Only One Cartridge for Buffalo + Big Antelopes

[Olivier]

If you could only choose one cartridge for hunting buffalo and the most robust antelopes (eland, sable, roan, gemsbok, wildebeest, etc.), which one would you choose?

 

[Fatback]

Not on your list but I would go with my 416 Rem, shooting 400 grain AFrames. Lots of good choices there though.

 

[30.06king]

I chose 375 H&H as only one vote is allowed. But, equally, I would hunt with the 375 Ruger and would like to have included that in my vote.

 

[cmk]

I voted 404 - because that's what I have (typical behaviour at these kinds of poll). But it is one of the 'Goldilocks' options of the ones to choose from. I also have a 9.3x62, which would probably work for buffalo in most cases, but there are better options.

The 45+ stuff will work for everything - of course - but a 470 may be way more than what's needed for the antelopes.

 

[oscar1975]

I voted for the .416 Rigby. I find it to be a fairly "flat" cartridge for hunting larger antelopes, and it's obviously an excellent cartridge for buffalo. The same applies to the .416 Remington Magnum, but I'd opt for the Rigby.

 

[375Fox]

The 45+ stuff will work for everything - of course - but a 470 may be way more than what's needed for the antelopes.

If it’s inside 150 yards. That’s a value of middle cartridges like 9.3, 375, even 416. You can shoot a buffalo at 25 yards or a kudu at 300 yards on the same hunt with the same bullet.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

The 375 H&H is good for buff but can’t handle a big antelope…
HH

 

[analog_peninsula]

Nobody invited the .378 Weatherby or the .375 Ultra to the party? All kidding aside, the .338 win mag would probably be perfect if it were Africa legal.

 

[cmk]

If it’s inside 150 yards. That’s a value of middle cartridges like 9.3, 375, even 416. You can shoot a buffalo at 25 yards or a kudu at 300 yards on the same hunt with the same bullet.

I think we're basically in agreement. This is what I meant with "Goldilocks". The 375 and the 'lower forties' have both reach and punch.

 

[skydiver386]

I think the 338, 358 and 375 call bers are all near perfect for the antelope you mentioned, but throwing Buff into the mix and the 375 H&H gets the nod.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

.375 Holland & Holland Magnum or 9.3x62mm Mauser (where legal). They are totally adequate for Cape buffalo while offering a flat enough trajectory for plains game out to reasonably long ranges.

The others on your list make for excellent Cape buffalo cartridges no doubt. But trajectory is a little too high for the ranges at which most African plains game are hunted on open terrain. They can still be made to work no doubt (my good friend white hunter Mark Sullivan time & again employs the .600 Nitro Express or .577 Nitro Express against plain game as small as reedbuck), provided that the operator can properly stalk his quarry and get in close. But definitely not optimal.

 

[Don458]

9.3 x 64

 

[Rem700stw]

416 Rigby. Tough call. I have all but 375 Ruger and the 500 Nitro but for these parameters I would give the nod to the Rigby.

 

[pc3]

With Cape Buff included I voted .416 Rigby, I was impressed how it worked on my one example. That 410gr Woodleigh RNSN from the .416 Rigby produced bucket loads of blood in that chest cavity of what is a giant animal when you get up close to them.

 

[HankBuck]

Nobody invited the .378 Weatherby or the .375 Ultra to the party? All kidding aside, the .338 win mag would probably be perfect if it were Africa legal.

@analog_peninsula - don’t you think the .338 WinBag is the USELESS middle Brother of the .300 WinBag and it’s idolized Older Brother the REAL DEAL .375 H&H?
I had a ballistic Caliber “Psychologist” tell me that every .30 cal Magnum has a deep rooted desire to be a “.375 H&H”. There are only two “REAL” .30 Caliber cartridges that are respected: .30-06 AND .375 H&H……ALL the rest are pretenders and Wanna Bees.

 

[nomspc]

My friend and I took a pair of .375’s to Limpopo a few years ago. Between us, we took 3 buffalo and eleven PG animals.

 

[analog_peninsula]

@HankBuck You’re right. The .338 Win Mag is utterly useless. All it does is kill things.

 

[HankBuck]

@HankBuck You’re right. The .338 Win Mag is utterly useless. All it does is kill things.

@analog_peninsula - maybe “useless” was the wrong term, I’m just Not a fan, like an NFL field Goal kicker - they can Win Games, highly specialized, but they are Not my favorite players.

 

[CJNJ]

@analog_peninsula - don’t you think the .338 WinBag is the USELESS middle Brother of the .300 WinBag and it’s idolized Older Brother the REAL DEAL .375 H&H?
I had a ballistic Caliber “Psychologist” tell me that every .30 cal Magnum has a deep rooted desire to be a “.375 H&H”. There are only two “REAL” .30 Caliber cartridges that are respected: .30-06 AND .375 H&H……ALL the rest are pretenders and Wanna Bees.

And drive Subarus wearing Birkenstocks with Coexist bumper stickers!

 

[Sideshow]

Man all these 375 H&H threads are getting to me