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

[PENDLETON AMMUNITION]

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.

 

[Field28]

I will be following this one closely as well.
I've been bitten by the bug now, was about to start a similar thread.

Bump to the top!

 

[Doug3006]

I’ve taken 2 Buffalo. One with a 416 Ruger and the other with a 458 Lott. I sold the 416 Ruger because ammo was unavailable. I won’t use the Lott again on Buff because it kicks the snot out of me! My next Buff will be taken with a 416 Rigby or Remington.

 

[PENDLETON AMMUNITION]

I’ve taken 2 Buffalo. One with a 416 Ruger and the other with a 458 Lott. I sold the 416 Ruger because ammo was unavailable. I won’t use the Lott again on Buff because it kicks the snot out of me! My next Buff will be taken with a 416 Rigby or Remington.

I like that .416 Rigby round with the 400 Gr Swift A-Frames... hard to beat

 

[deewayne2003]

I'm planning on going in 2027 for buffalo and if I can ever get my .404J built and back to me I will be using 450gr Woodleigh Weldcore RNSP.

If that doesn't work out I will be taking my .470ne that I used for tuskless last year but instead of Hydros I will be using 500gr Woodleigh Weldcore RNSP.

 

[HookMeUpII]

#1 would be the 416 Rigby. #2 would be the 404J

 

[Betterinthebush]

.416 Rigby is what I will be taking.

Reasons: it’s what I own, it’s what my PH asked me to use loaded with Barnes TSX.

My .470 will also be taking the trip to Caprivi.

 

[meigsbucks]

The only buff I’ve taken so far was with a .416 Ruger and a 400gr Barnes TSX. It performed perfectly. However, my next hunt will be with the .458 Lott and a 450gr TSX…. Just because I have one and it was my original choice for my first hunt.

 

[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.

All the above are bolt action so I would take my 404J. My preference though is my 450 NE

 

[wildwilderness]

None of the above since I don't own any. That said if I had to choose from your list it would be the 404J since I prefer less recoil than more and from everything I have heard that would be plenty. I have shot a giraffe with a 458 Lott and that was pretty stout.

I do own a 470 NE and a 375 Ruger so for the time being those would be my options.

 

[PENDLETON AMMUNITION]

.416 Rigby is what I will be taking.

Reasons: it’s what I own, it’s what my PH asked me to use loaded with Barnes TSX.

My .470 will also be taking the trip to Caprivi.

He is probably asking for the 400 Gr TSX because the A-Frames are hard to get... we have the .416 Rigby ammo available with 400 Gr Swift A-Frames

 

[sgt_zim]

404 Jeff, it's the biggest bore I own, either North Forks or TSX. After that it's 375 H&H or 9.3x62

 

[PENDLETON AMMUNITION]

The only buff I’ve taken so far was with a .416 Ruger and a 400gr Barnes TSX. It performed perfectly. However, my next hunt will be with the .458 Lott and a 450gr TSX…. Just because I have one and it was my original choice for my first hunt.

The .458 Lott shoots that 500 Gr North Fork Semi Spitzer really nice... please share with us how that lighter bullet performs on the cape buffalo.

 

[Red Leg]

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.

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.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I've never hunted any DG. But, I guess I would use my S&B scoped .416 Rigby CZ550 if I was fortunate enough to hunt a buffalo. I shoot it fairly well out to 100yds. from sticks. Shooting it from the bench is NO fun.

 

[mdwest]

Im taking my 416.. not because its the best possible option.. but because its the best tool I have in my particular tool box for the job..

FWIW the only buff bull I have taken was shot with a 375 H&H.. on that particular trip I was not able to take my 416 with me (routed through London on American Airlines) so I used a camp rifle..

So, if my 416 wasn't available to me, my back up answer is "whatever caliber rifle my PH provides"...

Bigger is better with buff.. but countless thousands upon thousands have been taken by 375s and God only knows how many have been taken by 9.2x64's and the like over the years.. they're tough.. but they arent invincible.. I think anything 375 or better can do the job very well (as has been proven over and over and over again)..

 

[PENDLETON AMMUNITION]

404 Jeff, it's the biggest bore I own, either North Forks or TSX. After that it's 375 H&H or 9.3x62

Because we have a bad ass .375 H&H load I can make this comparison for energy.
Love the bigger diameter of the .404 so this is still apples and oranges... but check it out:

.404 Jeffrey w/ 400 Gr Swift A-Frame @ 2250 FPS = approx 4500 Ft/Lbs of Energy (muzzle)
.375 H&H Mag w/ 300 Gr Swift A-Frame @ 2600 FPS = approx 4500 Ft/Lbs of Energy (muzzle)

 

[PENDLETON AMMUNITION]

I've never hunted any DG. But, I guess I would use my S&B scoped .416 Rigby CZ550 if I was fortunate enough to hunt a buffalo. I shoot it fairly well out to 100yds. from sticks. Shooting it from the bench is NO fun.

#1 would be the 416 Rigby. #2 would be the 404J

Both solid options!

 

[zephyr]

400H&H
450NE
505 Gibbs
All with CEB Raptors and Solids

 

[wvfred]

I'll stick with my 416 Remington 400gr TSX's. It's always worked with one shot so I see no reason for anything bigger on Buffalo. I may use 450 gr woodleighs on elephant or maybe something bigger.