Definitive answer: where do you aim to shoot through the heart of a Buffalo?

[blackpowder12bore]

Greetings everyone from a whitetail deer hunter in florida. I just now am realizing that I may get the funds to go to Africa so I'm trying to learn as much about it as I can.

When I shoot a while deer in the heart I shoot right behind his front leg and he he shot to the heart and dies almost instantly. If I miss the heart and hit the lungs he runs 20 yards or so.

I want someone that is actually been to Africa and shot a cape buffalo and killed him to tell me A) where do you aim to shoot through the heart
And B) what rifle were you using

Please feel free to check out my profile and if you have any doubts about my sincerity please send me a message and I will allay your doubts. I'm not here for bulls*it I'm here to learn

 

[Muntjacer23]

I’ve only shot one Cape buffalo, but I used a .375 and placed the shot on the shoulder. It hit both lungs and passed all the way through.

 

[blackpowder12bore]

I’ve only shot one Cape buffalo, but I used a .375 and placed the shot on the shoulder. It hit both lungs and passed all the way through.View attachment 772062View attachment 772063

I find that reassuring as unless I'm able to find a CZ 550 and 416 rigby, I will be using a 375 Ruger with an appropriate bullet. I was thinking a staggering of solids and expanding bullets since I'll be using iron sights on my 375 Ruger as I've been told by the guy that most shots are 60 yards or under. As these beasts run at you in my experience it's easier to acquire them in your sights than it is to look through the scope and get them.

Anyway, I just want to make sure that in accordance with the diagrams the Red Dot placed on the buffaloes four leg is exactly where the heart is correct?
Would you say a solid bullet or an expanding bullet would be a better choice to put my round right through that red circle??

 

[blackpowder12bore]

I saved your pictures for further study lol

 

[skydiver386]

This forum and it's members are a great source of information, but most here will refer you to books like Kevin Robertson's "Perfect Shot Africa".

This book is an absolute gold mine of information on the anatomy of nearly every huntable species in Africa, calibers and bullets to use, footprints and even habits and hunting tips for each animal.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Hitting an animal in the heart muscle is ok. But is still a 100 yard proposition.

Top of the heart is a DRT or 10 yard proposition. It takes out the sinus node and all the major vessels. The sinus node is connected to the CNS and is a devastating shot.

I think the heart actually leans more than shown. And is less vertical

I prefer just forward of my X location. But the marked X has more room for error.

 

[Muntjacer23]

I find that reassuring as unless I'm able to find a CZ 550 and 416 rigby, I will be using a 375 Ruger with an appropriate bullet. I was thinking a staggering of solids and expanding bullets since I'll be using iron sights on my 375 Ruger as I've been told by the guy that most shots are 60 yards or under. As these beasts run at you in my experience it's easier to acquire them in your sights than it is to look through the scope and get them.

Anyway, I just want to make sure that in accordance with the diagrams the Red Dot placed on the buffaloes four leg is exactly where the heart is correct?
Would you say a solid bullet or an expanding bullet would be a better choice to put my round right through that red circle??

The .375 I used was a Sako 85 on hire from the outfitter. I was told to aim for the top of the heart so that if you miss slightly high you will still hit the lung! Yes I believe that is where the red dot on the diagram is!

 

[grand veneur]

Greetings everyone from a whitetail deer hunter in florida. I just now am realizing that I may get the funds to go to Africa so I'm trying to learn as much about it as I can.

When I shoot a while deer in the heart I shoot right behind his front leg and he he shot to the heart and dies almost instantly. If I miss the heart and hit the lungs he runs 20 yards or so.

I want someone that is actually been to Africa and shot a cape buffalo and killed him to tell me A) where do you aim to shoot through the heart
And B) what rifle were you using

Please feel free to check out my profile and if you have any doubts about my sincerity please send me a message and I will allay your doubts. I'm not here for bulls*it I'm here to learn

As several members have recommended, you should study pictures, the best ones are found in Kevin Robertson’s book.

Unfortunately, a buffalo does not always stand broadside in open terrain, allowing a perfect heart shot. For this reason, you need to be aware of all possible of shot placements and also know what compromises might be necessary when a buffalo is standing in dense vegetation and the ideal place for a good shot placement is not visible. You certainly don't shoot your first buffalo alone; the PH will advise you and let you know, based on the circumstances, whether it is safe to shoot or not, and if yes, at which place.

When it comes to rifles and ammunition, I prefer not to give precise advice and certainly not regarding bullets. I can only say that the larger the caliber and the heavier the bullet, the more effective the cartridge, provided that one master the rifle for it. Otherwise, it is more advisable to use something smaller still suitable for buffalo hunting, rather than trying to force something with various recoil-reducing devices.

 

[coreydb]

I shot mine at the top of the shoulder with a .375H&H. The other three shots to drop the buffalo were in the heart-lung area.

 

[Firebird]

Your ph when you have one will also discuss bullet and caliber with you. Seems like solids are mostly being phased out in preference of modern, well constructed “soft” bullets. Your ph should have the final say on the issue.
Those topics are also discussed in the perfect shot books-

 

[Bandera]

I used a 375 Ruger loaded with 300 Grain Barnes TSX.
Heart shot as in the above post #2.
60 yard shot the buff went about 70 yards and collapsed.
My PH told me to not bother with Solids, use a premium bullet.

I used the TSX loaded to 2550 fps which is what the Hornady DGX clocked out of my gun.
The TSX lodged in far shoulder.
Recovered TSX vs DGX. My buddy used DGX in his 375 Ruger.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

In most cases your PH will tell you where to place the bullet.

Bullet placement depends on presentation, i.e. what the buffalo gives you to shoot at. The buffalo in Dr Robertson's diagram was a poor choice to demonstrate. It's obviously on the move and most PHs will not let you shoot at a moving target, especially dangerous game ... unless it's wounded. On quad sticks, a moving target is very difficult to acquire and keep acquired. Personally, I don't think quad sticks have any place on a buffalo hunt. The shots are very often very quick and very close. Quads are slower to set up and the extra rigidity/support is not needed to be accurate close range.

Yes, I know Dr Robertson is a vet and makes a case for different bullet placement on African vs North American animals. But I have dressed hundreds of deer and elk and watched while my African animals are dressed (they won't let you do it so just as well leave your knife home) and frankly I don't see much if any difference in location of heart and lungs. Our deer and elk were originally plains game animals that had to run from predators. Why would our animals have evolved differently internally from African plains game?

Why not start with plains game? You can shoot seven or eight plains game for the price of one buffalo. I guarantee you will be planning your second trip before day four of your first safari. Save the buff for your return. Get your feet wet taking different plains game rather than one big expensive buffalo. Variety is the spice of life. Buffalo are definitely a challenge and rewarding but so are kudu. You can shoot three or four kudu for what it costs to shoot one Cape buffalo.

 

[Killo]

Straight through the Heart

 

[Altitude sickness]

the heart is straight up the leg on deer and elk also.

But there is more lung behind the leg on deer and elk than African game . So many prefer the crease behind the leg on NA game for wiggle room.

 

[Altitude sickness]

If broadside. Perfect shot Kilo.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

the heart is straight up the leg on deer and elk also.

But there is more lung behind the leg on deer and elk than African game . So many prefer the crease behind the leg on NA game for wiggle room.

Not to mention punching a bullet smack in the shoulder can wreck a lot of good venison. Putting it behind the shoulder not so much. And animal is usually just as dead. Rib meat on my deer is usually dog food.

 

[thriller]

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Cape Buffalo 3d model free download - Cape Buffalo 3d model free - Download Free 3D model by iRahulRajput (@rt699448)

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So I find this helpful in visualizing where to shoot at different angles. It is nowhere close to perfect and has the horns backwards but it still helps me.

 

[fourfive8]

The animal, its thoracic cavity that holds the heart/lung area, is three dimensional. To hit that interior vitals spot, you have to compensate point of aim depending on attitude/orientation of animal. Angling toward will require shooting through the shoulder/leg. Angling away will require shooting behind the rear crease of leg/shoulder. Experienced hunters do it instinctively. New or young hunters maybe not. It’s not so much “paint by numbers” but visualization of where the vitals target is interior in the animal no matter its orientation. Frontal angles increase chance of bullet deflection. Rear angles increase chance of bullet having to penetrate a “drum” full of wet fodder.

 

[Rare Breed]

Greetings everyone from a whitetail deer hunter in florida. I just now am realizing that I may get the funds to go to Africa so I'm trying to learn as much about it as I can.

When I shoot a while deer in the heart I shoot right behind his front leg and he he shot to the heart and dies almost instantly. If I miss the heart and hit the lungs he runs 20 yards or so.

I want someone that is actually been to Africa and shot a cape buffalo and killed him to tell me A) where do you aim to shoot through the heart
And B) what rifle were you using

Please feel free to check out my profile and if you have any doubts about my sincerity please send me a message and I will allay your doubts. I'm not here for bulls*it I'm here to learn

If broadside unlike a white tail deer you do not shoot behind the shoulder…you get on his leg and go straight up the front leg a third of the way up and you will take both heart and lungs. Africa animals are different. Almost all animals have their vitals more forward than NA animals. The exceptions are the cats, lion and leopard who are back more than NA animals

 

[V.Veritas]

As several members have recommended, you should study pictures, the best ones are found in Kevin Robertson’s book.

This.

The reference points as per Dr.K. R. are the 3 bones that are clearly seen for a side shot: tip of the shoulder blade, shoulder and elbow. The top of the heart is in the center of the triangle.
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