300 Norma Improved/230 Berger and Africa

[snox801]

Why on earth would you ever shoot a mono unless you live in a crazy state like california that requires it? There is no advantage. I know people on here drink the hammer coolaid, but at the end of the day there is nothing special about them other than the owners are a paid sponsor of the site. If you want a tougher bullet than a berger, why not an Aframe or an accubond or a partition?

Sorry sir but you are misinformed. I have shot about everything and actually have nothing wrong with lead in my hunting bullet. But I can tell you some downfall of lead is it can come appart if driven hard. So you have to use an aframe like you said. Then your bc. Is garbage. So why not find a hammer that does everything. Works great for internal damage and still passes through. I can tell you so far hammers are the best I've seen on game. Kinda best of both worlds. So why would you shoot lead? I have no affiliation with hammer and have tried many different Bullets. I can tell you they are as honest as the day is long. They passed a very large order of big .375 for me to cutting edge because they said they were not ready and had to redo the design. It was good to 1500 but became unstable.
That went a long way in my book.

 

[snox801]

Also I can't blame this man for asking this question on Berger because I have had many guides in Texas say they just have issues on African game. Almost everyone has a bad story. Not saying they won't work and may work extremely well. But I can't believe it has no truth behind it if that many guides don't like them. That being said they will let you use them everywhere I've been because you pay if you draw blood.
I recently just did my 300 win mag in hammers from Berger for this same reason. One bullet to cover all bases.
I can say the 124hh does much better on African game than the eld did in my 6.5 creed.

 

[FURMAN]

Also I can't blame this man for asking this question on Berger because I have had many guides in Texas say they just have issues on African game. Almost everyone has a bad story. Not saying they won't work and may work extremely well. But I can't believe it has no truth behind it if that many guides don't like them. That being said they will let you use them everywhere I've been because you pay if you draw blood.
I recently just did my 300 win mag in hammers from Berger for this same reason. One bullet to cover all bases.
I can say the 124hh does much better on African game than the eld did in my 6.5 creed.

I certainly can not speak for everyone but my PHs only had a problem with Bergers out of ignorance. As in they had not been around them. I have honestly lost track of the number of game I have killed with Berger or personally witnessed and I have seen zero not do the job. I find it very difficult to believe I am just that lucky. I have on the other hand seen mono just blaze right through game without doing much damage. I don't like tracking. I have only seen two animals shot with a Berger run more than 30-40 yards and both of those were spraying blood everywhere. To each their own.

 

[UplandFreak]

Sorry sir but you are misinformed. I have shot about everything and actually have nothing wrong with lead in my hunting bullet. But I can tell you some downfall of lead is it can come appart if driven hard. So you have to use an aframe like you said. Then your bc. Is garbage. So why not find a hammer that does everything. Works great for internal damage and still passes through. I can tell you so far hammers are the best I've seen on game. Kinda best of both worlds. So why would you shoot lead? I have no affiliation with hammer and have tried many different Bullets. I can tell you they are as honest as the day is long. They passed a very large order of big .375 for me to cutting edge because they said they were not ready and had to redo the design. It was good to 1500 but became unstable.
That went a long way in my book.

Hammer bullets BCs arent that great brother - don't make them something they are not. Its not the best of both worlds and their BCs are way over stated. I have never seen a lead bullet come undone - even when pushed hard. It takes a light bullet at high velocities with an crazy tight twist barrel. I too have tried about every bullet out there and I have never seen a bullet kill like a berger. I supposed it doesnt matter to you with all those super long shots you take in Michigan?

 

[Rich Coyle]

Yup, all in the neck that was tossed!
Ive never seen anyone eat meat around a wound channel, so Im not sure where the concern comes from? Im 72 and going strong!
I'm not trying to be a wise guy, but help me understand if Im missing something?

Meat around a Hammer bullet hole can be eaten not tossed.

Congrates on "going strong" at 72.

You are missing the fact that I don't use lead bullets because the lead is not limited to the wound area.

 

[gillettehunter]

I was in africa last Spt. Used a 7 SAUM with 180 gr. bergers. I killed 14 animals including 3 eland. A Pattersons eland in Zambia made it perhaps 75-80 yds before he got a little weak and I hit him again. All of the others were 1 shot kills. You can read about my hunts here:
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/zambia-zambia-with-balla-balla-safaris.53377/
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/south-africa-zambia-back-to-rsa-zambia.52997/
Then just to tweak some people I started a thread on Berger's in africa. You can read about that here:
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/south-africa-zambia-back-to-rsa-zambia.52997/
Bottom line is that your going to be fine. The PH will make do with whatever bullet YOU decide to use. Its your hunt. Your paying the bills so shoot whatever bullet you feel most comfortable with. If your not a member on Africa hunting.com I suggest that you join. Lots of travel tips and things that will make your hunt less stressful. I have not hunted Botswana. Near its border tho. Likely that most shots will be under 200 yds. Most PH's prefer to get in closer to an animal. If you can show your PH that your competent then you may have some longer range shot opportunities.
Be sure to practice shooting off of shooting sticks. Likely how most of your shots will happen. Good luck.
Bruce

 

[werth338]

Plenty to digest here on both sides. Will read through links above as well. Definitely like Berger's. Hammer has my attention as the only mono I would want to running info that route.

 

[elkaholic]

Meat around a Hammer bullet hole can be eaten not tossed.

Congrates on "going strong" at 72.

You are missing the fact that I don't use lead bullets because the lead is not limited to the wound area.

I like Steve and I like Hammer bullets! I'm just saying, that personally, eating lead from an animal shot with a cup and core is a (1) on a 1-10 scale of my stress list

 

[HARPERC]

...Would I be better off working up something different like maybe a 215 Hammer or something else?.......

That's a long bullet-verify you have the twist to support that choice.

 

[elkaholic]

Steve. If you're following, I'm not going to mention "just spit the lead out, etc"!

 

[Wysongdog]

I was in somewhat the same situation last year. Went to SA this spring. Took my 28 and 6cm both shoot Berger hybrids exceptionally well but wasn't convinced they were the best bullet for Africa. Also took my 375 h&h. Sent the 28 and 375 to steve at hammer bullets. He did his work and both shot the hammers extremely well. Buddy of mine did the load work for the 6cm. Between the 3 of us hunters we killed 17 animals from jackal to eland and all were one shot kills. Longest shot was 376 shortest was 20. Ended up taking way too much ammunition lol. We did our part and put the bullets where they go and the bullets performed well. They aren't afraid to shoot thru the brush over there at all. That ended up being my deciding factor in the end not to take Berger's.

 

[Chris Melink]

Hunted Africa two years ago and between myself and my party we took 23 animals with my 6.5 creedmoor shooting 140 hybrids. Waterbucks, Black Wildebeast, Kudu, Zebra etc.. Never had any real problems. 230 will be perfect.

 

[Stgraves260]

Heading to Africa next year for plains game. Smallest being impala and largest an eland. Thinking about taking 300 Norma Improved that is dialed in with 230 gr Bergers at 2970 fps as a mild load.

I have read multiple places that PHs in Africa don't like Berger bullets to be used. Does anyone have any experience around Berger's in Africa especially the 230 hybrid? Would I be better off working up something different like maybe a 215 Hammer or something else?

Berger's will serve you well. Wouldn't change a thang.

 

[Gcan]

Heading to Africa next year for plains game. Smallest being impala and largest an eland. Thinking about taking 300 Norma Improved that is dialed in with 230 gr Bergers at 2970 fps as a mild load.

I have read multiple places that PHs in Africa don't like Berger bullets to be used. Does anyone have any experience around Berger's in Africa especially the 230 hybrid? Would I be better off working up something different like maybe a 215 Hammer or something else?

No experience with 230. African animals are tough. Id go with best hunting bullet my gun liked.the 230 is probably perfect.