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

[Hunting Hitman]

I own all of those calibers and this year am taking the 500 Jeff and 404 Jeff for Buffalo on Safari. Both will be loaded with Swift A-Frames and Cutting Edge FTS.

HH

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I would be taking 458 Lott loaded with 500gr Swift Aframes. It has served me well on 4 buff bulls and 4 buff cows. Will be taking it to Zim in 2026 for Elephant and hippo. Loaded with Swift breakaway solids and Aframes

 

[Wildwillalaska]

.416 Rigby with 400gr Barnes.

Getting and itch for a 450 Rigby or a 500/505 bolt gun, so same question next year or three might receive a different answer.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Of those calibers mentioned, I’ve taken 2 buffs with the Jeffery 404. The 458 Lott is reserved strictly for elephant for me.

 

[DLSJR]

After shooting buffalo with 458 Winchester, 375 H&H and 470 NE in the past, I’ve settled on 416 Hoffman with 400 grain Bear Claws as my go-to buffalo load. I also like 400 grain TSX’s but the last 7 buffalo I’ve shot have all been with 400 grain Bear Claws. Most of, maybe all, of my future buffalo will be shot with 400 grain Bearclaws, or 300 grainers when using my 375.

 

[Hillbilly Marine]

.I would choose .416 Rigby as it is what I own.

 

[steve white]

I would be taking 458 Lott loaded with 500gr Swift Aframes. It has served me well on 4 buff bulls and 4 buff cows. Will be taking it to Zim in 2026 for Elephant and hippo. Loaded with Swift breakaway solids and Aframes

Agree, and I don't get why folks should be afraid of the Lott-- it can be loaded down to just above 458 WM and still be an awesome killer, just with a slower heavy bullet.

 

[steve white]

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.

Given the reviews, I would be itching to give that 500/416 a go. I take it that it is a double?

 

[steve white]

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

How do you like that 400 H&H? H&H had high hopes that it would fill a niche nicely. I read that it feeds like a dream, as well. What rifle houses it?

 

[SafariCurious]

I haven't been to Africa yet, but I got a .375 Ruger I love, and so that is what I would take.

Although I do like the idea of potentially using a .500 S&W long barreled revolver, if that was an option.

 

[BJH65]

My 416 Rigby with factory 400 grain Barnes TSX worked wonderfully on Buffalo but I will be taking my 458 Lott with factory 500 grain Barnes TSX for Buffalo next year. The felt recoil from my custom 458 Lott isn’t significantly worse than my 416 Rigby, I can’t really tell the difference between the two rifles.

 

[Biddleman]

I would take my 416 Rigby. With swift Aframes. That's the reason I got the rifle. Buy the rifle, then you have to book the hunt.

 

[odonata]

As a left-handed shooter, I found the 458 Win Mag to be one of the easier rifles to acquire so that's what I would shoot. I haven't been to Africa yet so I've just been plinking with 404gr Stone Hammers (named Shock Hammers originally). They do an excellent job of punching holes through paper & startling other shooters at the range.

 

[ActionBob]

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.

Well you can't go wrong with any of those calibers. But you can use the wrong bullets. And you can fail to hit the right spot on the buffalo Those points are listed backwards of importance.

So take the one you shoot the best or at least well. Then select a good TSX or bonded bullet like an A-Frame or the like. Do not take any Hornady bullets on this hunt and that includes their new DGS Bonded. I had one blow up on a buffalo and fail to penetrate.

My favorite would be the 505 Gibbs simply because I've used it with devastating results on a buffalo. 525 grain TSX at 2300 fps. Quartering away shot I would not have taken if I didn't have extreme confidence. That bullet penetrated about 8" of rumen and all the chest and off side shoulder to lodge against the skin. Shot from about 60 yards it knocked the old mud covered bull into a tree that he lay against giving his death bellow. When they skinned him out there was a fist sized hole going into the ribs and shoulder that I could have stuck my arm into. Bullet mushroomed perfectly.

 

[358 Norma]

My first Buffalo I used a 416 Remington magnum and 400 grain Swift A-frame, and next year hopefully my 470 Nitro.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

None. I have and will use again 450/400. So it is close to 404J.

 

[CZDiesel]

I’m with Kevin here sorry… None, My 458WinMag and my 375 H&H are going with me to Zim for Elephant and Buff

 

[VertigoBE]

I would say a 416 Rigby with 400 or 450grain premium soft (and a few solids just in case) bullets, launched from a good magnum Mauser actioned rifle with a quick detachable high quality LPVO scope (minimum magnification at 1) will give you all the necessary options and capabilities for any foreseeable circumstances, as well as a bit more horsepower than the 375H&H in exchange for slightly shorter range. And it has tons of panache. Just practice to be sure you can put that first bullet where it needs to be.

 

[VertigoBE]

I would say a 416 Rigby with 400 or 450grain premium soft (and a few solids just in case) bullets, launched from a good magnum Mauser actioned rifle with a quick detachable high quality LPVO scope (minimum magnification at 1) will give you all the necessary options and capabilities for any foreseeable circumstances, as well as a bit more horsepower than the 375H&H in exchange for slightly shorter range. And it has tons of panache. Just practice to be sure you can put that first bullet where it needs to be.

But because I’d like to restrict (make it more challenging) myself a bit more, I’d take a .500NE

 

[Frederik]

I'll take my 458 Lott it fitts me and I can shoot it all day long loaded with 500gr Spoor Bullet Company bullets at 2250fps I'll take on a herd of dugga boys.