Head shot and spine shot Question on broadside cape buffalo

[Brian]

I am looking for actual, factual, proven instructions on successfully making the brain shot and/or also the spine shot on a cape buffalo from the side, not the front of the buffalo.
Where exactly is the right place to aim for both shots and a broadside buffalo?

Honestly, I don't want to know whether you agree with this shot or even if you like it. I respect your opinion but am not asking for it.

Please, I would be very grateful if you can tell me if you have successfully taken either and specifically where exactly did you place the bullet as viewed from the shooters position.

Thank you in advance for your constructive help/instruction. Brian

 

[Rafiki]

I did neck/spine twice on my last TZ trip; just ahead of the shoulders 1/2 way up up the neck. Both buffalo were DRT.

 

[Brian]

That is what I hoped to hear, Thanks. Some of the diagrams vary bit.
I have killed quite a few buffalo but have never had the confidence to try the neck shot.
Some times it would be the best shot if the brush blocks the shoulder.

I appreciate your clear post very much!! Brian

 

[Red Leg]

That is what I hoped to hear, Thanks. Some of the diagrams vary bit.
I have killed quite a few buffalo but have never had the confidence to try the neck shot.
Some times it would be the best shot if the brush blocks the shoulder.

I appreciate your clear post very much!! Brian

I like the base of the neck shot on fairly fragile animals like deer and antelope. I missed the spine and hit a waterbuck through the throat while in Zambia and he then led us on a rather long stern chase. It would have been sporting had it been a buffalo and he was after us instead.

I have no idea how you would accomplish a side brain shot on a buffalo.

 

[375Fox]

This $20 book has all your answers.

Buffalo: Shot Placemnt & Trphy Eval, Mini, so|Paperback

Discover Buffalo: Shot Placemnt & Trphy Eval, Mini, so by Kevin Robertson and millions of other books available at Barnes & Noble. Shop paperbacks, eBooks, and more!

www.barnesandnoble.com

 

[Africa1]

This year (2025) I was charged by the Askari of my bull. I killed my bull, approached where I thought he would be (no death bellow to confirm his location). and his askari charged me from 30-40 yards out of long grass. I was in an elevated position when I pulled both triggers on my (borrowed) 470 NE. I hit him approximately two inches to the right of his center-line on his spine. He instantly flipped over on his back bellowing loudly. I then walked over and administered the finishing shot He was 8.5 feet from me when I stopped his charge. The bull who I shot first lay dead approximately 40 feet from where I killed the second bull.

 

[Red Leg]

That is what I hoped to hear, Thanks. Some of the diagrams vary bit.
I have killed quite a few buffalo but have never had the confidence to try the neck shot.
Some times it would be the best shot if the brush blocks the shoulder.

I appreciate your clear post very much!! Brian

I looked at your photo postings and see that you have taken a lot of cow buffalo. I suppose a side brain would be possible on one due to the horn configuration - trying to shoot through the horns of a bull from the flank is a different exercise.

I also fail to understand the point. Miss the heart lung center target three inches in any direction and the bull is just as dead. Do it with a head or neck shot and shoot off his jaw or hit nothing critical in the neck muscle.

 

[Rafiki]

I also fail to understand the point. Miss the heart lung center target three inches in any direction and the bull is just as dead. Do it with a head or neck shot and shoot off his jaw or hit nothing critical in the neck muscle.

Not all side shots are presented as those nice pretty broadsides. I do agree that you have to be able to shoot to be comfortable with taking a neck/spine shot.

 

[Brian]

Red Leg, here is what I stated in my original post.I did a search and got this.

bers seem reasonable and he didn't quote numbers for tips to PH for specific species... that's what you are paying them for in daily rates!!... special jobs, maybe another palm... ?? 470EDDY​ ​ https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/groupee_common/ver1.3.7.2147483647/platform_images/blank.gif ​ Hannay One of Us https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/evefiles/avatars/9/8/8/9881018441/avatar.JPG [td width="25px"] https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/groupee_common/ver1.3.7.2147483647/platform_images/blank.gif ​ posted 08 December 2025 23:50 Hide Post ​ Posts: 793 | Location: Oklahoma | Registered: 27 November 2010 https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/groupee_common/ver1.3.7.2147483647/platform_images/blank.gif ​ airgun1 One of Us [td width="25px"] https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/groupee_common/ver1.3.7.2147483647/platform_images/blank.gif ​ posted 09 December 2025 00:12 Hide Post ​ I am far from wealthy. I had a 7 day hunt for 5 species, Kudu, Duiker, Impala, Blesbuck, and Springbok. I tipped the PH $100, both Trackers $100 each, 2 cooks $50.00 each. The outfitter would not take a tip and told me not to tip the camera crew as they were very well compensated by him. Nobody complained. Everyone was gracious. PA Bear Hunter, NRA Benefactor​ ​ Posts: 1707 | Location: Potter County, Pennsylvania | Registered: 22 June 2005 https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/groupee_common/ver1.3.7.2147483647/platform_images/blank.gif ​ 470EDDY One Of Us [td width="25px"] https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/groupee_common/ver1.3.7.2147483647/platform_images/blank.gif ​ posted 09 December 2025 02:29 Hide Post ​ Thank You, HANNAY!! That will stimulate some discussion!! 470EDDY​ ​ Posts: 2930 | Location: The Other Washington | Registered: 24 March 2003 https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/groupee_common/ver1.3.7.2147483647/platform_images/blank.gif ​ Saeed Administrator td width="25px"] https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/groupee_common/ver1.3.7.2147483647/platform_images/blank.gif ​ posted 09 December 2025 07:24 Hide Post ​ Posts: 6211 | Location: Pueblo, CO | Registered: 31 January 2006 https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/groupee_common/ver1.3.7.2147483647/platform_images/blank.gif ​ Ignored post by lavaca posted 10 December 2025 08:47 Show Post Saeed Administrator [td width="25px"] https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/groupee_common/ver1.3.7.2147483647/platform_images/blank.gif ​ posted 10 December 2025 09:47 Hide Post ​ ​ quote: Originally posted by lavaca: I tend to tip well, probably too well, but I agree that someone going above and beyond deserves a bit more. When I screwed up a shot on a leopard, the guys I went in with after it were tipped accordingly. Exactly! outfitters reminding us of a "tips are not included" are just plain idiots! www.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com Instagram : ganyana2000​ ​ Posts: 73383 | Location: Dubai, UAE | Registered: 08 January 1998 https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/groupee_common/ver1.3.7.2147483647/platform_images/blank.gif ​ Bwana338 One of Us https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/evefiles/avatars/7/2/5/7251009371/avatar.jpg [td width="25px"] https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/groupee_common/ver1.3.7.2147483647/platform_images/blank.gif ​ posted 11 December 2025 03:53 Hide Post ​ I needed to read the entire article. There are different kind of hunts, Different kind of camps. Tips are for what you perceive to be above and beyond what you consider normal. from the camp gent who come and wakes you up early, to the chef who goes above and beyond to make you a special meal. Laundry is it done daily or a couple times while in the bush. Were you off a bit on one of your shots and the trackers spend 2 days doing follow up. Was it plains game or dangerous game. I usually have a set amount, and some times I will go above that and I am open to discussion how I pass out tips. Some camps have a lot of hands and some have very few. Some camp workers have one task while another camp a worker bee has many hats to wear. What I use is 5% of daily fees to be distributed to the working crew. And like mentioned if some go over and above they will receive a generous tip. A couple times I have asked to have additional spotters hired, and I picked up their wages and provided them a tip when we were successful in securing the animal that we were hunting. I am still looking for the 30"+ Nyala, or looking for a 60"+ it takes eyes and time. The PH knows that they are there, we just need to spot it to make a good stalk. When we were successful in taking a 61 1/2 inch Kudu, I purchased the crew a couple cases of Beer and they received a nice tip. The PH and I enjoyed a nice bottle of rum that evening and we slept in the next day. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> "You've got the strongest hand in the world. That's right. Your hand. The hand that marks the ballot. The hand that pulls the voting lever. Use it, will you" John Wayne​ ​ Posts: 1720 | Location: West River at Heart | Registered: 08 April 2012 https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/groupee_common/ver1.3.7.2147483647/platform_images/blank.gif ​ the Pom One of Us [td width="25px"] https://forums.**NOT**PERMITTED**.com/groupee_common/ver1.3.7.2147483647/platform_images/blank.gif ​ posted 11 December 2025 04:44 Hide Post ​ In New Zealand we dont tip at all, although visiting hunters will no longer experience their guide refusing a tip! In America, restaurant owners seem to have transferred the payment of wages to their staff directly onto the customer without reducing their bill for the food. In Africa, I usually ask the PH for guidance on how much to tip the camp staff. Often more than I had in mind! Tipping the PH is tricky. I never had one that didn't try really hard. Generally double for a DG hunt than for a PG hunt. Trackers and the PH are putting their lives on the line for your entertainment.​ ​ Posts: 554 | Location: New Zealand | Registered: 24 March 2018 ​ ​ ​ ​ Sorry, Something got screwed up in my last post.Aglitch of smoking. Idon't know, just ignore it. Thanks, brian ​ ​ ​

posted 08 December 2025 21:06

Hide Post

​

Boy, has this tipping issue come a long way. On my first safari, I tipped my tent boy. He looked at the money($) and had no idea what it was. He ran over and gave it to the PH.


Formally Bwana1.
[/td]

​

[/td]


[/td]

[/td]


[/td]

[/td]


[/td]

[/td]


[/td]

[/td]

[/td]​

 

[Brian]

My Computer seems be going crazy, Sorry for all the weird stuff in my last post. Maybe the webmaster can delete it. Thanks Brian

 

[DLSJR]

I am looking for actual, factual, proven instructions on successfully making the brain shot and/or also the spine shot on a cape buffalo from the side, not the front of the buffalo.
Where exactly is the right place to aim for both shots and a broadside buffalo?

Honestly, I don't want to know whether you agree with this shot or even if you like it. I respect your opinion but am not asking for it.

Please, I would be very grateful if you can tell me if you have successfully taken either and specifically where exactly did you place the bullet as viewed from the shooters position.

Thank you in advance for your constructive help/instruction. Brian

Here is all the constructive help you need for a broadside brain shot on a buffalo…

Don’t attempt one. Ever. Under any circumstance.

You shoot broadside buffalo into the heart and lungs. Period. A spine, neck shot can work week but there is little margin for error. Your PH will appreciate you sticking to the ‘tried & true’ and not trying to get cute.

You may not appreciate this advice; but your PH and trackers damn sure would.

 

[mark-hunter]

Honestly, I don't want to know whether you agree with this shot or even if you like it. I respect your opinion but am not asking for it.

On the conservative, traditional, passionate and opinionated forum like this:
Good luck with the idea !

After theoretical research, next challenge will be to find actual PH, approving this on the ground.
PH will probably say, "buffalo, broad side, 50 meters, shoot at the shoulder".
Then what?

 

[Brian]

I don't know what the heck I did to creat that mess above! My Apologies. Brian

Here is all the constructive help you need for a broadside brain shot on a buffalo…

Don’t attempt one. Ever. Under any circumstance.

You shoot broadside buffalo into the heart and lungs. Period. A spine, neck shot can work week but there is little margin for error. Your PH will appreciate you sticking to the ‘tried & true’ and not trying to get cute.

You may not appreciate this advice; but your PH and trackers damn sure would.

DLSJR, I definitely DO appreciate this advice. I watched some cullers on a video using that shot repeatedly from off a bakkie and I thought, "how the heck do they do that?" I was beginning to think that I am a lame shot because I would never try it.

Thanks to you and other for your posts here, Brian

 

[Brian]

I think that the men on the video that I saw taking head shot from any angle repeatedly, were doing so because the cows would go straight down without disturbing the herd very much. They were taking out a lot of old cows from the herd.

They were shooting from the box of their bakkie resting the rifles on the cab roof and it looked like they were using mid caliber sniper/target type rifles like .308's.

Of course they made it look easy and I just had to ask if anyone else was doing it that way. I am somewhat relieved with your responses. It looked pretty crazy, but impressive at the same time.
( I watch too many buffalo hunting videos.)
If I remember correctly I think they were on a farm between Bloemfontein and Kimberly. (?)

I usually shoot cape buffalo with a big bore at around 50 yds, and I always go for the boiler room. The only sorta fancy shot that I have ever taken was on two buffalos when they were quartering to me and the femur bone was lined up with the heart. There, I slid a solid CEB bullet into the chamber and aimed for the femur bone. I was lucky with that shot. Both times the buffalo hoped around in a 360 and west down.

It was fun for bragging rights, but for that quartering to me shot, normally I just behave myself and I use a Raptor bullet aiming for the height of the point of the shoulder right beside the neck.

Thanks again for the "constructive" comments. That was fun. Brian

 

[Brian]

On the conservative, traditional, passionate and opinionated forum like this:
Good luck with the idea !

After theoretical research, next challenge will be to find actual PH, approving this on the ground.
PH will probably say, "buffalo, broad side, 50 meters, shoot at the shoulder".
Then what?

I agree! Brian