Bullet and grain recommedation for nilgai hunt

[stickman]

I dont shoot them behing the shoulder. Shooting them quartering to you or a frontal shot will be good. I have killed a few of these critters and I have found that you can dump them in their tracks on a frontal shot. Either the crease in front of the shoulder or straight on is my preference. Some may not agree but it is a high percentage shot in my opinion. As for the bullet weights, as said above they can be killed with as little as a 140 grain but at least a 180 is a good start.

[Rounder]

180gr well made bullet, like accubond, fail safe or bear claw.

Stay the h*** away from ballistic tips, I like them for deer/hogs but not Nilgai

What's the reasoning behind not liking ballistic tips for nilgai?

Thanks for the info.

[Russ81]

They're made to fragment on impact, which on thin skinned and smaller animals is fine as it will be like a hand grenade in the body cavity.

Nilgai on the other hand you have to plow thru 1" thick hide, muscle and heavy bones, the bullets I like will deform and do fine but they will shatter that bone, basically doing what the ballistic tip will do with more success of a pass thru. I know some guys use them but it's in the super magnums... Weatherby .300's and up and shoot alot.

[Rounder]

They're made to fragment on impact, which on thin skinned and smaller animals is fine as it will be like a hand grenade in the body cavity.

Nilgai on the other hand you have to plow thru 1" thick hide, muscle and heavy bones, the bullets I like will deform and do fine but they will shatter that bone, basically doing what the ballistic tip will do with more success of a pass thru. I know some guys use them but it's in the super magnums... Weatherby .300's and up and shoot alot.

Ok, that's kind of what I thought but was just curious for my own knowledge.


So based on your previous post, you think the 180 grain Accu bond would be a good choice correct?

[Russ81]

Yea it's pretty much a fail safe with a polymer tip. Good flight, great factory accuracy and a proven, reliable bullet. Only reason I want a .375 H&H is because if a 180gr. Accubond is good a 300gr. Accubond ought to be awesome

[Rounder]

Yea it's pretty much a fail safe with a polymer tip. Good flight, great factory accuracy and a proven, reliable bullet. Only reason I want a .375 H&H is because if a 180gr. Accubond is good a 300gr. Accubond ought to be awesome

If I can find some 200 grain bullets would it be worth my while to take a look at them?

Thanks again for the help and sorry for all the questions. I have not gun hunted since I picked up a bow about 15 years ago and have never had the chance to nilgai hunt so my knowledge on this is minimala best.

[Russ81]

What caliber you shooting? Most .30 caliber rifles will shoot flat with the 180gr but not the 200gr.

The reason I went 180 on my .30-06 was zeroed in at 200yds I was only 2" high at a hundred and about 2" low at 300yd. So if I wasn't sure of the range (and back up a hunter I sometimes couldn't be) all I ha to was hold center mass and be able to hit the target.

It's amazing how much less guess work there is with an extra 50yds of sighting in before a hunt.

[Kingslayer]

7mag all day long

[Rebel_]

Haven't hunted them, but I would go with a heavier, well constructed bullet.

[bbuck8]

My last nilgai was 2 years ago. Shot him straight on at 75 yards in the chest with my 300 weatherby using 180 grain nosler partitions. He ran exactly zero yards. I also heart shot one with same set up 10 years ago and he only went about 40 yards. Shoulder shot one before that with 300 win mag and 165 grain bullets and he may still be alive!!!! Bigger is better and I'm not a fan of that big shoulder. Vitals are very low and back a little.

[JW]

7mag all day long

And generally long blood trails all night long...

[Rounder]

What caliber you shooting? Most .30 caliber rifles will shoot flat with the 180gr but not the 200gr.

Ill be shooting a .300 Win Mag.

[gettin closer]

My dad has used my 7mm ultra mag the past 3 years when he went after nilgia. We use the Remington 150gr scirocco ammunition. Every year the bullet has passed through the closest shoulder/shouler blade, body cavity and the opposite shoulder/shoulder blade. 2 out of 3 years the bullet has been found just under the hide on the far side when we are skinning. 1 year it was less than an inch from touching the hide in the far shoulder. 2 shots were made at 175-200 and the 3rd shot was just over 250.

Seeing as how a 300 can pack more of a punch I see no reason why the same ammo wouldn't work for you. This ammo mushroomed out and had about a 95% weight retention when he pulled it out. It was very impressive. (some meat was lost due to shock in the area)

[JW]

My dad has used my 7mm ultra mag the past 3 years when he went after nilgia. We use the Remington 150gr scirocco ammunition. Every year the bullet has passed through the closest shoulder/shouler blade, body cavity and the opposite shoulder/shoulder blade. 2 out of 3 years the bullet has been found just under the hide on the far side when we are skinning. 1 year it was less than an inch from touching the hide in the far shoulder. 2 shots were made at 175-200 and the 3rd shot was just over 250.

Seeing as how a 300 can pack more of a punch I see no reason why the same ammo wouldn't work for you. This ammo mushroomed out and had about a 95% weight retention when he pulled it out. It was very impressive. (some meat was lost due to shock in the area)

There is a Nilgai guide on this thread that might disagree with you. He's saw more than 3 hit the ground...

[gettin closer]

I forgot to mention that all 3 nilgia were recovered exactly where they were standing. The guide said that he has seen the animals run after being hit with 30-338 and he has seen them fall dead with a 270 mag. The trick is shot placement. These animals have the vitals further forward than white tale. You really have to get into the shoulder to get in the middle of the good stuff.