Another "Where Would You Shoot This Buffalo?"

[grand veneur]

That presentation haunts me still, as I had a similar shot at a fantastic buffalo in the Selous last September and I blew it (some of you will remember the description in my hunt report).

It was late in the day, the sun was low and behind the buffalo, to the left of the buffalo. To top things off, my vision isn’t very good these days due to having cataracts. He came out of very thick grass into an opening at about 50 yards, broadside, and presented an easy shot. I was using my .416 Hoffman, shooting a 400 grain Bearclaw. Just before I shot, the buffalo turned from broadside to essentially the same angle as in the picture. I misinterpreted the angle as being more frontal than it actually was, and I ended up shooting the buffalo perhaps an inch or two to the right of the green dot.

The buffalo seemed to be hard hit and there was a lot of arterial blood. We followed the bull through thick grass till it was too dark and left him for the night. That was a long and quiet drive back to camp. The next day we tracked the buffalo for over 6 hours before finally having to accept that he was gone as he’d joined with 5 other bulls and they were well onto the neighboring concession in heavy cover when we turned back. Following a wounded buffalo for hours and several miles, often through thick grass, is mentally and physically draining.

That bull was 44-45” in our estimation, with deep curls and good length. It would have been my largest buffalo to date and Alan Vincent’s biggest of last season.

So, with all that preamble, if I had the same shot again, it’d be on the red dot and I’d have a 400 grain TSX chambered.

I know this situation very well, but you shouldn't give up too early and start the search again the next day. The vultures are sometimes very helpful.

This all has little to do with the cartridge and the bullet used. I have buffaloes that fell over with one shot with the cartridge 9,3x74R and others wounded with the cartridge 460 Weatherby Magnum that I would have to follow. Shot placement is important, but if something does not go well, the first using of big bores is a clear advantage when it comes to searching for and finding wounded big game.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Red, with telescopic sighted .375 Holland & Holland Magnum and 300Gr Barnes TSX.

 

[Certus]

Purple

 

[norfolk shooter]

Red with my 505 Gibbs

 

[matt85]

Red

 

[Andrew62]

I'd aim for red but somehow pull the shot and shoot him in the balls!!

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I found this picture online and I would be very interested in your opinion regarding the best shot placement.

So which spot would you choose?

View attachment 623725

Red, if your rifle, cartridge and bullet are up to the task.

 

[GWB]

I would aim in the red dot area, but the chance of hitting it on the blue or green is excellent!
I am sure we will pick him up within 100 meters on all 3 dots or in between the three dots.

 

[GWB]

I would aim in the red dot area, but the chance of hitting it on the blue or green is excellent!
I am sure we will pick him up within 100 meters on all 3 dots or in between the three dots.

Did I mention its a good buff...

I will get lead in the air asap!

 

[TERMINATOR]

Any of them will do
I would prefer red though

Me too

 

[TERMINATOR]

That presentation haunts me still, as I had a similar shot at a fantastic buffalo in the Selous last September and I blew it (some of you will remember the description in my hunt report).

It was late in the day, the sun was low and behind the buffalo, to the left of the buffalo. To top things off, my vision isn’t very good these days due to having cataracts. He came out of very thick grass into an opening at about 50 yards, broadside, and presented an easy shot. I was using my .416 Hoffman, shooting a 400 grain Bearclaw. Just before I shot, the buffalo turned from broadside to essentially the same angle as in the picture. I misinterpreted the angle as being more frontal than it actually was, and I ended up shooting the buffalo perhaps an inch or two to the right of the green dot.

The buffalo seemed to be hard hit and there was a lot of arterial blood. We followed the bull through thick grass till it was too dark and left him for the night. That was a long and quiet drive back to camp. The next day we tracked the buffalo for over 6 hours before finally having to accept that he was gone as he’d joined with 5 other bulls and they were well onto the neighboring concession in heavy cover when we turned back. Following a wounded buffalo for hours and several miles, often through thick grass, is mentally and physically draining.

That bull was 44-45” in our estimation, with deep curls and good length. It would have been my largest buffalo to date and Alan Vincent’s biggest of last season.

So, with all that preamble, if I had the same shot again, it’d be on the red dot and I’d have a 400 grain TSX chambered.

I like the Bearclaw bullets. Taken both of my Buff with them, one in a .375 and one in .416. Both one shot kills and both bullets retained between 93% AND 94% of their weight with perfect mushrooms. When I go after Buff #3 in 2026 it will be with a .416 Rem pushing 400 grain TBBCs again.

It wasn't the bullets fault. You bet you would have the same result on that Buff if you made the exact same shot with a TSX

But if changing bullets resets your confidence then it's a good move.

 

[Berettaco]

Green. Just had this almost exact shot at 25 yards 2 weeks ago. Slid it right in front of the right shoulder, through the center of the heart and exited behind the left shoulder. Was shooting a 375 with 300 gr A frame.

 

[DLSJR]

I like the Bearclaw bullets. Taken both of my Buff with them, one in a .375 and one in .416. Both one shot kills and both bullets retained between 93% AND 94% of their weight with perfect mushrooms. When I go after Buff #3 in 2026 it will be with a .416 Rem pushing 400 grain TBBCs again.

It wasn't the bullets fault. You bet you would have the same result on that Buff if you made the exact same shot with a TSX

But if changing bullets resets your confidence then it's a good move.

of course it wasn’t the bullets fault. I hit it in the wrong spot. I love Bear Claw bullets, have shot 4 or 5 buffalo with them, plus lots of other stuff, using Bearclaws in 416, 375 & 338. They’re really good bullets.

 

[TERMINATOR]

of course it wasn’t the bullets fault. I hit it in the wrong spot. I love Bear Claw bullets, have shot 4 or 5 buffalo with them, plus lots of other stuff, using Bearclaws in 416, 375 & 338. They’re really good bullets.

They are my favorite. Sometime I will try the tipped version...but not on DG. I fear the tipped version will open up more quickly...which I don't want. I love the performance of the original TBBC. The tip would improve the aerodynamics/BC but if they open up faster I won't like them as well. I think the old school TBBCs are perfect as they are for tough game. But Federal doesn't seem to be making those anymore sadly.

 

[DLSJR]

Terminator, I think you’re correct that Federal is moving away from the traditional Bearclaw bullets. That’s unfortunate as both Jack Carter’s originals and the current versions are excellent. Back in the late 80’s, I remember ordering bullets directly from Jack and we had some interesting conversations about his bullets, African hunting and reloading. He gave me the original load I used in my .416 Hoffman, as Jack also shot that cartridge for DG. “Load 81.0 grains of Reloader 15, Federal 215 primer, 400 grain Bearclaw. You’ll get about 2,500 feet per second and it’s a hell of a buffalo killing load”, he told me. Jack was right! It knocked the snot out of Buffalo. It’s a fantastic load but these days I prefer 79.0 grains and appreciate the milder recoil that a couple less grains of powder make.

I agree that the tipped bullets likely won’t be as good for heavy DG like buffalo. The Bearclaws I’ve recovered from Buffalo and Eland are classic mushrooms that have retained nearly all their weight. They kill very efficiently. The most recent big animal I shot with one was my Lord Derby Eland, with a 300 grain .375 Bearclaw. High shoulder shot and it collapsed instantly at impact, never getting back up. Of course, destroying the spine will do that.

 

[TERMINATOR]

Terminator, I think you’re correct that Federal is moving away from the traditional Bearclaw bullets. That’s unfortunate as both Jack Carter’s originals and the current versions are excellent. Back in the late 80’s, I remember ordering bullets directly from Jack and we had some interesting conversations about his bullets, African hunting and reloading. He gave me the original load I used in my .416 Hoffman, as Jack also shot that cartridge for DG. “Load 81.0 grains of Reloader 15, Federal 215 primer, 400 grain Bearclaw. You’ll get about 2,500 feet per second and it’s a hell of a buffalo killing load”, he told me. Jack was right! It knocked the snot out of Buffalo. It’s a fantastic load but these days I prefer 79.0 grains and appreciate the milder recoil that a couple less grains of powder make.

I agree that the tipped bullets likely won’t be as good for heavy DG like buffalo. The Bearclaws I’ve recovered from Buffalo and Eland are classic mushrooms that have retained nearly all their weight. They kill very efficiently. The most recent big animal I shot with one was my Lord Derby Eland, with a 300 grain .375 Bearclaw. High shoulder shot and it collapsed instantly at impact, never getting back up. Of course, destroying the spine will do that.

The 300 gr TBBC recovered from the far shoulder of my first Cape Buffalo after traveling through the lungs just behind the near shoulder. Dead when we got to him.

293.7 grains

97.9% wgt retention

Enough said about TBBCs on thick, tough game

 

[MMAL]

I believe that blue and green are too low. I see them as 1/4 up the body. If you aim there and miss low, you are in bad shape. I would say red but in reality i would say the height of red and line of green.

 

[Rafiki]

Blue; it's a heart shot. I shoot a .500 so I'd take the shot even though covered by the foreleg.