are spot on!

Which bullet did you use in the 7x57? 160 Partition, per chance?

FC

I've Killed them with a 270 and a 300rum, use what you're comfortable with, I like a high shoulder shot.

I'm going to take the 220 Swift when I start running down to the land cut after the first good cold front.

I’ve seen the effects of a 130-136 mono at 3k out of a 308 on a lot of bulls…

Nilgai aren’t that hard to kill.

140 Partition, 160 A-frame and 170 Sierra pro-hunter. Used 140 Trophy-bonded from a .280 Rem

Like any other non-dangerous animal, put one right behind the front leg. WTF do you not get?

Those of you with experience, isn't the thoracic organ anatomy in nilgai different than most ungulates? Something like lower and more forward? Or am I off base?

You missed the entire point of my question IDIOT. I did not ask where to hit one. I was asking about the best tool for the job from people with experience with nilgai which you obviously don't have. I didn't ask for input from a moron in WI, I asked for input from experienced hunters. Go play in traffic fool

You are correct. Basically a straight line up on the front leg will get you into the heart area. Do not shoot one “right behind the front leg” as the “expert “ stated. Rule one, if you don’t know STFU.
I have killed mine with a 270 Winchester shooting 140 gr Swift A Frames and a 300 Win Mag using Barnes X and TTSX bullets.

Some say nilgai meat is exceptionally good. For those who have eaten it, what are your opinions? What does the meat compare to?

My opinion is that nilgai is better than a cow elk.

Only a sample that I can recall.
So much "rub" and sauce that all I could taste was
rub and sauce

Too bad that the deer here don't have bulk and
minimal headgear like a nilgai.
Wouldn't be near the drama about hunting

I’ve eaten all sorts of game -Oryx, blackbuck, elk, moose, etc and I prefer nilgai. Ground nilgai will make the best chili you have ever eaten.