Hunting & Fishing nilgi hunting and bullet selection

[Jmilera]

Gents I am going on a nilgi hunt in south Texas and was wondering if you all had any experience with these animals? I have hunted elk, stagg, deer audads, gemsbuk. Will a 338 scenar out of a 338 lapua do the trick I shot a cull deer at about 120 yards through the vitals last year and the thing ran 50 yards with a 3 inch hole out of his exit side with lung, heart and ribs that was missing,this is why I am asking,
Thanks.

 

[dworrel]

Gents I am going on a nilgi hunt in south Texas and was wondering if you all had any experience with these animals? I have hunted elk, stagg, deer audads, gemsbuk. Will a 338 scenar out of a 338 lapua do the trick I shot a cull deer at about 120 yards through the vitals last year and the thing ran 50 yards with a 3 inch hole out of his exit side with lung, heart and ribs that was missing,this is why I am asking,
Thanks.

I went on a nilgai hunt a couple of years ago. I used a 300 WM with Hornady GMX bullets. Worked fine. I think the most important thing to know about nilgai is that once they start running they don't stop running until they hit a fence. I shot my bull on the run at 350 yards. The other I shot at 150 yards and was DRT. I saw it before it saw me. I think that is the key. They can be hard to kill. A 338 Lapua is plenty of gun.

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Shot placement is pretty important on these.

If you shoot it like a whitetail, you'll hit too far back. Trace a line up the front leg, place POI about 1/3 of the way up the torso, on that line. Preferably thru both shoulders if you can, he won't run far without wheels.

A lot like African game, their vitals are further forward than you are used to shooting. Come to think of it, auodad and gemsbok are about the same, I see you have shot those too.

338 is plenty, use a decent bullet, 300 WM with TSX works well for me.

 

[neiltus]

…they are extremely tasty.

 

[charger23]

338 will do it for sure. My group killed 3 a few months ago shooting 7mm mag with 150gr nosler bts. Probably coulda used more bullet but it does the trick. Your 338 won't do the trick necessarily if you shoot one in the ass. My experience is you rarely get one standing still so crank your power down on your scope and shoot a body length in front of a runner if you want a chance in taking one down. They are tough as shit animals. They are also delicious and make great looking mounts.

 

[h4everything]

The 338 will get it done for sure. Depending on where you are you might be shooting them while running. I have shot them with my 7 mag and 375 ruger. Both get it done but it all about bullet placement. Shoot them in the shoulder on the bottom third of the animal and they will die. If its a big bull there is a chance you may not get a pass through for a good blood trail. Knock em down and keep shooting until you know they're down.

And prepare yourself for the most absolute best game animal meat there is.

 

[Jmilera]

Thanks gents 338 lap will do it!