I am going on a plains game hunt this spring. From what I've been told, it will not be my last.

I am fairly athletic and I shoot almost every weekend (308-300 Win Mag-Stiff loads). I have a 9.3 x 62 that is forthcoming that I plan on taking on this trip. I will spend the requisite amount of time becoming comfortable and competent and familar with it.

I would like to know from those of you who have actually killed a buffalo with one, what, and how it compares to the .375 and the 458 Lott, how this round performs. In short, do I need to get a .375 H & H or a 458 Lott to ensure my safety and to ensure that the animal is cleanly killed.

I was watching OLN tonight and the shooter had to put 3 rounds of 460 Weatherby into a buff to make sure it was down. This was a professional hunter who was hunting for himself. So what is the reality!!! And there may be many realities. I'd like to know what your exeperiences were and what you'd recommend if your bacon were on the line.

I'm a beginer and I want to do justice to the animal and myself. My deepest thanks to all of you for your knowledge and education.

Best regards,

Bill



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Bill,

I have taken two buffalo, one in Zimbabwe in 2004, and the other in Tanzania in 2005. Both were taken with 375 300gr Swift A-Frames. The first buffalo took three rounds to finish. The first through both shoulders at 60 yards, the second broke his neck at 50 yards, and an insurance shot in the back of the head on approach. The Tanzania buff took one round through the lungs at 80 yards, and was dead when found, about 60 yards from where he was hit.

I am in no way an expert on buffalo hunting, but they are tough tenacious animals. Sometimes they die quickly, and sometimes they just don't belive they are dead. The 375 H&H is considered the legal minimum in many countries, and will do the job. Much of the success depends on the person behind the rifle. If you can put a good quality bullet where it needs to be, then the rest will fall into place. I also have a 458 Lott, but haven't hunted with it yet. Take a rifle that you can shoot. If you are not used to a "big bore", the 375 may be a better choice, because the Lott will require some getting used to. The first round you fire at mbogo will be the most important one. If you can't hit where you need to with a powerhouse like a Lott, then you are doing yourself, the animal, and anyone else around a disservice.
Learn to shoot which ever rifle you choose well. Shoot from sticks, odd positions, instinctively, and when the time comes, it will be your skill that takes the buffalo, and not necessarily the rifle.

Good Luck, and Good Hunting.

In my limited experience ( I have killed 3 buff and seen another 5 killed ) I don't think that the howitzer cartriges are necessary. They certainly don't hurt. That is if you can shoot them. A well placed shot from a 30-06 with a stout bullet behind the shoulder of a Buff that gets both lungs will kill any buff alot quicker than 3 shots from a 460 WTHBY into the buffs guts. NOW THAT SAID I DON'T ADVOCATE HUNTING THEM WITH A 30-06 !!!!

All I think is you should take the biggest rifle that you shoot realy well and is completly reliable. Load it with the best bullets, Barnes X and Barnes solids and have fun.

I feel that the real big callibers (ie anything over 458 lott) are just for the shock and awe value at the range. I think it is great that guys get out there and hunt with them. But lets be honest, animals die from blood loss unless you brain one. Any rifle that can reliably penetrate the vitals of your quarry with a reasonably large hole to allow a quick death will do. The 2 buff I saw shot with a 470NE were no deader than the others that I saw shot with 375H&H or 458 win mag.
The idea that a 500 or even a 700 grain piece of metal doing around 2000 fps is going to knock a 1600lb animal OFF HIS FEET is just retarded.

GOOD LUCK hit him high on the shoulder!

Given the opportunity, shoot it when broadside, right behind the front leg, half way up, with your 375 or 9.3, with Swift A-Frames, and they fall over within a few yards and croak.

It is only when the above instructions are not followed that trouble follows.

I assume you mean experiences as opposed to expences.

I'm no "expert" having taken only five buffalo, but I would agree with what other experienced hands have already posted... shoot a well-constructed bullet into the vitals with a legal DG caliber and it should be "lights out". I, like Will, have had excellent luck with Swift A-Frames, but also, Failsafes and Barnes X bullets.

Ganyana, who posts here, is a very experienced African PH who swears by the 9.3x62. That's good enough for me.

I just returned from the Selous and had an excellent hunt. I shot my buff with my .416 in 400 gr federal soft. It was a one kill shot right through the lungs. I followed up with another after he was down for about 30 minutes for insurance. However, my partner shot his with his .375 in 300 gr federal solid. He hit the buff twice at the texas heart shot and we never found the bull. We tracked and looked for 2 days. I have seen many killed from various calibers and shot placements. I can honestly say that your shot placement is critical. It does not matter how large of caliber you have if you cant shoot. I would practice from a varity of shooting postions. I honeslty feel very comfortable with my .416 or the .375 becasue I am very confident in my shooting ability. My bullet was recovered in a nice expansion so it did the job. Good luck and happy hunting!

In my opinion there are no experts w/ buffalo because the next one may be the one. They are big, tough, persistent animals who, when their adrenaline is flowing, are as tough to stop as a M1A1 Tank.

I am knowledgeable of the 9.3x62 based upon several hunts with it including Tanzanian lion, leopard, eland, roan, sable, wildebeste, hartebeste, impala, bushbuck, warthog, and others, although I have not taken buffalo with it. I have experimented with the cartridge at length. That said, I shot my buffalo and my son shot his buffalo in Tanzania with a 375HH. I carried my 9.3x62 as a back up rifle on that hunt. If the 375 went down for some reason, the 9.3x62 was the alternative rifle. I am very confident with it and it is a very accurate rifle. I felt my son, who does not shoot a lot, would be more accurate with the 9.3 and 375 than one of my 40's.

In sum, the 9.3 and 375 were the largest bore rifles I felt he could accurately shoot under stress. A well placed round from a 9.3 will do more good than a poorly placed 470NE. On the other hand, a well placed 458 round has a better chance of ending things before they get started than a well placed 9.3.

It is unclear if you are going to be hunting buffalo or you are hunting plains game in a buffalo area. If you want a rifle that is capable of dealing with buffalo, if needed, but is primarily going to be used for plains game, I'd definitely recommend the 9.3x62. That is why I have mine.

If you see yourself going to Africa more than once and hunting buffalo and other dangerous game, think about adding a larger bore to you arsenal. But practice with it and be good with it before you use it. A 40 together with a 9.3x62 would be a wonderful African battery.

I found that when I started shooting the 375, it was an awesome kicker. After I started shooting the 425 Express with a brake, I thought the 375 was not so bad. When I got my 416 Howell without a brake, I thought the 425 wasn't so bad, the 375 was a pussy cat, and the 9.3 a popgun.

I just got back from an elephant hunt, and had to shoot it five times because I shot it first in the wrong place. (I should have taken Bill's book as my reference instead of another noted book!) However, every bullet went were I aimed it and I don't recall the recoil. Because I was shooting a 416 instead of a 9.3 or 375, being 2" off on my broadside brain shot did not turn into a disaster. It dropped him and gave me a chance to put two more into his heart. That is the difference between the large 30's and the 40's.

I bet you that when you close on your first buffalo, no matter what you are carrying, you will wish you had a size larger! Kudude

quote:

Originally posted by kudude:


I just got back from an elephant hunt, and had to shoot it five times because I shot it first in the wrong place. (I should have taken Bill's book as my reference instead of another noted book!) Kudude

Everyone, please take note! Seriously, though, I think my book does a lot better job of analyzing elephant shot placement than any other book, or video. But I may be biased!

Just sort of "piling on here..." because most of the comments thus far have been pretty much right on. Whatever you choose to hunt Buff...by all means make sure it is a rifle you have confidence in, and are able to shoot well under stress. My first Buff was taken with a .458 Win mag @ about 20-25 yds. in the tall grass. I doubt he knew we were there as he ambled by feeding. 1 shot...bang-flop. Gee...what's so tough about that...!!?? Several since then have been hit with the same bullet, same load...similar conditions, and were considerably more "interesting". When you have made your choice...I recommend you practice A LOT..shooting offhand, multiple rounds,multiple targets.. varying distances...none OVER 40-50 yds., and lots closer. Good Luck.
Cheers,
Don

Thank you all for the great information and tutelage. It helps a great deal and your recommendation of practice, practice, practice, is certainly what I intend to do.

Again many thanks.

Bill

Although I consider a QD scoped 416 or 404 the ultimate client caliber for Buff, I have seen good results on three Buff with 300grn Swift A Frames and 286 Woodleigh solids from my 9.3x62 and would not hesitate using it on Buff again.
ozhunter

Only 2 Bulls here, so no expert! Used a .375 H&H and was totally satisfied with cartridge, but learned that penetration is a must. Use a Swift or other premium penetrating bullet regardless of caliber. Placement is and has always been the key to success.

Used a 9,3x62 on the buffalo erradication culls in the 1980's here in Zim and used one very happily for all my PH work- Although I always change over to a .404 if I have to follow something up into thick cover.

The 9,3 is the legal minimum though with good reason - but accurate shot with one using a good bullet beats a bad shot with a .460 weatherby every time.

If a Buffalo is wounded on the first shot, he is going to take some stopping. And no, I don't think you will notice any difference on game at buffalo hunting ranges between a 9,3 and a .375

Bill,

I have taken buf and bull eles shot with a 450#2 and a 458Lott and a 375 was my light rifle..I would not want to have the minimum rifle in my hands if the S--- hits the fan...That is my opinion...

Mike

Mike,

I couldn't agree more. If you make a good first shot, buff are relatively easy to kill, as is the case for most anything for that matter.

For wounded buff, is there such a thing as enough gun?

quote:

Originally posted by whm7753:
I have a 9.3 x 62 that is forthcoming that I plan on taking on this trip...how it compares to the .375 and the 458 Lott, ...

Anyone who thinks they have observed a difference in performance on game between a 9.3 and a .375 has been observing differences in shot placement or bullet selection.

As for the 458 Lott, it is in a whole different class and is not necessary for a client. But if you like big bores, go ahead and get one. It is not necessary for your hunt though, only a matter of preference.

I have only shot one Cape Buffalo, so I am far from being an expert on Buffalo, but I have hunted big game for the last 40 years, taking 1 to 5 big game animals a year, so I don't consider myself a novice to hunting. My Cape Buffalo fell to one 300 gr TSX from my .375 RUM.

I agree with most of what has been written above: proper shot placement with a (premium) bullet with enough power to take out the vitals. Practice, practice, and practice and use a gun that you're not afraid of and one that doesn't make you flinch.

How many one shot Buffalo kills has Saeed made with his .375/404?

500grains, Nice picture, as usual.

quote:

Anyone who thinks they have observed a difference in performance on game between a 9.3 and a .375 has been observing differences in shot placement or bullet selection.

I have to agree with 500grains on that one. I've never been able to detect or see any difference at all. I have limited buffalo experience personally killing three and seeing 5 others shot all with 40+ calibers and at least two were very determined and took multi shots most of which were well placed and the bullets worked the way they were supposed to. I would liken buffalo hunting to Forrest Gump's "like a box of choclates, you're never sure of what you'll get". For that reason I much prefer the 416 or more. If I'm going to pick a fight with a Cape buffalo I want as much gun as I can get and still handle well. I know many praise the 375 and experts like Saeed have done very well with it, I just like the margin of the bigger bores.