Ontario Hunter
AH legend
I suspect it would not have made any difference if those guys had been armed with double cannons. They didn't have enough experience.A propos rat calibers and big bores, it's better you are well armed for all borderline actions.
In Burkina Faso once again, three hunters were hunting together buffaloes with locals, one experienced and two inexperienced hunters, all three only armed with rifles caliber 375 H&H Magnum. The buffalo shooting did not go as planned and the buffalo attacked all three. After a hail of bullets caliber 375, the buffalo was finally killed. Result of the action; 2 hunters light wounded, one hunter seriously injured who ended up in the hospital, but recovered very well, and a broken rifle that briefly served as a shield against the buffalo at a critical moment. Use enough gun is maybe a better option.
I recall watching two videos where clients were armed with mega bore double rifles and buffalo were shot multiple times. The one video has PH standing over dead buff exclaiming it was shot seven times. And another hunter who has posted here also admits to shooting a buff as many times with his double rifle. I'm not sure how many times the buff in the second video was hit but I counted nine times guns were fired before the PH finally toppled it as it broke across a road. I used just one rat caliber round to kill my first buffalo. It didn't run thirty yards before tipping over. Same gun used to kill my second buffalo. It ran less than two hundred yards before turning to face us blowing blood from his mouth and nose. I put another shot in the chest but probably not needed. That bullet exited into its left knee. He spun around a couple of times, sat on his butt, then fell over. Both bullets retrieved and both weigh just under 250 grains. A 375 is plenty enough gun ... with the right bullets and in the hands of someone with some experience shooting and a bit of moxie.