OK gang, I'm not wanting to stir the forums like the 45-70 fiasco but at the Dallas Show I got to hold the S&W .500 Mag for the first time. As a dyed in the wool S&W revolver lover, of course I now want one!

I'm thinking of doing my cape buffalo hunt in 2006 and this thought won't get out of my head about taking it with the S&W. Wouldn't THAT be a thrill!!!

Comments?

JDS

Didn't Ross Seyfried take a cape with a 454 casull? If you get in close and take a broadside shot, it should be a thrill. But if things do not go according to plan, it is very likely that the professional hunter will help you harvest the buffalo.

Indeed it would. I'm scheduled to hunt buffalo in July with a handgun although I won't be using a S&W. If you would like to read about a buffalo & elephant hunt with the 500 click here Handgun Hunter Magazine

A buddy of mine took his cape buffalo with a 4" Ruger Super Redhawk. He was shooting 320 grain cast bullets. That 500 should be plenty.

O.K., here is a very probable scenario, even with a heavy rifle...

You stalk your buffalo to within 40 yards, carefully aiming, you fire and hit a wee bit high, but through the lungs. The buff is immediately in the high grass. You have decent blood.... What do you do? Do you track the sucker with a handgun, or grab a DGR to "finish" the deal?.. Most PH's I know want their client to do all the shooting, if possible, but it would take a pretty brave fellow to let a wounded buff take the first step toward him and his client with only a revolver, however heavy, firing the first shot(s).

Admittedly, 8 out of 10 times, the buff will be found dead, or dying, within a few hundred yards, but what about that other 20%? I've never seen anyone shoot a handgun as accurately as a rifle, even at 25 yards. So, if I decided to hunt buff with a handgun or bow, I'd be prepared to either change to a rifle for follow-up, or just let the PH have at it.

very accomplished hunter friend of mine took a buffalo approx 3 years ago in Botswana with a .475 Linebaugh. He also took several other animals. Took 11 shots and 3 hours to bring the buffalo to bag. My friend said that he did not think he was handicapped by the ballistics of the revolver round, but that he was unable to accurately place the shot under the circumstances with open sights. The all-important first shot was too far back, and he felt that a scope would have possibly made it a one shot affair.

One of my buddies just bought one and loves the damn thing. I'm not a pistol person and while impressed with its heft I didn't like the balance.

Regardless, there was an article in a previous SCI Safari magazine about some dude that took both Cape buffalo and cow Elephant with the S&W .500. It was a pretty good story as he took both but there were a few hair raising moments with the Elephant. Seems another herd cow charged them after they downed the target animal and the PH's rifle went CLICK!

Hangunning for buff is no great trick, and certainly more sporting (for the animal) than a bow. Two of my collegues in parks, Ken Worsley and Doug evans shot buff with their .357's. I've used a .41 to finish off a wounded bull on the proficiency exams - very satisfactorily, and have seen a couple legitimately taken with .44 mags. It is simply shot placement.
Two vital things though
1) It must NEVER be your first buff hunt. Buck fever will cock it up with an under powered firearm
2) I see no point in comming all the way to Africa to have the PH shoot your animal. As a rule I refuse to bak my clients up. You want it - you shoot it. I've been there and done that. So many bow hunts end up with the PH having to bail out the hunter by shooting a non trophy animal that decides to intervien in the proceedings.

You MUST be able to shoot well enough to take an animal cleanly, have shot a couple before so you know what to expect, and appreciate that unless you are going to risk a charge from another herd member, you may have to settle for less than a record book animal.

I personally believe that if you have to try and get too close so as to be able to take a shot with bow/rifle or handgun, and another animal charges, which the PH has to sort out, that should count against the clients licence!

500 Grains, I'm not sure what your point is. Hit an animal badly with ANY rifle or handgun, and the result would be the same. JD Jones has taken NUMEROUS cape buff and elephant all with handguns. The most important shot is the first!!

I have a 500 S&W and it's fun( read real accurate) but no way in hell am I gonna shoot a cape Buffalo at 25 yrds with one. I'm a masters class pistol Sillhoete shooter, so accuracy isn't the issue and the 500 is actually very controllable. I just want to be around for the rest of the hunt! If things go wrong, I don't want a pistol in my hand! 400 gr bullet at 1800fps. Sounds too much like the ol 45/70 in .500 caliber to me. I like my buffalo at 25-40 yrds with a 470 NE double rifle. A 600 OK would be even better!-Rob

Ross Seyfried shot his buff with a Seville that Linebaugh had modified with a heavier and I believe longer cylinder that was chambered in 45 Colt. If memory serves me right, it was a 320 gr. load with a bit of H-110.