Plains Game Ammo

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hbibicoffvii

hbibicoffvii

New member
Headed to Crusaders for my first ever African safari this May. Putting together a collection of ammo to see what my M70 Super Grade in lords caliber likes best. Looking for recommendations. Only plains game. Tons of info on PG bullets out there, so figured i'd pop my cherry on the FE Society asking for advice from those that have been there.
Current Line up:

Nosler Partition 200
Nosler Accubond 180, 200
Barnes LRX 190
Barnes TTSX 180
Unknown Munitions Barnes LRX 190s

Anything else I should add? Any of the above listed should be removed?
 
I personally would stay away from partitions. Most plains game you have to shoot forward into the shoulder and I like something that holds together better and drives through the bone better.
 
Lehigh Controlled Chaos, massive damage and deep penetration. All I am taking on an upcoming Impala cull hunt. Have yet to track anything.
 
@hbibicoffvii - I think @Terry Houin would tell you whatever your rifle spits best, so do a ladder shoot at the range and see what happens. My first year on the FE Hosted Safari I used Hornady ELD-X 200 GR, and had good fortune, I think a great energy transfer bullet. The second year on the trip I took Master Chief Houin’s advice and compared many, and my 300 WinMag spit the Barnes TTSX 180 GR best, and so I shot that, and had amazing results, and think it penetrated better - didn’t leave any in the bush, so that’s good. That will be my round of choice this year as well - you first week or second?
 
wburns said:
I personally would stay away from partitions. Most plains game you have to shoot forward into the shoulder and I like something that holds together better and drives through the bone better.
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Could not disagree more on this. The Partition, particularly the 200gr .30 caliber, is one of the most proven-reliable game bullets ever devised. I’d far prefer a Partition over the Accubond for plains game.

TSX won’t let you down, either.

Honestly, any controlled expansion bullet is probably going to be okay. Learn to shoot over sticks- that’s probably the most crucial skill when it comes to plains game hunting.
 
keithwoodfl said:
Could not disagree more on this. The Partition, particularly the 200gr .30 caliber, is one of the most proven-reliable game bullets ever devised. I’d far prefer a Partition over the Accubond for plains game.

TSX won’t let you down, either.

Honestly, any controlled expansion bullet is probably going to be okay. Learn to shoot over sticks- that’s probably the most crucial skill when it comes to plains game hunting.
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Main reason I don’t like them in Africa is a lot of your shots are close compared to here in US. I just never found them to perform well up close.
 
I'm taking my 338winmag with 230gr Norma Oryx to Africa. Where I'm going all the shots will be less than 200yds.

If I were going to an area with potential of longer shots I would take my 300win loaded with 200gr Accubonds. Thats my go to load on elk and mule deer.
 
My Dad and I went to Namibia for a plains game hunt in 2024, he brought a pre-64
.30-06 and and I brought your same rifle (super grade M70 in the lords caliber). Both of us shot 180gr Barnes TSX and they performed flawlessly! If your rifle shoots them well I wouldn’t think twice about the TSX or TTSX
 
lynch.kevina said:
@hbibicoffvii - I think @Terry Houin would tell you whatever your rifle spits best, so do a ladder shoot at the range and see what happens. My first year on the FE Hosted Safari I used Hornady ELD-X 200 GR, and had good fortune, I think a great energy transfer bullet. The second year on the trip I took Master Chief Houin’s advice and compared many, and my 300 WinMag spit the Barnes TTSX 180 GR best, and so I shot that, and had amazing results, and think it penetrated better - didn’t leave any in the bush, so that’s good. That will be my round of choice this year as well - you first week or second?
Click to expand...
I'll be at Crusaders 5/11-5/22. Not a FE Hunt. Wife agreed to a 10 year anniversary Safari years ago, and I never let her forget it.
 
@hbibicoffvii

I hear that trolley car goes both directions on Main Street….

I promised my better half I would take her to Africa “someday” as she would enjoy it as much as I am….and now I’m taking her.

We will be in Krueger National at some fancy-pants spot @Tony Caggiano hooked me up with for a handful of days, then Cape Town to do some wine and other adventures (maybe sneak in an off book suppressed .22 penguin shoot down by the harbor, you never know) while you are at Crusader, and then connecting with @Charlie Benton and the full crew for the trip at Crusader, so like attack subs, hot bunking after you, so make the bed!

The Pringle Family are amazing, Crusader is fun, truly hope you enjoy!

The logistics on this start to feel like a Rolex Daytona 4130 movement, but it’s Africa so it may be more like what I heard resides in a Swatch…or an Omega, but I’ll defer to OWG on the latter.


hbibicoffvii said:
I'll be at Crusaders 5/11-5/22. Not a FE Hunt. Wife agreed to a 10 year anniversary Safari years ago, and I never let her forget it.
Click to expand...
 
keithwoodfl said:
Could not disagree more on this. The Partition, particularly the 200gr .30 caliber, is one of the most proven-reliable game bullets ever devised. I’d far prefer a Partition over the Accubond for plains game.

TSX won’t let you down, either.

Honestly, any controlled expansion bullet is probably going to be okay. Learn to shoot over sticks- that’s probably the most crucial skill when it comes to plains game hunting.
Click to expand...
Bought the Spartan Precision sticks for my NM oryx hunt this past July and damn that was a rodeo. Once the snow settles over the next 2 months I plan to shoot a bunch off them.
 
Excellent approach - I did the same my first trip and will likely do it the same until given a reason to change - when asked what I was there to shoot, I said “good ones”, let’s go find those, what is presented is what we will take - that said, fond memories of my kudu shots, and my Nyala - zebra, are assholes

hbibicoffvii said:
Kudu, zebra, Nyala are the goals, but gonna take whatever comes up and just enjoy the whole process. Trying to just keep an open mind
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I took a 30-06 shooting 165gr Partitions to SA in August. Shots ranged from quartering Kudu at 150 yards, head on black wildebeest at 200, shoulder shot on a blue wildebeest at 200, gemsbok at 300, and several yardages in between. The Partitions killed everything.

I would not hesitate to use Partitions out of the Lord’s Caliber
 
hbibicoffvii said:
Headed to Crusaders for my first ever African safari this May. Putting together a collection of ammo to see what my M70 Super Grade in lords caliber likes best. Looking for recommendations. Only plains game. Tons of info on PG bullets out there, so figured i'd pop my cherry on the FE Society asking for advice from those that have been there.
Current Line up:

Nosler Partition 200
Nosler Accubond 180, 200
Barnes LRX 190
Barnes TTSX 180
Unknown Munitions Barnes LRX 190s

Anything else I should add? Any of the above listed should be removed?
Click to expand...
I agree with Sweet T via @Godfather, find what your specific rifle likes best and stick with that. The TTSX and A-Frames would be where I started. I'll also recommend the Federal Premium Swift Scirocco II 180s. I've had great success with this round this fall/winter on whitetail and hogs.

Congrats on talking your wife into an African safari for your anniversary. If you're looking for something the wife might enjoy midday between your morning and afternoon hunts, have your PH take you guys into Bedford for coffee and dessert at The Duke of Bedford hotel. The hotel is actually really nice and has a great courtyard that's connected to a bakery called Apprentice Deli. De Oude Fabreek in Bedford is a nice spot for a meal - nothing fancy, but cool setting and good food.
 
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