Hello Gunner4blue,
Khomas Highland Hunting Safaris of Namibia, welcomes you to the greatest forum on earth.
I salute you for your diligent rifle practice.
That very thing would save quite a few lost opportunities and prevent so many sad faces around countless camp fires.
You are a smart man.
Anyway, your rifles are just right for Africa.
I like both the .30-06 with the original Hornady, old fashioned 180 to 220 gr round nose softs and the .375 H&H with 300 gr round nose softs.
I have used all the above in both Africa and Alaska, with perfect satisfaction.
I don’t know what scopes if any, you have on your rifles.
Today’s trend in big game hunting is toward clownishly huge front lenses and way over-powered magnification scopes.
They’re also often festooned with gadgetry and gimmicks (mil-dot reticules, spirit oil leveling gauge, battery powered range finders, illuminated reticules, some with an extra feature to select multi colors, over-sized, external target turrets / adjustment knobs and it never ends).
I’m way out of style these days.
However, the old saying, If it works, don’t fix it” applies heavily in my life, including specific sporting goods I have been enjoying perfect success with all along.
On my hard recoiling .458 Lott, I use only iron sights.
Admittedly I’ve never shot anything with the Lott except paper targets.
But if I was to hunt with it, I would not scope it, for fear of cutting my face with the scope, during this rifle’s “sporty recoil”.
Anyway, my favorite hunting rifle of all time is my old Brno Model 602 Magnum, caliber .375 H&H.
On this splendid rifle, I have installed a sadly out of production, Zeiss 4x scope, in Alaskan Arms lever rings.
If I had to spend my last years with but one rifle, this Brno would be the one.
And if someone tried to put a huge and fancy clown scope on it, they’d have to endure the embarrassment of getting punched out by a wrinkled up old prune.
Anyway bullets ya, the original Hornady DGS bullet was reportedly too soft for much over about 2,000 - 2,100 fps.
Today’s version of that bullet has the core bonded to the jacket.
As such, it is now enjoying a very good and well deserved great reputation, even at higher velocities.
I do not know what velocity you’re getting from your .375 caliber / 300 gr bullet hand load.
However, anywhere between 2,400 and 2,550 fps will likely work well for your buffalo.
Myself and others no doubt, are looking forward to your triumphant return and your subsequent Hunt Report.
Best Regards,
Velo Dog.
to AH!
