Would ghost ring sights on a 375 H&H rifle be suitable for a Cape buffalo hunt in Limpopo in May of this year? That region is known for having very close shots, for which a ghost ring system ought to work well. With the very heavy rainfall this year, though, I am wondering if an LPVO might be preferable due to heavy foliage. More generally, I would be very grateful for any insight that anyone would care to share on the choice of ghost ring or LPVO for Cape buffalo up close.
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Ghost Ring For Cape buffalo in Limpopo 2026
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DocHolliday
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With the right sight and lots of practice, ABSOLUTELY.
Skinner Sights make wonderful peeps. The post (ring) is threaded on the inside for an insert (peep). If you screw the peep out and just use the ring, you get an incredible FOV (i.e.: rapid target aquisition with adequate accuracy). If you use the peep inserts, you get more accuracy with a cost of FOV.
As to the practice: if you haven't used a peep before, it takes some convincing of your "brain". It's not like a buckhorn or blade sight. You shoot both eyes open and ignore the rear sight. Put the front sight on the target and concentrate on it. The rear sight will "ghost", thus the name. Your brain will automatically center your vision in the ring. You can only screw this part up by thinking and trying to center the front sight in the rear ring. You oncentrate on the front sight and your brain does the rest. This is what makes the ghost ring or peep type sight so great for aging eyes. You don't have to focus on two sights (front/rear), only the front.
Skinner Sights make wonderful peeps. The post (ring) is threaded on the inside for an insert (peep). If you screw the peep out and just use the ring, you get an incredible FOV (i.e.: rapid target aquisition with adequate accuracy). If you use the peep inserts, you get more accuracy with a cost of FOV.
As to the practice: if you haven't used a peep before, it takes some convincing of your "brain". It's not like a buckhorn or blade sight. You shoot both eyes open and ignore the rear sight. Put the front sight on the target and concentrate on it. The rear sight will "ghost", thus the name. Your brain will automatically center your vision in the ring. You can only screw this part up by thinking and trying to center the front sight in the rear ring. You oncentrate on the front sight and your brain does the rest. This is what makes the ghost ring or peep type sight so great for aging eyes. You don't have to focus on two sights (front/rear), only the front.
ThinusS
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As much as I like the simplicity and tradition of open and ghost ring sights, I would suggest a LPVO. A black buffalo in deep shade can make a challenging target and you have no guarantee that your buffalo will be standing broadside in perfect sunlight.
Schüler Jumbo
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Not a bad idea to have a Ghost Ring option. I have a Talley Ghost Ring on a modified rear Talley base on a FN Mauser action that also has a Griffin & Howe Side Mount with 3-9 German Zeiss. Recently added a NECG Ghost Ring for Ruger M77 RSM (partial view of front sight unless rear sight is removed) and No.1 (full view of front sight with rear sight folded down). For your application a .093” or .125” aperture should be fast for close range shooting.
A red dot is also an option.
A red dot is also an option.
375Fox
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If you haven’t hunted Cape buffalo before I’d highly suggest a scope over open sights. The probability of you taking a shot at 25-50 yards is much higher than under 10 yards. A scope allows you to put in a much more accurate first shot but also thread the needle through thick brush.
There is a lot of good discussion on this thread.
There is a lot of good discussion on this thread.
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Nothing wrong with a good peep sight, my favorite type of iron sight and you’ll most likely be shooting a buffalo from 40-60 yards well within the capabilities of a good peep sight. Still, my personal preference is a good LPVO which you’ll most likely have cranked down to the lowest setting but it does give you an advantage when shooting in the shadows or threading the bullet between small tree limbs and brush, and when hunting buffalo, I want every advantage I can get.
Perhaps you may be using your 375 for a one rifle safari for everything and a LPVO will also be excellent for plains game too and longer distances.
Perhaps you may be using your 375 for a one rifle safari for everything and a LPVO will also be excellent for plains game too and longer distances.
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I this is a wonderful explanation of a ghost peep sight !!
Me and my cousins had a family member who worked @ camp bullis and bought a crate of M1 30 carbine rifles and a unknown amount of crates of ammunition, and would send us out looking for stray dogs that would kill his sheep on his ranch ,if we couldn’t find any strays we would go to the burn pit and throw bottles ( like skeet)
Those peep sites are very accurate at hitting flying/moving targets ( makes hitting stuff 1000% easier with a shotgun) ,
DocHolliday
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I can vouch for the shotgun comment. All my turkey guns wear peeps. [yes, they are aimed more like rifles than pointed like shotguns. When required, the peeps work "on the wing"]
uplander01
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I love a Lyman 48, a lot of aperture flexibility. Williams gunsight makes entire sets for them, even brass ring aperture which are really nice
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forshoes wrote on baxterb's profile.
Any chance you have any of the Baagh Shikari: The Last Tiger Hunter books left?