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Nilgai rifle/bullet combo?

Posted on 3/19/25 at 5:12 pm
Posted by Duckhammer_77
TD Platinum member
Member since Nov 2016
3002 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 5:12 pm
I have a chance at a Nilgai in about a month and I got the following ready to go:

257 Wby 115gr BTs @ 3200 fps
280 Ackley 160gr ABs @ 2800 fps
30 Nosler 180gr Berger @3050 fps

I might have time to work up 200gr partitions for the 30 Nos before the hunt. What says the OB?
Posted by Mstate
Birmingham
Member since Nov 2009
10386 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 5:19 pm to
I usually hunt Nilgai with a 300 win mag

The guides at king ranch have high end Lapua’s with badass scopes. I’ve only hunted there once but damn those are some fine rifles. Little outta my budget tho

The poster Rize is our resident Nilga expert so hopefully he shows up soon because he will be who you want to talk too
Posted by Rize
Spring Texas
Member since Sep 2011
18628 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 5:24 pm to
30 nosler. I know in the past some outfitters had a 30 cal minimum.

They are some tough critters and for some reason they don’t bleed much.
Posted by Duckhammer_77
TD Platinum member
Member since Nov 2016
3002 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 5:29 pm to
I got plenty of Retumbo and 7828ssc...looks like I'm starting a new work up for the 30 Nos tonight
Posted by Trevaylin
south texas
Member since Feb 2019
9567 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 5:32 pm to
I remember the king ranch had minimum calipers they would allow the guests to shot the big beasts.
Posted by Larry Gooseman
Houston
Member since Mar 2014
2755 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 6:22 pm to
quote:

I know in the past some outfitters had a 30 cal minimum.


Where I went in January ranch minimum 300 win mag
Posted by magicman534
The dirty dell
Member since May 2011
1795 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 7:06 pm to
I hunted them with a 300wsm 180gr accubond around 2950fps using h4831sc. Dropped him in his tracks. The ranch had a 30cal minimum.
Posted by oldskule
Down South
Member since Mar 2016
23148 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 7:50 pm to
Shoot him in the head with just about any bullet....don't ruin the meat!!!!!!!
Posted by SenseiBuddy
Ascension Parish
Member since Oct 2005
4740 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 7:52 pm to
Disclaimer: I’m no expert in nilgai

However in two weeks we are headed to Kenedy cty to hunt turkey and nilgai. For nilgai we will be using 156g Berger in a 6.5 PRC cartridge.

Fingers crossed
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
70920 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 8:05 pm to
quote:

might have time to work up 200gr partitions for the 30 Nos before the hunt.


Do you have them already? Partitions have been a bitch to get at anything approaching reasonable price
Posted by pdubya76
Sw Ms
Member since Mar 2012
6465 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 8:42 pm to
quote:

Do you have them already? Partitions have been a bitch to get at anything approaching reasonable price

Check the Nosler website for factory seconds. I buy them all the time and haven’t found anything wrong with them that hurts accuracy. I got 50 of the 270 115 ballistic tips for $21. Last year I bought a 100 of the 308 180 grain accubonds for $68 shipped.

Here are the 200 gr partitions in 308. $31 for 50. Nosler
This post was edited on 3/19/25 at 8:57 pm
Posted by highcotton2
Alabama
Member since Feb 2010
10334 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 8:53 pm to
quote:

The guides at king ranch have high end Lapua’s with badass scopes. I’ve only hunted there once but damn those are some fine rifles.


Does Lapua make a rifle? I thought they only made ammunition.
Posted by TexasHand
Mississippi
Member since Sep 2013
1355 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 8:53 pm to
The bullet is what matters….there’s no way I’d tote Bergers BUT that’s just me. The splash factor is too high. The ABs are the best bullet option so I’d roll with them.
Posted by GRTiger
On a roof eating alligator pie
Member since Dec 2008
68921 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 8:56 pm to
quote:

30 Nosler 180gr Berger @3050 fps


Im no big game hunter and hardly a ballistics expert, but this seems like it would kill anything that breathes.
Posted by LSUDUCKMAN67
DTB
Member since Sep 2020
1566 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 9:00 pm to
quote:

However in two weeks we are headed to Kenedy cty to hunt turkey and nilgai. For nilgai we will be using 156g Berger in a 6.5 PRC cartridge.


I’m curious on how this works out. Please keep us posted.
Posted by Got Blaze
Youngsville
Member since Dec 2013
9835 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 9:12 pm to
quote:

Does Lapua make a rifle? I thought they only made ammunition.

He probably meant the Lapua .338 magnum cartridge. Lapua makes bullets, brass, and ammunition CF & RF. Regarding Nilgai, that’s one animal you don’t want to be under-gunned. They can absorb lots of lead and run for miles.
Posted by Duckhammer_77
TD Platinum member
Member since Nov 2016
3002 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 10:26 pm to
I have a box of partitions already but never hurts to have more. Thank you!

Those 180 gr Bergers have been like an off switch on whitetail but I've watched YT videos of nilgai take a 50BMG still take a few steps.
Posted by OeauxMy
Member since Feb 2017
367 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 11:14 pm to
I hunted there two weeks ago. It was a heck of a time.

Guides had all suppressed 300 winmag’s. I brought my suppressed 30-06, loaded with 175 grain Federal Terminal Ascent. I took a 500lb bull at 250 yards with a single well placed shot. He went maybe 20 yards. That bullet did good work, I was really impressed.

Guides bullets were Barnes, I believe TSX.
Posted by Mr Breeze
The Lunatic Fringe
Member since Dec 2010
6658 posts
Posted on 3/19/25 at 11:19 pm to
The 300 wm 200g Nosler is how I started my Nilgai obsession, 15 years later ending with the rifle I used most, a Sako 270 wsm also Nosler ammo.

Really, just wanted to mention bringing snake boots, it will be warm enough by the time you get there, especially in the taller grass.

I wish you luck in your hunt. Keep in mind Nilgai don't get stupid and stare at you like whitetails; once they spot you, even a mile away across a pasture, they're running. Very rarely will stand still for any amount of time, you have 3-4 seconds to aim and fire.

Nothing like it, again good luck. First photo below wasn't my biggest but my first, and the one of which I'm most proud.





Posted by 257WBY
Member since Feb 2014
7169 posts
Posted on 3/20/25 at 6:24 am to
I wouldn’t shoot the Berger.
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