quote:

you just point at black stuff and pull the trigger.

quote:

Originally posted by Geronomo:

quote:

you just point at black stuff and pull the trigger.

+1 on that. I was charged once, about five years ago we were following a wounded buff. The PH fired once then his bolt action .458 jammed. Initially I couldn't see the buff but I could see the bushes moving our way and could hear the crashing getting very close and everyone yelling! I ran toward the PH and there he was, 30 feet away!! I put both barrels into the "center of the black", buff went down, gave a death bellow, end of story. Damned glad I was carrying a .500 NE double. Was I aiming?...sort of.

Geronimo

quote:

The "high shoulder" and spine are almost silhouetted.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
I don't know about the incident mentioned and have a shite internet connection so haven't bothered searching for it but FWIW, a determined charge can only be stopped absolutely by a good solid hit to the central nervous system and anyone who succeeds in stopping said charge by just blazing away is quite honestly, very lucky.

Also FWIW, a buff usually starts a charge with his head held high, then he stretches his neck with slightly lowered head in mid charge (as he gets up to speed) and lowers it just before the anticipated impact. The best way to prevent said impact is to shoot for whatever part of the central nervous system is best presented at the time.

At the last moment and if the shooter has the presence of mind, he can shoot above the head and into the spine but he'd better be ready to move bloody quickly because if he doesn't, he'll have the (live or dead) buffalo (depending on the accuracy of the shot) piling into him.

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
I don't know about the incident mentioned and have a shite internet connection so haven't bothered searching for it but FWIW, a determined charge can only be stopped absolutely by a good solid hit to the central nervous system and anyone who succeeds in stopping said charge by just blazing away is quite honestly, very lucky.

Also FWIW, a buff usually starts a charge with his head held high, then he stretches his neck with slightly lowered head in mid charge (as he gets up to speed) and lowers it just before the anticipated impact. The best way to prevent said impact is to shoot for whatever part of the central nervous system is best presented at the time.

At the last moment and if the shooter has the presence of mind, he can shoot above the head and into the spine but he'd better be ready to move bloody quickly because if he doesn't, he'll have the (live or dead) buffalo (depending on the accuracy of the shot) piling into him.

+1 Merry Xmas Steve

quote:

With absolutely not the slightest bit of warning, just seventeen yards in front of me, the bush exploded in sun-dappled violence and multiple shades of gray, black, dirty browns and dusty tans. I saw Clement, still bent at the waist, spin to his left and then scurry backwards on a supporting hand. Lou could see nothing as the tree blocked his view and he was turned to the left somewhat, himself. (He later said that he initially thought Clement had stepped on a snake.)

As for me, I had not the least doubt as to what was happening. A big grey-black hulk was at full-stride coming directly at my body. I remember nothing about how I was holding my rifle, flipping down the safety or raising my gun to my shoulder. It all just happened. I clearly remember stepping forward and to the right to clear the tree instead of getting behind it. Damn Marine in me, I guess? You know, Semper Fi and attack the ambush, don’t run from it.

Burned in my memory is that beautiful, over-sized white front bead appearing in the shallow “V” of the rear sight. Boss and horns covering the brain was my instant realization as the buffalo was swinging his head in what I can only guess was his practice hook before sinking a horn in my belly.

It was absolutely slow motion. I forced the bead down into the chest and fired. The buffalo was at 12 steps (which I wobbly walked later). The 500 grain Hornady DGS hit the heart and the buffalo staggered and turned slightly to my right with the impact. I'm not sure if I ever took my rifle from my shoulder to work the bolt, but I know that the second shot was almost instantaneous with the first and about 3” higher.

By now, the buffalo was closer than before, but would pass by me and towards Game Scout if he continued his new path. I fired again into his quartering-towards-me shoulder. I think he might have gotten powder burns. I had no thought of trying to brain him as what I was doing seemed to be working fine.

Upon impact of the third shot, a huge shutter coursed the bull from head to toe. Humped up now and turned some more, he passed Game Scout who, by now had his FN in battery and was raising it to shoot. As I worked the bolt of my Mauser for a forth shot, Lou, now not hindered by the tree and able to shoot since the buff had cleared me, fired his .470 into the buffalo’s right hip, shattering it and putting the Bill Collector on the ground.

From start to finish, I’ll bet that four seconds didn’t pass. I know that the buffalo never was more than 20 yards from us from charge to demise. Teddy Roosevelt called his leading the Rough Riders up Kettle and San Juan Hills as “My crowded hour”. Well, I damn well had my crowded little "moment" myself.

JudgeG ... just counting time 'til I am again finding balm in Gilead chilled out somewhere in the Selous.

quote:

As stated below, the oncoming buffalo was swinging (and bobbing) his head and a shot anywhere but the center of the chest (and through the heart) seemed like the only possibility in the second or so I had to think about it.

Whatever, it worked.