It does work beautiful in the 30/06 as well.
I will say on bullet choice, do not sacrifice accuracy for a tougher bullet.
My first hand knowledge of Africa hunting is 0 but I read in an article a fella took a gigantic Kudu bull from 250 yds. with an 8mm Rem Mag and a Sierra Gameking bullet. He chose the Gamekings for accuracy over all others. One shot....DRT.
I believe personally when bullet weight is matched to caliber correctly that the "premium bullets" are a choice and not a necessity. But if they give you accuracy and you want to use them by all means do so.
Again good luck!
I would argue the exact opposite. Absolute gilt-edged accuracy is not a requirement. It's not even an added bonus. However, a bullet that stays together and does what it needs to do is critical. Sure, you might go forth and fulfill your lifelong dream of hunting Africa and spend $10,000 for the opportunity and have 100% success with old tech, cup & core bullets. Lots of folks have done it. You might also have a bullet failure that costs you a trophy fee and hours if not days wasted tracking a wounded critter. African critters are sometimes tougher than expected but they are also built differently. You also can't always get perfect presentation. Premium bullets are not a guarantee but they are cheap insurance, especially valuable if everything is not just perfect. For me, I'll spend the few extra dollars for that peace of mind.
I fully agree.
On my first trip to South Africa, my rifle was a Thompson/Center Encore in 375 H&H Magnum for which I had loaded cheap Speer 270 grain cup and core bullets. Nothing I shot with it got away and nothing needed more than one shot. The score was:
Impala - DRT
Blesbok - DRT
Warthog - DRT
Blue Wildebeest
Another warthog
Zebra - from about 200 yards that ran a few yards and was found in a big pool of blood
So you use a .375 with a heavier bullet on plains game and conclude that premium bullets are not necessary? Had you used a cartridge more suitable to the task, you might think differently. Would you use those same standard cup & core bullets for Cape buffalo? Or would you opt for either a monolithic solid or premium expanding bullet? I know what I would choose.
While it's true that a bullet that blows up leaving a superficial would has failed, a bullet that has penetrated to a vital area and then fragments has not failed. A bullet that fragments after penetrating to a vital area is more effective than one that produces the classic and oft wanted mushroom.
On several trips to Africa, to date, not one of the animals I've hit has gotten away though some have needed more than one shot. That includes the 16 Springbok I took on one trip. I have never agonized over using a "premium" bullet having always made accuracy the most important quality.
That depends entirely on what the bullet is supposed to do. And the bullet that merely travels to the vitals and fragments is probably going to blow up on a shoulder bone. There is no way on God's green earth that I would go to Africa with a bullet that traveled no further than the vitals and fragmented.
Actually, a "premium" bullet is NOT the most important component of a "clean kill." If it were, I would agree with you; that is if what are called premium were really premium. Putting the bullet where it needs to go is the most important component.
Then there is the fact that purveyors of various goods lie; that could even include bullet manufacturers. Also consider that about everything is premium now. Premium water even. It's hard to believe but they even import water to the United States of America from Norway! My ancestors must be laughing all the way to the bank. Premium usually means the price is premium and not much else.
I have never agonized over using a "premium" bullet having always made accuracy the most important quality.
No, putting the RIGHT bullet where it needs to go is the most important. Shot placement is important but so is bullet selection, which is often critical. The two are inextricably linked. Perfect shot placement does no good if your bullet sucks. Your ancestors never worried too much about lost game either. You've never agonized over premium bullets but everything is premium? This is bordering on comical. The irony is palpable. You obviously have no clue what premium bullets are or what they do. Premium bullets are what make your .375 a legitimate dangerous game cartridge, rather than just a decent pinch hitter for the recoil sensitive. Premium bullets minimize the chance of fragmentation. Premium bullets are more consistent in both performance and accuracy.
Premium bullets do this:
Instead of this (lost nearly half its mass):
And this (Federal HST on the right):
Instead of this:
Premium bullets like the Barnes, Swift A-frame, Nosler Partition, etc., will often penetrate DOUBLE what your average cup & core bullet does and are far less likely to fragment.
To take this a step further, here are premium bullets in action. Premium bullets are what takes a good whitetail cartridge like the .44Mag and turn it into a dangerous game getter.
