Arrow Penetration in Cape Buffalo

Stubbleduck

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Attached are photos of a Cape Buffalo I took on August 18, 2023 hunting with PH Marco DuPlessis / Afrika Barrel and Bow Safari in Limpopo Province.
Easton Dangerous Game arrow with a 150 grain VPA Single Bevel broahead and FOB fletching. Total arrow weight 748 grains at 219 fps from a Gearhead "Disrupter"24. The arrow was recovered in three pieces, two within 30 yards of arrow impact the other recovered in the skinning shed exactly as photographed. The arrow penetrated a rib on the entry side, note the crack extending from both sides of the hole through the rib, then through the heart before impacting but not penetrating a rib on the far side of the thoracic cavity. Recovery was 120 yards after we waited about 30 minutes following the shot. I'll claim reasonable skill for putting the arrow in the proper vicinity however it's pure luck that centered it in the heart.

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You will have to tap the symbol in the first photo to see the "Hero" photo of the full animal. I guess I don't know how to get that photo in the note directly. Tapping on the other two photos will enlarge and sharpen them.
 
Congratulations on a nice Buffalo with your bow!
 
I’ve read most of the things Dr. Ed Ashby has written about concerning archery gear in Africa. It looks like your experience with the single bevel broadhead has worked like he said it most likely would. Excellent job!
 
Attached are photos of a Cape Buffalo I took on August 18, 2023 hunting with PH Marco DuPlessis / Afrika Barrel and Bow Safari in Limpopo Province.
Easton Dangerous Game arrow with a 150 grain VPA Single Bevel broahead and FOB fletching. Total arrow weight 748 grains at 219 fps from a Gearhead "Disrupter"24. The arrow was recovered in three pieces, two within 30 yards of arrow impact the other recovered in the skinning shed exactly as photographed. The arrow penetrated a rib on the entry side, note the crack extending from both sides of the hole through the rib, then through the heart before impacting but not penetrating a rib on the far side of the thoracic cavity. Recovery was 120 yards after we waited about 30 minutes following the shot. I'll claim reasonable skill for putting the arrow in the proper vicinity however it's pure luck that centered it in the heart.

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Gearhead bows are wonderful and they tend to shoot heavy arrows very efficiently. I'm prostaff for Gearhead as is my young son and we found the heavy arrows were getting way higher FPS over a chronograph than the calculators predicted.

Congratulations on your wonderful bull! I hear good things about VPAs and FOB and they certainly performed very well for you.
 
I shot a similar arrow set up as you in 2019 and mine went about 45 yds. Congrats on a great buff and set up.
 

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