.375 should be banned from buffalo hunts!

[Flbt]

In regards to the original poster, I just want to say that white hunter Cristiano Furtado (the identity of @Crishuntbrasil) is actually a well skilled white hunter with a significant amount of dangerous game hunting experience. Being a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum man through & through, I naturally don’t agree with his assessment that this caliber should be banned for Cape buffalo hunting (after all, I’ve personally taken 17 Cape buffalo with this caliber so far). But he definitely is the real deal and knows his stuff. He’s earned the right to feel as he does, even if his desire to impose his preferences onto other hunters understandably rubs off on the wrong way to many.

An interesting historical anecdote for all. When I went on my life’s first safari to Kenya in 1974, I learnt from Mr. Cheffings (my white hunter) that the laws set by EAPHA (East African Professional Hunter’s Association) stipulated .400 bore to be the minimum legally permissible caliber for hunting “Thick Skinned Dangerous Game” (namely elephant, Cape buffalo, hippopotamus or rhinoceros). While .375 bore was the minimum legally permissible caliber for hunting “Thin Skinned Dangerous Game” (namely lion or leopard) & eland. These laws were set in 1958 under the direction of white hunter Tony Dyer (who was the President of EAPHA) at the time.

In reality however, this law was never actually enforced very strictly back in those days.
View attachment 711396Mr. Cheffings himself let me shoot this fine specimen (my life’s first Cape buffalo) with his .375 Holland & Holland Magnum BRNO ZKK602. He also had a .458 Winchester Magnum BSA Majestic (the one with the beastly muzzle brake) but told me that he let most of his clients (who didn’t bring a heavy rifle to Safari) use the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum on (amongst other dangerous game) Cape buffalo since “They shot it more straight than the .458. And no matter how big a howitzer you’re using, it’s going to be useless if you can’t shoot straight with it”.

I will say one thing, however. If you’re exclusively hunting Cape buffalo with solid non expanding bullets (and there’s really no sane reason to in 2025), then I will concede that a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum is rather marginal for Cape buffalo hunting. Bullet diameter is too small for enhancing quick hemorrhaging of the animal during a heart-lung shot. A Cape buffalo can survive up to 18 minutes with a round nosed steel jacketed Hornady FMJ solid having bored clean through his heart. I’ve seen it happen myself. On a double lung shot, things are noticeably even worse. A flat nosed solid improves things, but not by much. If employing solid non expanding bullets against Cape buffalo, then I personally wouldn’t go for any caliber lighter than .458 bore… preferably around .500.

But modern premium grade controlled expansion bullets (such as the Swift A Frame, Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, North Fork Semi Spitzer, Wim Degol Stark Mantel or Rhino Solid Shank) have made the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum a very serious contender for Cape buffalo hunting.

I have no dog in this fight and never shot a buff of any kind just a few mean cows.

But I remember something I think colt Jeff cooper wrote. ( no one is saying a 220 solid from a 30-06 through the hart won’t kill a buff. But what is the buff going to do to you with the extra minutes compared to a 375 or bigger throug the heart?)

And as for the 460 wb o would take a 375 h&h over a 460 wb any day for anything
The 2 shots I had from a 460 is all I ever want from one.
That thing made a 10ga out of a h@r single shot a pussycat in felt recoil to me.

 

[Brian]

In regards to the original poster, I just want to say that white hunter Cristiano Furtado (the identity of @Crishuntbrasil) is actually a well skilled white hunter with a significant amount of dangerous game hunting experience. Being a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum man through & through, I naturally don’t agree with his assessment that this caliber should be banned for Cape buffalo hunting (after all, I’ve personally taken 17 Cape buffalo with this caliber so far). But he definitely is the real deal and knows his stuff. He’s earned the right to feel as he does, even if his desire to impose his preferences onto other hunters understandably rubs off on the wrong way to many.

An interesting historical anecdote for all. When I went on my life’s first safari to Kenya in 1974, I learnt from Mr. Cheffings (my white hunter) that the laws set by EAPHA (East African Professional Hunter’s Association) stipulated .400 bore to be the minimum legally permissible caliber for hunting “Thick Skinned Dangerous Game” (namely elephant, Cape buffalo, hippopotamus or rhinoceros). While .375 bore was the minimum legally permissible caliber for hunting “Thin Skinned Dangerous Game” (namely lion or leopard) & eland. These laws were set in 1958 under the direction of white hunter Tony Dyer (who was the President of EAPHA) at the time.

In reality however, this law was never actually enforced very strictly back in those days.
View attachment 711396Mr. Cheffings himself let me shoot this fine specimen (my life’s first Cape buffalo) with his .375 Holland & Holland Magnum BRNO ZKK602. He also had a .458 Winchester Magnum BSA Majestic (the one with the beastly muzzle brake) but told me that he let most of his clients (who didn’t bring a heavy rifle to Safari) use the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum on (amongst other dangerous game) Cape buffalo since “They shot it more straight than the .458. And no matter how big a howitzer you’re using, it’s going to be useless if you can’t shoot straight with it”.

I will say one thing, however. If you’re exclusively hunting Cape buffalo with solid non expanding bullets (and there’s really no sane reason to in 2025), then I will concede that a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum is rather marginal for Cape buffalo hunting. Bullet diameter is too small for enhancing quick hemorrhaging of the animal during a heart-lung shot. A Cape buffalo can survive up to 18 minutes with a round nosed steel jacketed Hornady FMJ solid having bored clean through his heart. I’ve seen it happen myself. On a double lung shot, things are noticeably even worse. A flat nosed solid improves things, but not by much. If employing solid non expanding bullets against Cape buffalo, then I personally wouldn’t go for any caliber lighter than .458 bore… preferably around .500.

But modern premium grade controlled expansion bullets (such as the Swift A Frame, Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, North Fork Semi Spitzer, Wim Degol Stark Mantel or Rhino Solid Shank) have made the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum a very serious contender for Cape buffalo hunting.

I agree with you about 375 solids.

I used Northfork CPS on several cape buffalo and I stated in a previous post how far they went after the shot. Most times they went down pretty quickly ( 10 ft to 35 yds as far as I can remember at the moment.) except for one shot that I made mess of.

Those NF CPS Solids usually expand to a bit bigger than caliber and get a flat ragged edged meplat after expanding. That's a good thing.

Even then, this NF "semi expanding" Solids did not impress me in the relatively "small" diameter of the 375HH. As you say, the 375 is at it's best with a premium expanding bullet.

I still support the use of a properly designed solid in .500 and bigger. I consider it a "specialty" bullet, for special conditions. " Horses for courses". Just my opinion as always.

 

[mdwest]

I think I’ll start a thread titled .308 should be banned from deer hunting and see if I can get 13 pages of drama out of it

 

[Brian]

n regards to the original poster, I just want to say that white hunter Cristiano Furtado (the identity of @Crishuntbrasil) is actually a well skilled white hunter with a significant amount of dangerous game hunting experience. Being a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum man through & through, I naturally don’t agree with his assessment that this caliber should be banned for Cape buffalo hunting (after all, I’ve personally taken 17 Cape buffalo with this caliber so far). But he definitely is the real deal and knows his stuff. He’s earned the right to feel as he does, even if his desire to impose his preferences onto other hunters understandably rubs off on the wrong way to many.

HH, Good man.
I am glad that you mention that. I sensed that Cristiano was the "real deal". He has his own way of saying things, but he is obviously a seasoned pro. I'll bet he a good fun to hunt buffalo with.

 

[Tbitty]

I think I’ll start a thread titled .308 should be banned from deer hunting and see if I can get 13 pages of drama out of it

Go with the .243 and you'll get some real traction!

 

[Brian]

Go with the .243 and you'll get some real traction!

mdwest,

Yah ! I hate that .308 girly-man cartridge. It's turned many a good men into a transvestite. I know two of them here, for sure, on AH that post regularly.

 

[mdwest]

mdwest,

Yah ! I hate that .308 girly-man cartridge. It's turned many a good men into a transvestite.

I understand 308 to be Greta’s preferred caliber though.

 

[Spearhead]

Gents I'm sorry but I have no bloody idea where I bought that shield. I actually think it was in a market in Eswatini (Swaziland)

@steve white , @hunt4fun those shields are available at most curio shops. Even saw some at the Jo’burg airport. I bought two smaller sizes because my wife wanted one as a Christmas tree ornament.
Below is a photo of the smallest. The other is packed away. They are easy to find and you will find many sizes with various animals. The larger one I bought has the big 5 carved. Hope that helps.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I understand 308 to be Greta’s preferred caliber though.

View attachment 711452

One picture that’s worth a thousand nightmares! Thanks! But she looks like a Creedmoor girl to me. You know, this photo on every box of Creedmoor ammo? I knew I should’ve got off here while I was still behind. LOL

 

[Sideshow]

I think I’ll start a thread titled .308 should be banned from deer hunting and see if I can get 13 pages of drama out of it

Maybe the title of that thread could be “Hold my beer”

 

[Frederik]

In regards to the original poster, I just want to say that white hunter Cristiano Furtado (the identity of @Crishuntbrasil) is actually a well skilled white hunter with a significant amount of dangerous game hunting experience. Being a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum man through & through, I naturally don’t agree with his assessment that this caliber should be banned for Cape buffalo hunting (after all, I’ve personally taken 17 Cape buffalo with this caliber so far).

Interesting as I just saw this on FB and I think Mr PH Cristiano Furtado is just stirring and we fell for it.

See below what I found on Facebook.
What Calibre is written on the box by whom was this posted, or are my eyes seeing failling me????

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Interesting as I just saw this on FB and I think Mr PH Cristiano Furtado is just stirring and we fell for it.

See below what I found on Facebook.
What Calibre is written on the box by whom was this posted, or are my eyes seeing failling me????

View attachment 711521

Well, maybe he has a split personality disorder. Or been drinking too many Brahmas or whatever they call that God damned delicious beer in Brazil.

 

[MS 9x56]

Interesting as I just saw this on FB and I think Mr PH Cristiano Furtado is just stirring and we fell for it.

See below what I found on Facebook.
What Calibre is written on the box by whom was this posted, or are my eyes seeing failling me????

View attachment 711521

I call BS, I don’t see any blood or tissue on any of these bullets.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I call BS, I don’t see any blood or tissue on any of these bullets.

There appears to be some grass of some sort on the one in the bottom center. Strange indeed.

 

[Frederik]

Oh and before I'm told I am good a AI and editing.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=31286120954368445&set=g.1006013936597379

 

[MS 9x56]

There appears to be some grass or some sort on the one in the bottom center. Strange indeed.

 

[Sarg]

There appears to be some grass of some sort on the one in the bottom center. Strange indeed.

Stomach contents ?
if I manage to remember or have time to look for bullets, I normally clean them & return them to the hunters or keep if they don’t want them, unfortunately I was prosecuted for transporting ammunition components which consisted of Fired/spent projectiles, so be careful in this day & age !

 

[grand veneur]

I could be wrong, but it seems to me to be residue from some bullet trap at a shooting range. The bullets are suspiciously uniformly mushroomed so that something like this can hardly occur in various game bodies under various shooting conditions. Should that be the case, they never fail, like by shooting on ballistic gelatin.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I'm going to say something controversial. Killing cape buffalo is way overrated. I've shot 2 fair chase free range with a 375 Swift A Frame 300 grain bullets and they both died easily. I really don't see what all the hype is about with a cape buffalo. I'm much more fascinated with lion, leopard croc. I also shot 2 hippos in the head with my 375, lights out 1 shot. I know every situation is different but the Swift AFrames and the TSX bullets work in a 375.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Make better shots?

With the right bullet, that's pretty much it. I had a PH tell me back in 2017 my second trip of Africa.

"To be honest many American clients that come here can't shoot off sticks worth a sh*t."