450/400 3"

[mitch4570]

Okay I'm thinking about buying a double rifle maybe 450 / 400 3" inch. I have Watch the videos of cape buffalo shot with this caliber. Before I buy I thought maybe some of the members could share their experience with shooting Cape buffalo with this particular caliber.
I am scheduled to hunt cape buffalo in April 2027.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Cme1983]

Great caliber with mild recoil…I doubt any member that owns will have anything bad to say about it

 

[sgt_zim]

Don't own one, trying to coach my son in that direction, though.

What's not to like about a 400 gr bullet with an SD of .325 at 2100 fps, and only a bit more thump on the back end than a 375H&H? If I were in the market for a double, that's the direction I'd take.

If a 9.3x62 will do the job on M'bogo (Kevin Robertson killed more than 600 with that caliber), a 450/400 is so much the better.

 

[Rare Breed]

Okay I'm thinking about buying a double rifle maybe 450 / 400 3" inch. I have Watch the videos of cape buffalo shot with this caliber. Before I buy I thought maybe some of the members could share their experience with shooting Cape buffalo with this particular caliber.
I am scheduled to hunt cape buffalo in April 2027.
Thanks in advance!

My first Cape Buff taken with a Chapuis Elan in 450-400 NE using Hornady DGX Bonded bullets. outstanding easy recoil sweet shooting rifle. Can you even take elephant with it, yes of course much better calibers for that. is it a stopping caliber, no but it is the perfect caliber for buff

 

[Rare Breed]

I bought mine NIB for $13k from Champlain which given their lifetime warranty and they will cut stock to perfect LOP for you would be the place to buy with George Caswell

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

My Heym 89b is in 450/400. It is accurate and not at all heavy on recoil. The first animal to fall to it was a bush pig, one of a sounder that we stumbled upon. In daylight and I swung on it as it scampered. The second was an impala and finally a big bodied Buffalo bull that crumpled soon after the first shot. To me it is the perfect client DG calibre.

 

[Franco]

Like Kevin, I also have a Heym 89B 450/400; purchased and used on my first safari in 2018. I shot 4 cape buffalo with it. Since then I have used it on 3 elephants, a rhino, giraffe, zebra, camels, donkeys, water buffalo, banteng, more cape buffalo, and about a half dozen sharks (don't ask)

It is both fun and effective. My choice for ammo is custom from Safari Arms. 2 years ago I stopped a charging elephant with 1 shot - center brain, at very close range. If you're considering a double, you're talking close range - whichever make you choose, it has to fit and you have to be comfortable shooting it. It needs to shoulder and be right on target - read some of the threads on animal speeds and rate of closure. A charging buffalo is not going to wait for you to adjust your sight picture.

I'm sure Kevin can elaborate on this for you.

 

[Javaman]

Another consideration is a Ruger No 1in 450/400 3”, which can be had for $2k-Ish.

Makes for a great intro to the caliber and they are great looking!

I’m taking mine to Limpopo for Cape buffalo in 3 weeks. My PH is excited!

Rifle shoots sub MOA with my hand loads (CEB 370 Raptors and 400 Solids).

I inserted an 8oz Mercury reducer in the stock (existing 7/8” bolt hole makes this really easy) which settled the rifle down some.

I would consider the caliber in a double rifle if Chapuis does it in their proposed sub-$10k “PG” double.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

@Javaman please keep us informed on your upcoming Buffalo hunt, I took my first Buffalo with a Ruger No1 in 375 H&H.

 

[Javaman]

Hey Thanks, will do! Got clothes sprayed with Permethrin today, made a bunch of paperwork copies for various authorities, all the cartridges are loaded and ready, guns shooting sub-MOA … just waiting on the 19th to jump off!

 

[Altitude sickness]

Like Kevin, I also have a Heym 89B 450/400; purchased and used on my first safari in 2018. I shot 4 cape buffalo with it. Since then I have used it on 3 elephants, a rhino, giraffe, zebra, camels, donkeys, water buffalo, banteng, more cape buffalo, and about a half dozen sharks (don't ask)

It is both fun and effective. My choice for ammo is custom from Safari Arms. 2 years ago I stopped a charging elephant with 1 shot - center brain, at very close range. If you're considering a double, you're talking close range - whichever make you choose, it has to fit and you have to be comfortable shooting it. It needs to shoulder and be right on target - read some of the threads on animal speeds and rate of closure. A charging buffalo is not going to wait for you to adjust your sight picture.

I'm sure Kevin can elaborate on this for you.

So Franco, what your saying is your still undecided on if the 450/400 is sufficient