Planning a 2012 safari, my first.
For those that have shot buffalo what is the preferred bullet in a 375 H&H?

SWIFT A FRAME soft and WOODLEIGH FMJ

The Swifts will work as mentioned above.

But, my own preference is a bullet with no lead in it. Like the Barnes, North Fork and GS Custom.

When you use one of these, there is no reason to have any solids.

One bullet for everything makes life much easier.

You can also use these bullets for everything else, except elephantys.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
You can also use these bullets for everything else, except elephantys.

Saeed, Would you use them on Hippopotamusys also?

Swift A Frames all the way.

+1.

They have yet to fail me.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
SWIFT A FRAME soft and WOODLEIGH FMJ

I used the woodleigh solids on my buffalo. Fantastic penatration. I used the Swift A Frames for plains game.

Crl

As a PH I recommend to my clients Trophy Bonded brand (Bear Claw Softs & Sledgehammer solids). They work great and do exactly what they are supposed to do. I would say that vast majority of my clients use the .375 on buffalo. Although I have personally also shot buffalo with these bullets (in .375), most that I personally shot (as back ups) have been with Trophy bonded bullets in .470 with same great results!

I have seen tons of buffalo shot with these trophy bonded .375 bullets and been very impressed! My skinners always look for and give me the bullets from carcase and the softs are perfect "mushrooms" and most solids are so perfect, they look as if they could be reloaded!

Barnes or Woodleighs. Any premium bullet (Swift Nosler, etc) ought to do.

Barnes TSX. Cant go wrong.

Ditto on ....Barnes TSX.... It will rip the bad boy to pieces!

Fogot to say:

Use the TSX on all the plains game as well.

What Dale W said Also pack a few Barnes Solids along as well.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Barnes TSX cape shock bullets

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
The Swifts will work as mentioned above.

But, my own preference is a bullet with no lead in it. Like the Barnes, North Fork and GS Custom.

When you use one of these, there is no reason to have any solids.

One bullet for everything makes life much easier.

You can also use these bullets for everything else, except elephantys.

I am a big fan of NF bullets...but...I believe that NF softs do have bonded lead cores.

Their solids...both the flat point solid and the cup point solid are are mono-metals.

As to the original question...I am a traditionalist.

I like to have both some softs and solids.

As mentioned by others...there are several choices which would work fine.

My choice???

1) North Fork soft for first shot unless it was in deep cover backed by NF flat-point-solids for follow-up. If shooting into brush...and NOT into a herd...I prefer a solid for first shot. Always...if shooting with others behind target (herd situation) use a soft.

2) If I were not able to get NF's...my second choince would be Barnes TSX and Barnes banded solids.

df06

I honestly don't think it matter much which expanding bullet you use for buffalo as long as you stick with the premium varieties.

I've used the SAF and TSX with good results but I think you'd be well served with North Forks, Woodleigh PP and Trophy Bonded bullets as well.

Mark

TBBC's

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
df06

I honestly don't think it matter much which expanding bullet you use for buffalo as long as you stick with the premium varieties.

I've used the SAF and TSX with good results but I think you'd be well served with North Forks, Woodleigh PP and Trophy Bonded bullets as well.

Mark

Absolutely. All the aforementioned bullets will kill old blackie dead as hell. Shoot whatever is the most accurate in your rifle. I like A Frames, but that's just me. They shoot MOA or less in two different rifles in two different calibers and I've had excellent luck with them.

Trophy Bonded Bear Claws and Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer Solids

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Trophy Bonded Bear Claws and Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer Solids

Amen! Seriously, I can not begin to guess how many buffalo I've seen killed; but Ive seen them killed with many different brands of bullets and from a ph's point of view: "Trophy Bonded" does the job the best i've seen!

You guys are way ahead of me - wonder tho - do you realy trust that bullets mentioned in .375 H&H like TBBC, TSX, A-frame etc. wouldn't shoot through broadside buff - therefore are user friendly in herd situations?

Me personaly wouldn't count on that from a squeeky 9,3x74R...followed my PH advice and used FN solids for my squib 9,3R - always waited for a clear shot...also had better feeling using FN solids for shooting through unintentioned obstacles like grass, branches etc and taking care of margin hits under severe angle of attack...while spitzers all suck in that department IMO...but I've been told it is an Old school and I should keep it to myself so don't bother it is just a blunder .

Just about any modern, premium expanding bullet will do the job.

Like Saeed, as a personal matter, I prefer the monolithics, and the Barnes TSX in particular.

I would use the 270 grain version for Cape buffalo if I were going to use a .375. They can be driven to 2,650 fps in the H&H, and will provide sufficient penetration to reach the vitals at any reasonable shot angle.

Another TBBC vote.

TBBC has worked for me on several safaris for all types of game. It is what my wife uses in her 375 for buffalo.

BigB

I would go with a 300gr A-Frame or North Fork, but might equally be tempted by a 350gr Woodleigh.
Having said that, from the photos I have seen of the Woodleigh Hydrostatics I might give those a try...
100-150fps would not make it worth dropping to 270gr bullets IMHO

I'm a big Northfork Bullet fan! These were used on a buffalo.

Barnes TSX and Barnes solids. Shoot to same POI. I guarantee that a TSX will traverse a buff the long way.

A Frames, Trophy Bonded, Barnes all work, as do the Woodleigh solids, watching for over-penetration with regard to surroundings of course. Had a little trouble with Woodleigh softs opening too quickly and compromising penetration. May have been caused by a bit too high velocity from the 375 RUM.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
The Swifts will work as mentioned above.

But, my own preference is a bullet with no lead in it. Like the Barnes, North Fork and GS Custom.

When you use one of these, there is no reason to have any solids.

One bullet for everything makes life much easier.

You can also use these bullets for everything else, except elephantys.

I agree and of those mentioned my pick in the 375 H&H would be the North Fork CPS (Cup Point Solid) One bullet for everything from tit mouse to Elephant!

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
As to the original question...I am a traditionalist.

I like to have both some softs and solids.

The North Fork CPS bullet expands on buffalo, and will not tare up small animals. so you have the best of both worlds in one bullet. The three bullets to the right of the picture are CPS solids

TSX worked great for me but I've only killed one Buffalo. Broadside shot, bullet found under skin on opposite side.

Bullet from Buffalo on the left.

I go for a bullet that after impact has a large frontal diameter and one that keeps its weight in lead behind, to push through.My choice is a 500gr 458 cal, swift-aframe or a 550gr woodleigh RN soft.As for a solid I would chose a Hornady DGS.I guess you could choose to go with a DGS and nothing else.That way,you don't need to worry about changing to a solid when an elephant is near.This year,I shot both my buff with a Hornady solid on the first shot.One buff had the solid pass through both his longs and he ran out of breath immediately and could not make it up a hill.The other got shot from above,was spined and dropped to the shot.If I hunted with a 375 I'd go with a North fork Cup point solid or a Hornady DGS.

Barnes and cup points depending if I am shooting a bolt or double. The new cutting edge stuff looks promising.

JD

Barnes TSX if it shoots in your rifle.

.416 400 grains. Swift A-frames and Barnes Solids

Nearly anything properly placed!!!

JW

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Wemmer:
Nearly anything properly placed!!!

JW

Agreed!

I have told this story before but will tell it again...sorry.

I have a female client that had a mother whom grew up going on month long safari's with her family to Kenya.

That clients mother decided to take her daughter to Tanzania in the 80's sometime on a safari.

My client (the daughter) is not a big hunter although grew up in a hunting family. They talked her into taking a cape buffalo along with some plains game. The only rifle she took was a .308 Win Model 70 fwt.

One day while stalking some type of PG...they found a really nice buff. He walked by them at about 30 yds. broadside and she put a 180 gr Nosler Partition through his chest. He ran about 30 yards and died...one shot.

Now...she always says: "I don't know what all the hype is over shooting a cape buffalo!"

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
One day while stalking some type of PG...they found a really nice buff. He walked by them at about 30 yds. broadside and she put a 180 gr Nosler Partition through his chest. He ran about 30 yards and died...one shot.

Now...she always says: "I don't know what all the hype is over shooting a cape buffalo!"

I will say the only one shot kills I have on cape Buffalo have been with Nosler Partitions from a 375 H&H unless the brain or spine was hit! Still today My pick for Buffalo is a NF CPS from a 470NE double.

TBBCs and Sledgehammer solids.