308 win for blue wildebeest

[matt85]

my dad decided he would like to take a blue wildebeest on our safari next year and he will be using his Remington 783 in 308 win. with that in mind, what would be the best factory ammo for the job? (reloading isn't his thing)

thanks
-matt

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Matt,
I'm a great fan of Barnes TSX or TTSX. If you can get them to group in your rifle, then they will get the job done. None of my hunters have ever been let down by Nosler Accubonds either.
Also, my personal opinion is do not go heavier than the 168gr'ers, especially in the Eastern Cape. My .308 is loaded with 130gr monolithic solids, and they flatten everything on the plains game list.
Its just my personal opinion, but I would stay away from the 180gr bullets. I don't believe that the .308Win has the powder capacity to give the cartridge enough legs.
Although they punch well above their weight in the "toughness" category, the .308 will smoke a Blue Wildebeest. Shot placement is critical on these beasts.

Best Regards,
Marius

 

[Poucher]

I say yes, the 308 win is perfectly capable to take wildebeest and you will have more chances if you keep the distances under 200 yds.
Norma produces high quality ammo I recommend you A-frame in 180 gr as the best choice, other options are the Alaska, Orix or Vulcan all in 180 gr.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Matt,
I'm a great fan of Barnes TSX or TTSX. If you can get them to group in your rifle, then they will get the job done. None of my hunters have ever been let down by Nosler Accubonds either.
Also, my personal opinion is do not go heavier than the 168gr'ers, especially in the Eastern Cape. My .308 is loaded with 130gr monolithic solids, and they flatten everything on the plains game list.
Its just my personal opinion, but I would stay away from the 180gr bullets. I don't believe that the .308Win has the powder capacity to give the cartridge enough legs.
Although they punch well above their weight in the "toughness" category, the .308 will smoke a Blue Wildebeest. Shot placement is critical on these beasts.

Best Regards,
Marius

+1, my son took down an Eland with his .308Win using 165gr North Fork bonded cores so I wouldn't hesitate to use them on Wildebeest. Use A-Frames or TSX/TTSX and your dad will be fine. Wildebeest do seem to have a lot of fight in them, but they will still fall with a hole in the their heart/lungs.

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

Matt

I'm with Phoenix Phil on this one, although I like the slightly heavier projectiles.. ( what can I say I'm a 180 man! ) especially in bushveld terrain with shots under 200. It hits like a freight train..

As Marius says though in long shot country 150 or 165 will probably be better..

I would most definitely hoe for an expanding bullet, swift a frame, or triple shock these controlled expanding rounds still gives you a wound channel, good hydrostatic shock all due to the controlled expansion...

Not to differ but I would not go for non expanding monolithic "solids" on this one... You will lack wound channel especially if you do not hit any bone and being a wildebeest it will test the rubber on your soles

Enjoy your safari!

My best always

 

[Code4]

Marius is spot on. A 165 premium bonded is perfect. Use the load that shoots the most accurately.

I used a .308 with 165 bonded (Spt) Woodleighs and hit my Blue Wildebeast square in the centre of the sternum. Their chest is shaped like the Titanic's bow (I didn't know that at the time) and the projectile travelled around the outside of the rib cage under the skin and ended up under the R scapular. No penetration of the chest was found and no blood trail. It ran 200 metres and we found it stone dead with no internal trauma. We assume the transfer of energy upon impact stopped its heart. It was one of those freak shots.

Front on, shoot it under the chin for a neck shot.

The recovered Woodleigh after impacting the sternum.



They are called 'The Poor man's Buffalo' for good reason.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Just to clear up,
My 130gr bullets in the .308 is GSC, which is an expanding solid. It is for this reason that I am such a fan of the expanding solids like Barnes TSX and TTSX, because you know that there will be some projectile to penetrate. I have just been let down too many times by lead core bullets.

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

Marius I was wondering about that I'm a huge Barnes fan myself, mostly still the older triple shocks.. these expanding monolithics are seriously good at penetrating allot of critter.. !

My best always

 

[Bushman10]

I am with @Marius on this one. I also use 130 grain solids in my .308 and have taken a number of Blue Wildebeest with them. Only difference is I use the non-expanding Impala brass solid. Most recent Blue success was at 350 meters with this point in the open plains of the Karoo.

 

[Divernhunter]

A 130 or 150gr Barnes TTSX will do the job just fine. So will a 165gr Swift A-Frame.

A 257Roberts with 120gr Swift A-Frames will do it also.

The BIG thing is to place the shot well. We always aimed to break a shoulder as well as pass thru the heart/lungs.
All were one shot kills with little/no tracking.

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

A 130 or 150gr Barnes TTSX will do the job just fine. So will a 165gr Swift A-Frame.

A 257Roberts with 120gr Swift A-Frames will do it also.

The BIG thing is to place the shot well. We always aimed to break a shoulder as well as pass thru the heart/lungs.
All were one shot kills with little/no tracking.

SHOT PLACEMENT, 100% on this especially on a wildebeest and especially on non expanding monolithics(the latter not ideal by any means... IMO)

I have hunted Eland with 130 Barnes trip shock on my 270 did it work yes... Ideal well I don't think the verdict is out on that... With shot placement virtually any caliber and projectile can kill or wound though, this is also true..

I just prefer something especially at our shooting ranges of 200 or less that can hold together yes, but that will create a slightly larger wound channel.

My best always.

 

[Double D]

Fur my two cents the .308 should do fine so long as you use a premium bullet that will penetrate. I shot a wildebeest with a 06 at a little over 50 yards with 180 grn partition a few years ago. It was over just as quickly as the first one I shot a long time ago with a .375. In my experience I don't think the .308 gives up anything to the 06 and that almost hurts to say as I have killed more game with the 06 than anything.

 

[tarbe]

I killed the bull elk in my avatar with a 308...150gr Barnes triple shock.

Broadside through the shoulder. Dropped in his tracks.

Was I lucky? Maybe...maybe not!

308 is plenty if you shoot a premium bullet, keep the range reasonable and most importantly, hit them well.


Tim

 

[35bore]

With the right bullet,,, there are not many critters I wouldn't harvest with a 308. It is (in my opinion) one of the best calibers created.

 

[duckman90]

As long he can put the round where he wants it i would say 180 Gr. should do the trick You could probably getaway with a 165gr if you like a nosler partition or something like that.

 

[Sika98k]

I say yes, the 308 win is perfectly capable to take wildebeest and you will have more chances if you keep the distances under 200 yds.
Norma produces high quality ammo I recommend you A-frame in 180 gr as the best choice, other options are the Alaska, Orix or Vulcan all in 180 gr.

As Poucher,I too would recommend Norma factory ammunition . It's great talking about different bullet heads terminal performance but the OP states that he is looking for factory ammunition recommendations as loading is not his thing.

 

[tarbe]

As Poucher,I too would recommend Norma factory ammunition . It's great talking about different bullet heads terminal performance but the OP states that he is looking for factory ammunition recommendations as loading is not his thing.

Barnes sells their Vor-TX line of ammo loaded with tipped triple shock bullets. Including 308 Win.

Just another option for the non-handloader.


Tim

 

[matt85]

thanks for the advice, my PH strongly recommends Barnes ammunition so its what my dad decided to pick up. if it shoots well then its what will go, if not then we will check out Norma and Nosler.

-matt

 

[Velo Dog]

matt85,

A PH friend I have known for about 12 years now (John Luyt) has a .308 that he rents to clients and he uses it for culling as well.

For clients, he seems to like the 180 grain Swift A-Frame.

I do not own a .308 caliber hunting rifle any more and, have only shot small game and blacktail deer with it, when I did have one.

I've shot a couple wildebeest on license and have culled a fair pile of them (mostly females) but not with that cartridge.

Therefore, I have no VALID opinion, regarding shooting a wildebeest with the .308.

Your Father is wise to consult and abide by his selected PH's recommendations in all things, including bullets, he will have the answer for sure.

Looks like you and your dad have done that already.

Safe Hunting and Good Luck,
Velo Dog.

 

[SHOEDOG]

I have a Remington Model 7 in 308 out of the custom shop that will shoot anything but 180s.I bought some expensive Federal ammo and it was all over the place.Don't remember what bullets were in them but they were a premium brand.
I was told by a Remington engineer that if I wanted to shoot 180 grains to buy an 06.
Just my 2 cents