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

[Doug Hamilton]

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.

I have taken two buffalo bulls in Zimbabwe. Bother taken with my .458 Win Mag. I used 500 grain Hornady solids on both. My PH prefers solids for buffalo. The first shot on the first bull was a little low in the heart and he took exception to it. Things got kind on "Western" for a little while. I knew better where to place the bullet on the second buffalo. He took the shot on the shoulder and it smashed the top of the heart. He dove behind a patch of acacia with no chance for another shot. As it turns out, he only made it about 20 or 25 yards before he piled up stone dead. Both buffalo were at about 60 yards when I shot them. If I make it back for one more, I'll still take the .458 WM, though I might chose an expanding bullet for at least the first shot.

 

[trperk1]

I bought a .375 for my first Buffalo. Worked great on a charging Buff at 10 yards, 8, 4 and 2. With that said I wish I would have bought a .416 only as in hindsight I'd like a .400 grain bullet

 

[Hoofnit]

375 Weatherby… bang flop

 

[ryno111]

None of the above. I have a new 375 I want to use

 

[PENDLETON AMMUNITION]

None of the above. I have a new 375 I want to use

Personally I am a huge fan of the 375 H&H... we use it a lot of brown bear in Alaska.
The 300 Gr Swift A-Frame is hard to beat... just finishing up load development on the 300 Gr Cutting Edge Safari Solids to compliment

 

[cperso]

450 Rigby, because I happen to own one.

 

[nomspc]

Of the listed calibers, I’d go with the .404 due to improved shootability, for me, over the .416 Rigby, but ended up shooting both my buffalo with a .375 H&H. I actually shot these guns on a timed target array and I was so much more fast and accurate on the second and third shots with the .375 that made the decision for me. After extensive discussion with Kevin Robertson, I came to understand how bullet choice, with regard to sectional density, is the principal factor in buffalo hunting. I would suggest that the OP consider loading some heavy-for-caliber bullets in his safari ammo line. Consider:
SECTIONAL DENSITY

.375 300 - .305
.375 300 - .356
.416 400 - .330
.416 450 - .371
.423 400 - .321
.423 450 - .361

Note that the .375 350 SD beats 400 grain bullets in both .416 and .423. For me, the .375 350 grain Woodleigh Weldcore RNSN @ 2300 fps was easy to shoot, very accurate and did the job with great terminal performance (penetration, expansion and weight retention) on two buffalo bulls.

That 2nd chart line should read .375 350 - .356; sorry

 

[Azklmsr]

375 H&H

Why?

Because I have a 375 H&H

 

[Gemsbok45]

Love the 416 Rem mag. 400 Grain Swifts and 400 Grain Barnes monolithic solids. Great hunting set up for Buff and Elephant.Gun Winchester Safari Grade!

 

[TOBY458]

Having shot several buffalo and a couple of elephants with calibers 375 H&H, 416 Rem Mag and 458 Win Mag, I can say they all have killed buffalo and Elephant just fine for me. Shot placement is always the most important thing. However, the 416 and 458 do make for a slightly more decisive kill when shot placement is equally good.

 

[Azklmsr]

Having shot several buffalo and a couple of elephants with calibers 375 H&H, 416 Rem Mag and 458 Win Mag, I can say they all have killed buffalo and Elephant just fine for me. Shot placement is always the most important thing. However, the 416 and 458 do make for a slightly more decisive kill when shot placement is equally good.

For us rookies, can you say more about the differences you observed?

 

[godwincp]

More important than the caliber is to take the
Rifle you handle and shoot best including shooting from different positions and quickly reloading for a follow up. If you can’t proficiently handle the 400’s take the 375 and you will be fine.

 

[Philip Glass]

Actually .450/400 with 400g TSX.

 

[Pondoro]

I use my .470 double but of the mentioned I also have a .416 Rigby...also a good choice..

 

[Jon Glajchen]

416 Rigby because it’s the only one listed that I own. I shoot Woodleigh 410 gr RNSN and Solids at 4350 FPS.

 

[Rem700stw]

I would choose the 404 Jeffrey for the same reason I chose it for my first buffalo. Nostalgia. The 404 Jeffrey was the work horse of the game rangers. I know that Ruark made the 416 Rigby sexy but the Jeffrey has earned it stripes.

 

[Azklmsr]

A 416 Rigby at 4350 FPS. Wow. Roy Weathby’s go nothing on you for sure. Perhaps it’s a 416 Swift?

 

[JD Noblin]

I would personally select either the 500 Nitro Express or the 550 Magnum (cartridge, not rifle)

 

[Jon Glajchen]

A 416 Rigby at 4350 FPS. Wow. Roy Weathby’s go nothing on you for sure. Perhaps it’s a 416 Swift?

Hahaha, sorry finger error, meant to say 2350 fps.

 

[TOBY458]

For us rookies, can you say more about the differences you observed?

On buffalo, if a heart lung shot is taken with anything from 375 to 458, which is where my experience lies, the bulls I’ve shot with a 375 may have taken a little longer to succumb to the shot, than with the 416 and 458. But honestly, the difference has been slight. Shot placement is always the most important thing.

On elephant, my first was a tuskless cow which was shot in the brain with a 375 Solid. One shot and instant death was the result.
I shot a bull this year with a 458 Win Mag and narrowly missed the brain on a frontal shot. It did however knock the bull down. That allowed for more shots to the body. Not sure if a 375 would have knocked the bull down or not. But, I’m sure the extra bullet weight and diameter definition didn’t hurt.