blue bull

[Firepower!]

What would be a classic round to bring down a blue bull? Plz check google if have never seen it.

I am thinking a 7x57 mauser Zastava double trigger bolt action would be ideal??

Or perhaps a larger bore?

[Scorch]

A 7X57 with a 160 gr bullet should work quite well for nilgai. I assume you are going to hunt nilgai in Texas rather than going to India?

[tplumeri]

now that is one funny lookin critter!

[tplumeri]

lets try that again

[tplumeri]

OK, back to the old way


683px-Nilgai.jpg



are they edible?

[bluedog]

They are not much of a trophy (horns) but they eat very well!

[tplumeri]

Taste like chicken?

[bluedog]

....sort of a spicy curried chicken :-) Those Blue Bulls are tough....sort of like an Elk in their constitution....I would probably use a caliber on them that would also be suitable for Elk....yep, TASTY!

[Barber2678]

Delicious!

[Full-choke]

It says up to 800 lbs. Reminds me of a steer with a tiny little head. You can kill a cow with a 22 if you're close enough, but since you probably won't get that close, I would say something a little bigger. I don't know too much about the 7x57 but I think the 8mm Mauser would do the job. Something like 260 Rem might be nice too...

F-C

[Art Eatman]

Most of what I've seen written about hunting Nilghai speaks to using something on the order of a .338. Heavy bones, thick hide...

[Scorch]

I don't know too much about the 7x57 but I think the 8mm Mauser would do the job. Something like 260 Rem might be nice too...

Huh????
260 Rem- Nosler .264" 140 gr Partition @ 2800 fps = 2,448 ft/lbs
7X57- Nosler .284" 160 gr Partition @ 2650 fps = 2,506 ft/lbs
30-06- Nosler .308" 165 gr Partition @ 2650 fps= 2,587 ft/lbs
8X57- Nosler .323" 180 gr Accubond @2600 fps = 2,710 ft/lbs

Why would the 260 Rem be better than either one of the others when they have a bit more energy? Why would the 8X57 be better than the 7X57? The whole idea of hunting is to poke a hole in the animal's vitals and down them, not the marketing hype of "which is better". If you can't kill one of those with a 7X57, better get the big stuff, because he might get mad if you shoot him with a 30-06.

[Art Eatman]

If you're thinking of the '06, the Federal Premium High Energy pushes a 165-grain Sierra HPBT at 3,150 ft/sec from a 26" barrel, per one correspondent's chronograph. I've found them to group quite nicely in my '06.

[birdshot]

i have hunted nilgai, on a kennedy county ranch. used 270 and 7mm rem mag. and have killed three. nilgai are hard to kill. all three required follow up shots, when shot through the chest. i was used to shooting deer and seeing them drop where they stood. i think any deer round will kill a nilgai, its just how good of a blood trail do you need to track one through south texas brush. i want an exit wound.

[birdshot]

oh, i could not tell nilgai from beef. we ate nothing but nilgai for a year after my hunt.

[Firepower!]

Yes the blue Bull looks like this, but I am not going for hunt in TX. Rather I am going to South Punjab in Pakistan's desert area for it.

It taste like buffalo to me.

I was thinking between 7x57 or 243 Win.

[Jack O'Conner]

Years ago, the Winchester Fail Safe bullet was fresh and receiving much press. I recall that one writer grabbed his 30-06 and a box of these amazing cartridges and headed south to hunt blue bull in Texas. At the same ranch that day a hunter shot a bull with his 338 MAG.

The 30-06 out-penetrated the mighty 338 MAG. The 30-06 bullet was not recovered as it vanished into the brush on other side of the animal. Both animals were in fact deceased. Whether the bull shot by 338 MAG was more dead than animal felled by 30-06 is subject to debate.

Jack

[LionHunter]

I have also hunted Nilgai with two partners. Two one shot kills and the third required a running follow-up shot. We were using .375H&H and .375RUM.

Nilgai is a big, tough and aware animal. Difficult to get close. Our guide recommended .375 and has seen too many wounded animals requiring long follow-up tracking. Nilgai ain't Whitetail. I would use my .300WM with 180 gr. Swift A-Frame bullets but can't recommend anything less and suggest .338 caliber and up. My experience on large antelope (Nilgai, Livinstone Eland, Cape Eland, etc) and deer (Elk, Red Deer, Wapiti, etc) is that a .300WM is marginal and will more often than not require a second shot.

"Use enough gun!" -Robert Ruark-

[tplumeri]

I am going to South Punjab in Pakistan's desert area for it.

Kinda tough getting the meat home.....

[Firepower!]

Well...we are planning on eating it at the camp and feeding lots of left overs to folks in the area.

So are you suggesting that I need 375H&H or similar bore. That is I indeed need a larger bore than a 7mm Mauser or .243?

[bluedog]

.243 = NO!
7mm = should be OK if you use a heavy premium grade bullet
.300 = now we are talking - a premium 180 grain bullet - sharpen the knife
.338 = YES! now we are talking sweeeet medicine - a 225 grain Nosler
Partition means fresh meat for everyone!

[fisherman66]

are they edible?

Perhaps it was not well cooled or somehow the field cleaning process was done poorly, but the Nilgai I had about the worst meal I have ever had. I kept preying the dog would come near, but no dice. Even the dog was revolted.

[Firepower!]

I am kind of hard pressed here to find the suggested rifles.

Did find a 338 but no bullets available here. Found 300 wby mag but again no bullets.

How about 7mm Rem Mag, 30-06, and 308 Win.?

Thanks

[fisherman66]

The friend that "treated" us to Blue Bull used a 7mm mag. I'd go with a big game bullet regardless of which cartridge you select.

[Firepower!]

thank you guys for wonderful and insightfull advice, and sharing your expertise.