Pumpkinheaver
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Lever action 45-70 with heavy, hard cast bullets.
You're Going on a Cape Buffalo Hunt...What Rifle Do You Want?
- Thread starter Nalapombu
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Sharps-shooter
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For cape Buffalo? Ruger 10/22 and a pointed stick. What's the point of going all the way to africa just to be able to come home and say "I went on a guided hunt and shot a cow from a truck with a .458, just like everybody else. I was never in any more danger than I would be in from going to the grocery store". - ZZZZZ!
If you're going to go on an adventure, make it an adventure people will still be talking about generations from now. Make it the story your grandkids tell their grandchildren. That's how I'd do it.
If you're going to go on an adventure, make it an adventure people will still be talking about generations from now. Make it the story your grandkids tell their grandchildren. That's how I'd do it.
jerkface11
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.600 OverKill bolt gun.
feedthehogs
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The .375 H&H, .416 Remington and Rigby, and .450 Dakota are good calibers.
Anything bigger like the .458 Lott and flinching becomes a problem, something you don't want to do when facing a Cape.
Heck even the .375, .416 and .450 make you think and its not something you want to wait till you get to Africa to shoot cause if the first shot doesn't put it down, the hesitation on the second shot from the recoil will get you, your guide or a tracker killed.
Bottom line when all said and done is it does'nt matter what caliber you use if the hunter can't shoot worth a damn.
Anything bigger like the .458 Lott and flinching becomes a problem, something you don't want to do when facing a Cape.
Heck even the .375, .416 and .450 make you think and its not something you want to wait till you get to Africa to shoot cause if the first shot doesn't put it down, the hesitation on the second shot from the recoil will get you, your guide or a tracker killed.
Bottom line when all said and done is it does'nt matter what caliber you use if the hunter can't shoot worth a damn.
rbernie
Contributing Member
Something moderate in pressure (read 'classic DG round) in a double. No high-pressure UberWhompers for me, please - extraction difficulties in the brush are not my idea of fun.
Failing a double, a gone-over CZ that's been thoroughly vetted will do the job.
I'd also want a metric buttload of ammo, and sufficient time to get competent with the rifle shooting offhand, moving, and at a moving target.
Many of y'all are putting emphasis on muzzle energy. Talk to any PH, and they'll advise putting more stock in reliability under field conditions, and being competent at snap shots. Once you reach a certain level of energy (say, 416 Rigby), the returns are diminishing.
Muzzle energy won't make up for not being able to put metal on meat under duress (whether due to equipment or skill gaps).
Failing a double, a gone-over CZ that's been thoroughly vetted will do the job.
I'd also want a metric buttload of ammo, and sufficient time to get competent with the rifle shooting offhand, moving, and at a moving target.
Many of y'all are putting emphasis on muzzle energy. Talk to any PH, and they'll advise putting more stock in reliability under field conditions, and being competent at snap shots. Once you reach a certain level of energy (say, 416 Rigby), the returns are diminishing.
Muzzle energy won't make up for not being able to put metal on meat under duress (whether due to equipment or skill gaps).
doc2rn
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Ok I just feel like being different today lets go with a standard 30-06.
Vern Humphrey
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The .468 Win Mag has become the de facto standard for many African Game Rangers. The .375 H&H has about the same standing among Professional Hunters who understand the risks of a client shooting a dangerous animal with a rifle he hasn't mastered.
My "heavy" rifle is Bigfoot Wallace, a custom '03 Springfield in .35 Brown-Whelen. I drive a 225 grain Nosler Partition to an honest 2800 fps, which is stepping on the heels of the .375 H&H, so I am confident that with a little practice, I could shoot that round well. I'd want to fire several hundred rounds of .458 Win Mag before being confident with it.
Monsters like the .460 Weatherby I think are often owned by men who also own most of the first box of shells they bought for it.
My "heavy" rifle is Bigfoot Wallace, a custom '03 Springfield in .35 Brown-Whelen. I drive a 225 grain Nosler Partition to an honest 2800 fps, which is stepping on the heels of the .375 H&H, so I am confident that with a little practice, I could shoot that round well. I'd want to fire several hundred rounds of .458 Win Mag before being confident with it.
Monsters like the .460 Weatherby I think are often owned by men who also own most of the first box of shells they bought for it.
XD-40 Shooter
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45/70 or 375 Ruger.
ADKWOODSMAN
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As stated already, usually the .375 is minimun.
As for the recoil, I shot a buddy's .375 H&H and it kicked less that my 12ga. Ithaca buck barrel shotgun with 2 3/4" slugs!!!!
I'm also a fan of the .416 Rem.
As for the recoil, I shot a buddy's .375 H&H and it kicked less that my 12ga. Ithaca buck barrel shotgun with 2 3/4" slugs!!!!
I'm also a fan of the .416 Rem.
simmonsguns
Member
On a full on charge head first you need to hit them right below the boss(horns), there heads do not stay steady when they run.
375 h&h is good for a body shot but the answer is bring the biggest gun you can shoot well.
When hunting impala of same size game, carry something that will work on buffalo and bigger game.
416 taylor, 458 lott are common chamberings but you can get any chambering you need at any of the lodges.
A CZ in 416 or 458 is about 3 grand set up for DG hunting, a good double gun from Beretta is 4 to 5 grand, Accurate reloading has fourms on this topic, lotts of good information about this.
375 h&h is good for a body shot but the answer is bring the biggest gun you can shoot well.
When hunting impala of same size game, carry something that will work on buffalo and bigger game.
416 taylor, 458 lott are common chamberings but you can get any chambering you need at any of the lodges.
A CZ in 416 or 458 is about 3 grand set up for DG hunting, a good double gun from Beretta is 4 to 5 grand, Accurate reloading has fourms on this topic, lotts of good information about this.
The one on the left. A Remington Model 30S custom .460.
Hunting the cape buffalo is like shooting cows?
Every experienced African hunter I have ever read expressed admiration for the cape buffalo as the toughest and most dangerous of game animals.
To each his own.
Hunting the cape buffalo is like shooting cows?
Every experienced African hunter I have ever read expressed admiration for the cape buffalo as the toughest and most dangerous of game animals.
To each his own.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
Part of my initial planning of such a trip would involve going through the archives, and reading pretty much everything that H&H Hunter has posted on the subject.
My Thomas Bland 3" .577 double. It has been a safe queen for nearly 20yrs just waiting for the funds and opportunity to take a trip. I have thought about selling it a few times, then taking the money to pay for the trip. If I did that then I'd probably use my new .375 Ruger alaskan. Took both deer and elk with it this year. It is a GREAT rifle.
Anteater1717
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.22 short
I have seen first hand the bullets and punishment the 'normal' plains game can soak up. If I ever get back for a dangerous game hunt I will be toting a Searcy or Merkel SxS in .470 Nitro.
RecoilRob
Member
I would think you should consider the range of shooting also. 375 H&H shoots 300gr's as flat as 30-06 does 180's so you could engage the Buff at some extended range.....which would be my first thought regarding my safety.
If the range MUST be short....then the calibers starting with '4' start looking a LOT better and I'd use the heaviest I could use properly.
If the range MUST be short....then the calibers starting with '4' start looking a LOT better and I'd use the heaviest I could use properly.
Kalashnikov
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A Sharps rifle in 50-140.
I have a friend that goes to africa frequently. He uses a 416 taylor its slightly more economical than most because you can make the brass out of something else more common like 338 win mag I think but I could be wrong. I saw where it has been posted 375 mag is the minimum but I had read years ago that 40 cal was the minimum. I would consider 45-70 to be slightly weak for a cape buffapoo 45-90 45-100 45-120 50-90 or 50-140 in a sharps would be more fun to me. I would stay away from the 500-600-700 nitromags I shot 1 barrel of a 600 nitromag 2 years ago and had a headache for 5 days its not fun to shoot. My friend uses a 416 taylor with a solid bullet for cape buffapoo's so I might be inclined to go that way for a bolt gun.
gunnerh
Member
Ruger #1 tropical in 458Win Mag. The rifle does come back at you at the range but in the field I never seem to notice the recoil. In fact the only recoil I have ever notice in the field was an AT4 anti-tank weapon. Which is too big for cape buffs.
Charles S
Member
I agree. I would ask H&H hunter, but I have always had a hankering for a 416 Rigby.
I would go for one of the Blaser doubles (cause I don't have a real fortune) in .458 Lott or something along those lines. Under no circumstances would I use any type of single shot and I would take a double over a bolt action to give a faster follow up shot without taking my eyes, or sights, off a charging buffalo. I'm not sure that I could work a bolt action fast or efficiently enough (IE not short throwing the bolt) to get a second shot in before I got squashed.
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