Actual calibers used for Buffalo by AH members

[Mauser78]

Anybody that visited this site will know that 375 is the minimum, .4 something is better, but it should actually start with a .5

But I think it should be interesting to see actual data on what have been used by AH members on buffalo. Feel free to make comments also if you would like to give details.

 

[375Fox]

Anyone visiting this site will know a scoped 375 with swift A Frames is often the best choice. Anything starting with a 5 is for show.

 

[Mauser78]

Anyone visiting this site will know a scoped 375 with swift A Frames is often the best choice. Anything starting with a 5 is for show.

That is why I ask, if I could and someone asked me, I would love a .404 Jeff or 416 Rigby, so in a discussion that would be my choice. but I do not have one, but I do have a 375H&H that i use as my main hunting rifle, and there is a packet of Federal Premium Safari loaded with 300gr A frames standing in my safe, so if I do shoot a Buff, that will probably be my combo.

 

[High Country Hunts]

Artesian water buffalo of mine taken with a 9.3x74r double rifle. No problems. Using woodleigh Hydros. Through and through. I don’t shoot that many.
If you were regularly guiding or something like that a lot of guys use the .404 Jeffery.

 

[Mauser78]

Artesian water buffalo of mine taken with a 9.3x74r double rifle. No problems. Using woodleigh Hydros. Through and through. I don’t shoot that many.
If you were regularly guiding or something like that a lot of guys use the .404 Jeffery.

nice water buff.
Are they also aggressive?

 

[Dan458]

458 Lott does the job. I want to move to a 500 double though just for fun

 

[leslie hetrick]

a cow buffalo with a 9.3x62 in a MS rifle, no problem.

 

[BeeMaa]

Anybody that visited this site will know that 375 is the minimum.

9.3 is allowed in some places but not all, and it still needs to meet energy requirements. .375 caliber is considered the universal legal minimum.

I have used a 375H&H and wouldn’t hesitate to use it again.

 

[Mauser78]

9.3 is allowed in some places but not all, and it still needs to meet energy requirements. .375 caliber is considered the universal legal minimum.

I have used a 375H&H and wouldn’t hesitate to use it again.

yes, usually a 9.3 is not legal, but my bow is, and I will much rather carry the 9.3 in Buffalo country over my Hoyt.

 

[nomspc]

.375 H&H 350 grain Woodleigh Weldcore X 2

 

[Bandera]

In June we had 4 people, myself included, take Buffalo, 3 bulls & 1 cow, 2 with a 375 Ruger, 2 with 416 Remington.
1 of the buffalo was taken with one shot from a 375 Ruger
1 with 6 shots from a 375 Ruger plus two from the PH’s Double in 500 NE.
1 with 2 shots from a 416
1 (the cow) with 2 shots from a 416 and 2 from a 500 NE. The cow charged unprovoked from thick cover at close range.

 

[wvfred]

416 Remington is my go to buffalo rifle and I haven't had a problem yet. I have used a 450/400 but prefer the 416.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

.375 Holland & Holland Magnum

.458 Winchester Magnum

10.75x68mm Mauser (I’ll never hunt Cape buffalo with this caliber again unless if you throw in a free wild lion hunt)

 

[Berettaco]

I have hunted buff with a scoped Mauser 404J w/ 400 grain aframes and scoped Sako 375HH w/ 300 grain aframes.
They will produce the same result with proper shot placement.
I have, or have owned, 375HH, 404J, 416 Rem, 416WBY, 458 WM, 450 Rigby, 458 Lott, 500NE, but have found that the recoil does affect my accuracy so I lean towards the bottom end of the recoil spectrum. A well placed 375 is far more effective that a flinch/bad shot with a 500

 

[Pondoro]

In June we had 4 people, myself included, take Buffalo, 3 bulls & 1 cow, 2 with a 375 Ruger, 2 with 416 Remington.
1 of the buffalo was taken with one shot from a 375 Ruger
1 with 6 shots from a 375 Ruger plus two from the PH’s Double in 500 NE.
1 with 2 shots from a 416
1 (the cow) with 2 shots from a 416 and 2 from a 500 NE. The cow charged unprovoked from thick cover at close range.

I am a little puzzled...6 shots from a .375 Ruger and 2 from a .500 NE..? What distance were the first shot fired...from sticks or offhand..? And what happened from there..?

 

[Beck]

.416 Ruger x 1
.450 Rigby x 3
.470 Nitro Express x 1

 

[TSIBINDI]

.375x1
.458x3
.416Taylorx5

 

[Bandera]

I am a little puzzled...6 shots from a .375 Ruger and 2 from a .500 NE..? What distance were the first shot fired...from sticks or offhand..? And what happened from there..?

Shooting from sticks for at least the first shot. My PH and I were back up on this one.
My buddy shot with his 375 Ruger at about 60 yards.
The first shot knocked the bull down. It proved to be a good frontal heart shot.
The second and third shot where minute of Buffalo.
The bull circled around a bush and started to charge. My buddy is reloading and struggling with his goofy ass ammo wallet. His PH shoots the bull once with the 500 which stopped it. Still on his feet. They switch guns, my lines up for the second shot with 500, while his ph loads two more into the Ruger. My buddy takes the second shot with the 500.
They then switch rifles again and my buddy shoots the bull 3 more times. The last shot being when we walked up on the bull.

My speculation and observation.
There were two viable frontal wounds a heart shot and a hit on the skull under the left eye. A pass through shot on the gut. A gut shot with out a pass through.
I observed one side chest shot with no exit wound. There may have been other wounds but I did not see them.
My speculation is:
That were a couple of misses after the first shot.
The PH’s shot was the skull hit.

Lessons that I took away from this encounter.
1. Use a proper ammo belt or slide.
2. Practice reloading.
3. Controlled shots are better than minute of Buffalo.
4. Practice running the bolt as fast as you cam and maintain accuracy.

 

[Red Leg]

I use a .375 because it is the best solution for a mixed bag hunt for buff and plains game. I have taken 4 bulls with it in either a custom FN Mauser, Blaser S2, or Blaser R8. Two were with 300 gr A Frames and two with TSX. All were one shot kills, but two were given insurance shots.

The only rodeos I was ever around were both initiated by .416's (not mine). One was a small unit action that took twelve rounds, four of which were from a PH's .500.

That is no knock on the .416. It merely illustrates a 400 gr bullet in the wrong place is no more decisive than a 300 or 500.

 

[Red Leg]

Shooting from sticks for at least the first shot. My PH and I were back up on this one.
My buddy shot with his 375 Ruger at about 60 yards.
The first shot knocked the bull down. It proved to be a good frontal heart shot.
The second and third shot where minute of Buffalo.
The bull circled around a bush and started to charge. My buddy is reloading and struggling with his goofy ass ammo wallet. His PH shoots the bull once with the 500 which stopped it. Still on his feet. They switch guns, my lines up for the second shot with 500, while his ph loads two more into the Ruger. My buddy takes the second shot with the 500.
They then switch rifles again and my buddy shoots the bull 3 more times. The last shot being when we walked up on the bull.

My speculation and observation.
There were two viable frontal wounds a heart shot and a hit on the skull under the left eye. A pass through shot on the gut. A gut shot with out a pass through.
I observed one side chest shot with no exit wound. There may have been other wounds but I did not see them.
My speculation is:
That were a couple of misses after the first shot.
The PH’s shot was the skull hit.

Lessons that I took away from this encounter.
1. Use a proper ammo belt or slide.
2. Practice reloading.
3. Controlled shots are better than minute of Buffalo.
4. Practice running the bolt as fast as you cam and maintain accuracy.

Then I have to believe the first shot did not put a hole in the heart. I obviously wasn't there, but based on the sudden collapse, I would hazard a meaningful wager the bullet grazed the spine in the lower neck.