What do you guys think about useing a 338 wm on Buff? Can run the following in my 338wm 250gr bullet @ 2600 fps
275gr @ 2400 fps
300gr @ 2300 fps
Is this enough gun in your opinion or should I just man up and get a 416 rigby?
out of the 416
300gr @ 2600 fps
400gr @ 2400fps.
Do not have a problem getting a new gun if needed but I sure love my 338.
Thanks,

kk, The legal minimum for buff in most of Africa is 375. JC

Yes a 338 would kill a buff, but I would be shooting a 300gr TSX or a 250 TSX.. The 2600FPS is not important..
But if you step up to a 375H&H it will do an excellent job.. I personally like the X bullets very destructive on flesh and bones...
The Rigby recoil is not that bad... Shooting the 338 at 2600 does have some punch to it... You are almost there recoil wise...

Here is another way to look at it... Do you want the smaller rifle in your hands, if the proverbial sh_ _ hits the fan...Crushing stopping power is needed...

Mike

Other than Mozambique, I know of no other country where the .338 is legal. That is not to say that the PH will not let you use a .338

Generally The 9,3x62 (and 9,3x74R)is listed as the legal minimum- and with good reason - until you have shot a couple of dozen buff you shouldn't consider using anything less!

If you are a reloader...buy a .458 Win and work up a nice hog load using 400grn bullets at around 1800fps> Good reason to get into cast bullets if you are not there already...shoot a few hog, shoot alot of paper, and bring it to Africa with full power loads.

If you are not a reloader, buy a .375 H&H. with the 235grn loads you can shoot plains game at long range, with the 270 grn loads you can shoot big plains game at all reasonable ranges and with premium 300grn loads (like swift A frame or Barnes TSX) you have an adequate rifle for buffalo. Nosler may offer their superb 260grn partition in their custom loaded ammo- that is a great bullet for all round african plainsgame from dik dik to eland at any range from 250m in. I belive north fork are considering offering loaded ammo...

With either of the above two options you will have a versitile rifle that you can use for more than just a buff.

My very small experience tells me that Buf can take a HUGE amount of killing if the first shot does not do the trick instantly!

I would not be comfortable with anything less than a 9,32x62 or a .375 H&H.

The bigger bores are fun too.

quote:

Other than Mozambique, I know of no other country where the .338 is legal. That is not to say that the PH will not let you use a .338

Ganyana, I hate to correct you, but its also legal in Namibia, as long as it makes the 5400J or close to 4000 ft.lbs minimum.

FWIW, I killed two cape buffalo shooting 500 grain bullets in a 458 Lott (Full House Loads). The first buff took four good hits in the vitals including one through the heart before it went down. The second took six good hits in the vitals before going down. His heart was mush. They both would have died from the first shot but I didn't want to wait on them. The first was at twenty yards. The second was at forty.

I know some drop at the shot from lighter rounds -- but, some don't.

Get a bigger gun for the buff.


Take the 338 for plains game.

I would carry a halfdozen or so solids for it just in case it has to stand for you bigger gun

Not a good idea.

Agreed, not a good idea. +1

Not legal most places. Wouldn't want to do that even if a PH would allow it. If something bad happened, all involved, especially the PH, would be in deep African doo doo. I personally think buffalo could be effectively killed with a 200-220 grain .30-06 -- most of the time -- by a rifleman who both understands the anatomy and is preceise with his shots. It's the other times that warrant a larger calibre and I think .375 is minimal. I don't know why someone would choose less than a .416 for buffalo, but I shoot deer with mine.

Buff, legality wise or other, need the large lead throwers.....get one and learn how to shoot it. The 338 is a great gun, I own 2 of them...but wouldn't use them for buff...period. I have taken 2 buff....first with 4 shots (3 necessary) from a 470 and the second with a 404 Jeff and a follow-up with a 450/400. Not one of the shots wouldn't be considered "fatal"...but the buff hadn't read that book.

No 338 for buff.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Not legal most places. Wouldn't want to do that even if a PH would allow it. If something bad happened, all involved, especially the PH, would be in deep African doo doo. I personally think buffalo could be effectively killed with a 200-220 grain .30-06 -- most of the time -- by a rifleman who both understands the anatomy and is preceise with his shots. It's the other times that warrant a larger calibre and I think .375 is minimal. I don't know why someone would choose less than a .416 for buffalo, but I shoot deer with mine.

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Like Ganyana's advice to hunt hogs with a 458 ...Too many people have this bizzare mania about not useing 1 ft lb more than everyone else says is cool for that particular species ...... Having shot Sitka Black Tail deer with a 500 A-Sq. with a 600 gr Barnes Original RNSP with a muzzle velocity of 2350 fps . I don,t see what the problem is ... Dead is dead .... If you were going with the 416 Rigby .I would shoot 350 gr bullets in it .. a 350 gr TSX or simular super premium bullet like the 330 gr GS HV @ 2500-2700 fps would be a great killer .. @ 2500 fps it would be very easy shooting .........

PS ,,all my 338 Win mags would push the 275 gr bullets @ 2620-2660 fps with no high pressure signs ....That is a pretty good load for big bears so it would work on CB , but why not go for the much bigger club ......

I have seen the 338 with Speer African Grand slams take a friends 43" buf. in Zim in '91 and saw him use the same rifle in 2004 with 250gn Barnes X's to take a good Aussie buf.Yes bigger is better with dangerous game but your choice is a reasonable one.I am sure if you sus out your PH beforehand he will allow you to use a 338.

If we forget the legality of it, the 338 is more than enough for buffalo.

I would use it without batting an eye lid.

Double K:
By your question I can tell you've never taken a cape buffalo. Here's a simple rule of thumb. Take the largest gun, that you can handle, that shoots where you're aiming and use it on your first cape buff. You'll learn from experience the animal's toughness, what shot placements do damage and which ones have little affect.

Shoot enough of them and you'll eventually be intrigued by the compulsion to take the biggest dangerous game with a little gun. If your .338 is handy in the vehicle and you want to make a plan with your PH, that's between you, him and the game scout. Don't tell anybody about it, like Las Vegas.

Even when your laying in the hospital bed, with a deep gore wound, don't tell anybody you were hunting black death with a .338.

BTW, if you're just looking for a death wish, there's an American PH who hunts in Tanzania. He and I have the same first name, but if you hunt with him, you'll have to learn to shoot real quick; right at about the time he says "don't shoot."

quote:

Originally posted by SableTrail:
BTW, if you're just looking for a death wish, there's an American PH who hunts in Tanzania. He and I have the same first name, but if you hunt with him, you'll have to learn to shoot real quick; right at about the time he says "don't shoot."

Bwana MoJa, If he hunts with that guy he can hunt with a Daisey BB gun, because he'll never fire a shot!
................

Oldest saying in Africa,( Bring enough gun. But make sure you can handle the gun you bring!!!) 375 is great bigger is better if you can handle it

quote:

Originally posted by double k:
What do you guys think about useing a 338 wm on Buff? Can run the following in my 338wm 250gr bullet @ 2600 fps
275gr @ 2400 fps
300gr @ 2300 fps
Is this enough gun in your opinion or should I just man up and get a 416 rigby?
out of the 416
300gr @ 2600 fps
400gr @ 2400fps.
Do not have a problem getting a new gun if needed but I sure love my 338.
Thanks,

I don't think that you'll have to "man up" too much to shoot a 416 remy/rigby unless you go with a 416 weatherby.

The step up in recoil from a 338 win mag to a 416 loaded to traditional ballistics is not too substantial. That of course depends on the rifle's weight, stock design, etc., but in my experience, my 300 weatherby vangaurd with a synthetic stock is more painful to shoot than any 375 I've shot and most of the big bores I've toyed with.

Of course, recoil is relative, but to me a big cal shooting slower boolits in a heavier rifle is better than the jarring recoil of a faster shooting cal in a lighter rifle.

To conclude, get a 416 or load down for a 458 Lott.