Hunting With Buffalo Rifle

[1dirthawker]

I'm pretty sure a DG 500g expanding bullet from a .458 WM would not expand much on a deer. I'm even more confident that a monolithic copper bullet (like a Barnes) would not expand very much at all.

for what its worth, last week i was hunting deer on kodiak island. i ended up shooting 2 does with my 458 win mag. used 404 gr stone hammer bullet at 2400 fps. both deer were shot thru the lungs, with me trying to be careful about placement. 150 and 175 yards.

there was meat damage on the off side where the bullet exited,(on one deer) but not too bad. where it hit the shoulder, there was a pretty good hole. the exit wound was about 2.5". the brown bear i shot with it had a similar exit wound as well.

i would be very concerned about shooting a deer facing me in the chest, for fear that the complete penetration that WOULD occur might damage a lot of meat. that said, it did an admirable job on the deer and bear and i never noticed the recoil on any of the shots

 

[Tex .416]

I hunted pigs with my .470ne before taking it to Zimbabwe for tuskless.

I also hunted with my .375H&H for pigs before sending it off to the smith for final work and hope it’s back in time for deer season.
View attachment 722139

Which bullet was that?

 

[TOBY458]

I’ve shot deer, black bear and pigs with 375 and 458. The 375 does really well on that size game. I used swift and TSX bullets, so meat damage was no more than any other deer rifle caliber. Now I did shoot a small doe in the neck with a 458 Win Mag. That was a bit messy…..

 

[HWL]

Did a lot of deer stalking in the mountains with my .416 Rigby Ruger RSM and my .450-400 3" NE Ruger #1.
Shooting over sticks, this is the closest to Africa training I can do at home.
Btw., just carrying the rifle for hours in this environment helps to be better prepared.

HWL

 

[jcs271]

Who doesn't enjoy using their big bores on regular game?

Moose and bear with my .505 Gibbs

Wolf with my .416 Ruger Alaskan

I've also killed a number of hogs, deer, and elk with my .375 and one coyote with my .450 double, They work like a charm.

 

[deewayne2003]

Evening before muzzleloader opening day we went out pig hunting and I borrowed my buddies .375H&H because mine was at the smith.

He had bought loads of Hornady DGS for practice, so that was the ammo on hand when this pig came out facing me at 30yds, shot it in the face and you can see the exit wound by the toe of my boot......

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Sure. My .375 Holland & Holland Magnum accounts for Nilgai & Sambar now & then.

 

[eswan68587]

Everybody talks about shooting off sticks, but has anyone hunted with their buffalo gun stateside (or otherwise) in preparation for a safari?
I’m debating taking my 458 WM deer/hog hunting so I get used to shooting in the field instead of just at the range. For anyone who has done this what were the results like? Do you think it helped your Africa hunt?

I shoot over 50 pigs annually with my doubles and big-bore bolt guns. Nothing compares to real-world practice, and I cannot tell you how much more proficient you will be if you use your dangerous game guns stateside! PH’s will tell you that the number one issue they have with hunters is that they show up with a large caliber rifle that they simply can’t shoot!

 

[deewayne2003]

I shoot over 50 pigs annually with my doubles and big-bore bolt guns. Nothing compares to real-world practice, and I cannot tell you how much more proficient you will be if you use your dangerous game guns stateside! PH’s will tell you that the number one issue they have with hunters is that they show up with a large caliber rifle that they simply can’t shoot!

My .375H&H should be back from the smith tomorrow, just in time for deer rifle season!

 

[dneaster3]

CZ 550 in .416 Rigby performed flawlessly on a west Tennessee whitetail.

Used a 350 grain Speer HotCor on the deer as opposed to 400 grain buffalo loads, but very pleased regardless.

 

[Hunt anything]

@dneaster3 , nice buck! His right eye looks boogered, is the rut on and been doing some fighting?

 

[rifletuner]

I love to hunt with my bigger bore rifles. I use them every opportunity I get. I used to load my 450 Ackley with Woodleigh RN 400gn bullets when I hunted in northern Australia. Shot a lot of pigs with this load, though I dont get up north as much as I used to.

My son has seen me out hunting with by "buffalo rifle" for years, so as soon as his 458WM build was done, we loaded up some 300gn Barnes TTSX bullets and he took it to the Victorian high country for a deer hunt.

 

[dneaster3]

@dneaster3 , nice buck! His right eye looks boogered, is the rut on and been doing some fighting?

Thanks! Yes… he was all banged up with two broken tines, a gouged eyeball, a torn ear, and a six inch gash on his neck.
And he was still out cruising for more when he came by my stand!

 

[NoStepOnSnek]

First blood for my 458 Win Mag

 

[deewayne2003]

My new .375h&h has taken 6 whitetail doe this year…. Very pleased

 

[Mountaineer]

Winchester Double on a White tail.