HUNTING Buffalo

Great video Nathan, thank you.

regarding shot placement, i shot a bull on the hip, about 8" left of the anus, it broke his hip nicely! his rear leg was flopping, you can see the video on hunting reports: s. africa cape buffalo hunt

I haven't had the good fortune to hunt in Africa yet ( Though l do have a buffalo Safari planned for 2020 ) . However , My experience with 4 Australian Water buffalo shot over the last 8 years has given me some interesting insight on the popular question of " Whether or not using a large caliber actually makes a difference " . I have shot 3 of them with my .375 HH Magnum Winchester Model 70 . I shot one with a Double barrelled .470 Nitro Express Rifle owned by my Australian resident friend ( which is the first and only time in my life , when l have used a double rifle on game ) . I ALWAYS use the double lung shot , instead of the more ambitious heart shot , since the lung shot is an easier Target and my Model 70 rifle's 3 inch groups make it easier for a lung shot. Take the two following scenarios as an example :
Scenario 1 : Lung shot on a Bull water Buffalo using a .375 HH Magnum 300 grain Kynoch full patch round nosed solid . The bullet rips into it's lungs. It goes maybe 80 to 100 yards , blowing blood from its mouth or nose and drops dead.
I am pretty satisfied with the results .
Scenario 2 : Lung shot on a Bull Water Buffalo using a .470 NE Kynoch 500 grain Round nose solid . Again , bullet rips into it's lungs . Again The buffalo starts it's death run ... EXCEPT this time, it makes 40-50 yards and drops dead . Upon butchering the animal , we find the lungs sustained more damage due to the bigger bullet .
There , you have it . Dead is dead. The .375 HH Magnum killed a Buff. The .470 NE killed a Buff. I used the same shot placement , the same brand of bullets , the same type of bullets and the same range. The only variable was the caliber . One went 100 yards . One went 40 yards ( l am not good at actual mathematics of yard measuring , but you guys get the idea ) . Hope this helps .
Hoss

I have gained much good knowledge out of this post. I would just like to know what are the typical distances shots are taken at? Also how big is the frontal shot area? I have a feeling the broadside shot is about the size of a car door but the frontal area has me scratching my head

My shots have ranged from 15 to 80 meters. Only one has been over 50 meters. The frontal shot is tough, off to the side two inches and the bullet skates down the ribs. To me a frontal quartering is a much higher percentage shot as you know are either punching through a shoulder or entering the ribs at a less oblique angle.

All sounds like good ol challenging stuff if using an open sighted double

norfolk shooter said:

I have gained much good knowledge out of this post. I would just like to know what are the typical distances shots are taken at? Also how big is the frontal shot area? I have a feeling the broadside shot is about the size of a car door but the frontal area has me scratching my head

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Side on is better as you are likely to take heart and both lungs with a decent shot. 10-12 inches diameter for the lungs and about 6 inches for the heart. Front on is more challenging because you can get heart with no lungs if dead centre or one lung and no heart if you are off centre.

For me, the key is to pick an aim point-talking of area is a bit misleading. You need to get the upper heart aim point in your mind and aim for that. Then there is a margin for error around that. And a single lung shot can result in a long follow up and even loss of an animal. Upper heart (which will usually include a lung or two and maybe shoulder bone if quartering or side on) will put the animal down quick.

Zimbabwean PH's are tested at 75 m with a 7" gong off sticks or a tree rest-two shots to count towards their final score, other tests obviously included. It requires that you know your rifle and your sights a lot more than a scope.

norfolk shooter said:

All sounds like good ol challenging stuff if using an open sighted double

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As Nhoro says the heart on a buffalo is about 6". All the PHs I've spoken to prefer taking a broadside shot, as it would also take out a shoulder, the heart or lungs. Here's a pic (sorry its a bit dark) from a buff I hit broadside through the heart in Zambia. The size of the heart can be guaged by tracker's hands.

FWIW, when I hunt buffalo, instead of just learning the external anatomical landmarks upon which to place the bullet, I also imagine "seeing" the animal's anatomy and structure in 3D, and that I'm holding a "needle" with which to pierce the heart. I do this to take into account the specific angle presented to me for the shot. I then simply aim along that imaginary line, putting my sights precisely on that point of the hide which intersects the "needle", and fire. Hope that helps.

bpcr said:

There is so much crap out there about bullet placement and kinds of bullets to use that I'm glad to see this post because it helps clear things up. Hell, y'all even got pictures.

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yep - this is what i do for a living. you shot keeps me in the game. good info ahead of time is a good idea!

I got the life size target from African Sporting Creations. It is a high quality target but needs a sturdy backing which I created. I put wheels on the back for moving like a wheelbarrow. I even thought about having my kid pull it for a moving target, kidding.

It has the heart on the other side further back than I would expect. I would think best to split the distance between the legs but it has the heart on the back leg shoulder. Second, Height. It would indicate that I’m shooting too low and need to shoot 2-3 inches higher and as such I did adjust slightly up I’m wary of shooting too high though. I’ll take pictures of the reverse side next time.

if the animals position allows, I think that shot placement just behind and a little above the shoulder is the best, with regard to any animals no matter how big or small, due to the fact that it leaves room for error. if your shot is a bit off you will most likely still hit the it in the vitals

@Caitlin Williams
? Above the shoulder ?

BRICKBURN said:

@Caitlin Williams
? Above the shoulder ?

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Sounds like a long day.

I was under the impression that most African PHs suggest a shot on the shoulder when a full broadside shot is presented on buffalo, not above or behind it.

revturbo9967 said:

I was under the impression that most African PHs suggest a shot on the shoulder when a full broadside shot is presented on buffalo, not above or behind it.

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I would say that you are under the right impression, then again each to his own. Most PH’s will call it as it works best and the majority of the time.

please correct me if im wrong! I have yet to hunt a buffalo of my own.

BRICKBURN said:

@Caitlin Williams
? Above the shoulder

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Caitlin Williams said:

please correct me if im wrong! I have yet to hunt a buffalo of my own.

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As Kevin Robertson has wrote in detail, you want your shot to be in the center of the vital triangle. Idealy you want to shoot the top of the heart , severing any artery’s as well as passing through both lungs. To achieve this shot on a full broad side , you place your shot on the shoulder.
In my opinion, from all of my reading and research, a shot behind the shoulder on a buffalo can decrease your room for error, not increase it. A one lung shot buffalo is recipe for disaster. That said, anyone is open to correct me on my statements , I’m not an experienced buffalo hunter what so ever.