Oryx anatomy question.

[Trikstr]

I have a question for you PH's or anyone who shot an Oryx/Gemsbok. It deals with their hide thickness and the type of bullets that are recommended. I read in an article that they have 1" thick hide covering the chest area to protect them while fighting with other males.
A friend is going to shoot one with his 6.5 Remington Magnum with a 120 grn Sierra Pro Hunter. I recommended that he use either a Partition or an X bullet preferably in 140 grn. He told me that his bullet worked fine on a large cow elk. I didn't press the issue. I'm taking my rifle with 225 grn Partitions just in case.

 

[Safari-Hunt]

Rather be sure than sorry !
Take a better premium bullet along use the 120 grain barnesX that should do the job.

Cheap bullets works out to be an expensive hunt ! For the money you pay get better bullets like you said partition but I will have to go one better the barnes will give you that needed pentration.

 

[Kensco]

I hunted Gemsbok in the Kalahari, just south of the Botswana border in RSA in August. I found nothing special about their hide. If you shoot a rifle that will consistently bring down elk, you have the right rifle.

I used a 300 WSM with the 150 gr. Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silvertip. I was very happy with the results. One shot behind the shoulder at 220 yards on a 40" bull. He broke to run, discovered he had no lungs and fell over dead. No exit wound, just the way I like it.

 

[jjhack]

Gemsbok can be killed with any rifle that will take an elk. Well that's 100% true but in the USA there is a wide range of opinion on what makes an elk rifle!

There is a huge and significant difference between elk and gemsbok. When you shoot an elk it's nearly 100% that he will be standing alone. When shot he will run off all alone. The tracking will be difficult and the terrain horrible to follow along, but it will be one set of tracks( for a bull)

With a Gemsbok they will likely be with a large group and when hit if they run off will be difficult to find. Gemsbok have a strange behaviour when shot in that they run until they forget why they were running to begin with. That can be a mile with no problem even with a lung hit.

These Gemsbok can run like very few animals in the world today. Because they do have thick tough hide they hardly bleed and with all the hoof prints in the sand and dirt how do you know which track it is that you are following. Quite often the sick Gemsbok will fall behind or peel off to the side when the group keeps going. When this happens you end up going right past the one you shot while tracking the herd because of the lack of blood.

It's very important to remember that almost any gun will kill an animal but the field narrows when we discuss which ones will crumple them. Keep this in mind when choosing a gun. The #1 highest priority is the accuracy potential and shot placement. That however is of no use if the projectile does not have the integrity to get the job done. So #2 on the priority list is the bullet type. If there was ever a reason to use an expensive bullet Africa hunting with herds of game is a good one! #3 is the cartridge to launch the bullet with just enough speed to get the bullet to perform and not disintegrate with excess velocity.

Just remember this when selecting bullets. After the months of preperation, the expense of the trip, the equipment, the 20 hours of travel one way, the enormous anticipation and the long blown stalks that will happen. When the time finally comes that your ready to pull the trigger all that ties you to the trophy you're shooting is the bullet you have just sent away at 3000fps or so. That tiny little piece of lead and copper is on it's way.

Your expensive scope and rings, your top of the line rifle, and expensive rangefinder and every other piece of high tech expensive equipment are worthless at that moment. Your expensive airfare, trophy fees, and most important your peace of mind (or lack of, with a lost animal) for the remaining days of the trip are all riding on the ability of that little chunk of lead and copper worth 20 cents to bring it all together for you.

It's the only thing that ties you to the trophy of your dreams. 20 cents is the link you're using to make or break this trip and the trophy your shooting at. At a minimum I would suggest the best bullets your gun can shoot. Better yet the biggest diameter high quality bullet you can shoot. Blood trails will allow you to collect game quickly and start hunting for the next species. Searching and tracking for lost game is non-hunting, non-productive., and no fun for the hunter or the staff.

Feel lucky?