mono vs lead for Cape Buffalo?

[Altitude sickness]

Yeah, anything served everyday would get old. Our last camp chef did a great job with Buffalo. But it’s bland compared to Eland, Zebra and others.

We ate Chicken, Beef, Guinea, wild game, Lasagna, Pasta Bolognese, and others I forget. The only thing we ate twice in camp was the Pasta with Bolognese sauce at our request.

 

[IvW]

I prefer premium bonded controlled expansion lead core bullets.....in particular Rhino solid shank bullets the rear part is solid copper and the front part is bonded with jacket. Always heavy for caliber....eg. 340 or 350gr in 375 and 570 or 600gr in 510.....never let me down.....
The expansion petals are always split, like blades as apposed to a round smooth mushroom......

 

[Carnivore hunter]

Are most cape buffalo that hunters encounter in herds or loners?

For when they are in herds how does one decide which one to shoot?

 

[Altitude sickness]

Speaking from my limited experience the lone groups of 2-5 bulls would be on their own then if you followed them long enough one day. Or jump their trail a day or two later they may have joined or walked behind a larger herd.

So from what I’ve seen they move in and out of the herds. Walk anywhere from 100 yards to 1/2 mile but still follow the general grazing and watering patterns.


I’ve heard opinions that they have more protection from lions by skirting the herds
And not being completely independent.
And that they may be taking a breather from defending their breeding rights as herd bull.

 

[Brian]

I have found the Rhino bullets to be excellent on PG. While I have never used them on buffalo I assume they would be excellent there as as well.

A good way to learn more about CEB bullets is go to B&M Rifles and Cartridges. They were the developers of the bullet and in their R&D they killed many buffalo in Australia and Africa.

 

[DLSJR]

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.

My biggest concern in using a Raptor on buffalo would be for a quartering toward me shot, which is a pretty common presentation. Not only because of the heavy muscle & bones in the shoulder structure but also the significantly thicker skin across the front of a buffalo bull than along the flanks. I just wonder how effective those sheared off petals would be if the shot is on the point of the shoulder. My concern is some or most of them may not go very far.

Does anyone here have significant experience with Raptors on quartering and frontal shots?

 

[Altitude sickness]

I actually think the Raptor would excel at frontals and quartering on shots. If you study well. Know the anatomy there is a lot of real estate to aim for. Just MHO
Bullets and calibers are a never ending debate.

 

[375Fox]

Are most cape buffalo that hunters encounter in herds or loners?

For when they are in herds how does one decide which one to shoot?

Can be large herds, small herds, small groups of bulls, or lone bulls. It all depends. There are no shortage of good Cape buffalo YouTube videos to watch. You shoot the one the PH tells you. In a large herd situation there may well be a buffalo behind your bull. Choosing a bullet that won’t over penetrate in that case is important.

 

[Brian]

I have made quartering and frontal shots with the CEB Raptor .500 cal. Excellent performance on the frontal shot. On the quarter to-me shot the CEB Raptor broke through the femur bone with the core/base and then went into the heart/lungs with the blades. The buffalo hopped 360 deg. and went down right where it was hit.
The blades that don't get stopped by the bones keep going and the core/base keeps going like a solid.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

My biggest concern in using a Raptor on buffalo would be for a quartering toward me shot, which is a pretty common presentation. Not only because of the heavy muscle & bones in the shoulder structure but also the significantly thicker skin across the front of a buffalo bull than along the flanks. I just wonder how effective those sheared off petals would be if the shot is on the point of the shoulder. My concern is some or most of them may not go very far.

Does anyone here have significant experience with Raptors on quartering and frontal shots?

I cannot speak to that shot but I placed 2 470 grain raptors through the shoulders on a buff this past July in the Caprivi. Complete pass through with the buff going about 50 yards.

HH

 

[coreydb]

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.

Yep....they (DGS/DGX) have mixed reviews throughout their histories, marginal+performance at best. But the successful hunters who used them, swear by them. Prior to my last buffalo hunt, I went to the range. I tried to zero shooting the DGS, but they didn't group well either. I switched to the Swifts, got 1MOA, and ultimately dropped my buffalo with them. If North Fork will ever put their bullets on the shelves, I'll use them just to see, because I've read a lot of happy hunters who used them on DG. That's my 2 cents. Have a great day

 

[coreydb]

If the buffalo are in a herd, select the target you want and be patient until it either moves clear of the others or they meander away. The most important point when shooting in a herd, is that there are no other animals behind, or partially blocking your animal. The CEBs kill, but the base easily exits the animal. You don't want to pay a $$$$ fine for "collateral damage" Learn from my stupidity. That's why I often end my posts with "aim wisely and shoot carefully".

 

[375Fox]

If the buffalo are in a herd, select the target you want and be patient until it either moves clear of the others or they meander away. The most important point when shooting in a herd, is that there are no other animals behind, or partially blocking your animal. The CEBs kill, but the base easily exits the animal. You don't want to pay a $$$$ fine for "collateral damage" Learn from my stupidity. That's why I often end my posts with "aim wisely and shoot carefully".

I have not hunted the Zambezi delta in Mozambique yet but it appears shooting buffalo in large herds there with buffalo behind them is more common than uncommon. It happens frequently in other areas too. It’s not always practical to wait for your buffalo to step clear so certain bullets like a swift or trophy bonded bear claw are great for that situation. You’d have no choice but to wait or lose opportunity with some other bullet choices.

 

[coreydb]

I have not hunted the Zambezi delta in Mozambique yet but it appears shooting buffalo in large herds there with buffalo behind them is more common than uncommon. It happens frequently in other areas too. It’s not always practical to wait for your buffalo to step clear so certain bullets like a swift or trophy bonded bear claw are great for that situation. You’d have no choice but to wait or lose opportunity with some other bullet choices.

Absolutely! choose your ammo carefully

 

[grand veneur]

In West Africa I only shot buffaloes from herds. There don't seem to be any loner old buffaloes. In all probability it is due to the not so dense bush that offers little refuge for older animals in areas where the lion population was not small either. It was not always easy to shoot a buffalo, but as long no one was standing free without someone else behind it, I did not shoot. The decision was mine, there was no PH. I have to admit that some actions took a long time for a result and the following of the herd sometimes lasted for hours and that until midday by very high temperatures. Requires a lot of good physical fitness.

 

[grand veneur]

That's why I did not care much about whether I had a bullet exit or not. In most cases this was so with the cartridge 460 Weatherby Magnum and that with very different bullets, including the A-Frame. For this reason I have concerns about whether everything, as reported in articles or shown in videos, always goes well if there is a lot of animals behind.

 

[375Fox]

That's why I did not care much about whether I had a bullet exit or not. In most cases this was so with the cartridge 460 Weatherby Magnum and that with very different bullets, including the A-Frame. For this reason I have concerns about whether everything, as reported in articles or shown in videos, always goes well if there is a lot of animals behind.

West African savanna buffalo are also considerably smaller bodied than southern Cape buffalo. I trust my 375 with the right bullets not to exit a Cape buffalo. I had no pass throughs on my savanna buffalo but I’m not sure I’d have the same level of conference as with a larger bodied Cape buffalo. Interesting my Savanna buffalo has been on only lone bull I’ve shot. The poacher’s slug likely prevented him keeping up with herd, but we saw other lone bulls after that too.

 

[grand veneur]

I compared the buffaloes that I have shot in several African countries. There are also differences in the size of the Cape buffaloes, just like within all buffalo species. Some West African buffaloes are only a little bit smaller that Southeast and South African buffaloes, but considerably smaller they are not. That's why hunting and shooting of this buffalo species can be easily compared.

 

[375Fox]

I compared the buffaloes that I have shot in several African countries. There are also differences in the size of the Cape buffaloes, just like within all buffalo species. Some West African buffaloes are only a little bit smaller that Southeast and South African buffaloes, but considerably smaller they are not. That's why hunting and shooting of this buffalo species can be easily compared.

SCI record book description says a West African savanna buffalo is half the size of a Cape buffalo. I would have said they were at least a third smaller from my observations. I don’t doubt there are several notable exceptions, but on average they are considerably smaller.

 

[grand veneur]

Might be, unfortunately I was never able to lie them next to each other to compare.