I have been planning to take my .500 S&W switch barrel on a cape buffalo hunt, but when I got close to actually doing it I changed my mind, seemed like a poor idea at the time. ( Everyone knows that the .500 S&W is just too limited for a good decisive kill on a cape buffalo. Right?)

This morning I was checking my load records on my "500-110 Gallup", as I call it, which is just 50-110 Win. in a custom chamber, necked down to a true .500 caliber from a .510 caliber. I originally did this so that I could use some of bullet from the CEB .500 caliber pistol bullet selection. I wanted something like a "Lite .500 NE" that would be cool in my TC Encore Rifle with a 24 inch barrel for hunting cape buffalo.

My notes showed that I loaded my Africa ".500-110 Gallup" loads at a MV 19,400 fps and that this was the load that killed cape buffalo decisively, they just staggered a few steps and unceremoniously went down.

That was a few years ago and it never dawned me until this morning when I was going through my loading records, that this same 410 grain CEB bullet at 1,940 fps. is the same MV and bullet that I range tested with my .500S&W load out of a 22 inch barrel with CFE BLK powder. So it proves to me, therefore, that my .500S&W rifle load will decisively kill cape buffalo. ( And maybe that I have been a little dazed and confused in my old age.)

It amazes me that I never figured that out over all this time and that the .500 S&W rifle at velocity of 1,900+ fps would do the trick on cape buffalo at close range, with that 410 grain CEB Raptor .500 caliber pistol bullet.

Anyhow, I am happy to report the minor discovery, maybe it will be useful for others.

Brian

Well I know your muzzle velocity is not 19,400 fps, so maybe we need to recalculate. Not saying it can't be done. Just why?

410 grains at 1,900 fps is more than enough to kill a buffalo.

The point is placing it in the right place.

Lavaco, Good eye, on my typo! Thanks, Brian

Saeed, Agreed, Brian