i feel the same way about 223 on whitetailAs a famous member of our exalted group (@Velo Dog ) once brilliantly noted - and I paraphrase - "you could probably kill a buffalo with a frozen herring ........ but why would you?"
There is also a rather long list of hunters attempting silly things with the .22 and .250 Savages.
No body ever mentions that the Cape buffalo got away and was found dead one day later ….i have heard that at some point in the 40-50s Roy Weatherby shot and harvested a cape buffalo with a 257 Weatherby magnum. I think its an interesting story and I want to hear some view points.
I’d be really surprised if that bullet from a 257 weatherby would actually make it all the way through shoulder or ribs, one lung, and into the heart. I don’t know the year this was done, but bullet technology hadn’t caught up to weatherby velocities yet. I’d expect the bullet to simply blow up on impact with very little penetration, which would align to the buffalo running 6 miles. I’m not advocating hunting buffalo with less than a 375, but I think a 257 weatherby today with a premium bonded or all copper bullet would be a different story . . . probably better the story stays buffalo shot with a 257 weatherby ran 6 miles before it died.No body ever mentions that the Cape buffalo got away and was found dead one day later ….
six miles away with a 117Gr Hornady soft point that went through one lung and reached the heart.
If you listen to Kevin Robertson’s buffalo hunting podcasts. He talks about shooting buffalo with 303 because that’s all he had at time as farmer. I have to wonder how many have been killed by homemade muzzle loaders too? Something about 303 and 8mm Mauser though is FMJ bullets from military surplus would have been widely available.I wonder how many buffs were shot and killed with the 303 British or the 7x57 along with the 8 mm Mauser and or other cartridges before the arrival of the newer bullets?
Most of it comes down to the bullet placement with the lighter bullets and if you can place your shot into the right areas that old buffalo will be taking a dirt nap.
Even today there are rounds that would make fine buffalo cartridges if it wasn't for caliber restrictions.
In previous era, Bell shot elephants with 7x57.i have heard that at some point in the 40-50s Roy Weatherby shot and harvested a cape buffalo with a 257 Weatherby magnum. I think its an interesting story and I want to hear some view points.
Now, it's plausible (though unlikely) that the bullet managed to slip between the ribs without hitting the bone.I’d be really surprised if that bullet from a 257 weatherby would actually make it all the way through shoulder or ribs, one lung, and into the heart. I don’t know the year this was done, but bullet technology hadn’t caught up to weatherby velocities yet. I’d expect the bullet to simply blow up on impact with very little penetration, which would align to the buffalo running 6 miles. I’m not advocating hunting buffalo with less than a 375, but I think a 257 weatherby today with a premium bonded or all copper bullet would be a different story . . . probably better the story stays buffalo shot with a 257 weatherby ran 6 miles before it died.