POLL / You are going on a cape buffalo hunt in Zimbabwe... which caliber do you choose? And Why?

[Rare Breed]

You are going on a cape buffalo hunt in Zimbabwe... which caliber do you choose? And Why?

- .404 Jeffrey
- .416 Rigby
- .458 Lott
- .500 Jeffrey
- .505 Gibbs

If you have personal experience, note what bullet you shot and what kind of performance you experienced, etc...
Please include shot distance. I love details.

You did leave out probably the most popular caliber in your survey which is the 375 H&H. I estimate it would get over 60% of the vote therefore the survey is definitely biased leaving out the “elephant in the room.”

 

[Mountaineer]

458 win mag with 400 grain woodleigh’s traveling at 2525 fps. Its taken 3 Cape buffalo to date and all three have a very dramatic reaction to being shot.

 

[Bandera]

I would have to take a 375 Ruger if I was using a bolt gun.
Would also take my 450-400 or the 458 win mag. Both of those are Ruger No.1’s
Why the 375 Ruger? Well being left handed I am some what limited in available left bolt guns.

 

[uplander01]

It makes me very happy that there are so many of us into the 404 Jeffery, it really is a super cool caliber. Now if there was only brass available for it LOL. Someone should enlighten Hornady that the demand for their 404 brass would be in higher demand than all the other medium/large bore brass,...

If anyone has any extra properly stamped brass LMK, I could sure use some.

 

[buffybr]

I've only taken one buffalo. It was on a hunt in Zimbabwe in 2010. One shot at about 50 yds with a 300 gr Barnes TSX bullet from my Rem Model 700 .375 RUM that I made for that hunt. The bullet went through his near shoulder, his lungs, and stopped in his off shoulder.

 

[Adam Stevens]

If I went again and will do in the future. It will either be with a .404 jeff bolt. Or my .450no2 double.

Like other mentioned, realistically .375hh would see the bulk of the action. I'd shoot a .404 and a .416 rigby after that. In order of preference

 

[BJH65]

None. All of mine dead with one shot from a 300 gr .375 H&H. Two with A Frames and two with TSX. Two did get insurance shots when down. Own a 500/416, .404, and 470. Haven't come up with a reason to use any of the three in Africa when the .375 is so versatile.

Agreed. It is their survey of course but a glaring omission, nonetheless. The 375 H&H has perhaps killed more buffalo than all the other listed cartridges combined!

 

[Green Chile]

416 Rigby is my weapon of choice for buff and I don't have to drive it to the redline of max ballistics. Bullet choice is the 400 TSX and I've had great results with that on multiple buff at 50 yards to much closer ranges like under 10 yards. I also would not hesitate to take a longer shot, particularly on a follow-up. I've also seen this combination do very well on PG at distances up to 200 yards. If I bump up to ele, it's the same gun with solids and it's just a very reliable combination in my experience. I also have strong confidence in it, which is part of why it works well for me.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Personally I’m not taking any of them because I don’t own any. My 375 has worked perfect on multiple buffalo, including a 1 Shot Kill in Zimbabwe. My next Buffalo will hopefully be with my Rigby 470 and IF I needed a big 40 cal bolt gun I’d take one of the 458WM’s that I own.

On that list, I hope to one day own an original 416 Rigby though.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

If there was a forum called “Hunter Habib is speaking” it would be saved to my favorites.

The hunting , ammunition and life experiences you freely gift here is immensely helpful and rich in experience and texture. I thank you for your time and consideration.

I am so humbled by your appreciation. But also extremely embarrassed. I’m nowhere as skilled or knowledgeable as you all think I am.

 

[Andrew62]

While I do own a 416 Rigby, and I did take it on an unsuccessful elephant hunt in April, my future hunts will be with my .375H&H. I'm not a fan of the recoil of the bigger calibers, and I've taken many buffalo and a number of elephant with a .375H&H with great success.

 

[analog_peninsula]

A simple question deserves a complicated answer.

I hunted buffalo in the Caprivi in 22 with a 416 Weatherby loaded down to Rigby levels. I only wanted to take one rifle and a croc was also on the menu, so it was important to be able to make a precision shot without being killed by the rifle, and the muzzle brake, which I greatly dislike, was a necessity. On my next trip,I’ll either use my 500/416 double, or my 458 Lott, depending entirely on the anticipated terrain.

I really like the feel of the double, but there’s no doubt that the unbraked scoped Lott is more versatile. Both rifles are great, and I am equally confident in them.

 

[BryceM]

I have a grand total of one Caprivi buffalo. One shot from my CZ 550 at 30 yards with a 400 TSX. He went maybe 100 yards. Stone cold dead before we got there. No bellow. Bullet recovered in front of the opposite hip. Front shoulder shattered.

I was super happy to have taken the .416 and a dozen solids for an opportunity that surprisingly emerged later on the hunt.

The .416 I can shoot well. .458 isn’t fun. .375 would be adequate, but the .416 is just a bit better.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

404J because that's what I have and it will kill buffalo just fine. I have killed a couple with 375 H&H without issue. If 375 is adequate, then 404 will be more than adequate.

 

[Nyati]

.375HH, no doubt.

Why ? Because I can shoot it quite accurately, and it´s the first shot that counts.

 

[cmk]

404 J - since that is what I've got. Only one buff (so far?). North Fork SS 400gn at ~2240

 

[RETD16]

If/when I go, I will use my 416 Rem Mag with 400gr TSX bullets.

 

[coreydb]

Call me a light weight sissy, but all but one were taken with my .373H&H. The reason is that my .416 rem mag hurt me so much after my first kill, I wouldn't shoot anymore. Even with the buffalo being bullet sponges, the most I had to shoot each to put them down were four rounds. No matter your bullet selection though, bullet placement is paramount. Get them down fast and don't let them go off into the bush if at all possible. That's when they turn around and charge- LWS

 

[IvW]

404 Jeff, perfect bolt action caliber for Buffalo.
375 H&H, the King of the medium bores......if the 404 Jeff is a bit much for you and on dg hunts it is always a good idea to have a capible backup rifle. 375 H&H is also the best if it is a mixed bag hunt.
If you want a double 450/400 NE 3".....and 375 H&H.

Personaly I use 375 H&H, 404 Jeff and always my 500 Jeff on dg...

 

[thriller]

Why didn’t you include 45-70