.375 should be banned from buffalo hunts!

[HankBuck]

I would like to know how many PH's would carry a 416 since their job is "stopping". I have had ONE and he was queried by his boss, in my presence, about "why was he still carrying that 416" with an identifiable inference that it wasn't enough as a stopper. The PH defended his choice, but it was clear he was having to jump through hoops to do do.

@steve white - My PH in TZ carried one — .416 Remington bolt action, the year before my safari — he “Stopped” a Cow Elephant charge with one shot - as she rammed the truck and the African Government Agent was yelling “SHOOT”. I had no occasion to see him use it, that was what I was told by the Asst. PHs in Camp and later by the PH himself. I also asked why he used the .416 Rem and he said “because I shoot it well and that’s what counts”. He did say that he was looking to buy a double rifle from Butch Searcy in .470NE “someday” but mostly because he just “wanted” one. He was a very low key type of guy, calm, not a big talker and certainly Not a bragger.

 

[hunt4fun]

What a thread this has turned out to be. It has really stirred the pot. My guess is that there are more owners of 375 H&H than all other big calibers, combined. To state that the 375 should not be used for cape buffalo would be like walking into a back country saloon and yelling out, "who wants to impeach Donald Trump?" The 375 H&H is a great caliber, which has made thousands of kills. True, larger calibers have more "killing power", but the "right" first shot will always kill a buffalo and for me, I can shoot my 375 well without thinking about recoil, which could result in a poorer first shot. And, a poor first shot with a larger caliber could result in a real problem and that problem could get you in big trouble.

 

[colorado]

W

So 45-70 is and will be the bestest ever then
I knew it

But to be honest, i find this quite interesting topic.

I'm voting for the .243 Win

 

[Sideshow]

Why thank you. Yes, they did. I have also shot one with a .458 Winchester Magnum.
View attachment 710073
And one with the 10.75x68mm Mauser Type B Sporter in this photo.
View attachment 710074

Love this last pic @Hunter-Habib that’s Kilimanjaro in the background no? If so your on the Masai plains yes?

 

[Sideshow]

View attachment 710146

Then someone brought Karen to the fight

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Love this last pic @Hunter-Habib that’s Kilimanjaro in the background no? If so your on the Masai plains yes?

Sideshow,

Would you like to see more pictures from there ?

 

[skydiver386]

@Crishuntbrasil

I think you could have made friends on this forum, but you tone is making mostly enemies. When you find yourself in a deep hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging!

 

[Brian]

What a thread this has turned out to be. It has really stirred the pot. My guess is that there are more owners of 375 H&H than all other big calibers, combined. To state that the 375 should not be used for cape buffalo would be like walking into a back country saloon and yelling out, "who wants to impeach Donald Trump?" The 375 H&H is a great caliber, which has made thousands of kills. True, larger calibers have more "killing power", but the "right" first shot will always kill a buffalo and for me, I can shoot my 375 well without thinking about recoil, which could result in a poorer first shot. And, a poor first shot with a larger caliber could result in a real problem and that problem could get you in big trouble.

A PH recently told me that most of the poor first shots on cape buffalo are made by hunters who shoot a 375. Brian

 

[Bejane]

a 375 with a proper bullet can do anything a bigger calibre can

 

[HankBuck]

A PH recently told me that most of the poor first shots on cape buffalo are made by hunters who shoot a 375. Brian

@Brian - Nope, you’re making that up —- gotta play by the rules and the RULES are: Can’t make stuff up that is OBVIOUS (learn how to lie “better” or You can’t play with the rest of us).

 

[Brian]

@Brian - Nope, you’re making that up —- gotta play by the rules and the RULES are: Can’t make stuff up that is OBVIOUS (learn how to lie “better” or You can’t play with the rest of us).

HankBuck,
I didn't think that I would get busted on the very first post! Was it really that obvious?
Brian

 

[Brian]

a 375 with a proper bullet can do anything a bigger calibre can

I didn't know that, I'll make a note.

 

[HankBuck]

HankBuck,
I didn't think that I would get busted on the very first post! Was it really that obvious?
Brian

@Brian —-you’ve got a sense fo Humor, so you can Play.

 

[Brian]

@Brian —-you’ve got a sense fo Humor, so you can Play.

Thanks HB,
That is a relief!
You have set the bar for lying pretty high for me. I may not be able to rise to the challenge, I think that I will have to just concede. Brian

 

[Hunting Hitman]

Read the first few pages and have admittedly moved to the end to respond. Having just shot my 19th and 20th Cape buffalo (story to follow on separate post) I tend to like and appreciate larger calibers. The PH’s I’ve hunted with under that the 375 has a place in the Buffalo hunting world as it offers an entrance into hunting that species. They are also keenly aware that many hunters in South Africa come on a plains game hunt and then slowly get talked into/develop the desire on their own to hunt a buff. Enter the 375 which is a moderately recoiling rifle that used properly gets the job done.
They don’t mind the use of a 375 as it gives them plenty of opportunities to shoot at wounded buffs with their much larger stopping calibers(Not surprised but mostly the 458 Lott).
I won’t try and convince either side one way or the other. If you love the 375 then keep using it. For my taste I will always take at minimum a rifle that starts with a 4 and a 5 is even better,
HH

 

[Sideshow]

Sideshow,

Would you like to see more pictures from there ?

Yes sir why not! Was one of the harder drives to undertake in Africa Arusha to Dar down the side of the Masai plane. Dodging Tanzanian buses crabbing all over the road the entire way down and up. But a lovely drive with some fantastic views!

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Sounds to me like the issue might instead be the shooting or ammo selection. I notice the hornady hat …. Might that be the issue

 

[375Fox]

A PH recently told me that most of the poor first shots on cape buffalo are made by hunters who shoot a 375. Brian

You seem to find PHs that tell you what you want to hear. I doubt any of them told you a homemade 577 built on a H&R single shot with solids first isn’t a good choice for a dangerous game rifle? I find most who suggest a 375 isn’t appropriate withhold a lot of details about how they came to their decision.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

A PH recently told me that most of the poor first shots on cape buffalo are made by hunters who shoot a 375. Brian

Might want to ask the percentage. I’d venture to guess 80% (maybe more) buffalo are hunted by a client with a 375, so yes the number wounded will be higher since the PH’s sample size for buffalo hunted with a 600NE, 577NE, 450NE, or 470 and 500NE will be significantly smaller, especially if you’re talking about a PH in South Africa

 

[steve white]

At the end of the movie Ferris Beuler's Day Off, Ferris says "Are you people still here? It's over. Go HOME."