Africa trip-Nosler accubond or Partition?

[rvtrav]

 Hello to all,
 
 This topic may not be the best place to post this question, but it seemed folks with the most experience within the caliber would see it here.
 
 For starters, I am going on my dream hunt-South africa, for (at least now) plains game, Kudu, Gemsbuck, Blesbuck, warthog.
 
 I bought a .375 Ruger that I've been planning on taking (the outfitter recommended a "heavy rifle", and a "flat rifle") so the .375 is my heavy rifle, I've been doing some load development, and some shooting with the gun.
 
 Now I am loading for the trip specifically, Fortunately the rifle is pretty accurate with most everything I've shot in it, not finicky at all really.
 
 My Outfitter recommended Premium bullets Nosler partitions, swift A frames etc, but from what all I've been reading the game animals aren't particularly tough, or thick skinned and the partition tends to punch on through and not leave a good blood trail (taken with a grain of internet salt, of course) and so my question is, for those of you with .375 experience, would the partitions work fine, or would you have any reservations about using them, or have a decided preferance for accubonds? I have both 260 gr partitions and accubonds, as well as some Hornady 270gr spitzers, and some sierra 250 gr spitzers, also I've loaded and shot Hornady 300 gr Round nose through the rifle as well, would they be too tough/heavy constructed for what I'm hunting?
 
 I guess all these new fangled bullets (and the hype that goes with them) gives the shooter/reloader too many options to fuss about.
 
 Thanks in advance, Rvtrav   

[bulletstuffer]

I have not been to Africa but have shot many deer with 300 grain partitions and it has done more than just punch holes in them.  The only shot that did not exit was a running deer about 90 yards away.  It was quartering to the left and I shot center of the back leg through the bone, through the chest cavity, through the front shoulder sticking just under the skin on the off side shoulder.


If I was going after really big game and wanted an almost guaranteed pass through I would use the swift a frame bullets as they build an incredible bullet IMO.  I'm not as much of a fan with the accubonds but that's just me.


I just spoke with a guy at the range that is going to africa this year and he is also taking a 375 and said he will be carrying the swift bullets in his gun.


If you are reloading your own bullets make sure you chamber each round before you go so you know they feed properly.


Best of luck on your dream hunt!


Bulletstuffer

[Graybeard]

Anyone telling you Nosler PTs don't cut a wide path thru game destroying any vital organs they contact and then exit leaving a good blood trail is someone you do NOT want to be getting advice from.

I'll never make a trip to Africa but if I did I'd just about bet you that PTs would be my bullet of choice for an expanding bullet. PTs work every time and are still the bullet the rest compare themselves to when claiming premium bullet status.

The soft front half expands violently and the rear half keeps on going and seldom fails to exit. For a good blood trail you want an exit hole and PTs pretty much always exit. They also expand.

[rvtrav]

 Thanks, Bulletstuffer and Greybeard.
 
  I've had really good success with partitions in the past, and my deer hunting personal Nosler favorite was the discontinued nosler solid base, they were (and due to stocking up some time ago) still continue to be an excellent deer bullet for me.
 
 I have a lot of confidence in the partition, but after reading some articles about africa online I wanted some more feedback reguarding the PTs in heavier calibers before loading and taking them with me. I can take anything I want, but I can shoot only one at an animal at a time. Since I've got alot riding on this trip, (you pay even if you wound and loose the animal) I really wanna be sure, you guys have re-affirmed my ideas of what would be first choice.
 
 Thanks again, Rvtrav

[Oday450]

You are wise to look for a bullet that will pas through, especially for the herd animals.  All of those hooves hide blood spoor mking it difficult to track.  Some of the plains game animals are in fact a little tougher than those found in the US.  Zebra and blue wildebeest for example.  Eland is another.  Both the Nosl;ers and Swifts will pass through all of the smaller plains game up through kudu.  They may or may not on zebra and wildebeest and probably not on eland unless it' broadside and close.

Either of those you have mentioned will work fine.  You might also consider the 270gr TSX in the 375.  I use a 375 H&H with 270 gr TSX and 75 gr of RL15.  I've had one shot kills on 18 animals and all were pass throughs.  An eland took three shots - he was dead with the first but would not go down.  SInce they can cover ground rapidly, I kept shooting until he went down.  Two of the three were pass throughs on an 1800 pond animal.  The third was found under the hide on the off side - the only TSX I've ever recovered.

I'd suggest trying the Noslers,  Swifts and the Barnes TSXs and pick the one that shoots the best in your rifle. All are very good bullets.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  When we went to South Africa, I took partitions...200 grain for my .300 and 300 gain for the .375...Killed almost everything with the .300 but one waterbuck...used the .375 on that..I like accubonds for some of my hunting here in the mt.s and plains, but I am with Graybeard, I would load partitions and never look back..If I were leaving tomorrow, those are the two guns I would take and the bullets I would use...My pal on the first trip had a Serria from a 7mm break up on an Oryx shoulder...he got it but, next trip took a .338 with 250 partitions...The only bullet I recovered in two trips was from the .300...hit a wildebeast in the left shoulder as he faced me, and the bullet was recovered in the opposite hip...he ran maybe 50 yards....As Graybeard said, everyone else is trying to do what John Nosler did 50 years ago...some may be as good, but none are better for my $..

[Graybeard]

When Nosler discontinued the Partition bullets in .375" bore several years back the price on them went absolutely thru the roof. Folks wanting them were paying totally outrageous sums for them. Now that they are back I imagine Nosler is selling them as fast as they make them.

[Lloyd Smale]

i dont have any experience with the 375 but ill say this. In general some of the largest exist wound ive seen in deer pigs and bear came from partitions. An example was crop damage shooting last year. I have an 8mag bdl that was given to me by my sister when her husband was killed in a car wreck. I shoot 200 grain partitions in it. one night last fall i shot 3 deer in a group about as fast as i could rack the bolt. range was about 200 yards. Now these were small deer and if a partition was going to pensil through it would have been on these little 80lb does. I was amazed when i walked up. All were hit about perfect right behind the shoulder and had exit wounds you could stick your entire fist into. Ive seen it even in the smaller calibers. Partitions may be a bit old school anymore but dont let anyone tell you that they arent as good as these new high tech bullets are.

[yooper77]

Nosler Partitions 100%, they are readily available and very inexpensive insurance for a successful hunt on any Continent.
 
yooper77

[Grumulkin]

Nosler Partitions or Accubonds?  It doesn't matter.  Furthermore, if you hit your animal right, there is no need for a blood trail.


I've taken a over 20 African animals using Speer cup and core bullets, Hornady XTP Mag bullets, Hornady SST/ML bullets and Hornady round nosed solids.  Bullet weights ranged from 158 grains on the low side to 300 grains.  The great majority of the animals were taken with one shot and the furthest any one got after being hit in the vitals was a Blue Wildebeest that went about 200 yards after a double lung shot with a 375 H&H Magnum (no fault of the bullet or the placement thereof).  Nothing I hit got away.


My criteria for what bullet I'll use is which one is the most accurate in my gun.  If a "premium" bullet gives me the best accuracy then I'll use it but if it doesn't, I'll be just as happy using a cheaper one.  For my next trip I'm planning on using Hornady 300 gr. FTX bullets that I got in bulk and cheap and Nosler 200 gr. Accubond seconds that shoot REALLY well.

[RevJim]

 I've only shot one animal with the Accubonds, a big Aoudad around 250yds away. I had a 180 AB going 3500fps out of a 338 RUM (long barrel) and the bullet 'acted like a partition". Up closer, I wouldn't know. All of the animals I've taken in South Africa/Namibia were either with the Barnes XBT or Winchester FailSafes ( a Barnes X type) from 300WM to .375 H&H. From shooting American game with Partitions, I could have used them too, I just like Barnes.
  My SIL tried to drive a 225 AB from a 35 Wheln AI into a 5pt elk last year, a hard angle from the hip to the far shoulder, and it dropped. As he bent over to pick up his pack, it got up and ran off. A mile later and several other guys shooting it in the guts, legs, his buddy dropped it with a .270 150 Fusion. The 225 AB has done big damage but had stopped pretty quick. I teased him as I I am the one who had the rifle made up for him, and I se Barnes TSX in mine. "IF" he had used either Barnes or Partitions, he may have had to shoot him again ( elk are unpredicatble) but either bullet would have penetrated farther. For "me" when going for big animals, or using smaller calibers, I go to Barnes TSX first, Partitions second. I will shoot other bullets on American game sometimes, but I would not on African game. You are right, you will pay for any animal you wound/lose. You want to break him down and your bullet "will" make a difference. I wouldn't worryabout long range shooting over there either, keep your shots in the "high percentage", one's you feel good about. Zebra are wonderful game animals, wild as March hares and about like shooting a stump! Blue Wildebeest can be as tough.
 Oh yeah, I have a friend who shot elephant, leopard and plains game in Zimbabwe, all with the Barnes 300 TSX in a .375 H&H! Both elephants were depredation, tuskless bulls, but he head shot both! Foos for thought. Have fun!

[Greg B.]

Another interesting option is that offered by A-square. They have bullets, cartridges and for that matter rifles designed specifically for African hunting.
Greg B.

[Mad Dog]

rvtrav,  I've hunted Africa twice.  Once in RSA and once in Zimbabwe.  The nosler partitions will do everything you want done.  One recommendation, to keep things simple, I'd just take the 375 for both a "heavy" and a "flat" rifle.  You can easily take animals out to 300 yds. with it.  Most shots over there[depending on where in RSA] are usually 200 yds. or less.  Remember one thing, if you draw blood, you will pay the trophy fee, so be judicious about your long range shooting.  Good luck.
 
Mad Dog

[drdougrx]

I think that Grumulkin has it right.  It really doesn't matter on those animals.  Based on your bag, I'd opt for the 260gr accubond and use it for everything.  It WILL hold together and have the necessary long range aerodynamics of the ballistic tip.  I've shot lots of big animals with AB and PT bullets and don't find much difference in killing power.  I used a 225gr TSX in my 35 whelen last Oct. in TX for nilgai (700lbs), Scim oryx (400ish pounds) and feral hog (200 ish pounds) just to try them....worked fine but....will use a PT or AB next time...which ever shoots better and I can buy in bulk.
 

[Don Fischer]

I have never hunted Africa and at this point' never will. But I have read a lot of what JJ Hack has had to say about bullet's. You probably know that although a skeptic at first, he considers the TSX the bullet but in larger calibres. Seems smaller calibres don't open realiably. He's aslo written abou the need for a bullet that penetrats clear thru and leaves a blood trail to follow. He says the plains game there roan in large herds and a wounded animal that takes off and doesn leave a blood trail becomes very hard to trac if you can track it at all. To many hoof prints to seperate a single animal.
With that in mind, my choice of bullet would be a bonded bullet just because I'm stuborn and just can't bring myself to use a TSX type bullet. If I did it would be the Hornady, only thing I have product loyality to. The Hornady bullet is not made fron copper, it's made fron the same guilding metal as cup and core bullet's. They claim you can simply chand thm out with the other bullet of that weight in that cal. I think Nosler might make it too and I think it is also made of guilding meal. The Barns is supposed to be made of copper, makes more fouling in te barrel, that was one reason they went to the groves around the bullet. I suspect that the plains game there might be tuffer also, JJ says so. But I'm not convinced a properly constructed cup and core from a proper cartridge won't penertate just as well. Because of what might be my missguided belief, I would choose the bonded bullet in a heavier cal. I believe that the penetration ox the TSX type bullet's comes from nothing more than they retain all their weight and the cup and core sheds weight. Relating to 30 cal bullet's, a TSX at 150gr that does not lose weight ends up at 150gr. A 180gr bullet at the same cal that loses 30% ends up weighting 126 grs, advantage TSX type. The retained weight difference is the advantage. Nosler claims 30% loss for the partition and their bonded. Hornady claims 10% or less for their bonded bullet. Take the same 180 gr bullet to start and make it a bonded bullet that does maintain 90% of its weight and in the end the bullet still 162grs, advantage bonded core.

[rvtrav]

Hello to all,
 
 Thank you all for your posts, and advice.
 Well, I'm back from the 'Dark Continent,' I took 260 gr Nosler partitions for the .375, chronographed at 2635 fps, the gun liked the load, (actually, I tried sierra 250s, hornady 270s, and hornady 300s, the gun shot them all very well) they performed excellent on all accounts.
 
 The only recovered bullet was in an Impala, on the far side, just under the hide, in a diagonal full length body shot, everything else was a pass-through, the longest shot was about 280 yds at a nice Gemsbok.
 
 I'll post some pics in the 'africa' forums section. I did use the .270 with 130 gr partitions on Impala, springbok, and a black wildebeast, they performed very well to, even on the wildebeast. he dropped in this tracks. I did however develop a great fondness for the .375 Ruger, and it got attention at the lodges everywhere I went. With the .375 H&H being a staple in Africa, a similar cartridge readily available turned some heads.
 
  Check out the pics in the Africa section, as I want to stay on topic as much as possible, Thanks again for all of the advice and opinions, it helped a great deal.
 
  I really had the trip of a lifetime!! anyone who likes hunting really should not pass up such a wonderful opportunity!! it wasn't all that expensive, and everything from the hunting, the quality of the animals, the accomodations, the food, and the hospitality was better than I could ever have imagined!
 
 Thanks Rvtrav