Learn from my mistakes - Buffalo

Here's a couple photos of the buffalo I shot in Mozambique last week. Presentation was broadside. .375 /300gr. Barnes TSX.
First shot was placed too high and too far back. According to most of the anatomy diagrams I've seen it still should have damaged both lungs. It's still in the "vital triangle" But when butchering we could only see damage to one lung, and just the very top lobe. He would have gone a very long ways, maybe even been lost, if I had not shot again.

The 2nd shot was too low. It broke the humerus, but no part of that bullet entered the chest cavity.
3rd shot was similar but didn't hit the big bone either.
a 4th shot was also too low, in a horizontal line with shots 2&3.

So I had the vitals " surrounded" but none of those shots were very good.
I knew my first shot was pulled high, and in mild panic I deliberately aimed the follow up shots low to compensate. Too Low. The rifle was also shooting a bit below the aiming point, and that combination made the three follow up shots non-vital hits.
He ran at least 200M after the first hit
Another shot from the rear placed near the base of the tail is what stopped his retreat.
Kinda embarrassing. I know better, but maybe you can learn from my errors.

Thats hunting sometimes.....Thanks for sharing. Great old bull. Congratulations.

His lights are completely out. That's all that counts. Congrats.

Don't beat yourself up, I see a dead buffalo in the picture. You did great because you kept shooting. Many hunters just stare at the buffalo and try to figure out what happened.

Awesome buffalo!!!

I will never forget something that Craig Boddington told me about both shooting and observing hundreds of buffalo hunts...a buffalo with a 2nd bullet in it is always recovered. There will be an exception to that somewhere but statistically it's a huge statement. On the other hand, many buffalo with one bullet have been lost. That 2nd shot...anywhere...can make a huge difference in tracking and slowing one down for recovery.

That's a recovered buff in your photo...well done and you are learning from all of it.

You got him down and that’s what counts. A PH once every bullet helps just keep shooting!! It also shows once again “ that first shot on a buffalo is most important “. Congrats great trophy.

@Longwalker Thank you for the courage to be candid about your mistake. Too many of us leave those parts out of our stories. But this story is what makes Africahunting.com and its members a great resource!

Longwalker said:

Here's a couple photos of the buffalo I shot in Mozambique last week. Presentation was broadside. .375 /300gr. Barnes TSX.
First shot was placed too high and too far back. According to most of the anatomy diagrams I've seen it still should have damaged both lungs. It's still in the "vital triangle" But when butchering we could only see damage to one lung, and just the very top lobe. He would have gone a very long ways, maybe even been lost, if I had not shot again.

The 2nd shot was too low. It broke the humerus, but no part of that bullet entered the chest cavity.
3rd shot was similar but didn't hit the big bone either.
a 4th shot was also too low, in a horizontal line with shots 2&3.

So I had the vitals " surrounded" but none of those shots were very good.
I knew my first shot was pulled high, and in mild panic I deliberately aimed the follow up shots low to compensate. Too Low. The rifle was also shooting a bit below the aiming point, and that combination made the three follow up shots non-vital hits.
He ran at least 200M after the first hit
Another shot from the rear placed near the base of the tail is what stopped his retreat.
Kinda embarrassing. I know better, but maybe you can learn from my errors. View attachment 788117View attachment 788118

Click to expand...

Thank's for the honest report.

But ultimately, what killed the buffalo if not your first shot? The three shots that hit the bone and the final one caused severe wounds, but were not lethal in themselves.

Looked like the first shot should have worked just fine.

Unless he was quartering to you more than you realized at the shot.

Which is VERY easy to be fooled into believing an animal is 100% broadside when in fact they are at a slight angle.

Either way. Nice work keeping the lead flying till he was down.

Nice bull and congrats on the bull.
At what distance did you take the first shot?

Altitude sickness said:

Looked like the first shot should have worked just fine.

Unless he was quartering to you more than you realized at the shot.

Which is VERY easy to be fooled into believing an animal is 100% broadside when in fact they are at a slight angle.

Either way. Nice work keeping the lead flying till he was down.

Click to expand...

The buffalo I took a few weeks ago was like that. I shot him at very last light and he was quartered to me more than I realized. I hit him on the shoulder and only got one lung. Had to follow up the next morning. He was hurting bad and couldn't go far. He would bed down every 50 yards. I knew there was most likely going to be a charge and that was the case. Both my shot and the ph's hit home and game was over at 10 yards. Exciting but I don't want to have to do it again. I had no opportunity for a follow-up shot initially.

Interesting, almost exact spot as my shot below which took out both lungs etc and he was dead in 20 yard.. Of course, I was using enough gun.



This other one was almost exact same spot as well. So, I blame the gun.

Shit happens mate, you got the buff and everyone went home. That’s the main thing.

I’m surprised that first shot didn’t get top of lungs. I have to wonder also if it was slightly quartering also or maybe bullet deviated a bit? Great buffalo on ground regardless.

Mark458 said:

The buffalo I took a few weeks ago was like that. I shot him at very last light and he was quartered to me more than I realized. I hit him on the shoulder and only got one lung. Had to follow up the next morning. He was hurting bad and couldn't go far. He would bed down every 50 yards. I knew there was most likely going to be a charge and that was the case. Both my shot and the ph's hit home and game was over at 10 yards. Exciting but I don't want to have to do it again. I had no opportunity for a follow-up shot initially.

Click to expand...

Found a picture of my initial shot. Just missed the heart.

Mark458 said:

Found a picture of my initial shot. Just missed the heart.View attachment 788330

Click to expand...

I don't know how much more of a textbook shot you could get! Maybe 6" back? IDK. I would have been happy with that shot. Awesome bull, as well.

Hedge774 said:

I don't know how much more of a textbook shot you could get! Maybe 6" back? IDK. I would have been happy with that shot. Awesome bull, as well.

Click to expand...

If he would have been more broadside like I thought he was it would have been perfect. He was quartered to me much more than I realized in last light. My fault, not making excuses.

Mark458 said:

If he would have been more broadside like I thought he was it would have been perfect. He was quartered to me much more than I realized in last light. My fault, not making excuses.

Click to expand...

Oh, Brother. I had a buffalo in my sights, up close and personal at 1000 meters... That's as close as I got! Your shot looks perfect to me. Please don't think I'm knocking it. I imagine, a big black blob, the size of a VW may be hard to judge when you've got more adrenaline running through you than you you've ever had before!

Great post. As has been said commonly, making the first shot count is crucially important, but I think making a good second shot is incredibly hard. The situation is often rushed, fluid, and maybe even a bit “panicked“ as you said. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Great buffalo!

.