I have hunted three times with HHK's Lou Hallamore in Zimbabwe. In his career he has killed more than likely over a thousand buffalo. He will swear to you soft points for the first round and solids after that. This can be read in his book, "In the Salt". I was in camp at Mokore safaris this past fall and the recommendations from Barry Duckworth, (who has probably shot as many buff as Hallamore) I believe is Solid, solid, and then another solid. My last buff was taken with a .416 with 400 gr. Swift A-Frames and Barnes solids. All five rounds were recovered.