When Buffalo hunt does not go to plan...

[Lateral]

I use a 9.3 for boar, and have a slot for a .375, which in reality, really isn't very much bigger.

Should I decide to do a DG trip at some point, I wouldn't contemplate using a .375, after seeing these videos ! I would want the biggest calibre I could shoulder, and accurately shoot, which I suspect might be quite big, with the amount of adrenaline I'd expect to be running through my veins

I am SO looking forward to Johns DG simulation practise weekend, in a few weeks !

 

[Orion]

I am SO looking forward to Johns DG simulation practise weekend, in a few weeks !

Okay, okay, I can take a hint - the chicken and leg of lamb are already marinating!

 

[Lateral]

Okay, okay, I can take a hint - the chicken and leg of lamb are already marinating!

And that too

 

[Heym SR20]

Just consider that shooting a Roe Deer with 100gn bullet from a 243, with 2400 J of energy, often gives runner. A Roe Buck weighs 40 to 50kg. A bull buffalo is the best part of a 1000kg's and a 375 has a 300g bullet with c5,000 J of energy and a 500NE is 500g bullet with c7000 J of Energy - so you are going into bat with a bigger rifle but you only have two or three times the power against an animal that is 20 times bigger. And wild boar and buffalo have a tendancy to charge their attackers, where as a Roe Bucks instinct is to run away. Saying that I really would n't want to get in a tight place with a wounded Roe Buck - those antlers are very sharp.

The only way of killing any animal cleanly, quickly and without it running is precise shot placement through the vital organs with the animal calm and undisturbed. And if its charging - then only a bullet through the brain or central nervous system will stop the charge. The best way of avoiding a charge is to not wound it in the first place. I have once followed up a wounded lion in thick bush that was wounded by another hunter. It certainly makes you very attentive.

 

[mudman]

there is a clip on a FB stalking page of a guy getting flattened by a Buff, he stands up to the charge but the shot seems to go high as the beast dips its head. One horn seems to catch him and knock him down, Buff carries on. The surprising thing was that some guys, probably also members on here, seemed to think it was hilarious and he was a dickhead for getting it wrong, got everything he deserved etc. Later someone commented that the hunetr was killed.

 

[mchughcb]

Well at least he won't have to listen to the keyboard hunters critique of his shot anymore.

 

[palmer_mike]

there is a clip on a FB stalking page of a guy getting flattened by a Buff, he stands up to the charge but the shot seems to go high as the beast dips its head. One horn seems to catch him and knock him down, Buff carries on. The surprising thing was that some guys, probably also members on here, seemed to think it was hilarious and he was a dickhead for getting it wrong, got everything he deserved etc. Later someone commented that the hunetr was killed.

Sure they’re members on here?

 

[scrumbag]

I have to admit, I think bow and handgun hunting are an ego thing for the benefit of the hunters ego.

The best tool for the killing of any game is a well maintained and appropriately chambered fire arm. That gives you the best chance of taking the animal cleanly and humanely which in my view has to be the highest priority for any hunter.

What those guys were doing following up a buff with a .30-'06 is beyond me.

Yes there was a .375H&H there too but this isn't what I would understand as a "stopper" which start at .40 Cal. I'm not sure what the guy was doing there with a smaller rifle. I understand a tracker and dog man but just an extra, not particularly effective rifle seems daft to me.

Scrummy

 

[scrumbag]

I use a 9.3 for boar, and have a slot for a .375, which in reality, really isn't very much bigger.

Should I decide to do a DG trip at some point, I wouldn't contemplate using a .375, after seeing these videos ! I would want the biggest calibre I could shoulder, and accurately shoot, which I suspect might be quite big, with the amount of adrenaline I'd expect to be running through my veins

I am SO looking forward to Johns DG simulation practise weekend, in a few weeks !

I would not worry about that. .375 H&H will be fine and also more useful for plains game than a lot of the .40s and up. As I understand it, your role as a client is to put in the first and ideally fatal shot (not necessarily instant). You don't have to be carrying something that will stop a charge, that's the PHs job. Hopefully you will get a nice stable position and time to put your shot into a relaxed animal - ideally relatively in the open. So, for that, a .375H&H or even a 9.3 is arguably what you want. A "stopper" with open express sights and a large front bead or a very low mag scope is not that easy to shoot precisely. I have shot my 9.3x62 from prone and it's OK but not something I'd want to do with a real thumper.

Scrummy

 

[Lateral]

I would not worry about that. .375 H&H will be fine and also more useful for plains game than a lot of the .40s and up. As I understand it, your role as a client is to put in the first and ideally fatal shot (not necessarily instant). You don't have to be carrying something that will stop a charge, that's the PHs job. Hopefully you will get a nice stable position and time to put your shot into a relaxed animal - ideally relatively in the open. So, for that, a .375H&H or even a 9.3 is arguably what you want. A "stopper" with open express sights and a large front bead or a very low mag scope is not that easy to shoot precisely. I have shot my 9.3x62 from prone and it's OK but not something I'd want to do with a real thumper.

Scrummy

My 9.3x74 SxS used to be worse to shoot, but it has a hard shoulder pad, and doesn't weigh a lot. Fitting a kickstop has transformed it.

I only ever use the 9.3's free hand, for boar. I'd love to try something like a 416, or similar.

 

[shakey jake]

as a side note guys, would a solid slug 12 gauge be any use as a back up? ive googled and couldnt find much info on energy of the slug, i have no idea just asking a question.
shakey

 

[Orion]

Leaving penetration issues of a soft lead projectile on a thick skinned animal aside, it doesn’t get anywhere near the energy levels of even a decent medium bore rifle:

Using S&B 12b Special Sport figures of 432gr slug motoring at 1345 fps only gives 1736 ft/lb at the muzzle.

 

[scrumbag]

as a side note guys, would a solid slug 12 gauge be any use as a back up? ive googled and couldnt find much info on energy of the slug, i have no idea just asking a question.
shakey

It's an interesting idea, but I think it won't do so well in terms of deep penetration:

If we looks at a 3" Brenneke Black Magic (kind of gold standard in bear defense for 12b slugs in the USA), you get an SD of .181 (0.690" dia and 602gr weight) and an ME of 3,014 ftlbs

A .404Jeffery (Perhaps bottom end of the .40" stoppers) Using Norma data, Woodleigh 450gr FMJ gives an SD of .359 (450gr and .424" dia) and an ME of 4,620 ftlbs.

A .375 H&H (Minimum "all Africa" DG chambering) - Norma with a 350gr Woodleigh FMJ - SD of .356 and ME of 4,112 ftlbs.

So I would say with ~ half the SD and only ~ 2/3rds the energy of the .404J, the slug isn't really where you want to be in terms of penetrating and breaking down bone. Also even a hard slug like a Brenneke just won't penetrate like a decent FMJ / Solid - likey to deform too much on large, heavy bone

Be interesting to know how well that would work on the cats. If you read Dennis Blackbeard's book which covers quite a bit of hunting the large Kalahari lions, he's not impressed with shotguns for use on following up cats.

Scrummy

 

[scrumbag]

Leaving penetration issues of a soft lead projectile on a thick skinned animal aside, it doesn’t get anywhere near the energy levels of even a decent medium bore rifle:

Using S&B 12b Special Sport figures of 432gr slug motoring at 1345 fps only gives 1736 ft/lb at the muzzle.

To be fair Orion, the "Special Sport" is the light slug used for Target / Practical shotgun.

The 32g S&B "Special Slug" does 2,093 ftlbs and 2,511 ftlbs for the 67.5 and 76mm cases respectively

(Though still nothing like the power of a "buffalo suitable" rifle)

Scrummy

 

[mchughcb]

as a side note guys, would a solid slug 12 gauge be any use as a back up? ive googled and couldnt find much info on energy of the slug, i have no idea just asking a question.
shakey

Poor choice even with a rottweil magnum. While slugs sound impressive when you start firing 416 remington and above you will know what power and accuracy is.

 

[mchughcb]

To be fair Orion, the "Special Sport" is the light slug used for Target / Practical shotgun.

The 32g S&B "Special Slug" does 2,093 ftlbs and 2,511 ftlbs for the 67.5 and 76mm cases respectively

(Though still nothing like the power of a "buffalo suitable" rifle)

Scrummy

Correct.

 

[mchughcb]

Rottweil 12 gauge magnum shooting 600gr @1378 fps is only 2500 ftlb.

500ftlb Less power than my 3006 shooting 220gr woodleigh. Ill take the 3006 thanks.

 

[CarlW]

As well as the energy issues, the quality of the projectile is a huge problem with shotgun slugs. Except on cats, generally the policy is to follow up wounded DG with solid, premium bullets; not softs/expanding/lumps of lead.

 

[shakey jake]

thanks for the info guys, facts make sense
shakey

 

[scrumbag]

Interestingly in discussing slugs and Buffalo, if you look on Brenneke website for their Opal Magnum:

"When hunting heavy and dangerous game such as buffalo or lion this is your perfect choice. OpalMagnum slugs must not be used with a choke. "

OpalMagnum | Brenneke - Munition

www.brenneke-ammunition.de

491 m/s (1611 fps) and an of ME 5,184J (3,824 ftlbs) from a slug waying 43 grammes (or 666gr - which might be who you invoke if you shoot the thing)!

Scrummy