quote:

I'm not paying what it costs in today's world to shoot piss-ant buffalo...at any range

Me either.

This is an interesting topic.

I have a CZ-550 in .458 Lott and I shoot it with the factory iron sights. I can shoot it out to 100 yards without too much trouble. It would be moose or buffalo kill-zone accuracy, I would say.

I can understand the reasoning behind using a low powered scope but would prefer to stick with the irons, as Ray Atkinson says.

To that end I am hunting with the Lott, for Alberta black bears. I need to use the rifle and learn what I can do with it. That experience will tell me if I need to go to a low powered scope.

Hopefully I will pound a big bear this weekend with it!

No scope needed for what you are wanting to do Andy.

quote:

Hopefully I will pound a big bear this weekend with it!

Good hunting, Dem. Let us know about it, if you'd like.

I have hunted buffalo for the last 35 or so years, maybe longer, and I don't recall an instance where the irons failed me..A buff is a mighty big target in the heart lung area to miss up to 200 yards..even in the bush, but if your in the thick stuff you can always get pretty close if your persistant and stay after them..

I recommend a scope in QD mts for hunters, but I don't abide by that personally..I really don't care which I am using, a low power scope or iron sights..The receiver sight is probably the best sight going for buffalo and elephant, but I seldom use them..Did have one on my old .404 and have one on my new .416 Ruger Mauser. They really work well IMO..

But its a choice, and each of us should make our choice based on what WE like not what someone else likes.

To me Mac,RAy and 500 gr. say it best ...

But to me an 11 foot brown bear with a 32 " skull @ 200 yards aint much for a dangerous game trophy compared to a 9' bear with a 25" skull @ 5 yards ...
I think Mac has a great idea with the scope holster ..
No doubt there may be times it will be hard to see the kill zone in deep shadows ....Modern technoligy ,quick release ....

If you use a quality hood on your fore sight you shouldn,t break it off either ....

Plenty of Cape Buffalo are taken with a bow and with a pistol ????? Good irons are much better than those ..

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:

I'm still envious of that buffalo Dan... it's a great trophy.

I thought that is what DG hunting is all about ?? Just like our for father's did , the design of the DGDR where made with iron sights for ?? The thrill of the hunt and all that ?

I have used both iron sights and a scope on buff and I don't see much difference in using either. If I want to be able to take a certain bull under the most varied conditions then I will carry my scope sighted 375 H&H. This is especially true if I was hunting a more open area such as Masailand. If I was following a dugga boy in the Zambezi Jesse then one of my open sighted doubles would be my choice. For following up a wounded buff, the big bore open sighted double is my only choice.

465H&H

Everybody is an excellent, no, natural born, shot on the internet.

quote:

Everybody is an excellent, no, natural born, shot on the internet.

<gasp>



Surely you're not suggesting that people fib on the internet, Will!



Then I was born with a Winchester Model 12 in one hand, and a Winchester Model 70 in the other!

Andy;
I think there are alot of guys who can shoot open sights at the range and are pretty accurate. The conditions at the range are good and relaxed for shooting. However, factor in a long and difficult stalk, being winded and breathing heavily and the excitement of the moment introduces a whole new scenario. You might try runnig in place for a time to get your heart thumping and breathing heavily then find out what you shoot best and then make your decision.If you have some sticks you could use the same method and see which one you shoot the best off of sticks. A couple of guys here have said they plan on getting in "close" so they will only use iron sights. Just my opinion but getting in close is not always an option no matter how you try.
Good luck on your hunt!!

Well damn, and I thought I was the only old holdout that used irons..I know Will uses them on elephants at 10 ft., but he has gotten to hotsy totsy to hunt lowly buffalo, or just got to old to shoot past elephant ranges!

Gee- I guess all six of my Buff taken with open sight doubles( in and out of thick cover) was impossible. I'm gonna go and weld scope mounts onto my Jeffery doubles now that I know that Buff should only be taken with scoped rifles so I can see em better. BTW at 25 yrds you can usually see em just fine as they are not exactly small. You learn something new everyday!-Rob

Adrook,

It appears that we are brothers who were separated at birth. I am also names Andy and have an 11 pound 450 Dakota. I built the rifle so it would weigh 10 pounds without scope, rings and sling.

After just one combined buffalo/elephant hunt I would definately never use a scope on elephant again. I had no idea you could get so close!

If you need a scope on buffalo, you can use more than the 3 X I had, or none at all. 2 of the 3 shooting opportunities I had were close enough for metallic sights.

I have nothing against anyone who wants to go Dangerous Game varmit hunting and pop buffalo iin the head with a high velocity 375 or 416.

As Dan and others have observed, its just another kind of hunting.

If you must have a scope I would use the expensive 30mm 1.1 x 6 Swarovski which has a 130 foot field of view at 100 yards.

The problem is really the 450 Dakota. Why have a high velocity ctg when you are shooting at 10 - 25 yards?

It has a high enough velocity that you can use it for PG (I shot an impala at 150 yards).

I love the 450 it is so easy to reload for, but realize now I dont really need it for elephant and I personally want a 1.1 x 6 for buffalo or PG.

It is really too heavy (for me) as a buffalo or PG rifle.

Live and learn!

Lots of good comments on this thread.

the other Andy

quote:

Originally posted by Robgunbuilder:
Gee- I guess all six of my Buff taken with open sight doubles( in and out of thick cover) was impossible. I'm gonna go and weld scope mounts onto my Jeffery doubles now that I know that Buff should only be taken with scoped rifles so I can see em better. BTW at 25 yrds you can usually see em just fine as they are not exactly small. You learn something new everyday!-Rob

I just went by your house to help you get started on this project. Do you like my work so far?

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
Now to clarify: I would rather shoot a piss-ant buffalo at 8 yards than a 45" buffalo at 80 yards. For me the joy is in the hunt, not the mount.

I agree. For me it is the hunt who counts.. But, I respect others who use scopes. In the end it’s the hunter who pays for the show, and its up to this “hunter†how he will spend his money and what kind of hunting/collecting he will pay for.

Or, you can do like me.. Have a good scope in claw mounts… (yes I know… Now, is Atkinson going to give me a lot of shit )

I have irons on my 404jeffery & shoot well w/ them but I hunt w/ the scope on. If I had a double I certainly would hunt any DG animal w/ the iron sights. Get inside 50yds & make the shot. I don't see how the limitations are any diff. than for a bow or handgun hunter.

500grains,you should have spared no expense and installed see-thru weaver mounts and a 6x20 simmons !!!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by laredo kid:
500grains,you should have spared no expense and installed see-thru weaver mounts and a 6x20 simmons !!!!!!!!!

That is a good idea. I could also mount a Chinese-made red dot sight on top of the Simmons in case the Simmons fogs up. and include an extra picatinny rail for holding a flashlight.



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