Texas Nilgai - Rifle choices

[Muskox]

A lot of guys are using the 6mm Creedmoor.

 

[Redfishga1]

500 NE 85 yards East Ranch near Port MansfieldView attachment 677395

you win!!!

I plan on using .35 whelen.

 

[Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy]

You're in for a treat! They're one of my favorites to pursue. I've taken bulls and cows with .280 Rem, .375 H&H, and a 450/400 NE. Would not take the .280 Rem again even though it did the job. Heavier is better for these brutes although cows are a bit easier. They really can take a lot of punishment and do not blood trail well. Most of my shots were 100-200 yds. Closer and farther shots exist. Farther doesn't really interest me although I did hunt the King Ranch once when a group of "snipers" were out there. Wanted 500+ yd shots. The last bull I shot, I brought my single shot 450/400 NE with irons. We got to about 100 yds on that bull and it was close enough. 400 gr Swift A-frame walloped him. You won't be disappointed with bringing more gun.

 

[shootist~]

It wasn't a Creedmoor, but my guide's wife killed her bull with a 6.5 PRC. Bullet was a 127 gr Barnes LRX. And Royce said it was a complete pass through.

They indicated a higher failure rate with the 375 H&H than might be expected.
In an informational letter Sam Ilse (Lomas Chicas Outfitters) sent me last year he suggested lighter/faster (235-250 gr) bullets if using a 375.

I saw a number of nicely expanded Barnes bullets on the table at the skinning shed / cooler. Including a fresh 180 gr from a 300 WM pulled from a very nice Nilgai that morning. They have a preference for mono metal bullets, but mention a few others that work well.

I'm happy with the performance of my 338 WM with 210 gr TTSX and plan to use the same load again in December.

 

[Hunt anything]

First off, I have not hunted a nilgai but plan to one day. That being said I’ve hunted a couple of ranches that had them. Bending the owners ear they told me they have a minimum caliber of .300 WM. They also said their guides carry backup rifles and are required to shoot if they feel a bull is poorly hit and may get into the thick stuff.

 

[Red Leg]

This a hunt I plan on doing in the next couple of years myself. As for me I plan on using my 7x57. I shoot ot very well I have come to find and enjoy shooting it more than the others I have that are way more powerful but also painful.

If im told no by one outfitter I’ll find a different one until I hopefully find one that places more credence on marksmanship than horsepower.

I have hunted a lot of places with a number of different rifle calibers. I have killed sable and waterbuck with a 7x57 along with other antelope and deer. You can indeed kill a nilgai with one. With one, I would seriously estimate your chance of recovery is 75% less than with a .338 or .375. This is a function of post shot tracking rather than accuracy. Eventually you will find a guide who doesn’t care. After all you are paying a trophy fee whether the bull goes to the taxidermist or rots in the pasture.

 

[Jack Stevens]

A .350 Remington Magnum with 250grn or 275grn SP bullets would smoke that bad boy.

 

[Hagler.450Ex]

I'd just use a 9.3x57 or 62 on those. Does anyone think those Nilgai will ever become free-roaming there like deer?

 

[Tex .416]

I'd just use a 9.3x62 on those. Does anyone think those Nilgai will ever become free-roaming there like deer?

They already are.

 

[Mauser3000]

@Red Leg has offered sound advice. I have only taken one bull myself and been around a few others that have been shot. My advice would be the biggest/flat shooting rifle you can shoot accurately. And I would only use an all copper bullet likes Barnes TSX or Ttsx or the hornady CX. A 150 grain Barnes from a 7mm Remington magnum will break both shoulders and kill it readily.

The key is shot placement. I hunted on the Kennedy ranch which is big and open. You will be tempted to shoot at bulls at a few hundred yards. I would challenge you to get as close as you can on foot and enjoy the stalk. At 40 yards the cartridge is much less important.

 

[Red Leg]

I'd just use a 9.3x57 or 62 on those. Does anyone think those Nilgai will ever become free-roaming there like deer?

They have been for almost a hundred years. Like whitetail, they are easy to simply shoot behind a game fence at a feeder. Free range they are a truly great game animal to actually hunt.

 

[AimSmall]

Great excuse to use the 375. Not a hunt where your PH is going to back you up.

Still, use a quality bullet. If he turns to run you might want a lot of penetration.

Take a lot of ice chests.

Best of luck!

 

[pilar]

They have been for almost a hundred years. Like whitetail, they are easy to simply shoot behind a game fence at a feeder. Free range they are a truly great game animal to actually hunt.

Amen! A truly wild open space nilgia hunt, spot and stalking them in the daylight is the only sporting way to hunt them, I truly despise the way people hunt them with thermal scopes and canned AR platforms and think they accomplished something sporting
But to each their own, they are tough and definitely need different shot placement according to the caliber you’re shooting , with as expensive as the hunts have gotten
Or it’s a OIL hunt I would say leave the 7x57 at home , 30-06 180gr or 300 mag with a barns or something bonded, 375 with 250-270gr , same shot as African plains game

 

[Green Chile]

I love the 7x57 as do many others here and have used it a lot in the States and Africa...but I would encourage you to go heavier if you can for nilgai. My 7 STW with 210 grain bullets broke the shoulders and it still turned into the tall grass and lost us for a few hours...found it dead in the tall grass. I would not use the 7 STW again for nilgai and it's a lot more gun than the 7x57. I wouldn't even recommend the 300 win mag although it's probably a good minimum. 338, 35 and 375 are great options for nilgai on the large ranches.

 

[Hagler.450Ex]

I did a little investigating online, looking at pictures of the big bulls. I'm still sticking with no less than a good heavy 9.3 diameter at 'least', with good SD....a good Woodleigh. Velocity needs to be kept 'not too fast' and drive through and break whatever is in the way. No need for shots at more than 100 paces. .375 would be ok if bullet holds together good at velocity. Big one in one of the pictures looked like he begs for a .450/400 blue nose but don't think that's needed, he was a magnificent specimen. Good Woodleigh in a 9.3, even a 9.3x74....any 9.3 for that matter. Something equivalent or within that range....and on up, at one's choosing. I've heard they are tough.

 

[Green Chile]

I think this one was about 450 lbs…

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I think the biggest problem are a lot of guides and Texas hunters don’t understand ballistics and proper bullet construction for the job and don’t understand the difference in vital location. I’m willing to bet a large majority of their hunters use a cup & core type bullet, go cheap on ammo and/or use the same bullet they use for their Texas Whitetail. I’ve me more than one guide (including for nilgai) who doesn’t like an exit wound or finding the bullet under the off side hide and has suggested something that grenades like a ballistic tip/berger, or your std Corelokt and American Whitetail.

l’d suggest a heavy for caliber, premium bonded or mono-metal bullet. If you shoot your 7mag well, shoot a heavy 175gr bonded/mono metal bullet so you get an exit and break both shoulders when you punch for the vitals. I’m always an advocate of making additional holes until your animal is on the ground. I’ve double tapped more than a few animals and learned that lesson the hard way.

Personally, I’d grab my 300WM or 375 but I like both and am very confident with them. I have zero love for a 7mag. I sold my 338WM to a buddy specifically for a Nilgai hunt, but that would’ve been a good option.

 

[NDWoods]

I used 300 PRC with custom loaded Barnes 190 LRX. I would recommend 300 WM and up if at all possible. They are a big tough animal. They are being killed with smaller calibers no doubt but that does not make them the right choice.

 

[Wiley64]

I shot mine with my 7 mag with Remington core lokt

 

[Capehunter1]

338 win mag one shot he went 50 yards. My guide recommended 338 and bigger with TSX bullets which I used.