Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Bullet for Oryx?

Ive shot Oryx with a number of rifle/bullet combos from .303 British ( ) up to .375 H&H...they all worked. What seemed to work best was a .30-06 and a .300 Win Mag with well constructed bullets...kinda why I leaned my earlier answer to the OP towards the 7 mag and 160 gr. bullets. Pretty sure bet.....We were shooting 165s in the .30 cals....except the .303, it was a 180....

That 7 mag and scope combo the OP mentioned oughta be fine, especially as he is familiar with the scope through long use..

Ingwe

Ok then, I'll take the 30-30 for those 39 yard running shots though the brush;-)=

Thanks, it was very helpful.

The heavier 7 mag bullet would be probably be the one to choose if the rifle likes it and it's accurate. Right now in typical springtime SW US fashion it's a shade breezy at 25 mph and gusts 10 over that at my place. Down in the basin it's no doubt the same, just more sand blowing around. If your set up for long range and it looks like those are the only shots you will get, the heavier bullet might take on the wind alittle better. If it turns out to be a close shot or the wind isn't a factor then it won't really matter either way.
Above all Reba....The best of Luck to You on this hunt and let us know how you do.
Eric

I shot both of my Oryx off range with a 30-06. The first one was shot at 100 yds. through both shoulders with 180 Gr. Hornady. The second one was shot at 75 yds. in the neck with a 180 Accobond.

Good luck on your hunt, they are alot of fun to hunt.

Reba,

Shot mine at about 100 yards with my .308 and a 180 grain Partition. Dropped in its tracks and bullet found under hide on far side.

Shoot me a PM if you are hunting Rhodes Canyon and I can get you a copy of the "official" hunt map they don't give out until you get there.

I will be hunting the Stallion Range March of 2011.

Reba

Well, can't say for New Mexico oryx, but for African Oryx, shoot the heaviest bullet your gun can accurately handle. Hittem right, they fold up like a wet rag. Hittem wrong, well....just sayin

maddog

What ever you use aim low .And have fun.

As jef270 said low and I'll add forward. I drew the white sands tag 5 yrs ago and my buddy shot his tight behind the shoulder but still missed the lungs. It took 2 more shots to finish the deal. Your scope is on the higher mag range but should work well for most of the unit as the oryx we were hunting ran to a open area so the could see a long way. So long range shots were needed for the oryx we hunted.
I used a 7mm weaterby with 175 partitions and my friend used a 300 dakota with 180 tsx. Both worked fine but those oryx are tough and neither was very impressed with the knockdown power of our guns. But both eventually gave up. Enjoy your hunt. Dean

I don't think a 7mag is overkill at all. I went on one hunt- as a guide a few years ago. The hunter brought two rifles; a 25-06 loaded with TSX and a 7mag loaded with Federal factory low-shok loads.

Against my advice, he opted for the 7mm. He shot his bull at 40 yds and then had to shoot it NINE more times. He would run out and we would hand him more ammo. It was pathetic.

I would much prefer a premium bullet out of a magnum. If you opt for a 308 using 180s, a regular bullet would probably be just fine.

In the 7mm with TSXs I would use the 140 or 160s interchangeably, there will be no real issue with either. I would ditch the powerful scope though- it is a VERY short hunt and you take what you get. Most animals were running or in brush that we saw.