The perfect Buffalo Medicine

[375Fox]

Interesting, especially after all the posts and dislike's which I received from side of experts in the matter buffalo hunting because of my use of 500gr Hornady Interbond RN bullets. When I compare the latters with the 550gr Hawk bullets with their big lead tip, the Hornady bullets seem to me to look even more modern. However, based on my modest experience with buffalo hunting, I believe also that Hawk bullets work.

You got the negative comments and dislikes for repeatedly asserting there was no difference in bullet performance between premium bonded and any non-bonded bullets for hunting buffalo. You also failed to draw a distinction between 375 and larger slower calibers. Then posted photos of bullets that lost most of their mass and had some core separation as proof of the minimal difference between bullets. Move on. You weren’t criticized for using them yourself. You were criticized for misrepresenting information to others. This is 3rd or 4th thread now you’ve taken opportunity to remind everyone you were criticized once.

 

[CZDiesel]

Will you be recovering the bullets? To be fair every bullet manufacturer talks highly of their bullets. It will be interesting to see especially if you can find a shoulder bone to shoot through.

This first time out I’m just going to test all of Aria’s 458 WinMag that I have in different weights for velocity and to check for pressure issues if any? I do t expect any and I do expect the velocities to be there but that’s what I’ll check…
Next time out I’ll try to do something to check bullet performance

 

[Shooter375]

Watching. Interested in seeing your test results.

 

[CZDiesel]

Watching. Interested in seeing your test results.

I went to test the Aria ammunition today and it didn’t go exactly as planned…
Unfortunately I got off to a late start and didn’t get to Dragonmans till mid afternoon and by the time we got set up and learned to use the LabRadar properly it was starting get late.
We started with the Hornady 500gr Superformance Bonded DGX and DGS to use as a baseline…
Hornady claims 2140fps for both with 5084ftlbs of energy! Impressive!
I have a Winchester M70 with a 22” Barrel and I have to say it LOVES the Hornady!!!
The average of the DGX was 2156fps and the DGS was 2170! A 500gr 458 at almost 2200fps out of a 22” barrel is awesome performance in book! So my Winchester loves the Hornady!!!
We went to start testing the Aria ammunition and then the wind picked up and not only turned the range into a major dust bowl but also knocked my LabRadar to the ground with the tripod three times! So I had to pack it up and head home but at least we got a good baseline for the rifle and ammunition!
I’ll head back out next Sunday to test the Aria stuff…

 

[Cheesehead]

Were you ever able to get back to the range with this ammo?

 

[CZDiesel]

I was and I’m working with Aria right now after the results. I will post good or bad soon but I want to sort it all out first. Sorry I don’t have better feedback right now but will soon!

 

[Tra3]

I’m a barnes fan. I’ve had similar results on 3 buffalo. Bullet ended on the off shoulder just under the skin.
But that was with a .375.

For truly devastating performance, on Saturday I got to witness a smaller caliber Jeep Cherokee take on a 200 lb whitetail at about 50 mph. The Jeep Cherokee clearly wasn’t designed for that PSI and showed clear signs of over pressure, with the hood and many of the engine parts being set backwards significantly. Thankfully no one was injured. Well, except the deer. The deer was injured. The local officer demonstrated proficient marksmanship with no fewer than three pistol shots to finish the job the Jeep had begun. As a sympathetic onlooker, I was awarded the deer and salvaged the backstraps.
From the experience, it was reinforced to me that shotplacemenf is crucial, but with enough ft/lbs of energy we all still get to eat backstraps.

 

[Rule 303]

My take on bullet Energy is simple. Without the energy to get the bullet to the vitals the animal is not going to die. I prefer enough energy and bullet construction to have it come out the other side.

On some animals, esp with flat nose bullets you can see them shudder when hit. I do not know if this is due to the initial hit on the skin of from deeper when bullet hits the vitals. I would think energy transfer in any vital organ, in the form of an energy/shockwave would help with destruction of that organs function. As we know the greater the damage, in general, the sooner that organ stops functioning.

 

[CZDiesel]

I’m a barnes fan. I’ve had similar results on 3 buffalo. Bullet ended on the off shoulder just under the skin.
But that was with a .375.

For truly devastating performance, on Saturday I got to witness a smaller caliber Jeep Cherokee take on a 200 lb whitetail at about 50 mph. The Jeep Cherokee clearly wasn’t designed for that PSI and showed clear signs of over pressure, with the hood and many of the engine parts being set backwards significantly. Thankfully no one was injured. Well, except the deer. The deer was injured. The local officer demonstrated proficient marksmanship with no fewer than three pistol shots to finish the job the Jeep had begun. As a sympathetic onlooker, I was awarded the deer and salvaged the backstraps.
From the experience, it was reinforced to me that shotplacemenf is crucial, but with enough ft/lbs of energy we all still get to eat backstraps.

Sad to hear that both the Deer and the Cherokee lost their life! I’m a big 2001 and older Cherokee fan as they are not only family friendly but serious off road vehicles!

 

[Brian]

Your 470 Grain CEB Safari Raptor load is an excellent choice. The CEB Bullets were designed and thoroughly tested on many cape buffalo in Australia and Africa by Michael458 and his associates.
Go to B&M Rifles and Cartridges to learn all about them. With a decent heart and/or double lungs shot you can expect a one shot kill, maybe DRT with your load. I use them and Peregrine BushMaster bullets mostly. They both are the best cape buffalo bullet for big bores as far as I am concerned. Brian

PS. I also trust NorthFork SS and CPS in .458 for cape buffalo. Their SS expanding bullet is very tough/reliable. Brian