Reloading For Buffalo

[Aussie_Hunter]

I agree, the 450 rigby is very capable of pushing those 550 gr bullets, in fact it is a bit of a waste not using the cavernous case to load something that is just more of a good thing, either 550 gr Woodleighs or 515 gr Peregrine monometals. The Lott can also do it but not quite as comfortably, and definitely not to the same velocity. Recoil is probably the limiting factor, not the cartridge. I would favor the extra 10 % weight over 10% increase in velocity any day. Weight of the bullet is more reliable both with the bullet expansion and with penetration as long as you sit in that 2150-2300 fps.

So this heavy for calibre load worked perfectly, never changing it. Results posted in the bullet performance thread.

 

[Rare Breed]

My next buffalo hunt is only 5 months or so away now so I spent the afternoon reloading for the hunt.

In my 450 Rigby I decided to go with heavy for calibre 550 grain Woodleigh Weldcore RNSN bullets on top of 103 grains of AR2209, Norma brass and LMR Federal gold medal primers, this is putting them right at an average of 2240fps out of my Rigby's 22 inch barrel. These 550 grain Woodleighs in the 458 calibre have a very high SD at 0.375 and the muzzle velocity of 2240fps should put them into the higher end of Woodleighs recommended impact velocity of 1800fps-2200fps between 25-100 yards. This load is also proving to be very accurate out of Rigby.

Who else is reloading for buffalo? And what cartridge, bullet etc have you decided to go with? I would love to hear about what everyone else is reloading for buffalo.

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I am taking my 500 NE DR for Buffalo. I use 80 grains of IMR3031 shooting A-Frame 570 grain SN bullets. Also taking CEB 570 grain solids for elephant

 

[OLB]

I'm loading my 450/400 with 400gr Swift A-Frames and Hornady solids for my Buffalo hunt in September. I'm useing IMR4831. 83 grains @ 2150fps. The Swifts touch at 50 yrds and the solids are an inch apart. I'm ready to go

 

[Nevada Mike]

I posted earlier (January) and have settled on two loads for the 404 Jeffery:

Swift 400 grain A Frame, 74 grains N-150, CCI250, RWS case - 2250 fps.

Barnes 400 grain Banded Solid (FN meplat type), 72 grains N-150, CCI250, Norma brass - 2250 fps.

Taking 7mm RM with 160 grain Swift A Frames for PG.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

My next buffalo hunt is only 5 months or so away now so I spent the afternoon reloading for the hunt.

In my 450 Rigby I decided to go with heavy for calibre 550 grain Woodleigh Weldcore RNSN bullets on top of 103 grains of AR2209, Norma brass and LMR Federal gold medal primers, this is putting them right at an average of 2240fps out of my Rigby's 22 inch barrel. These 550 grain Woodleighs in the 458 calibre have a very high SD at 0.375 and the muzzle velocity of 2240fps should put them into the higher end of Woodleighs recommended impact velocity of 1800fps-2200fps between 25-100 yards. This load is also proving to be very accurate out of Rigby.

Who else is reloading for buffalo? And what cartridge, bullet etc have you decided to go with? I would love to hear about what everyone else is reloading for buffalo.

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I used my own reloads in my .458 Win Mag to take a buffalo bull in August of this year. The load was:

500 gr. Hornady DGS
74 gr. H 4895
WLRM primer
New Winchester brass
Well crimped with Lee Factory Crimp die
Velocity of 2160 fps out of 24" barrel

The buffalo bull was at about 80 yards. Through the shoulder, took out the heart and exited behind the opposite shoulder. He ran about 25 yards and collapsed dead.

I shot my first bull years ago with the same rifle and factory ammo. He required more shots. Carefully done, hand loads work really well.

 

[Rare Breed]

My next buffalo hunt is only 5 months or so away now so I spent the afternoon reloading for the hunt.

In my 450 Rigby I decided to go with heavy for calibre 550 grain Woodleigh Weldcore RNSN bullets on top of 103 grains of AR2209, Norma brass and LMR Federal gold medal primers, this is putting them right at an average of 2240fps out of my Rigby's 22 inch barrel. These 550 grain Woodleighs in the 458 calibre have a very high SD at 0.375 and the muzzle velocity of 2240fps should put them into the higher end of Woodleighs recommended impact velocity of 1800fps-2200fps between 25-100 yards. This load is also proving to be very accurate out of Rigby.

Who else is reloading for buffalo? And what cartridge, bullet etc have you decided to go with? I would love to hear about what everyone else is reloading for buffalo.

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In my Westley Richards 500 NE DR I am loading 83 grains of IMR3031 and getting 2118 FPS and 1.5 inches regulation at 50 yards

 

[Newboomer]

In my Westley Richards 500 NE DR I am loading 83 grains of IMR3031 and getting 2118 FPS and 1.5 inches regulation at 50 yards

350gr Barnes TSX ahead of 63gr of 4064 in a 375HH. Stem to stern frontal shot at 40 yds. Destroyed heart and innards. Found him dead at about 60 yds away.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

In my Westley Richards 500 NE DR I am loading 83 grains of IMR3031 and getting 2118 FPS and 1.5 inches regulation at 50 yards

With Woodleigh projectiles?

 

[Luvthunt]

458 Lott and 500gr A Frames with500 gr TB Sledgehammers . Used IMR 4320 in the past now use Tac for Vel of 2250 2225 respectively.

 

[Jonathan Kashouty]

I like my .375 H&H with 75.5 grains of W760 pushing a Barnes 300 grain TSX at 2510 FPS. Deadly accurate.

 

[Rare Breed]

With Woodleigh projectiles?

No 570 grain Swift A Frames

 

[neckdeep]

I reloaded about 65-66 gr RL 15 with 300 gr North Fork SS, CPS, and FPS for both of my Safaris in 2016 and 2018, using two different CZ 550 375 H&H, moderate velocity and excellent performance when I did my part. I have a 416 Rem shooting 400gr A Frame at about 2375 ready to go, and work on getting my 458 Lott ready with 500 gr North Fork's. The Lott shoots 500 gr TSX at 2175 fps really well already, which I guess would work great on Buffalo.

 

[Warren Knudsen]

I shoot a zkk602 in 416 Rigby, load is 450g woodleigh, 90g ADI2209, for 2260fps.
I will use this on my next buffalo.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

I shoot a zkk602 in 416 Rigby, load is 450g woodleigh, 90g ADI2209, for 2260fps.
I will use this on my next buffalo.

Nice, heavy for calibre and still up there with velocity, similar to what I did with my 450 Rigby. You won't be disappointed this will be a ripper load for buffalo!

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

458 Lott and 500gr A Frames with500 gr TB Sledgehammers . Used IMR 4320 in the past now use Tac for Vel of 2250 2225 respectively.

I love the 458 Lott, one of my favourite calibres. I load 500 grain Woodleigh's at 2230fps using 84 grains of RL15 out of my Kimber Caprivi.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

So this heavy for calibre load worked perfectly, never changing it. Results posted in the bullet performance thread.

All though I posted these pics in the bullet performance thread I thought I might as well post them to this thread as well to show the end result from the initial post. Recovered from 2 buffalo bulls, retained weight from left to right 83%, 99.5%, 85%, 95.4%.

 

[Warren Knudsen]

All though I posted these pics in the bullet performance thread I thought I might as well post them to this thread as well to show the end result from the initial post. Recovered from 2 buffalo bulls, retained weight from left to right 83%, 99.5%, 85%, 95.4%.

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Got to love those woodleighs

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

Have to say that

Got to love those woodleighs

Have to say this is as close to perfect as you cant get IMO an average of 91% weight retention and the shots were fired at different distances between a few metres out to 70-80 metres. Couldn't be happier with this load and the performance.

 

[grand veneur]

Cartridge 460 WBY-Magnum, 500gr HORNADY InterBond Bullets recovered from Buffalos.

 

[grand veneur]

Cartridge 9,3x74R Factory Load from DWM, 293gr FMJ Bullet recovered from a Buffalo.