ARGENTINA: Epic Argentina Hunt

[Green Chile]

Out of curiosity, was the .375 sighted in after all?..... I know you hit it with the first shot, just wondering if it was true to point of aim and any idea what the ammo was?

Since I was only able to shoot one shell of .375 and at a distance of about 110 yards, I would say it hit within 2-3 inches of where I was aiming. Normally that would not be acceptable on paper but on the shoulder of a big buff, it was acceptable to me. Did I think about having some wild flyer that gut shoots the buff...well of course but I couldn't dwell on that. I did send a little prayer with the bullet of oh God, don't let me wound this animal...and thankfully it worked. Not what I would wish for anyone but it's what I had to work with.

No idea on the make or age of ammo and I was guessing it was 270 grain softs. It was not corroded and it did chamber ok in the Weatherby rifle. I did check the barrel to see if was a Weatherby chambering but it was for 375 H&H.

 

[Pablo]

Did they weigh your buff? He was huge in the pics.

 

[Green Chile]

I was very interested in the weight but they did not weigh any of the animals taken. I would suggest they do weigh them going forward for record keeping but I have no weight data.

Having said that, I do have some comparison photos and data on other weights and bovine species. At the top end of the scales, gaurs (which are wild oxen not buffalo) have exceeded 3000 lbs in some cases. That's the top end. Let's say this big boy is 3000+.

Water buffalo weights vary of course but I've seen 2200-2500 lbs as normal with some specimens weighing more. Mine probably was heavier according to the head guide with 40 years experience and his overall size, skull and hooves were definitely larger than average...plus he stood higher than the others with his shoulder being at their back/hump level.

Then we have Cape buffalo and Boddington said for years they don't hit 2000 lbs...until he was with me last year when I took this one that was taken out of the field whole and the professional butcher said it was 2400 lbs.

This one was under 2000 lbs but lifted up, they stretch out and look huge.