Can you reload a single shot fast enough for DG?

[Brian]

Excellent posts above.
If you are stubborn enough, like me, to keep using a single shot then at least do the following.
- Use a single shot with an ejector.
- Use a premium bullet.
- Use a calibre that starts with a "5" .
Just my opinion. Brian

 

[Huvius]

…It so happened I had two PHs that morning.Neither fired but had plenty of time to do so and both had bolt-actions.Found blood but never recovered the buffalo.I paid $9000 for the trophy fee.

Bummer!
I hear of losing Buffalo a lot more than I used to. Is that the case or just more hunting going on and the averages are the same?

…When I was researching doubles years ago I could not for the life of me figure out why there were so many doubles, especially used (interesting!), with extractors instead of ejectors. After hunting with a double for a number of years now I've decided I was right and extractors are simply stupid.

It’s my understanding that most PHs disabled their ejectors because after the shots, the last thing you needed was a metallic click or even worse big brass cases flying out onto the rocks drawing the game’s attention directly at your position.

 

[Accidental Villain]

Hunting elephant you might very well be facing a stampede with a number of juggernauts coming straight for you at full speed. I`ve been there. Single shot in such a situation..#!@ NO!
A good, true DG bolt action rifle that can be relied on 100% with good mag capacity all the way for me, always.

 

[Brian]

Bummer!
I hear of losing Buffalo a lot more than I used to. Is that the case or just more hunting going on and the averages are the same?


It’s my understanding that most PHs disabled their ejectors because after the shots, the last thing you needed was a metallic click or even worse big brass cases flying out onto the rocks drawing the game’s attention directly at your position.

Huvius, I hear more of it too.

My personal speculation is that the huge marketing advertising of bullets like Hornady is partly to blame. Did you know that most dangerous game hunters believe that Hornady and similar DG bullets are good enough for safe decisive kills on cape buffalo? (Dangerous misconception, sorry.)


Ejectors and clinking brass? Yes, I have heard that for years. But have never heard of it actually happening.

Of course it could happen, better safe than sorry.
I have to mention here, that I have yet to need a second quick follow up shot on a cape buffalo when using my big bore single shot. Probably just luck. right?

My view is: The sound of the shot being fired, boom, and the action being opened, snap-clunk, is enough to give away your position. The sound of the ejected cases landing, clink, does not seem so significant to me, not in my experience.


There are several other considerations when planning the safest way of killing a cape buffalo:
- Big gun or little gun, Most folks choose a little gun.
- Standard conventional bullets or premium specialty bullets. The former are the most popular.
- Type of rifle. double, bolt, lever single-shot. The latter is least popular, for good reason.
- Good shot or not so good. It can take some time and money to become good shot.

When you hit a buffalo in the boiler room with a premium .500 or .585 bullet you get exactly what you want ... a dead or dying cape buffalo with no gas left in the tank to charge.

In my minority opinion the most unsafe cape buffalo hunting practice that I have ever heard of is a hunter who is a mediocre marksman, under pressure, (which in my casual research includes about 60% of the cape buffalo hunting clients and about 30% of the Dangerous Game hunting PH's.), using a 375 HH with Hornady or similar bullets. A few people, like me, feel that is an accident waiting to happen.

The "give away sound" of ejected brass clinking on the ground may be insignificant in comparison.

When ever you hear of a problem with wounded cape buffalo, one that need to be hit 3-4 times to get it down, ask if you get chance, what cartridge and bullet was used for the first shot and where was the buffalo hit. ( That scenario happens so often that many clients have come to consider it normal. It is very unusual with a cape buffalo, in my experience, if you use an honest big bore and you put a premium bullet where it belongs with your first shot.)

Happy hunting.. Brian

 

[Philip Glass]

Bummer!
I hear of losing Buffalo a lot more than I used to. Is that the case or just more hunting going on and the averages are the same?


It’s my understanding that most PHs disabled their ejectors because after the shots, the last thing you needed was a metallic click or even worse big brass cases flying out onto the rocks drawing the game’s attention directly at your position.

Old wives tale from what I can gather. Maybe it was in one of the classic safari books from decades ago. Anyone recall?
Mine doesn't make much of a sound when it ejects.

 

[Accidental Villain]

Old wives tale from what I can gather. Maybe it was in one of the classic safari books from decades ago. Anyone recall?
Mine doesn't make much of a sound when it ejects.

Thats a John Taylor classic I do believe. He also recommended shortening DR barrels quite a bit if I remember correctly. I`ve seen the result of that on an otherwise very nice H&H 470 NE. The guy using it was very afraid of elephants but even more afraid of his DR. When facing a nice tusker he managed to screw up something resulting in a double discharge. He was also a leftie, so.. Happening today he would almost certainly be headliner candidate for Sky News Australia "lefties loosing it" show by Rita Panahi;D

 

[Brian]

I keep a few cartridges in loops on the butt stock. You can barely see the in this photo, apologies. This old method really works for me. Most of my practice in loading a break open gun comes from years of shooting Sporting Clays. This is a .577 NE made from a converted H&R 10 Gauge. "Nothins' too good for a cowboy". Rustenburg 2024, after a record rain fall, February and March.

 

[BenKK]

Got at least one buffalo with my Ruger No.1 in .300H&H; maybe a dozen buffalo and a few scrubbers with my Ruger No.1 in .450/400 3” NE; maybe half-a-dozen buffalo and two or three scrubbers with my CVA .54” percussion cap and roundball; and one buffalo with my .54” flintlock and roundball. Glad for the adventures of my misspent youth but probably don’t exactly recommend it.

 

[Brian]

Got at least one buffalo with my Ruger No.1 in .300H&H; maybe a dozen buffalo and a few scrubbers with my Ruger No.1 in .450/400 3” NE; maybe half-a-dozen buffalo and two or three scrubbers with my CVA .54” percussion cap and roundball; and one buffalo with my .54” flintlock and roundball. Glad for the adventures of my misspent youth but probably don’t exactly recommend it.

BenKK, I enjoy your post. "...misspent youth...".That's a good one.

I would to go to Australia NT to see the country is go on a magement. water buffalo cow, cull hunt.
Would you have any suggestions of who I could ask to find an outfitter offering cull hunts.
I am thinking about 10 cows for $10,000 USD all included, somewhere in Arnhem Land. I wonder if that is about right?

Any suggestion that you could offer is appreciated. I have always wanted to go to Australian.

 

[BenKK]

G’day Brian, Alex Jager (spelling?) is a member here and is definitely the best person to talk to, I don’t know him but he has an excellent reputation and I wholeheartedly recommend him. Plus his wife saved the life of our beautiful old dog once, so I am biased.

 

[Rafiki]

I keep a few cartridges in loops on the butt stock. You can barely see the in this photo, apologies. This old method really works for me. Most of my practice in loading a break open gun comes from years of shooting Sporting Clays. This is a .577 NE made from a converted H&R 10 Gauge. "Nothins' too good for a cowboy". Rustenburg 2024, after a record rain fall, February and March.View attachment 763490

Hey Brian, looks like you took a neck/spine shot, that's another thread

 

[Brian]

Hey Brian, looks like you took a neck/spine shot, that's another thread

Hi Rafiki, Good eye.
I wanted to do that but I chickened out at the last moment.
She was quartering towards me a bit so I went for double lung shot and then shot a little higher than I intended. She still only went about 18 yards. Love those big .585 bullets!.
The way she is laying make the bullet hole look higher.

I have always wanted to make that neck/spine shot but always chickened out at the last moment.

I once made a nice scapulas/spine shot on a broadside buffalo, that was very satisflying. it was a lucky shot because at that time I never heard of a scpouas/spine shot. I was just trying to get the bullet a few inches over the neck of a grazing cow standing beside her. I was very surprised but I acted like I had planned it all week.

She went straight down. I learned later in the skinning shed that bullet went through the wide part of shoulder blade and into the spine near the top centre of the shoulder.

I hope to try that neck spine shot when I go to Australia for water buffalo. Right where the spine goes between the shoulder bone are the two big joint of the shoulder. I think a 500 cal CEB Solid right there would pretty impressive.

Twice I have hit, on purpose, the bone connecting to the top of the leg. It goes from the top of the leg forward and up at a 45 deg. angle. I have called it the Femur bone. That may not be the right name for it. When the buffalo is quartering toward you, hit that bone about 1/4 the way up the shoulder. Your bullet, if is a good one, will keep going strait to the heart, Broken shoulder bone an smashed heart.
It's another feel good shot. Love those quick kills on buffalo!