Now that I have been on 3 plains game hunts the buffalo bug is starting to really bite me. I watched a program the other day where a hunter made a shot on a buff from approximately 300 yards. I have never considered that an option. To me, that is not DG hunting. I want to be able to smell them and close enough see the ticks on my buff when I shoot. Realistically, this may not be the way it works out.

2 questions.

What is your personal maximum distance for shooting a cape buffalo?

What is the longest distance that you have shot and killed a cape buffalo?

1. I would not want to take a shot beyond 100 yards. I think the great thing about buffalo hunting is getting nice and close. Now if a 47" solid bossed buffalo stepped out at 150 yards, would I throw lead, probably.

2. Have shot three and the longest was 65 to 75 yards.

12 yards to 340 yards.
I stopped counting after 100 buffalo.

I enjoy hunting buffalo more than any animal. And I must have spent months following them.

I take whatever shot is offered. In some areas one has no chance but at a long shot. And the choice is, of course, yours. Whether to take it or not.

RAC,

Most shots on buffalo will come at under 100 yards and the few I've shot have all been closer than that. I do think in some places as Saeed as stated you will need to be prepared to take a longer shot or face the possibility of going home without a buffalo.

Mark

I have only shot one so far at 15 yards.

This September I will try for buffalo number 2 with a .470 NE double rifle up to 50 yards. I'm taking a .416 also in case the only shot is over 50 yards. But I don't think I'd like anything over about 75 yards.

The three I've taken have all been 80-100yards (for the first shot). My personal max is 150 give or take. If you have enough experience and the caliber like Saeed does, then longer will work.

The distance was approximately 130 yards. A frontal shot that found the heart. After it bellowed we found it around 20 yards from where it was hit. I was using a Pre'64 Model 70 .375 H&H Magnum with a old 4X Pecar scope. 300 grain Nosler Partition handloads.

40 to 80 meters would be on average the most common distance for Buffalo imo.

The longest shot I've personally taken on cape buffalo is one at 75 yds, but most were under 40 yds, and one off the end of my barrels!

You may take any shot you please, as long as you place your bullets properly, and follow up to sort him out, but personally, I don't see the reasoning for shots longer that 70 or 80 yds, and I don't like them that long. Acape Buffalo is a member of the few truley dangerous game animals, and he is simply not dangerous at over about 50 yds, unless you screw up!

Gentlemen,

A cape buffalo is dangerous, under certain condition, regardless of the distance one shoots it.

In 99.99% of the cases, he is no more dangerous than shooting any other animals. Where one has to be careful, and place his shots properly, and has the ability and desire to follow it up should something go wrong.

Here is where it can get hairy. I understand that some PH are more scared of their client under these conditions rather than the wounded buffalo.

I have shot and wounded many buffalo, and have followed them into some pretty thick bush. Some times where one cannot see further than the end of his barrel. At no time have we ever gotten a charge

Frankly, having shot as many buffalo as I have, and have never got a single charge, is very lucky.

You shoot a buffalo at any distance, if the shot is properly placed, you will always find him lying down a short distance away.

You screw up your shot, no matter if he was at 30 yards or 300, and you will have a hard chase on your hands.

Most of my hunts have been with a PH who thinks one should get as close as one can to his animals before the shot. And I agree with him.

Sometimes, however, conditions don't work out that way. And I think the reason we decided to shoot buffalo at the longer distances was because we knew each other very well, and there was no doubt that if I did not think I could place that shot properly, I would not have taken it.

I have taken several in the 100 to 130 yd range with both a double and bolt rifles.

465H&H

Sorry boys, but I wouldn't give a $hit about hunting buff if I was shooting them at 100+ yards. It's the "up close and personal" aspect of it combined with the butt tightening experience that makes hunting them addictive to me. But to each his own. Plus, when you use 470's, 404's and 450/400's like I love too....they ain't long range target guns anyway.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Two Buffalo
first at 80 yds with a 375 H&H
second at 30 yds with a 404 Jeffery

I would prefer to keep my shots to 80 yds or less.

TerryR