Best bullet for Cape Buffalo

[gbax]

I did a lot of research before choosing a load for my .375H&H on its maiden voyage on Cape Buffalo - mainly speaking to folks that have shot a lot of buffalo and two names came up again and again - Swift A frame and Barnes TSX. It was considered by many that modern softs have made solids unnecessary on Buffalo.

Having used the 180 grain TSX in my 30.06 for my last few plains game trips (and they had performed well for me) I went with the 300 grain TSX for my Buffalo and they did the job perfectly.

If i get the chance to do it again i will use the same combination.

 

[Red Leg]

I am a huge fan of the 300 gr TSX in .375. It has performed perfectly on every animal on which it has been used by me including buffalo and eland. Headed over to Moz next month and it will be the only bullet I use from my .375. I have not used the smaller cal TSX, but I not only have no reservation with respect to the .375 - I absolutely recommend it. That said, it is not the only SP which works well on buff. My son will be using North Forks in his rifle because I also trust them and because his Sauer loves them.

 

[Bushstalker]

Red Leg, is he going to use North Fork SS (soft) or CUP ? I guess you will hunt buffalo in Mozambique. Wish you a good hunt !

 

[Red Leg]

Red Leg, is he going to use North Fork SS (soft) or CUP ? I guess you will hunt buffalo in Mozambique. Wish you a good hunt !

The 300 gr softs. I have no experience with the new CUP design, and we have not worked up a load for the rifle. The 300 gr softs seem to drive about as deep as a TSX. The CUP intrigues me but I have not used them and have no colleagues who have done so. Would be interested in your experiences. And yes, we each have two buff on license. I am equally interested in sable which are native to the area in which we will be hunting. First time in Moz, so am pretty excited about seeing a new area.

 

[Bushstalker]

Hi Red Leg, for North Fork solids and CUP you simply load 1 gr less powder compare to the soft (SS) and you will have the same impact, simply like that ! I think that most of us is a bit afraid to risk something new, but I promise that when you see the result from North Fork CUP you will probably change your mind because you will have the same wound channel like a soft nose, but deeper penetration and more straight line, and finally it is less sensible for eventually vegetation.

As I say good luck and stay sharp, I hear that it was some unrest a week ago in the Zambezia Province 11, but probably its have come down now.

Cheers, Bushstalker

 

[Red Leg]

Hi Red Leg, for North Fork solids and CUP you simply load 1 gr less powder compare to the soft (SS) and you will have the same impact, simply like that ! I think that most of us is a bit afraid to risk something new, but I promise that when you see the result from North Fork CUP you will probably change your mind because you will have the same wound channel like a soft nose, but deeper penetration and more straight line, and finally it is less sensible for eventually vegetation.

As I say good luck and stay sharp, I hear that it was some unrest a week ago in the Zambezia Province 11, but probably its have come down now.

Cheers, Bushstalker

I'll play with the North Fork CUP this fall.

Yes, that is the second time in the last few months there has been "banditry" in the news in that area. It is no small wonder that the whole eastern coastal region of the continent hasn't come apart at the seams.

 

[Bushstalker]

Like to share a photo of a old bull taken in Tanzania with NF Cup 400 gr.

 

[Bushstalker]

This mature bull is also down from a NF CUP.

 

[Jumbo]

Guys, what about Woodleigh softs?

shooting a 470NE, and am in that soft/solid debate with myself. But the soft is making much more sense as a first shot, but grouping of the soft and solid isnt working that nicely as a combination, so thinking maybe of just using 2 x softs and then moving on to solids after that....................hopefully they wont be required.

thoughts?

 

[Red Leg]

Guys, what about Woodleigh softs?

shooting a 470NE, and am in that soft/solid debate with myself. But the soft is making much more sense as a first shot, but grouping of the soft and solid isnt working that nicely as a combination, so thinking maybe of just using 2 x softs and then moving on to solids after that....................hopefully they wont be required.

thoughts?

For Buffalo, I load two TSX's in my S2.

 

[Velo Dog]

Guys, what about Woodleigh softs?

shooting a 470NE, and am in that soft/solid debate with myself. But the soft is making much more sense as a first shot, but grouping of the soft and solid isnt working that nicely as a combination, so thinking maybe of just using 2 x softs and then moving on to solids after that....................hopefully they wont be required.

thoughts?

Most (but not all) doubles regulate better when you load your solids with just a whisker less powder than your corresponding softs.

 

[Jumbo]

Thanks Velo, we cant load here in Zambia (legally) so using factory ammo.
but will bear that in mind! Thanks and Redleg, is that what you used for buff?

 

[Velo Dog]

Thanks Velo, we cant load here in Zambia (legally) so using factory ammo.
but will bear that in mind! Thanks and Redleg, is that what you used for buff?

No worries Jumbo,

I did not realize hand loading was Juju in Zambia.
Thanks to every Government on this planet being corrupt and mean spirited, they all seem to rejoice in constantly pounding the Tax Payers with oppressive laws.
We have stupid and oppressive laws here where I live as well.
They are designed to bleed the Working Class of our hard won pay and over-fill the bank accounts of the Fat Cat Politicians.
But don't get me started .. snicker, snicker.

Velo Dog.

 

[Bushstalker]

Jumbo, for buffalo when you come up in .470 NE and using that heavy 500 gr Woodleight weldcor soft it will do the work, I hear 2 weeks ago that VO rifles by contract from Norma loading a 410 gr Woodlight soft in 416 Taylor (700 m/s) and it was used on buffalo with good results this year. I would not use it for buffalo in a 375 and 300 gr but for the 470 and even maybe in 416 will not be a bad alternative, and a classic one for a 470 or 500 double rifle.

 

[Red Leg]

Thanks Velo, we cant load here in Zambia (legally) so using factory ammo.
but will bear that in mind! Thanks and Redleg, is that what you used for buff?

Yes. 300 gr TSX from a Blaser S2 double rifle. Each barrel shoots MOA and the composite 100 meter LRxLR is 2 1/4". It will drill through both shoulders of a buff or eland at 100m, and with the scope mounted will take a Kudu or gemsbok at 200m - 250m.

 

[Bushstalker]

Red Leg, maybe I'm from the old school but shooting a high BC sharp nosed boat tail bullet like the TSX in a double sounds like a totally wrong concept for me. Perhaps its a reason they do not produce them in .470 caliber.

 

[Velo Dog]

Author and sometimes hunting film star Craig Boddington, once wrote that he had very good results with a double rifle on one buffalo by firing a very fast right and left (or left/right .. whatever) into the bull when his barrels were loaded only with Swift A-Frames.
The caliber escapes me at the moment but it was either a .470 or a .450 NE 3.25" straight (just about twin ballistics anyway).
I have only shot one buffalo and so do not have enough experience at buffalo to know if the two softs is a good plan or not.
It does seem like it would work well with a heavy caliber rifle like your .470 but again, I do not really know.
I do applaud you for "using enough gun".
For my nickle, I feel it is disrespectful to the animal when people use some small caliber weapon to shoot a large/heavy animal.

 

[Velo Dog]

Red Leg, maybe I'm from the old school but shooting a high BC sharp nosed boat tail bullet like the TSX in a double sounds like a totally wrong concept for me. Perhaps its a reason they do not produce them in .470 caliber.

+1.

 

[Red Leg]

Red Leg, maybe I'm from the old school but shooting a high BC sharp nosed boat tail bullet like the TSX in a double sounds like a totally wrong concept for me. Perhaps its a reason they do not produce them in .470 caliber.

Let's see, I am getting MOA accuracy per barrel at full throttle .375 velocities and composite groups at a hundred meters under 2.5". I can take a scoped S2 on long stern chase and yet be ready for anything at distance which might present itself. I am also assured of the same first round accuracy on a buff as a scoped mauser - unlike the mauser, I also truly have an instant second shot. For follow-up, the scope dismounts in seconds. So what exactly is wrong with that concept?

It is true true that the TSX and its ilk did not exist in the heyday of the double rifle, but then neither did the S2 or anything like it. There is nothing about this rifle which is really like traditional hunting with a SxS other than two barrels and two triggers. I take the Blaser out as my most efficient African rifle - not for nostalgia's sake. For that sort of work, I have my Evans and my Franz Sodia.

 

[Bushstalker]

Reg Leg, to take a 250 m shot with a double for a Kudu or Oryx... yes, good luck and I can not be comparable to you...... I stay within 80 m and have done it for long time !

So, when you have experience enough I would be interested.