Hey Guys,
I had a pretty ordinary experience recently, looking for some suggestions.
Round 1 -
I was out predator hunting with a 22.250 and unexpectedly stumbled across some goats. The fist target was a nice Nanny, which I dropped on the spot. The second target was the largest Billy in the mob - which soaked up 3 well placed shots before he dropped, the 3rd target was another large billy that I managed to wound and was not able to follow up !!
On reflection, using 55 grain Varmageddons on a 150Kg Billy goat was not a great plan, unfortunately that was the rifle in my hands at the time.
Round 2 - I returned to the same location a month later, this time with the 257 loaded with 110 grain ELDX projectiles. My first encounter was a Large billy at 200m. A solid neck shot and DRT. I managed another shot at the dissapearing mob and rear ended another Billy, that dropped and needed finishing off. Pretty fair outcome.
Round 3 - Same area later that day 257 in hand. Stalked to about 150m from a different mob and sized up a large Billy Bang Thud. Followed up with a second shot into the swirling dissapearing mob - Bang Thud. Closed the 150m gap - no Goat. Checking the area and a large Billy burst out of the scrub 50 feet away, smashed him in the shoulder with an ELDX, and he kept going, followed up with another and he finally dropped, bright red blood in the nostrils indicating lung damage. Pretty sure there is another goat out there with a 257 sized hole in him !
I was stunned - I am belting these Billys with heavy for calibre projectiles, with plenty of velocity.
Q 1 - are 150 Kg Billy goats bullet proof ??
Q 2 - Are the Hornady ELDX projectiles any good (they group well 3/4 MOA) ?
Q 3 - Is 3200 fps at short range too fast for these projectiles and they are fragmenting - not penetrating ? I wasn't keen to cut up a rotten stinking Billy to find out !
Q 4 - Any suggestions for another projectile in the 110 to 120 Grain range that may penetrate ? (But still expand)
Q 5 - should I just use the 308 ?