Next rifle round

Hey all,
Looking for advice on next rifle round. Btw, I'm left handed.

Currently have a 257 Weatherby and a 300 WSM.

Can pick up a screaming deal on a Tikka T3 LH t3 SS in 270WSM ($500 new), but also would consider a 260, 6.5 Creedmore, 7mm-08 (not a screaming deal). Or something bigger 338 Federal, 375 H&H or 375 Ruger.

And, I don't currently reload, but am in the process of starting.

Factory rifles are the only thing on the table.

Thought my 300WSM would suffice for Nilgai, but multiple outfits have told me that it is too small. So I either get a larger rifle (assuming I ever actually go on a Nilgai hunt)...might never happen.

So what do y'all recommend for a round in the in between and what do y'all recommend for a bigger bore?

.260, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08, all good choices. The .260 and 7mm-08 need a hand load to really shine.

.300 WSM won't bring down a Nilgai? I wouldn't take that bet.

.338 Norma Mag looks pretty cool...

I can tell you from personal experience that a 330wsm will make a Nilgai very dead!

Your .300 WSM is plenty for Nilgai. And just about anything else short of big, dangerous game. Those outfits are wrong.

I would get one of the mid range options you listed.

I’d speak to different outfits.

I've never heard that a 300 is to small

You must be reading my mail. I was just looking (drooling) at a left handed 338 NM for sale right here in Texas. Trying to figure out if I can afford to feed it.


To the OP, I’d look at the 7-08 or 280 Remington. The 7-08 can be had in the left handed Tikka Hunter for around $750 new.

I'm a lefty and I'd love to know where I can get that deal on a TIkka 270wsm!!!!! Shoot me a PM.

In terms of a new cartridge-- I would say you have the light to heavy (elk etc) covered with your 257roy and 300-- If you don't decide to hunt at a place that will let you use your 300wsm and you want a bigger cartridge I think the 338 win mag is the next logical step up especially if youre shooting factory ammo--- 250gr Nosler Partitions.

I have a LH Model 70 in 338wm and while it isn't light it also won't kill you with recoil...and it looks damn good.

A stainless lh 270 wsm is only 630$

I killed my Nilgai with a .223
Not that that would have been my first choice, but shot placement trumps caliber.
The shoulder shot on a nilgai is not the best choice.

300 WSM is plenty of gun.

Every single person I know that has killed a Nilgai used a 300 WM. Not that that is the magical caliber but it's just coincidence that the 4 I know used 300.

.300 WSM is plenty stout for Nilgai. Just pick a good bullet 180gr and up and you'll be fine. As posted above, I would talk to different outfitters if that was the response I got.

As a fellow southpaw, I feel your pain...

My next left-hand purchase will be a 6.5 Creedmoor (already have .270 Win, .300 Win Mag, and 7mm Rem Mag).

I believe Tikka has a lefty stainless T3x Lite coming out sometime soon in 6.5 CM (their part number JRTXB482). I am currently trying to decide between this one and the Ruger Predator.

Depends on what you want to do in the future, or what you like to shoot. I'd get a 260 or 7-08 as it would be cheaper to shoot--and a bit more useful out my back door around here,but will not do much more than your 257 with 115s. If a safari to Africa is in your future a 375 is always a good addition to the cabinet, as I find once people start using a medium bore they rarely go back when shooting big heavy animals--and a 338, or 375 wacks a nilgai decisively more than your 300 WSM (which is plenty believe me).

For bigger:
338 win mag...

If Africa is in the picture then 375 Ruger or 375 HH.

I have a 375 Ruger in a LH 375 for sale if interested

I must be lookin (for love)in all the wrong places...is NOT necessarily the title of a song for me...BUT for sure I must not be looking where the smokin' deals on Tikka's are, at those prices posted earlier.

Got 2 guns possibly sold sometime this month to free up some play money and sure would appreciate a PM on where I can shop those kinda Tikka prices. Mo smaller &/or slower diameters is mo bettah for me longterm. Plan Ahead and Work the Plan has become my middle name.
Ron

Here you go:
https://shop.whittakerguns.com/store/shop?sorting=inventory_desc&d=amount:0:8000,count:-100:10000,brand:Tikka%20T3,category:Firearms&list=false&paging=page:1,size:20,index:20

Noticed the link didn't transfer. check out Whittaker Guns, Wiley. Great prices on Tikkas and they sometimes put together a group buy with the manufacturer to offer cool stuff guys want but can't find; like my new Tikka 22-250 with an 8 twist barrel.

I can find them for $630 but a $130 difference is enough for reloading supplies or a good base and rings or money towards a scope- haven't seen the OP reply on where he is getting that price. I can't even find a RH Stainless in that ball park-- maybe an original blued RH T3 not a stainless and certainly not a T3X.

ah'03...I usually monitor Whittakers pretty closely...got in on the last T3 blowout by the skin of my teeth with a T3 Superlite blue that got messy at the end - long story short I ended up with a Swede when it was all over after ordering umm 5-6 different guns but not getting the order accepted by their computer in the last minute franzy jamming the portal..but have not seen really deep prices since then on Tikka's, except for X guns at decent deals but still out of my price range.

I like Darrik a lot and he's done some nice things for me in the past so I'll check'em manana. Thanks for the reminder to run ALL the traps occasionally.
Ron

ah'03...I usually monitor Whittakers pretty closely...got in on the last T3 blowout by the skin of my teeth with a T3 Superlite blue that got messy at the end - long story short I ended up with a Swede when it was all over after ordering umm 5-6 different guns but not getting the order accepted by their computer in the last minute franzy jamming the portal..but have not seen really deep prices since then on Tikka's, except for X guns at decent deals but still out of my price range.

I like Darrik a lot and he's done some nice things for me in the past so I'll check'em manana. Thanks for the reminder to run ALL the traps occasionally.
Ron

I’ve got a friend who owns a fair size place in Brooks county. I killed two nilgai on it back in the 90’s with my .270 which was the only rifle I had. If .270 works for elk I don’t see why it won’t work on nilgai.

https://grabagun.com/

watched a group of guys kill about 40 Nilgai with 223, all head shots but that was what they were there to do. I have used a 300WM many times for them. They are pretty tough animals, and vitals are not exactly located where you think they are! Most outfitters I have heard of say 300WM is the minimum caliber to use, and that is for ethical reasons.

Can find a T3 SS 270wsm in lefty for $570. But, I don't think I can use one. Wish I could find a T3 SS lefty in 6.5x55.

35 Whelen is a good nilgai round.

338 Federal is a small mid-bore. Not in the same class as the the 375s. It does best with 200 grain bullets about 2650 FPS which makes it a very efficient killer to 400 yards without much recoil. I have one. I like it. I will use it on a Nilgai cow whenever I go but I might take the 350 Rem Mag or 9.3x62 for a bull.

.338 Federal is a sleeper. Read about it, great cartridge.

Get one in a Cooper Rifle

Nilgai are not plated in armor.. 30-06, 270 , 7mag, and all the short-mag cals are wayyyyyy big enough........ I wouldn't hesitate folding one up with a 308, I'd laugh at the outfitter then go book a hunt with someone else.....

If you think you might want a larger diameter bullet, look into the 338 Win Mag. Its considered great elk medicine and I would say that Nilgai and Elk are similar in size. Most of the outfitters I have corresponded with say that 300 Win Mag is minimum for nilgai, and you have that covered with the 300 WSM. Just use a good bullet and put it where it counts.