HuntsNT Gun Rack
Northern Territory Professional Hunting Guides
Boar - Buffalo - Banteng
Wild Boar
Suitable rifle calibres for hunting BIG boars can be a contentious issue. The 6mm’s loaded with heavy weight premium bullets are suitable, but only in experienced hands and only if the shot is right. However big razor back boars in the Northern Territory which can grow to 160 plus kg’s, will seldom co operate with a perfect broadside shot. We have shot big boars at close range with a 375 Ruger with 270gn Hornady factory loads and the bullet didn’t exit. This demonstrates how tough big boars are and also that the Hornady thin jacket bullets designed for deer are OK for NT boars but are not suitable for hunting the bigger tougher game like Asiatic buffalo and banteng cattle.
With boars our recommendation is to use at least a 270 Winchester with Woodleigh 180gn Protected Point or the lighter 150gn PP or any genuine heavy weight Premium Bonded bullet including the 140gn Barnes TSX. Although Barnes do make a 150gn .277 bullet, they can be a bit unstable in a standard twist barrel.
The same applies to the 7mm’s; use the heaviest weight premium bullets. In 308 calibres use at least 200gn bullets or heavier. Barnes, Swift A Frame, Nosler Partition or the new Speer Deep Curl which replaces their Trophy Bonded bullet are the best choices. With Woodleigh bullets the 220gn or 240gn bullets are the go and hard to beat.
Stepping up, either the 338 Winchester Magnum or 338/06 are potent calibres, capable of taking big boars, scrub bulls and buff. For boars we like heavy weight 225 or 250gn bullets. The Barnes 210gn Tipped TSX is also a very potent bullet on boars and is perfect in the 338 06. Semi Premium bullets such as Hornady Interlock, Speer Grand Slam and Nosler Partition are ideal as is the Woodleigh 225gn Protected Point and 250gn Round Nose, which is one of our favourite big boar bullets in the 338’s.
Water Buffalo
Mature water buffalo bulls can weigh 1000kg or over 2000 pounds. Much has been written about suitable calibres for these large& VERY tough ANIMALS. The norm is to use 9.3, 375, 416, 423, 458 etc with heavy weight premium bullets. We have been using a 375 Ruger and it performs as expected, although there is no advantage over the 375 H & H.
The 338 Winchester Magnum is a genuine buffalo cartridge and can be loaded with 300gn Woodleigh Round Nose bullets. The lighter Barnes 225 or 250gn TSX Bullets are also very potent and dependable performers. Although we haven’t used them, the 280gn Swift A Frame bullet should be a cracker in the 338 Winchester Magnum.
In 2010 Woodleigh introduced their Hydrostatic Solid and one of our Australian hunting contacts Neale Chandler used Hydros in his 404 Jeffery on Cape buffalo in Africa with very impressive results. Woodleigh Hydros are available in 180gn in 308 cal, 225gn in 338 and are also offered in the larger calibres. The Woodleigh Hydro is a great, solid/soft point bullet compromise.
Banteng
Banteng cattle are intelligent, agile and fast and if cornered or wounded they can be very aggressive and dangerous. Although shy, Banteng should not to be taken lightly and need to be treated with the respect they deserve as a potentially dangerous animal.
Banteng are thin skinned compared to buffalo, but are large, powerful and well muscled animals. The 338 Winchester Magnum with the same bullets as recommended for buffalo, such as Woodleigh 250gn and 300gn or Barnes 225 or 250gn TSX will do the job. The 9.3 x 62 and 9.3 x 64, 375 H & H or 375 Ruger with heavy weight Premium bullets are about ideal. The 404 Jeffery and the 416 Remington Magnum or Rigby are definitely not too much gun.
In summary, use as much gun as you are comfortable with, use premium or the heaviest weight conventional bullets for the big stuff and ensure accurate shot placement. Forget velocity and kinetic energy data, heavy slower bullets are far superior to fast light bullets!
HuntsNT welcomes your enquiry re any of our all inclusive hunting options
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