If you missed this hunt on Hornady's "Dark & Dangerous," here it is again.

I am sorry.. must be the camera angle.

But it seems he is firing INTO a heard?

Nortman,

You need to play it again and watch closely, you will be able to pick out the bull ..."walking to the left, with his head down ..."
(or some such was said by the PH) just before Chris fired, yes, into the herd.
With a soft no doubt.

I thought it was Buzz Charleton in floppy leather hat, packing his old Ruger RSM .416 Rigby like a toothpick (what a man!),
but Chris called him "Boone" at the end of the clip?
Did I hear that correctly?
I see better than I hear.
I bet Buzz Charleton doppelganger "Boone" doesn't pose for pictures in mankinis.
And Buzz has a new rifle, eh?
Maybe he gave his old one, and his hat, to Boone?

Rip ...

Lots of 404 and 416 softs will pass thru a buffalo unless heavy bone is encountered, even then sometimes they exit, but you cannot depend on it. Ive shot a lot of buffalo with a 404 J. and yes I had one stop in him on the off side skin and the second shot a solid pass thru him and into the other bull slightly behind him and on his off side.

However I might add that the two bulls were running together not in a herd, I shot the first one, a monster, in the shoulder, twice and the second bullet hit the bull behind him in the gut after passing thru the first bull, I didn't lead enough. range was about 150 yards and shooting off hand, the big bull ran in a circle got my wind and began his charge, toward me, as he came over a rise at 40 or 50 yards I shot him under his chin with a solid and he went down for the count with never a wiggle..the other one ran into some high grass and died. also hit with a solid. and in the gut but the liver was destroyed causing heavy hemorage.

The whole event had nothing to do with herd hunting they were dagga boys, so this quote is how things get misrepresented..

Thanks for the video Chris.

Your video clearly shows why I 'need' both a Bolt and a Double

quote:

Originally posted by PD999:
Thanks for the video Chris.

Your video clearly shows why I 'need' both a Bolt and a Double

Exactly... sometimes you just can't get close enough for open sights.

This was really a one-day hunt, as the seasonal, monsoon, rains were coming the next day, and there was an obligation from the outfitter to provide one more ration buffalo for the community before the end of the season.

As you can see, the grass was quite short, and we weren't getting any closer. The shot was ranged at 204 yds, and that was way too much for open sights. No problem for the Swaro at 6x. We were shooting the Hornady DGX softs and confident of what was/wasn't behind the bull when the shot was made.

It was after that hunt that I began to get serious about the scoped, lightweight 450/400 double rifle.



As an aside, here is a clip we put together to show the "non-hunting" world what happens to the meat and how important protein is to these rural African communities.

quote:

Originally posted by new_guy:
It was after that hunt that I began to get serious about the scoped, lightweight 450/400 double rifle.

I'm making plans for a 416 Rigby and a 470NE, both scoped (my eyes are failing me).

They should act as complimentary back-ups for each other, purely for buffalo hunting.

Its pretty easy to hold on the top line of a big buffalo bull and drop one in him. 200 yards is max IMO, or for me at least. Ive done it several times with my 450-400 3 inch and my 3-1/4", as well with a 404 iron sighted gun....I really like the 404 Jefferys Ive shot the majority of my buffalo with the 404 or the .375 H&H, not sure which..I really like your 404 it caught my eye right off the bat..

As to the video, it was an interesting hunt, the smoke in the background could be worrisome in that you have no place to run it appears if they bolt in your direction, Ive had that done before and its unnerving..Probaly unusual that the PH allowed the shot into a herd, it could be problematic, but I don't know all the details..nice bull.

Nice job nice hunt...
It seems that when he approached the downed Buff he had spun the scope of his bolt rifle. I've done this before on a Buff even with a rifle sporting a 1x6 powered scope, believing that irons point more naturally in a close encounter.

Thanks for the comments, and I hope you enjoyed the video.

Here are a few points to make:

1) If you note the position of the buffalo at the shot, he is quartering towards us. That means there is more buffalo to penetrate than on a broad-side shot. We were using soft points and were confident that the bullet would not completely exit. Although not shown in the clip, this was discussed, and - after watching the buff for about an hour - we only took the shot after both the PH and myself were comfortable with it. So, rest assured that no other buffalo were harmed in the making of this video.

2) 200 yard shot? We have a private, 500-yard range, and I practice regularly at longer distances... not because I'm looking for a reason to take 500-yard shots, but because I find that practicing at 500 makes 200 look real close. This is no different than I advise clients with open-sighted doubles... Practice at 100, and you'll get really good at 50... Practice at 150, and 100-yards won't look that far.

Ballistically speaking, I'm familiar with the cartridge, bullet and applicable drop at 200 on the 404 (because I've shot it at that distance... and farther, first-hand.) For me, and my personal limitations, I'm completely comfortable with a scoped rifle and a 200-yard shot on a buffalo-sized animal. That doesn't mean it's for everyone, but I know my limits, and that's within my comfort zone.

3) Scope off on follow-up...? for me? ABSOLUTELY. When it comes to quick shooting at shoe-lace distances, I find the scope to be an additional obstacle to overcome.

4) Fire in the background... this was a poacher's fire that had grown out of control. The Mozambique flood plain is a b-i-g place... lots of escape routes.

The ideal of hunting in a herd of buff(with cows and calves) has never appealed to me. Dagga boys are my preference.

quote:

Originally posted by 376 steyr:
The ideal of hunting in a herd of buff(with cows and calves) has never appealed to me. Dagga boys are my preference.

Agreed, but the buffalo on the floodplains/swamps of Moz don't really behave like buffalo. This really is it's own ecosystem.

Next time you're at one of the shows, talk to Mark Haldane. He has many years of experience there and can explain the difference in how these buffalo stay together vs. "Dugga Boys" being off on their own.

I like hunting dagga boys, but hey Ive seen some monsters in the herds and more often than not the biggest old dagga boy is likely to be with HIS cows, I shoot them where I see them, I can't afford to be so picky..

I also agree with your post completely, the fire part I questioned was only for an answer not a condemnation. fires are a daily concern in Tanzania for instance, and if a big wind shows up can get sticky..Nice hunt, If both the PH and myself agreed, Id have also taken the shot. This business of shooting a second cow by accident seldom happens but when it does one shoots the other buffalo and that's where it ends.