Plenty.

great pictures/story thanks

A buffs lungs and heart are large enough that a single hit to either will allow the buff to live for up 30 seconds, maybe more. It all depends on how large of a percentage of the heart and lungs are destroyed. In that + or - 30 seconds a buff can run a long way. It is very similar to hitting a moose in the same area. They are famous for just standing around until they realize that they are dead. The difference is that buff run and moose most often hump up and stand around. Because it takes so long for buff to die it gives plenty of time for sevearl back up shots. That is a big contributor to the reputation of buff soaking up many rounds of ammo. In most cases with a little patience the buff will die from the first shot. But we all continue to shoot as long as he is in sight and still standing. Better safe than sorry!

465H&H

quote:

The soft ripped through a lot of tissue and came to rest right on the spinal cord yet didn't sever it. had it been a solid, it would have never moved.

Why I like FNS's unless I am shooting at an animal in a group that is broadside.

Great stories and photos!

The moral, as far as I can tell from my limited experience and the experiences of many others, is that if you don't brain or spine one, there is no telling how long or how far they may go before giving up their bovine ghosts!

For me, this captures it:

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:
A buffs lungs and heart are large enough that a single hit to either will allow the buff to live for up 30 seconds, maybe more. It all depends on how large of a percentage of the heart and lungs are destroyed. In that + or - 30 seconds a buff can run a long way. It is very similar to hitting a moose in the same area. They are famous for just standing around until they realize that they are dead. The difference is that buff run and moose most often hump up and stand around. Because it takes so long for buff to die it gives plenty of time for sevearl back up shots. That is a big contributor to the reputation of buff soaking up many rounds of ammo. In most cases with a little patience the buff will die from the first shot. But we all continue to shoot as long as he is in sight and still standing. Better safe than sorry!

465H&H

Exactly right, 465H&H!

Every Cape buffalo I have shot more than once would have died from the first shot.

But because I could, I kept pouring lead into them.

I am a humane hunter, and want them dead fast. But I admit that it isn't only for purely humane reasons that I keep shooting.

I also prefer not to walk a long way chasing after them to find out where they will finally fall down and die!

As the stories posted above will attest, that can be a long way, even when the first bullet inflicts a mortal wound!

Here is a photo of one of those two inch holes I was talking about:



He got up after taking that bullet, which wiped out his aorta and the top of his heart.

He struggled and staggered about until I hit him again.

Tough?

Tough enough!

Again with Greeff this time in Chirisa....we needed a bait Buff for our Lion. We found a fair size herd moving thru the tall grass and went into edge following them. They came out into some shorter grass and brush. We sorted one out and from sticks at around 40 yds, I took the broadside shot with 400gr softpoints from my .416Rigby. It ran about 30 yds with the herd and went back into tall grass. Upon the shot, the game scout had immediately ran to and scrambled to the top of a termite mound. As we were sorting out sign, he whistled and pointed. He could see the Buff in the tall grass. We moved over to the base of the mound, he pointed the direction and John and I began a slow shoulder to shoulder advance with rifles mounted. At about 15 yds, the Game Scout whisled again. We stopped and peering thru the grass we could make out two small black spots. The black spots were for enough away from each other that we knew the buff was sideways but did not know which way he was facing. As we were contemplating what to do, the Buff lay down now out of sight. I whispered maybe it is dead. Both trackers shook their heads no and one did an imitation of hearing very raspy breathing.
I suppose we could have just stood there and awaited its demise but what fun would that be? We had the trackers throw anything they could find at it---sticks, dirt clods,etc.. with no affect. John and I looked at each other and he grinned and said "well I know one way to get it up if still alive or able" I concurred and we began our slow advance. Remember we knew it was not facing us.
At about 10 yds, it got to its feet ran a couple of steps to our right and then turned away. John and I both raked it, John waited for me to shoot first, I then promptly missed with my second shot and John did not shoot again as he had just broken his finger with the borrowed .370Wby he was using. After reloading, we had only taken a few steps when we heard the death bellow and went to it and claimed our bait. My first shot had punched big holes in both lungs and taken a bit of heart.
I suppose we would not have considered it such "Great Sport" had it come at us rather than retreating but we knew it was very sick and not facing us.