what's the best 30 cal 200 grain bullet for heavy game?

[Dand]

I know this is for Africa but I thought I'd find more folks with experience with large game here.

I've drawn a permit to take a cow American Bison. I plan to use my 300 Win Mag rifle. I was planning on using Nosler 200 gr partions. I get very good accuracy with them but haven't taken any game with them. I've taken close to 20 caribou with the 180 partition, and 2 small moose. All good performance. I took 1 other small moose possibly with a 200 gr Speer hot core - had a mix of bullets that day and don't know what hit him but at 40 yds he was down quick.

In a conversation with an experienced bison and brown bear hunter, he warned me away from the 200 Nos Part - said he'd seen them break up too much on brown bear. He suggested the Swift A-Frame in 200 gr.

Went to order A-frames but Midway is out. Ordered a selection of Woodleigh, Speer Hot Core, Speer Grand Slam for practice and possible use.

I'm interested in comments on real life experience with various bullets. I also have 200 and 220 Noslers, 220 Hornady, 220 Sierra to load if I want.

Yea a 223 behind the ear will do the job but our law requires 2000 foot pounds at 100 yards, I must be prepared for a chest shot, and I may be hunting in temps well below zero.

Suggestions and recommendations? 

[mauser98us]

I'vev had good luck with the Barnes X

[BBF]

My very first bull moose was shot broadside at approx 50 yards with a 200 gr Speer Spitzer from a 300 WinMag. The bullet was found under the  offside hide.

After I switched to the 30-06 I continued using the same bullet for additional moose and deer.  I would have no hesitation using it on a bison.

Out of the bullets you have bought, I'm only familiar with the Speers, pick the most accurate lot and use them.

[JJHACK]

I've probably shot 30 bison and never used anything more then a 30/06 with a 165 grain bullet. Never failed in any way, and never needed more. I've also killed and seen killed much bigger animals then that in Africa with the same combination. Bull Eland are bigger and they die just as easy with the 165grain TSX from a 30/06.

The 300 mag should be fine with any bullet that will retain most or all it's weight

[Dand]

thanks folks.  Appreciate the encouragement. While I'd love to use this hunt as an excuse to get a 35 Whelen or 375 H&H, the funds just aren't there considering the expenses I'll have doing the hunt. I'm pretty confident with the 300 but have never recovered anything but a very few fragments of a 180 gr speer that hit the neck of a bull caribou. I see good reports on these Woodleighs and they are bonded so I'll see how they do on paper and maybe go with them. Woodleighs were a lot more affordable than the A-frames.

JJ, after I posted this I found your thoro discussion of the tsx and a few other premium bullets in Africa. It is a help. I have fiddled with some of the older x bullets with very good accuracy and have some of the blue coated x bullets but I think they are all 180 gr. Haven't got 'round to messing with x bullets much since I get great accuracy under an inch to 1.3 in and excellent performance with more conventional bullets.

Guess its time to start loading and practicing.

[JJHACK]

TSX bullets don't follow the rules with SD and other more common thoughts about penetration and bullet choice.

The TSX is best in a light for bore diameter,  driven as fast as your cartridge can push them.  

The 165-180 TSX is going to be better then the 200-220 grain weight.  I' would likely choose the 165. You cannot blow that bullet up as you can a simple cup and core bullet. It will not limit it's penetration as you will with a bonded core bullet.

It will drive through like an expanding solid and out penetrate anything else made except a solid. It really turns your rifle into the next level or cartridge size in performance. It makes a 30/06 shoot with more killing power then the 300 mag using a cup and core bullet etc.

I don't care for any X bullet design made prior to the TSX. I would not shoot them for free!  However the TSX has had the little bugs and pressure issues solved. This new TSX shoots like a dream and works even better on game.

[Dand]

JJ good points on the old x bullets.  Maybe I'll burn them up in practice. From my reading it does seem that the TSX doesn't have as many complaints as the older stuff. I sure like the concept of the relief cuts on the shanks vs the old style. Thanks

[us920669]

I'm sure your hunt has come and gone, but go to SavageShooters.com, Big Game Hunting, Is 6.5 Enough for Elk.  On Pg 3, pretty far down, watch 6.5 Grendel vs. Buffalo.  Continuing this very good discussion, let me say that my first African hunt was in my Hawk Custom Bullet phase.  They are not hard, in fact so soft that they don't break up but just blob up and continue on their merry way.  My PH was aghast, but everything I shot died very nicely, including the 300 lb warthog who was almost shot clean through.  That was 300 H&H Mag, 200 gr bullet.  Next time, I took a 30-06 and fired 181 gr RWS TUG, a very hard bullet.  The PH was delighted, and they also worked very well - placement is everything - but one stopped in the heart of a Bull Eland shot broadside, or maybe just made one hole.  Cleaning a Bull Eland is not conducive to finding bullets, and one of the guys might have figured it was good mojo and pocketed it.  Same PH (Zimbabwe) said they were being urged not to let people shoot Elands with anything less than 7 Mag. If you are interested in big beasts, consider a 338 Win Mag.

[BBF]

Let's have an update on the hunt please!

[Lloyd Smale]

quickest kill ive made on a bison was with a 250 grain cast hp out of a 4 5/8s ruger superblackhawk. Buffalo took two steps and dropped dead. I cant imagine feeling undergunned with a 300 mag using 180 partitions. Theres nothing in north america i wouldnt hunt with that combo and theres only a handfull of animals in the whole world that it wouldnt take care of.