A friend and I hunted water buffalo in August and had great luck with the Barnes X bullets. I don't know where you live or if they are available to you. I live less than 100 miles from where they are made. I used the 400 gr. X bullet in my .416 Rem., and my friend used the 525 gr. (I think) in a .470 Nitro. I hit my bull in the back part of the left shoulder, through the top of the heart and both lungs, and it stopped under the skin behind the right shoulder. I put 2 solids into him as he ran away, but I don't think they were necessary. The outfitter wanted us to keep shooting until they were down. I was lucky to get a nice bull that scored 102 SCI.

You might also try the Barnes Triple-Shock bullet. I have gotten excellent accuracy in both the .270 and .338 with them, and they leave less copper fouling in the barrel than the X bullets.

Who are you hunting with? We hunted with Graham Williams of Australian Buffalo Hunters. It was one of the most enjoyable hunts I have ever had. Enjoy your hunt and post some pictures.

Dale

"I just bought the rifle, A 602, classic (not high comb) stock in .458 wm"

Great choice. I'd still have the chamber reamed to Lott, low cost, more versatility, ammo fits the magazine better, etc.

Mikes load makes good since and will do the job..to get more velocity than he gets then one must load the .458 to 110% load density and that can lead to compaction, so keep the velocity to about 2000 FPS..and with that .458s high SD number it will lay low anything that walks, talks, breaths or crawls...

I would not recommend monolithic bullets in a .458 as powder capacity is the .458 worst fault, it has very little...and those long for weight monolithics just eat up that precious space unless you go to say a 400 gr. bullet and thats too light IMO, even for a monotlithic...

I have used 61 grs. of RL-7 in the .458 Win. for about 2050 FPS, and it worked very well on Cape Buffalo and has a load density of about 85 to 90% as I recall..thats good.

I'm heading to the Northern Territory for my first ever buff hunt. I'm buying a .458 win and working some loads using woodleigh projectiles. What weight projectile should I choose? Should I choose a slower 500gn or a faster and lighter projectile and aim for 2400+ fps?

thanks

I would use the 500 gr woodleigh soft..........maybe you might want to ream your .458 win mag out to .458 lott and get 2300 fps with the woodleigh 500 gr soft ??

The 500 gr woodleigh at 458 winnie speeds will do the job at any rate !!

Thanks all,
ANyone here shoot the .450 watts? I believe you can fire Lott or WinMag rounds through it as it's just a longer Lott.
Can cases be made by necking up .375 brass or does it need cylindrical brass necked down?
Is there any advantage going to the watts? Or should I just stick with the .458?

What about reduced loads for pigs?

HDU

I wouldn't bother with a Lott or a Watts etc. If you had one already it would be fine but not necessary. The buffalo guides at the Hunt Australia camp all used straight .458 Winchesters. Use a good 480 gr or 500 gr SP such as a Woodleigh or similar and you would be fine. Woodleighs are extensively tested on NT water buffalo so should know how to deal with them. Ray's load sounds like it would do the job.

I would use the same bullet on pigs. Why bother carrying two different loads when you ain't going to eat the pork?

Good luck on your NT water buffalo hunt and hope you take a nice one. Who are you hunting with and when?

Ok,
I just bought the rifle, A 602, classic (not high comb) stock in .458 wm.
I pick it up this weekend.
It has express sights, no rings.
I'm hunting with the same bloke you did last year Nitro. Debating about fitting rings and a scope or just sticking with the express sights. At what distance are most shots on buff taken there? I will also be carrying my .300 winmag for pigs, it's topped with a 3-9x42 kahles.

for a .458 whatever I like a set of warne or talley rings and a leupold 2.5x compact....it will just let you pick your spot a little more precisely.