Favorite caliber for cape buffalo?

[zephyr]

Have used...
400H&H
450NE
458 Lott
505 Gibbs
All shot inside of 50 yards last one was close enough I could have "Ugly" it to death ....
still learning

 

[africahunter]

For Cape buffalo, a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum (wide V backsights and uncovered ivory bead foresight) loaded with 300Gr premium grade expanding bullets has always suited me best. Based upon current market choices, I am (at the moment) using the 300Gr Barnes TSX. If availability was not an issue, then I would also prefer Swift A Frames or Federal Premium Trophy Bonded Bear Claws.

P.S: Modern sportsmen might prefer a low power telescopic sight (not too high magnification) instead of iron sights, if they feel more confident in it’s ability to make a cleaner initial shot. But I stipulate that the mounts should be quick detachable for follow up work in the thickets/dense vegetation.
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Thanks for the thorough reply! This is helpful. Nice Cape Buffalo photos as well!

 

[DLSJR]

I’ve shot buffalo with .375 H&H, .416 Hoffman, .458 Winchester and 470 NE. They all kill buffalo efficiently. Nowadays I mostly use the .416, but also the .375 sometimes. Either is fine.

I think a .416 400 grain bullet at around 2,400 fps is close to perfection for a client buffalo caliber.

 

[africahunter]

I’ve shot buffalo with .375 H&H, .416 Hoffman, .458 Winchester and 470 NE. They all kill buffalo efficiently. Nowadays I mostly use the .416, but also the .375 sometimes. Either is fine.

I think a .416 400 grain bullet at around 2,400 fps is close to perfection for a client buffalo caliber.

Thanks, this is good to know!

 

[jnelson]

Army/Navy 450 3 1/4

 

[Hillcountry63]

I have taken buffalo with 375 H&H 300gn Barnes TSX (2), 9.3X74R 286gn RWS and 458WM 450gn Barnes TSX. As has been pointed out thoroughly, first shot is critical for success and safety. The only follow up shot I've had to do was with the 375, even though the first shot was a heart shot. He spun to charge and a follow up to the neck/spine finished the job.

 

[6.5 wildcatter]

Used my 404-375 Ruger on 2 buff. Still undecided between a couple of Win M-70s for a buff hunt later this Summer. The pre-64 Transitional is a 375H&H the other is a Biesen 404J. Leaning toward the latter right now because of the cartridge, though I like the 375 because of the rifle. Except for the special order OEM receiver sight and original G&H scope side mount, it’s original. It also has several good African trophies to its credit.

Hard decisions!!

 

[grand veneur]

Thanks, this is good to know!

A cartridge caliber .416 or similar, a 400gr bullet and a muzzle velocity of 2400 fps are the theoretical specification for a dangerous game cartridge. In practice, the hunter chooses his cartridge based on his experience and what he still can shoot without difficulty. You should also not be under-gunned, and that's why cartridges caliber 9,3mm and .375 are the lower limit, not only because they are required by the legislator. On the other hand, it's not necessary to use oversized cartridges. From practical experience, cartridges like the 500 Jeffery or 577 are a reasonable upper limit for hunting dangerous game, although they are not absolutely needed for buffalo hunting.

 

[FlowHamed18]

A single word and not much more - "Jeffery", "Jeffery 4-0-4"

 

[FlyGuy]

Think a .300 WSM is enough? Scope or iron sights?

More than enough…
A 180gr Partition or PMP behind the ear, and he / she is dead before you recover from the recoil.
As youngsters we simply didn’t have access to the “correct” tool for the job.
We used what we had…

 

[Tanks]

Think a .300 WSM is enough? Scope or iron sights?

7x57 is good enough. If good enough for W. Bell for elephant, good enough for buffalo. So, .300 WSM is likely an overkill.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

With proper bullet placement, a .375HH will be fine.

Don't need anything else, shot all 3 of mine with a 375HH didn't run 25 yards. Buffalo I shot last year fell in his tracks. 300 grain swift

 

[Mnovak]

Archery with 300gr broadhead!

 

[Rafiki]

500 Sharps 2 1/2" (50-90 Sharps).

 

[Brian]

.45-70

Use the right bullet
Shot placement
Personal restraint

For those of us who favor levers.

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Tundra Tiger, Nice Photo!

Pleas tell me what weight of bullet and MV. You know me, the bullet nut, Thanks, brian

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I don't remember off the top... 1850 or a hair more? 325 grain brass solids.

 

[358 Norma]

Only killed one and I used a Dakota 76 416 Remington magnum and a handloaded Swift 400 grn A-frame. Going back in 2026 and I'm hoping to use my Chapuis Elon 470 Nitro.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Just wanting to see what everyone's favorite caliber is for cape buffalo!

I've taken two. Both with.my .458 Win Mag. The first one was hit in the heart, but a little low. He changed and the PH and I shot him.again and he went down. When we went in the bull jumped.up a started to close on the PH. His rifle malfunctioned and I wss able to break the bulls neck when was about ten feet from.the PH.

The next time I knew better where exactly the heart was and put the bullet through the shoulder and smashed the valves at the top. That one ran about 20 yards and toppled over dead.

Buffalo are serious dangerous game. They sometimes require real convincing that they are dead. I do not advocate using marginal calibers to hunt them. Yes, you leveraphiles, that would include the .45-70. Even if your PH says it's fine, there are many that feel even the .458 Win is inadequate as a stopping rifle. A couple of them write on AH, and a.45-70 will never equal the .458 WM, no.matter what crazy scheme is used to over load the cartridge.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

In order…
.30
.375
Archery tackle
.458

In what country would a .30 caliber bullet be legal to hunt cape buffalo?

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I've taken two. Both with.my .458 Win Mag. The first one was hit in the heart, but a little low. He changed and the PH and I shot him.again and he went down. When we went in the bull jumped.up a started to close on the PH. His rifle malfunctioned and I wss able to break the bulls neck when was about ten feet from.the PH.

The next time I knew better where exactly the heart was and put the bullet through the shoulder and smashed the valves at the top. That one ran about 20 yards and toppled over dead.

Buffalo are serious dangerous game. They sometimes require real convincing that they are dead. I do not advocate using marginal calibers to hunt them. Yes, you leveraphiles, that would include the .45-70. Even if your PH says it's fine, there are many that feel even the .458 Win is inadequate as a stopping rifle. A couple of them write on AH, and a.45-70 will never equal the .458 WM, no.matter what crazy scheme is used to over load the cartridge.

I have 2 as well, both single shot kills that died in seconds. I guess I don't see my .45-70 as marginal?