Surestike,
I have shot more than a few buffalo at 200 yards and even a bit more in my day..For some reason many folks feel that Buffalo cannot be shot at long range, but like any other animal they are fair game at up to say 250 yards....A PH will not let you shoot at that range unless he is 100% satisfied with your shooting and the hunt calls for a long shot or nothing....

I am sure Pierre would allow Saeed to shoot at whatever distance was necessary on a big bull, and I know he would me.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:

For some reason many folks feel that Buffalo cannot be shot at long range, but like any other animal they are fair game at up to say 250 yards.

But is it still DG hunting at 250 yards? Wouldn't it be more fun to sneak in close on the buffalo, and then for a long range challenge take a hartebeest at 450 yards?

That's just my take on it, but if a guy sees a big set of horns that he has to have, and there is no way to get close, then I suppose I see the point.

500 grains and Ray:

I do not have the near the experience of most of you guys..went on my first Cape Buff hunt last year. I had more fun chasing after them! I say forget about shooting them at long range...getting up and personal with those things is what I am after...what a rush!!!

Ray, I had more fun, with Pierre, chasing after those "Black Bulls" than anything else I have hunted. Nothing like it!!!!

After I had taken my Buffs, Pierre asked what I wanted to do...Plains Game? I told him "I just want to chase those Buffalo...can we just go tag them"....

I am sad to say I am a Buffalo addict <big grin> and my next fix is this July!!! I will be taking my 470 NE and North Fork Cup Points to hammer them with!!!

Charlie

Enjoyed your poem, very well done. I particularly liked "the great ones" coming in. You captured the "feeling" and after all that's what makes the ownership of doubles so great. The feeling holding that fine English double that ties you to the "great ones" and all that rifle has done before you were born.

CFA

Thank you CFA ,i do look up to all of them. The way they hunted, and what they endured during their time in Africa is a testement to their greatness in my book. I am very happy that you liked it. Its for all of us who understand how it all began. Charlie

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
But is it still DG hunting at 250 yards?

At that distance it sounds more like "sniping" than DG "hunting."

500,
I have only shot at long range when the situation allowed no other chance, however, to answer the question with a question, what is the difference in shooting a Cape Buffalo at 250 yards or a elk or Hartebeest at 250...Have you set fourth a new set of rules for Buffalo and if so would you mind setting fourth proper distances for all the rest of Gods creatures as I would like to write them down and carry them in my pocket, so when I am hunting I will have a proper guide line...

I have shot a number of bulls at long range but only when they were in a big flat and no chance of a stalk...

However, I would like to know the difference in shooting a Cape Buffalo at 250 yards or a Hartebeest at 250 yards or 450 as 500 states..

This gives me the impression that all animals have a yardage law and that is fourth written in stone, therefore I wish that someone would furnish me with a proper range standard for all of Gods creatures that I can carry on my person so that I will be proper on my future hunts...

As to sniping, I would say good shooting would be more proper, then the follow up that gives the bull lots of time to get full of adrenaline and plenty ticked, then you can get your close shot and you can really be a sportsman and let him get close enough to drop his head then shoot him down through the top of the boss...that will surly surfice for those who like the ultimate challange..I have done that too on one ocassion and given my druthers between the two, I will take the 250 yard option...

Add to that a big Opps, it double posted, sorry.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:

what is the difference in shooting a Cape Buffalo at 250 yards or a elk or Hartebeest at 250...

Each of us should hunt the way we get the most enjoyment from it. Personally I like getting very close to big stuff like buff and elephant. I felt very disappointed in myself after shooting my first buffalo at 25 yards because I felt I should have gotten closer. Yet there is nothing I like better than to estimate the holdover on a deer at 450 yards.

I am not an expert at this sort of thing but my uncle gave me a card with ranges and situations. They are as follows for Buff,Hips,Ele at 4 feet if: You owe Guido more money than you can pay, and your wife told him were you are hiding. Your 19 yr. old secratary said "feel here dad he's kicking", After the divorce she took everything and you owe her more alimony than your current income, You found out the boy hood cross dressing wasnt for fun you really like it, After the yearly check up the doc says " how many partners have you had since our last visit, And last but not least , yor wife tells you Mom is coming to visit, you say good how long and when. She doesnt answer you. Charlie

Ray,

If you want to shoot your buffalo cross canyon at 250 yards be my guest. If I had the right equipment and the oportunity arose I'd probably take the shot, on the right bull.

But I like to hunt them with a double rifle and I like to get close. 100 yards is not to far for a good double with a good man behind it. I've got several .375's that I can shoot tiny little groups with at 200 yards or even 300 yards. But that ain't the point.

As I said bring a comparable iron sighted bolt gun to the party something that shoots a 500gr bullet at 2100+ and we'll set up some steel at 100, 150 and 200 yards. And we'll see if there is a hill of beans difference in our ability to hit them.

Bring your money and your tip money. I've played this game before and against some very capable shooters and have drawn some conclusions of my own. One of which is that my Searcy is a hell of alot more accurate and shootable than a many bolt guns out there.

I think the main difference is that I wouldn't purposly start hostilities on a buffalo with a double at that range or an iron sighted bolt gun as the probability of a F-up starts to increase dramatically with range. I'd have no problem doing it with the right scoped set up. And I have on two occasions but bullets into a an already hit buffalo at past 200 yards that was retreating into some nasty cover.

But when we compare heavy doubles and bolts to scoped mediums it's like comparing a good quarter horse to a throughbred. Different critters. A man could rope off a highstrung throughbred and a man could run a mile on quarter horse it's just that a either would perform better in their own nich. But to say that one or the other is useless outside of their nich is just plain wrong.

Maybe i am one of the dinosaurs that belive in getting as close as you can to the animal being hunted, then putting the proper bullet in the right place and if all hell breaks lose you handle it with proper caliber and gun for that situation. Some times this means many hours or days wich ever , and some times it may not happen. This is why i think they call it Hunting, not Shooting Game. I am not taking any pot-shots at anyone, just telling you how i was taught and how i tought my son to hunt. If you like distance so be it, if you like "getting your moneys worth" well then have at it. One type is not better or worse their just different that's all. No one can tell when.where, or how far their next shot will be,so i say be ready for long and short, and hit him well. The best cut of men we have are the ones who go in after them, alone. I have passed up many shots because i thought of Him first, not my trophy room. Thats what i think. Charlie