The perfect Buffalo Medicine

[FlowHamed18]

I shot a buffalo with my. 404 Jeffery last week at 40m.
The Barnes TSX 400gr broke the shoulder bone of the opposite side and got stuck in the bone.

25m and the buffalo was down bellowing.
I would use Barnes again without hesitation!

 

[Spey]

500 gr Barnes TSX at 33 yards from .458 Lott.View attachment 631161

reattaching pic

 

[Muting the Goat]

I leave for my Zim hunt in 10-1/2 months, 350 days from now to be exact but who’s counting lol
I have enough time for the mental gymnastics and the silliness of overthinking and playing mental badminton with what round to bring for my Buff on that hunt?!?! It’s my first time out and with all the PH’s and Clients that have been hit I just want to make sure I hammer him good before he does us!
And Yes Yes I know this has been beaten like a dead horse but dead horses are fun to beat lol jk

I’ll be taking a Winchester 458 WinMag and have been looking at these loads so anyone that has used and has ha successfully used them in 458 WinMag or any legal cartridge I’d like to hear feedback from all of you along with any other pet Buff medicine someone has!

Hornady 500gr Bonded DGX 2140ftps 5184ftlbs
Hornady 480gr Bonded DGX 2350ftps 5884ftlbs
CE Safari Raptor 470gr 2300ftps 5519ftlbs
Barnes TSXX 450gr 2285ftps 5215ftlbs
Shock Hammer 404gr 2550 5832ftlbs

That’s what I have on hand and I’m working with. I’m leaning towards the 480gr Hornady or the 470gr CE Raptor but I haven’t heard a bunch of feedback on the raptors on Buff?
Thanks for playing along! And Happy Labor Day to all!!!View attachment 630949

I still like the old Winchester 510 grain Super Speed Soft Point!

 

[CZDiesel]

If using the CEB Raptor, go with the 420gr. It will work out much better in 458 WM or Lott. I shot a buffalo with that bullet last year, and it absolutely hammered him. In fact, I wouldn’t go over 450 gr in any bullet that you choose. It’s just not needed for buffalo, with the new improved bullets we have today. I see you have the 470gr Raptor listed at 2300 fps. Are you sure that’s not the 420gr? I doubt very seriously you could get 2300fps from that bullet in the 458 WM without serious chamber pressure, even if you could manage to get enough powder in the case to get anywhere close to that velocity.

That’s what’s advertised? Ive talked to Jason at Aria at lengths several times, he’s very knowledgeable and loves what he does, and he told me that his 458 WinMag loads are out of a 21-1/2” test barrel and the velocities are correct?
My Winchester has a 22” barrel so we’ll see? I’ll verify with a LabRadar Doppler

 

[Dirtdart]

I’ve taken several buffs, hippo, croc and plains game with the 400 grs Swift A Frame in .416. They performed perfect. Unfortunately I can’t buy them anymore here in Europe, CCI primers and Swift bullets vanished.

Swift A-Frames in .416 and .423 400 grain are all but extinct in the US also.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

I just finished a hunt in Zimbabwe. I was surprised to see my PH there had raptors in 470 on his belt. I asked about them and his response was that he loves them. He said they hit buffalo like no other soft does because of penetration and damage caused by the petals. He said care must be taken though that there are no buffalo behind your buffalo because they will penetrate through every time. I was surprised at the glowing review he gave. I’m going to try some now in my 375. He and the other PH in camp did not give a glowing review of DGX but both thought highly of Barnes TSX.

I’ve only taken buffalo with my 375 H&H. I used swift A frames, trophy bonded bear claws, and unfortunately borrowed ammo on a different trip when mine didn’t arrive with bullets I’d prefer not to use again unless necessary. I like swift A frames. They penetrate well and reliably don’t exit making them a good choice if you need to shoot with buffalo behind your bull.

I has the same experience with the Raptor in 458 Lott (470 grain) and think they are great. Both of my shots were complete pass throughs

HH

 

[CZDiesel]

I has the same experience with the Raptor in 458 Lott (470 grain) and think they are great. Both of my shots were complete pass throughs

HH

How did the Buff react when hit?

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I am a firm believer in the Swift 500gr Aframe. All I use in 458 Lott.
So I would choose the same for the 458 win mag. Grafs and Sons and Swift have it available on there web sites in loaded Swift Ammo.

 

[wvfred]

I have used only woodleigh and TSX bullets on buffalo and the TSX bullets are my favorite.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

How did the Buff react when hit?

First shot walloped him and he broke to the right. Quick reload and second shot from my R8 dropped him in his tracks. Both shots on the shoulder at 40 yards and his total travel was about 50 yards.

HH

 

[TOBY458]

That’s what’s advertised? Ive talked to Jason at Aria at lengths several times, he’s very knowledgeable and loves what he does, and he told me that his 458 WinMag loads are out of a 21-1/2” test barrel and the velocities are correct?
My Winchester has a 22” barrel so we’ll see? I’ll verify with a LabRadar Doppler View attachment 631202View attachment 631203View attachment 631204View attachment 631205View attachment 631206

I will be very curious to see the results.

 

[TOBY458]

That’s what’s advertised? Ive talked to Jason at Aria at lengths several times, he’s very knowledgeable and loves what he does, and he told me that his 458 WinMag loads are out of a 21-1/2” test barrel and the velocities are correct?
My Winchester has a 22” barrel so we’ll see? I’ll verify with a LabRadar Doppler View attachment 631202View attachment 631203View attachment 631204View attachment 631205View attachment 631206

I will be very curious to see the results

 

[TOBY458]

That’s what’s advertised? Ive talked to Jason at Aria at lengths several times, he’s very knowledgeable and loves what he does, and he told me that his 458 WinMag loads are out of a 21-1/2” test barrel and the velocities are correct?
My Winchester has a 22” barrel so we’ll see? I’ll verify with a LabRadar Doppler View attachment 631202View attachment 631203View attachment 631204View attachment 631205View attachment 631206

@michael458 , is this possible??? 470gr Raptors at 2300 fps from a 458 Win Mag?

 

[CZDiesel]

@michael458 , is this possible??? 470gr Raptors at 2300 fps from a 458 Win Mag?

I do know that he uses proprietary powders

 

[Velo Dog]

Swift A-Frame are incredibly reliable, bonded soft nose bullets.
Hopefully Swift will get back to adequate production numbers.

I have no experience to back up the following thought …..
However, it seems to me that at .458 Winchester velocity, the Woodleigh 480 grain, bonded soft nose would work well enough on buffaloes.
Likewise, I suspect the Hornady bonded DGX would work about as well.