In about 7 months I'm headed back to Africa to finally have my dream hunt, for a buffalo! After much research and load development I'll be taking my 9.3X62. Swift A-Frames for softs and Woodleigh Hydro solids. Both chronograph at 2400fps from a 22 inch barrel and shoot to same point of aim. The 9.3X62 has been used to take buffalo since 1905. Is it a stopping rifle? No, but proper shot placement is everything. Screw up that first shot and things get very intense very quickly to say the least.
I cannot recommend a trip on Buff with a 9,3x62 for a "dream hunt".
It's always the argument, that the 9,3 was actually created for Big Game. But that's not true.
It was designed for the poor man (mostly farmers), who needed a gun for everything out there in the african wide open to fill the pot, and/or possibly being saved from getting eaten or trampled to death from african nature. It was the absolut minimum for the worst maximum.
Those guys, buying in these days a 9,3, mostly didn't have the funds, to buy Rigby, Purdy or W&R!
I'm sure, otherwise they would have.
And, 9,3 was for sure better than the 7x57 in military carbins, which were earlier the most common used gun around there.
Now things are a bit different. Today the buffalo herds know exactly what is going on, if perceiveing oversea after shave! That brings up adrenalin level in the blood of those black monsters, and as I experienced myself, that stirrs up the pott for unbelievable things, which will happen, if that shot You made, is even on the right spot. Those buffs are the black version of superman. If wounded, double that! Even with a torn apart heart, those buffs don't stop, if warmed up really good.
Art Alphin from A-Square said it already years ago: Use always enough gun!
My experience is, that two procedures will be most successful:
1. Use a real big bullet to let loose Your buff so much blood, that the adrenalin can't circulate anymore or
2. Shoot him in the head for instant kill. Which is another challenge.
You will learn, that shooting at a buff even full broad side is a tricky thing, better forget about the headshot and use really big bullets to do the more promising blood-run-empty-trick!
My personal advise would be minimum .416 upwards, better .458 settle. Remember, You are planing a "dream hunt" ?