Tim Sundles 4 shots of 600 NE into Buff

[Carnivore hunter]

In the video below, Tim Sundles (owner of Buffalobore ammo) shot a Cape Buffalo 4 times with a 600 NE and it did not phase it. That's very concerning and also odd. I've seen videos where people have shot buff with 375, 416 and 458 and it knocks them down, they stumble, take off running and collapse. The 600 had no "shock effect" on the buff. Is this common or is it possible that too big a round and too slow a round does not create the same shock effect on buff that a 378 WBY or 416 RUM would? Should a higher velocity round with more expansion be used for the first one or two shots on buff and save the double barrel for stopping charges?

Disclaimer: This post is not meant or intended to insult owners of 600 NE rifles.

 

[375Fox]

Thread '.600 Nitro Express - Another video'

Jan 31, 2025

First of all lets not interpret this post as an insult to the .600 owners out there.

While looking through youtube I came across this video from Buffalo Bore and was surprised they would post this video given the results shown.

Has anyone got a video of a .600 being used on a hunt where it showed a dramatic affect on the animal?

• deewayne2003
• Replies: 53
• Forum: .375 & up

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[Rem280]

Clearly needs a bigger gun

 

[RR 314]

It has been posted and discussed before. Placement, not .600 NE performance, is seemingly the issue.

 

[Sarg]

That whole thing is an embarrassment, can’t imagine why anyone would post for the world to see !

Good reason I don’t watch most hunting videos !!

 

[Hunter-Habib]

That, Gents… Is old Dagga Boy for you. 51 plus years of hunting in Africa & their resilience never ceases to amaze me.

But practically speaking… this video proves extremely educational for the novice nimrod by showing that there’s no such thing as a “Magic Failproof caliber”. A big bore rifle is only as useful as the operator firing it. If you can’t place your bullets in the appropriate vital spot (heart, lungs, spine, brain), then (short of a 40mm rocket propelled M203 grenade) no caliber will drop big game reliably.

As much as I adore the .600 Nitro Express (I dream of owning a Heym Jumbo sidelock ejector in this caliber someday)… even I must point out that Mr. Sundles would have been far better served with a telescopic sighted (not too high magnification) .375 Holland & Holland Magnum magazine rifle propped up on sticks… considering the ranges that he was firing at. The lesser recoil would contribute to more accurate initial shot placement.

If you want to successfully hunt Cape buffalo (or indeed, any big game be it dangerous or otherwise)… then:
1) Study the anatomical diagrams of the game animals which you intend to pursue.
2) Know the limits of your own strength and accept it instead of trying to deny it. It’s far more advisable to fire a lighter caliber more accurately than to just blaze away at any visible part on the game animal with heavy artillery.
3) Practice shooting off sticks. It’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of (even though I personally still prefer to shoot offhand myself).
4) If you want to shoot a double rifle, get closer. If you want to shoot from relatively longer range, get a magazine rifle (although I personally think 80-85 yards is just about as far as you want to hunt Cape buffalo from, anyway)

 

[Tundra Tiger]

His preserve, his animals so... whatever.

Maybe it's me: it seemed like he could have carved off a bit more distance? Unless the wind was an issue. Like others I think it was a shot placement issue. My 2 knew they were hit and died mighty fast. Maybe I just got lucky.

 

[Flbt]

That, Gents… Is old Dagga Boy for you. 51 plus years of hunting in Africa & their resilience never ceases to amaze me.

But practically speaking… this video proves extremely educational for the novice nimrod by showing that there’s no such thing as a “Magic Failproof caliber”. A big bore rifle is only as useful as the operator firing it. If you can’t place your bullets in the appropriate vital spot (heart, lungs, spine, brain), then (short of a 40mm rocket propelled M203 grenade) no caliber will drop big game reliably.

As much as I adore the .600 Nitro Express (I dream of owning a Heym Jumbo sidelock ejector in this caliber someday)… even I must point out that Mr. Sundles would have been far better served with a telescopic sighted (not too high magnification) .375 Holland & Holland Magnum magazine rifle propped up on sticks… considering the ranges that he was firing at. The lesser recoil would contribute to more accurate initial shot placement.

If you want to successfully hunt Cape buffalo (or indeed, any big game be it dangerous or otherwise)… then:
1) Study the anatomical diagrams of the game animals which you intend to pursue.
2) Know the limits of your own strength and accept it instead of trying to deny it. It’s far more advisable to fire a lighter caliber more accurately than to just blaze away at any visible part on the game animal with heavy artillery.
3) Practice shooting off sticks. It’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of (even though I personally still prefer to shoot offhand myself).
4) If you want to shoot a double rifle, get closer. If you want to shoot from relatively longer range, get a magazine rifle (although I personally think 80-85 yards is just about as far as you want to hunt Cape buffalo from, anyway)

Some animal just have a will to live out of belief.
I saw a little doe shot with a 200 gr 338 ultra mag under 75 yds away.
The bullet zippered her she took off running she made it across the field with nothing left
Blood trail a foot wide inside every where.

I saw a hog shot to pices that made it over 500 yds being shot multiple time by multiple people
From what I can remember a 45 colt,30-30,338 and a 270 I think.
I saw what was left I don’t know how it was possible. So if little animals can do that there no telling what a big one can do

 

[deewayne2003]

It’s on par with every other .600ne hunting video I’ve seen.

 

[sureshot375]

A .375 through the vitals would have been plenty.

The “use enough gun” mantra should really be replaced with “hit what you are aiming at” or “make the first shot count”.

Not as sexy, but the best way to stop a charge is to not wound an animal because you put an oversized bullet through the guts.

 

[Javaman]

Seems like a bit of a self-serving video including house tour (looks nice!) and “proof” that BB ammo works … or not.

As has been said here countless times … “shot placement is everything” and “make your first shot count”.

Maybe I don’t need to sling 900 grain BB bullets from a 600NE when my little Ruger No 1 in 450/400 3” or Model 70 in .416RM or 375 H&H will do just fine … assuming that I do my job of making that first shot count with my trusty CEB Safari Raptors (bold face plug for CEB!).

 

[Carnivore hunter]

In the video Tim said he used solids. So, I guess if I ever have the opportunity to hunt buffalo in Africa to avoid using 600NE with solids on buffalo.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

In the video Tim said he used solids. So, I guess if I ever have the opportunity to hunt buffalo in Africa to avoid using 600NE with solids on buffalo.

I can't speak to a .600 but at the behest of my PH I used solids out of my .45-70 on both hunts. Worked like a charm both times.

 

[375Fox]

In the video Tim said he used solids. So, I guess if I ever have the opportunity to hunt buffalo in Africa to avoid using 600NE with solids on buffalo.

He says 3 softs and 2 solids if my post on other thread was correct.

 

[Rolly]

He among us who has never made a bad shot or two or three or four, please step to the front of the line and receive your accolades.
In my own case, just this last April, I shot three times at standing hogs, in Texas, out of a blind and missed all three! 358 Win. , cast bullets, Model7. ( one of the three shots was at a running pig due to the first shot miss!). Poor shooting was diagnosed as Hog (Buck) Fever! If you never miss, you don’t shoot/hunt much!

 

[CoElkHunter]

I'm stunned? Never having shot anything larger than a bull elk (no, a Kudu, Gemsbok and/or a Wildebeest aren't close in size) and Sundles hits this Cape Buffalo bull several times (maybe?) with a 900 gr. bullet and there's no reaction from the animal, at least that I saw? Crazy!

 

[CoElkHunter]

In the video Tim said he used solids. So, I guess if I ever have the opportunity to hunt buffalo in Africa to avoid using 600NE with solids on buffalo.

You'd think with even a 900gr. SOLID there would be SOME reaction by the animal being hit? I didn't see any reaction until the end.

 

[Kharn]

Here's a pair of .600 NE at work.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Here's a pair of .600 NE at work.

The BIG guy in the video could’ve probably “wrestled” the buffalo to the ground by himself. LOL. Anyway, at least the target Buffalo reacted when being hit in this video versus Sundle’s video.

 

[Carnivore hunter]

Here's a pair of .600 NE at work.

In the video above, the 600NE stopped the bull charge, could that be due to this shot being much closer than Tim's shot? Is there a certain distance in yards where heavier slower moving bullets lose their effectiveness on large game sooner than others?