Buffalo rifle show and tell

[leslie hetrick]

cow shot with MS in 9.3x62.

 

[Bandera]

My Buffalo set up is a left handed Ruger African in 375 Ruger.
Scope is the Leupold VX5 2-10 with the CDS and the fire dot.
Sling is by Murray Leather. Very comfortable and super easy to adjust.
I used a Murray Leather cartridge belt. Super comfortable, did not know I was wearing it.
Ammo hand loaded, Barnes 300 Grain TSX @ 2550 fps.
This bull was taken at about 60 yards, with a single shot. He ran roughly 40 yards and dropped.

My buddy who was also using a 375 Ruger, shot his Buffalo with Hornady DGX 300 grain factory load. His bullet shed 52 grains of its weight. While the bullet stayed together the weight retention performance was mediocre. The Barnes TSX weighed 299.7 grains.

 

[Luvthunt]

Great photos

 

[Beck]

Yeah, I know you said bolt gun... but I am 2 for 2 on buffalo with this beauty.


View attachment 697969

What caliber?

 

[Badboymelvin]

Hey everyone,
I haven't taken a buffalo yet but that's what this rifle was built for. Hopefully next year...
It's my custom Zastava in 425 Express built by NT Firearms Gove.
Up top is a Leupold 1-4 and all up it weighs under 9lb.
The 2 loads I use are the Hornady 400gn DGX at 2300fps and the Aussie made Atomic 29 360gn copper hollowpoint at 2500fps.
Can't wait to try it out on a nice big buffalo and I'm sure it'll be up to the job...

Russ

 

[Red Leg]

one thing I might add is when you go into the thick stuff take the sling off, you do not need it getting hung up at the wrong time.

Nope. My rifle rides butt up muzzle down over the left shoulder with the left hand palming the forend. The rifle goes everywhere I go without conscious thought, is far easier to maneuver in the thick stuff than port arms, and I frankly think a little quicker into firing position - even instantly into a hasty sling if so desired. There is a rather well known fellow in Zim by the name of Len Taylor who uses the same technique.

 

[michael458]

I have taken buffalo, Australian and Cape Buffalo, with 9.3 B&M (useless caliber for buffalo, even with the best of bullets) Buffalo respect Caliber, end of story....... 416 B&M, 458 Winchester, 45/70, 458 Lott, 458 B&M, 475 B&M, 50 B&M, 500 B&M, and 500 MDM.

I have had many spectacular successes with the various 458 cartridges, in the early days using mostly conventional premiums such as Swift A Frames, Woodleigh Softs. Later years all Generation 1 Copper CNC, Raptors, and North Fork Expanding CPS. In every case followed up by Solids, early years RN Barnes, then to FN Barnes, and later CEB #13s.

Without doubt, the most decisive Rifle/cartridge/bullet combination on buffalo has been the 500 MDM. The rifles are Winchester M70 RUM actions standard with 20 inch barrels, mine are 19 inches. Guns weigh in at 8.25-8.5 lbs depending on the stock, all Accurate Innovations stocks. Overall length is 39 inches on my guns. This is a good, easy to handle platform, when considering the cartridge it fires. It is fast on target, and a dream to handle when compared to standard 24 inch guns.

English stocked Stainless 500 MDM

Myrtle Stock Matte Black Gunkote finish 500 MDM

The cartridge is a 2.8 inch RUM case to true .500 caliber.

And it really comes down to the bullets selected for the Mission at hand. For Buffalo Here are my top choices;

All .500 caliber

410 CEB Safari Raptor 2718 fps
450 CEB Safari Solid 2619 fps

450 CEB Safari Raptor 2518 fps
500 CEB Safari Solid 2443 fps

450 North Fork Expanding CPS 2561 fps
450 North Fork Solid (New Profile) 2592 fps

.500 caliber bullets, that behave like these Raptors and North Fork Expanding CPS, are absolutely devastating on buffalo........ Many stand a quiver after taking a hit, most do not go, and if they do go, they don't go but a few steps. The combination of the size of the Platform, the right amount of fuel in the cartridge, the caliber, and of course above all these devastating bullets make one hell of a buffalo slammer, the best I have ever seen. The only one that might be close is the 500 B&M which is a 2.5 inch RUM case, same rifle, but 18 inch lighter barrel, 500 caliber and about 150 fps slower on the start, but it can take the Talon Tip installed, work through the magazine, and this adds 125-150 fps at 50 yard impacts. Some of that initial lost velocity in the Raptors would be made up for at 50 yard impacts. This would be the next option I would take, for "The Best Buffalo Buster" available considering all aspects, Rifle/Cartridge/Bullet.

 

[RockSlinger404]

404Jeff topped with a 1.1-4 S&B Zenith in ERA swing mounts and Els&Co sling.
400gr AFrames @ just below 2200fps performed flawlessly

 

[uplander01]

My next buffalo hunt I'll be using this rifle, a 416 rigby I've taken a bunch of plains game animals with it. Built by Dennis Olson on a double square bridge GMA action, machined for Talley rings, integral front and rear express sights, silvers pad. Deadly accurate with 350 and 400 grain Barnes tsx and solids.

 

[bigborelover]

I have never hunted before but if i had to i would either choose a 720 hubel (12 gauge from hell) or a 11 lb elite 50 bmg

 

[PerH]

I have never hunted before but if i had to i would either choose a 720 hubel (12 gauge from hell) or a 11 lb elite 50 bmg

Ehh

Both cartridges is unsuitable for that anyways

 

[sgt_zim]

Alright gents, I've acquired my .375 and I'm fitting it out for my first buffalo hunt in 2027.

So share yours, what do you feel makes a proper buffalo bolt gun?

Optic? Iron sights? Sling or no sling? Barrel band? What do you consider essential, especially from experienced cape buffalo hunters. Pictures are very welcome.

Definitely an optic.

2-10x42 or 2-12x42

or a 1-6x24 or 1-8x24

I don't see a need to go with a larger objective than 42 or maybe 44mm. It'll just raise your scope higher off the center bore for very little benefit.

If 10x or 12X magnification isn't enough, then get closer.

Average FOV at 100 yards on 2X is 50 - 60 feet, so 5 - 6 feet at 10 yards. At 4X, it's about 25 or 30 feet, so 2 - 3 feet at 10 yards.

A wider FOV is your friend at buffalo distances.

Also, preferably a scope with an illuminated reticle of some sort.

 

[Jagerrand]

I had great success with my Model 70 Safari Express in 375H&H with Steiner 1-4 illuminated reticle. The gun likes 300 grain Barnes bullets. The buffalo never took a step after receiving the round high shoulder. The death bellow was immediate.

 

[franzfmdavis]

Nope. My rifle rides butt up muzzle down over the left shoulder with the left hand palming the forend. The rifle goes everywhere I go without conscious thought, is far easier to maneuver in the thick stuff than port arms, and I frankly think a little quicker into firing position - even instantly into a hasty sling if so desired. There is a rather well known fellow in Zim by the name of Len Taylor who uses the same technique.

I’m trying to picture what you are saying to try it out. Out of curiosity, are you a left-handed or right hand shooter?

 

[Red Leg]

I’m trying to picture what you are saying to try it out. Out of curiosity, are you a left-handed or right hand shooter?

Right handed. Left hand swings the rifle into position instantly. Only thing that it doesn't work well with is a full sized rifle encumbered with a suppressor. That is like trying to maneuver a surf rod whatever the method.

In north America, I normally use a normal right shoulder carry and in Europe either right shoulder or traditional under the left arm German/Austrian carry.

 

[franzfmdavis]

Right handed. Left hand swings the rifle into position instantly. Only thing that it doesn't work well with is a full sized rifle encumbered with a suppressor. That is like trying to maneuver a surf rod whatever the method.

In north America, I normally use a normal right shoulder carry and in Europe either right shoulder or traditional under the left arm German/Austrian carry.
View attachment 698088

Have you ever had an issue with the barrel going into the dirt and getting clogged? That is one thing I have worried about when thinking about carrying the gun barrel down. Naturally, one would just have to be very diligent in swinging it into a safe position if crouching.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

What caliber?

.45-70... handloads with 325 grain brass solids made specifically for lever actions, from Cutting Edge.

 

[358 Norma]

a Chapuis Elon 470 Nitro, Dakota 416 Remington magnum, and Kimber Caprivi 375 H&H!

 

[TOBY458]

Three Australian Buffalo taken with Sako 85 375 H&H and 300gr TSX bullets.

Australian Cow Buffalo taken with Merkel 470 and 500gr Woodleigh bullets.

Cape Buffalo taken with Winchester 70 416 REM Mag and 400gr Swift AF.

Cape Buffalo taken with Sako 85 375 H&H and 300gr TSX.

Cape Buffalo and Tuskless Elephant taken with Blaser R8 375 H&H and 300 gr TSX and CEB 300gr Solids.

Cape Buffalo taken with Blaser R8 458 Win Mag and 420gr CEB Raptor.

Bull elephant taken with Blaser R8 458 Win Mag and 450gr CEB solids.

 

[skydiver386]

Three Australian Buffalo taken with Sako 85 375 H&H and 300gr TSX bullets.
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Australian Cow Buffalo taken with Merkel 470 and 500gr Woodleigh bullets.
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Cape Buffalo taken with Winchester 70 416 REM Mag and 400gr Swift AF.
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Cape Buffalo taken with Sako 85 375 H&H and 300gr TSX.
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Cape Buffalo and Tuskless Elephant taken with Blaser R8 375 H&H and 300 gr TSX and CEB 300gr Solids.
View attachment 698110
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Cape Buffalo taken with Blaser R8 458 Win Mag and 420gr CEB Raptor.
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Bull elephant taken with Blaser R8 458 Win Mag and 450gr CEB solids.
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In your opinion, is there any difference in the power needed to hunt the Asiatic vs the African Buffalo?