How do you organize your ammo wallet?

[Hunter-Habib]

First of all, thank you all for your responses and great suggestions!

In reading these, some people suggest all soft points for buffalo and (it seems) that others suggest a mix of soft and solid.

Could I kindly ask of those who feel like responding again, would you explain the rationale for using, or not using, solids on buffalo?

Hi, @franzfmdavis

Very logical question to ask. Let me explain. When I first began hunting in Africa in 1974… the standard practice was to load a soft point for the first shot and solids for the follow up shot. In a magazine rifle, it was soft point in the chamber and solids in the magazine. In a double rifle, it was soft point in the first barrel & solid in the second barrel.

The logic was that (as a client hunter) your first shot would invariably be made from a perfectly broadside position (which your white hunter would get you to) and from this angle… the soft points of those days (for example: the RWS Kegelspitze Cone Point) could be reliably expected to penetrate into the heart-lung region behind the shoulder (provided that you avoided the heavy shoulder bone/humerus/scapula). After the first shot, the Cape buffalo would be either departing (i.e offering only quartering away or going away shots) or (relatively less commonly) charging (i.e offering only frontal shots). At these angles, the soft points of those days seldom could be reliably expected to penetrate deep enough into the vital organs. Hence, we had to rely exclusively upon the solid for follow up shots.

My initial set up (in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum magazine rifles) was one RWS 300Gr Kegelspitze Cone Point followed by RWS 300Gr nickel jacketed round nosed FMJ solids (and later, Remington 300Gr Hornady round nosed steel jacketed FMJ solids starting from 1982) in the rest of the magazine.

In this double barreled .458 Winchester Magnum Belgium made boxlock ejector, it was a (hand loaded) Hornady 500Gr soft point in the left barrel for the first shot and a (hand loaded) Hornady 500Gr round nosed steel jacketed FMJ solid in the right barrel for the follow up shot.

Aside from the fact that soft points generated larger wound cavities in the vital organs of Cape buffalo on body shots to the heart-lung region (which accelerated blood loss and led to the game hemorrhaging faster from blood loss), they possessed one more advantage. They did not over penetrate. You see, the vast majority of African Cape buffalo are hunted in herds. And using solid bullets always runs the risk of accidentally wounding another animal after your bullet passes completely through your intended target animal. During my first Safari to Kenya in 1974, I had (in fact) accidentally wounded a Cape buffalo cow (which I didn’t even notice) when my bullet (an RWS 300Gr round nosed nickel jacketed FMJ solid) had passed through my targeted bull. Back in those days, you could barely get away with this sort of thing. I hesitate to think of the legal repercussions if a client made such a mistake on a Safari today.

In the mid 1980s, the concept of the controlled expansion bullet was first developed. Swift came out with the A Frame in 1984. Jack Carter developed the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw in 1985. Barnes came out with the X in 1989. I was first introduced to the Federal Premium Trophy Bonded Bear Claw 300Gr factory load in 1993. And after just one Safari, I resolved to never employ solid bullets on Cape buffalo anymore. Here, we had a bullet which could cleanly penetrate a Cape buffalo from ANY angle while generating a desirably large wound cavity without any risk of passing completely through the target animal & accidentally wounding another head of game.

Even though (post 1993) I mostly used the Federal Premium Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, I used other types of controlled expansion bullets over the years on Cape buffalo as well. The Barnes TSX and Rhino Solid Shank in particular, are stoutly constructed enough to even reach a Cape buffalo’s vital organs with shots taken at acute angles. They can even reach the brain with a shot taken under the Cape buffalo’s boss. Hence, I completely abandoned the solid for my Cape buffalo hunting purposes.

I hope that this provides some useful insight to your question.

On a related subject: In my field experience, a non expanding bullet under .450 caliber can’t be expected to reliably kill a Cape buffalo with a heart-lung shot all too quickly anyway.

 

[Vintageguy]

I’ve never used solids and for me it’s totally based on PH preference. A-Frames have been all I’ve used and I’ve had great performance from them. I would not hesitate to go with TSX personally either, but pass throughs would be something to look out for with them.

 

[franzfmdavis]

That makes sense. Thank you!

 

[Sideshow]

After listening to the big game hunting podcast with Kevin Robertson. I’m going with in my 375 H&H, North Fork 350 grain soft as my first shot then 350 grain CPU for follow up.
He really rated these for the follow up shots. Since he literally wrote the book on the perfect shot as well as trained PH and worked as one that’s good enough for me. I’ve also looked at the stats which are bloody good.
That’s my plan anyway.

 

[mark-hunter]

Could I kindly ask of those who feel like responding again, would you explain the rationale for using, or not using, solids on buffalo?

Solids on buffalo, the old school:
The rationale of this arrangment is from old times, when soft points were of poor quality (cup and core type). No premium bullets then.
The idea was - shoot soft point first, when buffalo turns to run, shoot solid for maximum penetration in diagonal or Texas heart shot.

Modern school:
Swift a frame has entered the scene! (and other premium ammo, TSX, Woodleigh, Bear claws)

Controlled expansion, and deep penetration.
Shoot them in any situation, broad side, frontal and diagonal, they will penetrate
They will not make exit wound most probably, but will be stopped under skin on opposite side.
I accept modern school theory.

Solids: Risks of exit wound, and complications:
Buffalo is herd animal, and if you get exit wound with solid, you can have a second buffalo wounded.
Having two types of ammo on the belt, pouch or in rifle complicates the things. I like it simple.

Next issue is the rifle to have same point of impact with soft points and solids. Its complicated, and I like it simple. Zero the rifle with a frames, and go hunting. As simple as that.

Below:
Three swift a frames taken from my buffalo on opposite side under the skin of my buffalo.

 

[HankBuck]

Solids are for targets of opportunity, like the T10...or whenever the PH says to load them.

@franzfmdavis - Picture as promised. Not the exact placement of them when I'm wearing it, but you get the idea.
View attachment 692736

@BeeMaa - I really like that Cross Draw knife sheath, looks like you could draw that knife easily ——and quickly if needed

 

[Philip Glass]

I have Murray Custom leather belt ammo holders for .375 and then a canvas culling belt for my double. They will be all loaded with Barnes TSX and just a few solids for the odd occasion. With TSX there is no need for solids on buffalo. That is old news but seems to live on! Shooting solids is why you see so many videos of Buffalo being shot over and over again with little reaction.

 

[Philip Glass]

Solids on buffalo, the old school:
The rationale of this arrangment is from old times, when soft points were of poor quality (cup and core type). No premium bullets then.
The idea was - shoot soft point first, when buffalo turns to run, shoot solid for maximum penetration in diagonal or Texas heart shot.

Modern school:
Swift a frame has entered the scene! (and other premium ammo, TSX, Woodleigh, Bear claws)

Controlled expansion, and deep penetration.
Shoot them in any situation, broad side, frontal and diagonal, they will penetrate
They will not make exit wound most probably, but will be stopped under skin on opposite side.
I accept modern school theory.

Solids: Risks of exit wound, and complications:
Buffalo is herd animal, and if you get exit wound with solid, you can have a second buffalo wounded.
Having two types of ammo on the belt, pouch or in rifle complicates the things. I like it simple.

Next issue is the rifle to have same point of impact with soft points and solids. Its complicated, and I like it simple. Zero the rifle with a frames, and go hunting. As simple as that.

Below:
Three swift a frames taken from my buffalo on opposite side under the skin of my buffalo.
View attachment 693124

Good explanation.

 

[Philip Glass]

I was going to give Dick a call and see if he does a left-handed belt that would be the mirror image of yours. That way I could put the buckle in the back.

He will make anything you want.

 

[dogcat1]

I carry all TSX bullets. They work.
If I were to hunt ele's, then I would carry whatever the PH told me to carry.
I have not been a fan of mixed bullet types.

 

[BeeMaa]

He will make anything you want.

Yeah, just not sure how much use I'd get out of it...and for $400, I'd better be.

Probably just fine with the rig I have.

 

[Rare Breed]

That makes sense. Thank you!

Great thread Franz!

 

[Bandera]

Just finished a Buffalo hunt with a buddy.
I used an ammo belt made buy Murray Leather. Very comfortable. Very easy to load from.
My buddy used an ammo wallet. He dumped 3 rounds into his buff and started a reload that turned into a bit of a fiasco due the wallet being able to flop around.
He stated he will be using a slide or ammo belt on the next hunt.

How did I organize the belt? All expanding bullets. Our Outfitter advised against bringing solids. I used Barnes 300 grain TSX, loaded in a 375 Ruger.

 

[Art Lambart II]

I like using the Trader Kieth Canvas Cartridge Slide. I find them much easier to use than the leather slides.

 

[rookhawk]

For those who hunt cape buffalo using an ammo wallet on their belt, how do you organize your rounds for the most efficient and effective reloading?

I will be practicing all summer and I would prefer to start with a proper set up and develop the correct muscle memory.

For example, do you carry only solids for follow up shots?

If not, do you put soft points on one end and solids the other, or do you putba soft and solid side by side throughout? Or do you carry two wallets, one for softs and one for solids?

Also, how many extra rounds do you typically carry (Ive seen video of buffalo taken with one shot, and others still going after seven)?

For example:

Nail polish or better yet, a sharpie marker in Green and Red. Mark your primers so you know what is a solid and what is a soft in your pouch or belt.

There are many opinions on how to hunt buffalo, but my general opinion is that your first shot should be an exceptional soft such as an A-Frame, your second shot from a DR, or all the remaining rounds in a magazine rifle should be a solid.

The theory goes that your first shot should be a perfect, lethal, boiler-room shot from a soft. IF that shot fails to provide immediate lethality, you need a solid to stop a charge instantaneously by shooting through the skull or boss.

The notion of using only softs is a rather new phenomenon. Doing so basically transfers the obligation to save your life onto the PH rather than having both you and the PH both shooting a solid that can stop a charge instantly.

 

[BeeMaa]

I color the bases of my solids with a black Sharpie for the same reason.

 

[Bandera]

So… at breakfast this morning I asked my P H, and another PH what their thoughts on using solids was.
Turns out it is a little different than the outfitters thoughts.
They prefer a first shot with a quality expanding bullet, a follow up shot with a solid.
One of them uses two different bullet slides. One for solids one for expanding.
The other uses a bullet slide and a sharpie.
Lesson for me is check with PH if possible.

 

[Ridge Runner]

In short: My PHs prefer an expanding first bullet for maximum internal damage, followed by solids for repeated bone destruction and pass throughs for blood trails.

Softs: don't always give pass thoughs but create maximum damage to the internal organs.

Solids: are more likely to pass through with minimal internal damage. On bone the solids are more likely to go through both shoulder shields.

Edit: As some members have pointed out the solids are used when your buff is alone, or away from other buff to avoid wounding, killing, a second buff.

 

[UpNorthMI]

Another fan of the Trader Keith canvas culling belts that holds 20 rounds. We recently took 3 belts on our Australia culling hunting trip (.308, .375 H&H . 500/416 NE).

For double rifle use I would leave a gap between the first couple of pairs on the belt. My son came back one day with only 3 rounds of .375 H&H on the belt, it was a busy day and those Australian buffalo are tough critters!

No matter what or where I hunt, even if I was out for just one animal I would never go hunt anything with less than a gun full and at least 10 spare rounds that were handy in slides or a belt. Ideally I like to have a minimum of 20 rounds in total. Better safe than sorry.

 

[franzfmdavis]

So… at breakfast this morning I asked my P H, and another PH what their thoughts on using solids was.
Turns out it is a little different than the outfitters thoughts.
They prefer a first shot with a quality expanding bullet, a follow up shot with a solid.
One of them uses two different bullet slides. One for solids one for expanding.
The other uses a bullet slide and a sharpie.
Lesson for me is check with PH if possible.

Based this advice from several members, I asked the PH where I am going next March and he said he preferred all soft points.

As a result, I will probably just carry a few solids in my pockets with market primers as suggested.

I think all these suggestions are excellent for other hunts where I will be using both interchangeably! Thanks ya’ll!