Who is hunting cape buffalo with a 577 NE.?

[Brian]

I would sure like to talk to someone who is hunting cape buffalo with a 577 NE.
Am I the only nut who uses a 577NE single shot for buffalo? Please let me know, I won't tell anyone. Brian

 

[CZDiesel]

A single shot! Dang going “Old School!”
Can we see this work of art?!?!

 

[Brian]

Yes, it is an old $200 Harrington and Richardson "Handi Rifle" 10 ga. converted using the Stub Barrel method, to .577 NE. I have added a stock that really mitigates the recoil. The loaded rifle with a reflex sight weighs just under 13 lbs. No one who has seen it has called it a work of art !

I hope to hear from someone else experience with a big bore single shot on cape buffalo. In the old days they were fairly common, reportedly.

I am interested in all the gory details!

I believe that there are a few converted .577 NE Ruger #1 out there. Brian

 

[Brian]

I dug out this old story. It was my first buffalo hunt (2017 I think) with the rifle and I made some 700 grain hard cast bullets for it. That was the first stock that I made for it The next two stocks I made got progressively uglier.

B

Thread 'A Cape Buffalo Cow Hunting Story'

May 12, 2017

This story is published in the current issue of The African Hunting Gazette.

South Africa: Year 2016

NEVER MIND THE BULL

For the female of the species is more deadly than the male. Kipling, 1911

By Brian Gallup

I was standing on the target range at Buffalo Land Safaris in the beautiful lowveld, near Kruger Park. My rifle was a .577 NE single shot that I recently built from an old 10 ga. shotgun. The bullets were my own 700-grain hard-cast solids. This was going to be an interesting Cape buffalo hunt.

I had just met my two young professional...

• Brian
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Articles

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[Brian]

Sorry, most of you have seen this old video. Most of it is true.
Enjoy.

 

[Sideshow]

@Brian can we see a pic of your rifle please!

 

[Brian]

Sure can. I will look for something. Brian

 

[Brian]

 

[Brian]

 

[Brian]

 

[Brian]

 

[Brian]

Top to bottom:
1. H&R 577NE, 26.5" barrel beside Belgium Browning .338WM, 24" barrel
2. Rifle on Buffalo cow with cast bullets. See the .577 hole in cow's shoulder
3. Close up of rifle and 700 grain cast bullets
4. Recovered Peregrine VRG3 Bush Master bullet. MV 1,750 fps. Expands 2.75 x more at 2,000 fps
Awesome bullet!

Below. I have made several different stocks for it. This is the current rendition. Nice to shoot.

 

[Brian]

 

[CJW]

The size of the cartridge and bullet makes my shoulder ache.

 

[Brian]

The size of the cartridge and bullet makes my shoulder ache.

It's not so bad to shoot in the field. It is hell off of the bench. I recently machined and installed a tank type muzzle for sighting it in and load development. It now feels about like a moderate load in a 416 Rigby. As you can see it is nicely stalked for recoil, but not so much for quick off-hand shooting. It is good for me. Using sticks on buffalo is not fast work like rising birds.

Also, I have alway been conscious of the pressure limitations on such a rifle and only build moderate loads. A 700 gr. flat nosed bullet at 1,850 fps works decisivley on a cape buffalo. Very satisfying DG rifle to shoot. Brian

 

[Tucketed]

@Brian what is a “tank type muzzle for sighting”?
Thanks

 

[Brian]

Opps, typo!
It's a muzzle brake that has 1-3 large ports on each side and I use it when I am "sighting it in" off or the bench.
You see them in pictures of military tanks and cannons.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

My friend, Jeff Rann has taken several Cape buffalo over the years with his Holland & Holland Royale .577 Nitro Express sidelock ejector and Kynamco 750Gr soft points (Woodleigh Weldcore).

Only recently has he shifted to a .500 Nitro Express (a pre War Holland & Holland Royale sidelock ejector and a William Evans boxlock ejector) because he finds that the .500 Nitro Express will outpenetrate the .577 Nitro Express at acute angles.

 

[Brian]

Hunter-Habib, Yes, and the 500NE will sure kill cape buffalo DRT with proper bullets. ( On You tube we see buffalo taking 3-4, 500NE bullets before the go down. That is because these hunters are using poor bullets, most likely Hornady. )
With a CEB or NorthFork or similar quality of bullet I have found that the 500NE often drops buffalo DRT. I use CEB Raptors in my single shot 50-110 loaded to the low side of 500NE and it works very well.

PS .your friend has nice rifles and I believe he is right about the penetration.

Thanks for the post. Brian

 

[Pondoro]

I see no reason to use .500 and .577NE on buffalo.. A well placed premium bullet from a .470 is plenty enough..as is a .375H&H..but the .470 hits them harder.. So will a .458Win too..

I all boils down to bullet placement..and its far easier to make that happen with for example with a .470..

Elephant however is where the .500 - .600´s can make a difference.