Buffaloes are tough

Bolt 458 Lott
Double 450 NE

This will be minimums.

I prefer 500 Jeff.

Ideal for a hunter being guided 400 something and up.

Just my 2c
 
oscar1975 said:
So what would be considered the "minimum" amount of cartridge for hunting buffalo? I'm not talking about the legal minimum, but the minimum effective amount for a safe buffalo hunt from a hunter's perspective. Thank you.

Ovny
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I would say 40 caliber and 400 grain premium bullets is a good start!
 
Kevin Peacocke said:
i hope this won't be a can of worms, but what does the group feel should be the minimum calibre for a PH to carry. To be specific let's assume with a client after buffalo.
Click to expand...
I vote for the 458 WM for the bare minimum, but I think that the 500's are the "best" minimum. With a good bullet the really put a cape buffalo on the ground, even with midrange loads.
 
The PH should have a large hole capable of resolving a difficult situation. I think a good starting point would be a 500 NE. The 458 are customer hunter diameters.

Ovny
 
I am also thinking 470 as a minimum. I don't know the broader statistics, but a PH I know has had to follow up on three of the last four client-shot buffalo he was with. I know that one eas s charge, I am not sure of the others. He uses a 500J and it is very decisive.
 
Kevin Peacocke said:
I am also thinking 470 as a minimum. I don't know the broader statistics, but a PH I know has had to follow up on three of the last four client-shot buffalo he was with. I know that one eas s charge, I am not sure of the others. He uses a 500J and it is very decisive.
Click to expand...
"...very decisive." Perfect description. As discussed, some hunters have to see to believe it.
 
Hi,

I have not hunted for buffalo but I did more than a few times for wild cattle bulls, wild for some generations. At least as big, aggressive and unpredictable as the former bovines...
To me, the PH should carry the gun-caliber-cartridge he is most capable with. With some of today almost perfect bullets. I always remember what the great late "ganyana" said, and proved, about this...
 
Having said this, to me, the .400" is the minimum. I much preffer a PH with a .400 double with the best bullets he manage with total confidence, than other with a 500 which he doesn't. Of course, if he is a champion with the later, or bigger, the best!
 
Just a question: isn't a heavy for caliber 375 with either Bearclaws or the older Stewart high performer; one with even wider petals, isn't that a bigger wider wound channel of itself? IOW, would a 380 grain, wide expanding bullet be in almost the same class as a 400 gr. conventional 400?
 
steve white said:
Just a question: isn't a heavy for caliber 375 with either Bearclaws or the older Stewart high performer; one with even wider petals, isn't that a bigger wider wound channel of itself? IOW, would a 380 grain, wide expanding bullet be in almost the same class as a 400 gr. conventional 400?
Click to expand...
That is a good question, I think. I am interested hearing the comments. Also, do the bullets with big petals tumble?
 
Hi Brian,

The sectional density that matters is the one inside the animal, where that SD needs to be much less for a straight line trajectory because the different medium and rotation rate. But, ideally, without losing to much weight and without offering too big diameter. That´s the reason for the outstanding performance of the Swift, North Fork soft points, the Nosler Partition in big calibers, the Trophy bonded and, of course, the BARNES X, and other premium like the Rhino.
To get straight line ultra penetration using "solids" which cannot change their SD inside the animal flesh, a problem solved relatively easy with the softs, there have been a lot more R and D than with the soft point counterparts. Resulting in the Woodleigh Hydro, the North Fork Cup point and Flat point solids and the Swift Break Away. Plus other less known premium solids. All of them use the cavitation bubble principle.
 
I'd take a steadfast PH with a .375 who knows his rifle, over one with a 500 that isn't proficient with it.

Saying that, I think for stopping power, it should start in the >.400s and after walking through the bush behind Buzz and his 500 double. I can't lie, it did gave me more confidence or a false sense of safety, incase something should arise.
 
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