Buff are tough

[skydiver386]

...crap

No need to feel that all is lost. I've recently purchased several Big Bores, some with muzzle brakes, some without.

If you have a capability to handload, and build some light loads to start out while using the brake, your tolerance will grow quickly. Eventually I took the brake off, pumped up the loads to factory power levels and beyond, and I have no problems.

I often compare this to weight lifting. Nobody but nobody starts out doing a 400 pound Bench Press. Depending on your start point, it may take a year, or several years to build up to that point one added plate to the bar at a time.

You may find that it's not possible to reach your goal of firing a 9 pound 585 Nyati with max loads, but you'll certainly feel comfortable with a lot more than your original starting point.

I've rapidly progressed from 375 H&H, through 416 Rigby, through 458 Lott, through 450 Rigby, and I'm now considering a beautiful 505 Gibbs that member @krish has on offer. A 600gr bullet at 2350fps is the goal.

 

[WAB]

Google cut outs of woodleigh, swift a frame, Hornady DGX, and others. Woodleigh softs might be good in big slow calibers but it’s a pretty weak design for 375.

They are softer than the others, but they offer heavy for caliber bullets that slows them down to an acceptable range for the design. My .375 H&H shoots cloverleafs with their 350 gr soft at 2,300 fps. Their .375, 350 gr conventional solid at 2,300 fps is the deepest penetrating load I have ever seen. I’m quite certain it would go through 2 buff and be looking for more.

 

[coreydb]

Thanks! I want to go beyond what I have, even with my broken up bod.

 

[Sideshow]

As far as we know and understand Rhino Bullets are no longer in production as of recent.

Well that is a shame. Looked like an excellent product.

 

[deewayne2003]

If we speak of factory ammunition, with lack of swift bullets on the market, Norma ammo factory, switched to Woodleigh bullets in Norma African PH line.
What do you guys say?

Good, or not?

View attachment 766392

Heading to Zim in 27 with a buddy and his son; I’m taking my .470 with 500gr Woodleighs and I’m also taking my .375H&H with .350gr RNSN HD & FMJ solids as a backup/more versatile second option.

My buddy and his son each have M70 .375s with 350gr Woodleigh RNSN HD for buff and 350gr North Fork FN solids since they have tuskless on the menu.

I’m a fan of heavy for caliber bullets and both Kevin Robertson and my Zim PH speak highly of the 350gr .375 Woodleigh.

 

[Foxi]

I happened to be flipping through one of MS's books, “Death at My Feet,” again this afternoon.
In it, he wrote about a buffalo that took 18 shots (.577 and .416 Weatherby Mag).
Kevin, I wouldn't make too much of it—things like that just happen sometimes.
Who wants to die, after all?

 

[Sideshow]

On a side note how did you find the performance of the Hornady bullets?
You all seemed to have been using them. Did you recover any?

 

[grand veneur]

 

[SStomcat]

No need to feel that all is lost. I've recently purchased several Big Bores, some with muzzle brakes, some without.

If you have a capability to handload, and build some light loads to start out while using the brake, your tolerance will grow quickly. Eventually I took the brake off, pumped up the loads to factory power levels and beyond, and I have no problems.

I often compare this to weight lifting. Nobody but nobody starts out doing a 400 pound Bench Press. Depending on your start point, it may take a year, or several years to build up to that point one added plate to the bar at a time.

You may find that it's not possible to reach your goal of firing a 9 pound 585 Nyati with max loads, but you'll certainly feel comfortable with a lot more than your original starting point.

I've rapidly progressed from 375 H&H, through 416 Rigby, through 458 Lott, through 450 Rigby, and I'm now considering a beautiful 505 Gibbs that member @krish has on offer. A 600gr bullet at 2350fps is the goal.

Will just like to add, that using a good quality recoil pad like the mag plus from Caldwell helps if you are recoil averse. I use it alternatively at the range to protect my shoulder. It helps me.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I for one would like to see that.
Do you have much choice on the ammo front @Kevin Peacocke I’d be guessing no with arms embargo’s for Zim. How is the SA selection? I heard good things about Rhino bullets. I’m sure if they make 500 or what their supply line is like. But nothing wrong with trying something new in something new!

SA has a reasonable selection, but up to now I have just defaulted to Hornady because they are the most available.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

This is good data. Anyone who kills 11 buffalo in one trip has quite a bit of Buff experience.

No beck, this is not all on one hunt and not all one hunter. I am just putting together what I have the facts on. There are maybe another 20 or so kills that I am aware of in our group, but the information isn't strong enough to list.

 

[SStomcat]

BTW, Norma PH line always used Woodleigh soft and solid bullets.

I have few Woodleighs bullets and Norma PH ammo. The bullets do look the same.

 

[Beck]

On a side note how did you find the performance of the Hornady bullets?
You all seemed to have been using them. Did you recover any?

I was not impressed with them

 

[zephyr]

Bull 400H&H, frontal approx 40yrds 370gr CEB Safari Raptor went 60yards done bullet found in Rumen

Bull 450 3 1/4"NE, Broadside approx 35yrd 450gr Safari Raptor 480gr Safari Solid
Bull was in a clearing first shot with Raptor he bucked hit him again with Solid went maybe 50 yards both rounds exited

Bull 505 Gibbs, Frontal slightly quartering maybe 40 yards 485gr Safari Raptor entered just inside his left shoulder exited back of ribs on right side went 30 yards done

 

[Fordy]

Gday Bob

@Fordy
What sort of 358 are you using and what projectiles.
A 310 loaded to almost 2,500fps or a Woodleigh hydro @2,900 fps would be deadly medicine.
Bob

Sorry for my writing skills must have been my other head doing the thinking when I was typing lol ( guys I’m from Tassie & we have 2 heads well according to my scar anyway , just a joke )

The 358 is in relation to the weight of the pill itself not the caliber as the caliber is .510 cal & shooting this out of my 500 Jeffery

Sorry for my mixup
cheers

 

[Fordy]

Gday pondoro

BTW, Norma PH line always used Woodleigh soft and solid bullets.

This Norma ph line in 500 Jeffery that we get in Aussie is definitely not woodleigh in the solids & it’s a shocker as turns tumbles bad when trying to end to end aussie buff or like
Don’t know what brand they use but on elephant I’d be extremely cautious & I will use them only on varmits for practice & take my hand loads for the big critters

@spike.t
These what you talking about sako in the pictures above on not getting any anymore ?
we have a few sako left here last I checked with the shop owner when I bout 40 rounds the importer had 36 boxes available so I better get some more & put in storage incase we rub shoulders one day as mine will be all gone next week ( these & others )

The Aframe is a fine pill & gives buff & like some hurt they don’t like that’s for sure , well aussie buff & our other critters so take that for what it’s worth

Cheers

 

[Monski]

Gday pondoro

This Norma ph line in 500 Jeffery that we get in Aussie is definitely not woodleigh in the solids & it’s a shocker as turns tumbles bad when trying to end to end aussie buff or like
Don’t know what brand they use but on elephant I’d be extremely cautious & I will use them only on varmits for practice & take my hand loads for the big critters
View attachment 766491View attachment 766492
@spike.t
These what you talking about sako in the pictures above on not getting any anymore ?
we have a few sako left here last I checked with the shop owner when I bout 40 rounds the importer had 36 boxes available so I better get some more & put in storage incase we rub shoulders one day as mine will be all gone next week ( these & others )

The Aframe is a fine pill & gives buff & like some hurt they don’t like that’s for sure , well aussie buff & our other critters so take that for what it’s worth

Cheers

I think those 500 Jeffery 540 grain solids are a Norma bullet. I have some in 505 Gibbs, same weight, but never tried them on game. I use handloaded NF and Woodleigh 600 grain solids. Good to know about their tumbling lack of performance in your 500.

 

[Rafiki]

4Deadhold in SA.
Then you order the extra leg

If 5 is good 6 must be better.

 

[Fordy]

Gday monski

I think those 500 Jeffery 540 grain solids are a Norma bullet. I have some in 505 Gibbs, same weight, but never tried them on game. I use handloaded NF and Woodleigh 600 grain solids. Good to know about their tumbling lack of performance in your 500.

Thanks for that & your welcome
They are Total rubbish imo & one where the issue first showed was on a 1/4 too shot on a brumby as this thing polaxed on impact BUT on further investigation no exit could be found so it was a autopsy that revealed the issue ( I’ll see if I can get my son to help find pics where he stored them but got nothing on my phone sorry )
The pill turned & done a boomerang ended up back against side on same impact side

This was seen a few times of various levels on bovines also & one that didn’t happen all the time as we also got mostly exits but 18 kill’s & retained 3 pills in the critters that should’ve easily exited well the hydro ( forget about a ceb as those things are still going lol ) does on these angles we recovered the Norma pills In & even some that did exit the pill had started to turn re non straight line where good solids stay straight

Also on recent tests in media with help from @michael458 I’ve been doing , to work out which pill I’ll use on elephant soon , I put a few different bullets into wet newspaper media I shot a couple of these Norma into that & turns also occurred in the 2 I’d shot in it

So I’d suggest one definitely air on the side of caution if going to use them

Mine are destined to use on varmits plain & simple they are too erratic for putting into critters imo even though some results were pretty good it’s the bad that gets my attention & total junk imo
Cheers

 

[375Fox]

This Norma ph line in 500 Jeffery that we get in Aussie is definitely not woodleigh in the solids & it’s a shocker as turns tumbles bad when trying to end to end aussie buff or like
Don’t know what brand they use but on elephant I’d be extremely cautious & I will use them only on varmits for practice & take my hand loads for the big critters
View attachment 766491View attachment 766492
@spike.t
These what you talking about sako in the pictures above on not getting any anymore ?
we have a few sako left here last I checked with the shop owner when I bout 40 rounds the importer had 36 boxes available so I better get some more & put in storage incase we rub shoulders one day as mine will be all gone next week ( these & others )

The Aframe is a fine pill & gives buff & like some hurt they don’t like that’s for sure , well aussie buff & our other critters so take that for what it’s worth

Cheers

Have you done any testing with Nosler brand solid? I have some of the same Norma solids in 450 Rigby but they look very similar to Nosler’s solids to me.