mono vs lead for Cape Buffalo?

[coreydb]

With CEB Safari Raptors I have shot
3 Cape Buff
1 Eland
1 wildebeest
Numerous Water Buff on a cull hunt in Austrailia
Rifles used
400H&H
45NE
458 Lott
505 Gibbs
Shots on Buff have been 1 behind shoulder, 1 straight on low chest 1 quartering to
All 3 Buff the damage to the heart and lungs were devastating all were one and done but insurance shots were taken just because
The wildebeest was a broadside shot at 100 yards with my 450NE and a 450gr Safari Raptor leaving the end of the gun at 2180fps hitting the animal approx 1800fps at the shot the animal dropped on it's brisket bellowing There was a hole on both sides and ropes of blood exiting from the holes at the skinning shed all the plumbing above the heart was disconnected..
I like my CEB's but if I was going to hunt herd bulls I would probably switch to Northforks or Aframes

Zepher- The CEBs on buffalo, even in a herd, are very effective! I didn't mentioned them by name in my post, but they were "implied" under the "other bullets" in my post. The penetration and tissue damage (by my kills) appeared to supersede the TSXs. If you can get to the herd before they circle and show their asses, just pick wisely and aim carefully; that's all I did and The CEGs are phenomenal performers.

 

[coreydb]

IMO, the CEB Raptors probably work better in a 40+ caliber rifle, on buffalo. Once those pedals break off, you’re left with a solid, for the most part. I would think that a larger caliber hole, once the pedals break off, would be more desirable. But that’s just my opinion, based on very limited experience. The exit hole on my buffalo, shot with a 458, was basically 458 diameter. Just like you’d have with a solid.

Amen Brother!

 

[DLSJR]

I’ve mostly used 400 grain Trophy Bonded Bearclaws from my 416 on buffalo and have consistently had good performance. But I’ve also used 400 grain TSX’s with similar great results. But, on my last hunt that included buffalo I tried a couple 370 grain Raptors after a first shot with a Bearclaw. The bull was broadside at about 90 yards. He only took a couple steps after a Bearclaw into the center of his shoulder, but the only thing I could see was a broadside view of his back legs, so being a firm believer in shooting buffalo repeatedly as long as it’s visible, I sent a raptor through his back legs, then one into his chest when he stepped forward and his chest became visible. The bull died quickly and when we were butchering the bull we found the solid shanks of both raptors. I did not get a good look at the damage the sheared off petals may have done.

We also found a 300 grain TSX from a pass through on the bull my son shot with his 375, right before I shot this bull. My bull was behind and off to the side, but the TSX exited at about a 45 degree angle and hit my bull in the liver.

With all that in mind, I’m not sure how those raptors performed because the other bullets also did a great job. I’ll try them again sometime but it’s awfully tough to do better than Bearclaws and TSX’s for killing buffalo.

 

[Carnivore hunter]

Do any of you have experience with these bullets below and how they performed on game?...

CEB Maximus and Lazer

Hammer Bullets

Lehigh Defense

DRT

Titan

 

[grand veneur]

I know everyone has their preferences and bias. But in my last buffalo hunt, my first three shots were with Swift A- frames. The fourth round was with a Woodleigh hydro-solid. The bull kept going, though sluggishly, but shuddered and fell on impact from the Woodleigh. A "post-mortem" showed all hits were kill shots, but the solid was the bullet that shook it up and stopped it dead in its tracks. Call it what you want, there is a place and purpose for solids. And YES, the TSXs are superb on buffalo as are the North Forks. I tried different bullets and all worked well, its just that Buffalo are bullet sponges. Go ahead and pick your poison as the saying goes....just aim true and kill 'em dead.

Since I am from an older school when it comes to hunting in general and big game hunting in particular, I mainly used classic bullets for the latter, SP bullets with lead core and FMJ bullets. Over time I have also used other bullets to shoot buffalo, including TSX and A-Frame bullets, but I won't make any recommendations to anyone. Everyone should have their own experience. I shot about fifteen buffaloes, more than half of my buffaloes, with the classic old bullets. I never had any problems with them. Maybe it was the cartridge, in this case the 460 Weatherby Magnum. The only difficult searching for a wounded buffalo I had, was with a poorly placed PP SN bullet from Woodleigh. As far as Hydro-solids from Woodleigh are concerned, I would also have liked to have checked their working on buffaloes a few more times in the field. Unfortunately, I am older and one cannot have done everything in a life. If I were to go hunting buffalo again, I would continue to use, depending on the cartridge, the PP SN bullets from Woodleigh or even FMJ bullets. The latter would definitely be used with the cartridge 11,2x72 Schüler, as it is the only suitable bullet you can still get for that purpose for such a cartridge.

 

[coreydb]

Fair point Grand, old school is the proven school. If it's lead, it's dead.

 

[coreydb]

In my post above, I said I used the Woodleigh Hydrostatic solid to bring down my last buffalo. The reason I gave it a try was because of its professed unique design that incorporated new pressure rings, and combined deep penetration with a large destructive wound channel that also delivered a high shock level to the animal. When the buffalo shuttered and dropped at the impact of the hydro, I became a believer. To each their own though.

 

[VINOYASADO]

Hi guys and happy new year to all!

Seems like 3 fav mostly, at least in .416

1-A - FRAME
2- TSX
3- BEAR CLAW

Two questions please?

1.Would a TTSX perform the same as TSX in 416? (probably deeper penetration?)
2.Are Hornady DGX and DGS any good/trusty? (Here in Europe cost half in relation to the others)

Thanks

 

[coreydb]

1. Both work well close up, but as velocity falls away, they both lose the ability offload kinetic energy at varying rates. They basically fail to perform at impact velocities below 2200fps, regardless of expansion.
The TTSX is the TSX improved has a higher BC and a fairly wide meplat under the tip which facilitates rapid expansion, and the plastic tip helps maintain the BC. I have both and am very pleased with their performance.
2. DGS and DGX bullets have great success stories.

 

[Altitude sickness]

While I had great success with my Safari raptor. I think it was more to do with hitting it in the exact location I wanted. If I hit that same spot with a TSX or an A-frame it would’ve been dead right there also. My wife’s Buffalo with a TSX went a total of 10 yards. she hit it in the heart also.

 

[375Fox]

Hi guys and happy new year to all!

Seems like 3 fav mostly, at least in .416

1-A - FRAME
2- TSX
3- BEAR CLAW

Two questions please?

1.Would a TTSX perform the same as TSX in 416? (probably deeper penetration?)
2.Are Hornady DGX and DGS any good/trusty? (Here in Europe cost half in relation to the others)

Thanks

I think it would be a stretch to call Hornady DGX good or trustworthy. They are acceptable but there are better options for buffalo. The DGX just isn’t in the same category as a swift even if it’s better than a traditional non-bonded soft point. The DGS is as good as any other FMJ bullet by all accounts. Interestingly, the DGS will not shoot a group from my rifle. I struggled to identify zero with 5-6” groups at 100 yards. I don’t have an explanation for it and haven’t tried again since.
Cost for a premium bullet shouldn’t be a consideration on a buffalo hunt. You’ll only shoot maybe 30 rounds on a 10 day safari. Northfork are produced in Sweden. I’d think they’d be available in Europe or Northfork could direct you where to find them. The design is nearly identical to trophy bonded bear claw and by all accounts so is performance. It would be a much better option for buffalo than the DGX if you can get them. Practice with cheap ammo then sight in and hunt with premium bullets.

 

[375Fox]

Hi guys and happy new year to all!

Seems like 3 fav mostly, at least in .416

1-A - FRAME
2- TSX
3- BEAR CLAW

Two questions please?

1.Would a TTSX perform the same as TSX in 416? (probably deeper penetration?)
2.Are Hornady DGX and DGS any good/trusty? (Here in Europe cost half in relation to the others)

Thanks

If you google cutout views of different bullets you can get a pretty good idea how they’ll perform if they strike heavy bone like a buffalo’s shoulder. The benefit of designs like swift, TBBC, or Northfork is if the front of the bullet fails the base cannot. DGX has some tapering to control expansion, but you’ll see bonded bullets like Norma oryx are very thinly jacketed. Some bullets are better for PG.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

I think I’m a very easy client to make happy in camp, but I have given directives there will be no more buffalo served for dinner the rest of a safari. I get tired of it quick.

On my first Buffalo/Leopard trip to Tanzania I had 3 Buffs shot in the first 4 days and ended up eating Buff that first week everyday! I asked for a menu change and they said ”well shoot something else”. I quickly started filling the meat locker with a diverse African plains game selection.

I learned my lesson quickly.

HH

 

[mdwest]

I use TSX or TTSX for everything pretty much world wide… dik dik to elephant… doesn’t matter to me.. they are my bullet of choice and for the most part are the only bullets you’ll find on my reloading bench…

That said, I shot my only buffalo, and my wife shot her only buffalo, with swift 300gr A-frames.. and we had exactly zero problems.. in both cases the animals went down very quickly and were no further problem…

We flew the American route through London both of those years and couldn’t bring our own rifles, so we used the camp 375…

I wouldn’t hesitate to use a-frames again if they were the option rather than TSX

 

[Carnivore hunter]

On my first Buffalo/Leopard trip to Tanzania I had 3 Buffs shot in the first 4 days and ended up eating Buff that first week everyday! I asked for a menu change and they said ”well shoot something else”. I quickly started filling the meat locker with a diverse African plains game selection.

I learned my lesson quickly.

HH

How does the cape buffalo taste compared to North American cow/cattle? Can it compare to the flavor of rib eye, prime rib, brisket from American cows?

 

[mdwest]

I find buff to be similar to beef in texture and in taste… but it is different, if you were served it blind you’d know it wasn’t angus …

 

[Red Leg]

How does the cape buffalo taste compared to North American cow/cattle? Can it compare to the flavor of rib eye, prime rib, brisket from American cows?

I haven't sampled it (we care about our beef here in Texas), but I imagine a 14 year old angus bull that had been shot in the back forty and driven around in the hot sun for half a day or more and then eaten without proper aging would taste very similar to grilled dugga boy. I would never have any interest in eating the former, and always wish I hadn't when I tried the latter.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

I haven't sampled it (we care about our beef here in Texas), but I imagine a 14 year old angus bull that had been shot in the back forty and driven around in the hot sun for half a day or more and then eaten without proper aging would taste very similar to grilled dugga boy. I would never have any interest in eating the former, and always wish I hadn't when I tried the latter.

Sums it up nicely.

Old Dagga Boys are not premium black angus and as such tase like it. My tried and true advice is shoot an Eland, Kudu, Springbok, or Gemsbok in your first days of the safari and never look back.

HH

 

[375Fox]

On my first Buffalo/Leopard trip to Tanzania I had 3 Buffs shot in the first 4 days and ended up eating Buff that first week everyday! I asked for a menu change and they said ”well shoot something else”. I quickly started filling the meat locker with a diverse African plains game selection.

I learned my lesson quickly.

HH

I’ve also learned that camp cooks find it much easier to work with a slab of buffalo than a small piece of impala (or any other game by comparison). They need reminded occasionally not to revert back to buffalo when there is other game available in camp. I’d be very ok not eating buffalo again. I was extremely lucky to shoot an eland on day 5 of 14 on my most recent safari. The hunters following me were experienced African hunters and very happy about it as well.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

This is starting to get off track, but I feel fortunate: we only ate buffalo one meal for each of my hunts: it was always something else I shot, and I got to try everything at some point. Hands down my favorite was zebra.