Favorite caliber for cape buffalo?

[Tundra Tiger]

.45-70

Use the right bullet
Shot placement
Personal restraint

For those of us who favor levers.

 

[Andrew62]

To date, all of my buffalo have been taken with .375H&H. Lots of great calibers to choose from out there!

 

[Tradmark]

454 casull

 

[Flipper Dude]

404 Jeffery. Or 375 H&H. Doesn’t matter if you take ‘em where you should.

 

[Sourdough]

475 No 2 Jeffery

 

[Green Chile]

Favorite buffalo caliber is a 416 Rigby or Rem. Favorite buffalo rifle is the Dakota 416 Rigby with a Swaro z8i 1-8x…Blaser R8 in 416 Rem is next in line.

 

[steve white]

I have only used 375 H&H on four buffalo. On one, there was virtually no reaction to the first FOUR SHOTS! There was a reaction, a dying one, for the fifth shot. That has given be pause. "It usually works" is not a comforting mantra. Am watching this thread with interest.

 

[Kudurifle]

Here's another vote for the 458 Lott. My modifoed Cz550 has three Bufs a Zebra and a Kudu to its credit. All were single shot affairs,

 

[Javaman]

.416 RM.

Use enough gun.

 

[Tanks]

Nothing beats a .500 NE with an expanding bullet.

 

[SRvet]

I can’t claim great experience but the buffalo I shot dropped immediately to a single 300 grain TSX from my 375 H&H.
I’m going back this year and will take a scoped .458 Lott. My trusty .375 will be “riding shotgun” as a spare and for PG duties.

 

[grand veneur]

We can continue to feed the topic. Ultimately, the best caliber is the one that kills the buffalo. The cartridge 9,3x74R can do that just as well under optimal conditions as the cartridge 460 Weatherby Magnum do that under extremely poor conditions. Ultimately, everyone has to decide whether they want a cartridge for all situations or not.

 

[rigbymauser]

I agree with Mr Peacocke, a double at close range (only way to hunt buff IMO),...very appropriate

Thats my dream of how I want to hunt. Sneak up close(30 yards or so) to a grassing buffalo and blast both barrels. However sometimes things won`t happen that way.

 

[sgt_zim]

My first (and only) was with a 9.3x62 Mauser, 1 shot and it was over.

Going back in 2027 with the 404 Jeffery.

I like my 404J quite a lot. But. Finding more brass for it is proving to be quite the challenge. I have nearly 150, but would like another 100 or so. If you're a hand loader, you'll find 416 Rem mag, 458 Win mag, and 458 Lott brass more easily. On that note, 375H&H brass can be found everywhere.

Logistics are a factor for DG cartridges, and I'd recommend that be part of your calculus if you're in the market to buy one.

 

[Luvthunt]

First 375HH after that 458Lott. The 375 did ok the 458 had a noticeable difference in initial effect.

 

[grand veneur]

I used following cartridges with various bullets for shooting buffaloes: 9,3x74R, 375 H&H Magnum, 416 Remington Magnum, 10,75x68, 11,2x72 Schüler, 460 Weatherby Magnum and 12,7x70 Schüler. I also know in the meantime what works better, but it also depends on the bullet used and the circumstances under which the buffalo was shot.

 

[TOBY458]

Of the 8 buffalo that I’ve taken, I’ve used 375 H&H, 416 REM Mag, 458 Win Mag and 470 Nitro.
IME, shot placement has been more important than the caliber I was using. Every time I’ve put the bullet where it’s supposed to go, the result has been the same.

 

[Pondoro]

450/400.. .470 or .500 double rifle..

Because the proper way of hunting them, as Kevin P. said, is at close range.. 15 - 50 meters. That is sport..

 

[Green Chile]

Up close is best or it doesn't really "feel like" DG. You need to smell them and hear their cattle noises. It's been discussed endless times here but my best buff were taken with an optic and a lighted reticle. I would not have taken them THAT opportunity with irons...maybe later in the hunt but one never really knows about what MIGHT have happened. For me it's up close with DG but usually with a lighted reticle optic. That could be a double or a bolt gun. I prefer the bolt gun for the option of following up at further distances and for ease of regulation vs the double.

 

[chashardy]

416 Rigby with Federal's 400g Trophy Bonded Bear Claw