Something I said on an earlier thread is worth repeating. As a hunter, I want to Plan and prep for the worst and expect the worst. That way when (if) a charge is encountered, I would be expecting it and not surprised. A charge is a rare thing so not really all that likely. Maybe 1:10 or less? I have been working on plans to hunt a Cape Buffalo for almost two years now. Even went on a practice Safari with my PH last year to get to know one another and learn what I could using WB as practice game.
Both my 375's are zeroed at 100y with Barnes 300g TSX and shoot to same POI at 30/40/50/60/70/80/90/100/110/120y. They are 1" Low at 20y due to the space between the bore and the scope centerline and 1" low at 130/140y and 2" low at 150/160y. They both have longer bbls and get good velocity thus the flatish trajectory. 1"+/- from 20-140y is less variance than my ability to shoot off sticks or off hand in event of a charge.
While observing a small herd of Cape Buffalo in the field last year with my PH, we discussed his MO when hunting with clients using bolt action rifles. He learned this from his Mentor and after discussing this the logic is simple and makes sense: Stalk the buffalo until at a range of about 80y. No more and certainly no less. Why? This is close enough that nearly any client can make a solid 1st shot from sticks into the vitals. That 1st shot is the most important. It is also close enough to get full expansion from the bullet and deep penetration if not a thru and thru shot. This is also far away enough that in the rare case of a charge, the hunter (and the PH) will have time to get off 2-3 more aimed shots each on the beast before he is too close. It does not guarantee that you will drop him in time but if you do not, it is your own fault.
If you are using a heavy dbl rifle with iron sights you will need to be closer, like 50y but that is comparing apples to cannons. The 2nd shot with the dbl is much faster if needed than the bolt gun and possibly less likely to be needed (as long as that 1st shot is true), but the bolt gun has the advantage of a 3rd or 4th shot if needed. Each tool must be used to its best advantage. With practice a 2nd shot with the bolt gun can be sent downrange very quickly.
Plan for and take a 2nd shot asap, no matter how good you think the first shot was and do not wait for the PH to say reload. Do it! FAST. Cycle that bolt hard, all the way back to fully eject the brass and avoid a short cycle jam, then push the bolt forward in a smooth firm motion, closing into battery.
Aim fast, shoot slow and hit the tgt every time. Fast misses are for dummies. Just sayin. easy to say, but harder to do.
The 2nd shot needs to be on any part of the buffalo you can hit but not just aiming at black. Use your noodle and plan for various angles and have shots in mind before you hunt. The hip shot is a good one as it can break down one of the rear legs and if the front was also broken the animal is not going very far. The high shoulder spine shot may be even better. Neck another possibility. Anything that stuns, cripples, slows it down is the goal. Then the 3rd shot can be less frantic and better aimed. If everything goes to hell and he is coming at you fast, just be sure to save the last shot for a frontal brain shot at very close range. His head will be bobbing up and down as he gallops. Time the shot for when the head stops at the lowest point if you can. If you miss the brain, you may still hit the cervical spine or heart. Most buffalo will lower his head to gore you at about 20y. That is the best time to take the last shot. Keep your nerve and make it count. If you miss you are dead. If you run, you are dead. If there is a tree to climb that is a better option but that is usually not available when you most need it.
My PH guided a client on a buff hunt 2yrs ago. The client shot it twice with good hits using a 375HH. He is a good marksman and a experienced hunter. The buff was down but one or two other herd bulls decided to take out their revenge on him while he was down. They were goring him in the nuts. The hunters attempted to shoo them away without result. They called up the Land Cruiser on the radio and the driver drove close to the bulls blowing the horn and the two bulls scattered. Now, my PH instructed the client to place a 3rd insurance shot into the bull's spine from close range. He knelt and fired, but clearly missed the spine. It was a solid chest hit. The bull jumped up but was facing away from them. This is a reminder why you always approach a down/dead buffalo from behind, lol.
The bull facing away, looked over his left shoulder and charged at close range. The usual WTF expletives apply here. The client ran behind the Land Cruiser and the PH who was on the other side and more nimble jumped into the bed of the truck. The bull attacked the Land Cruiser multiple times. It lifted the entire left front wheel about a foot or more off the ground and dropped it, multiple times. The PH shot a shot into the bull's shoulder blades while looking down at it. I think he said he was using a 458WM. The bull did not flinch but attacked the truck again. PH fired a 2nd shot without result. Client at this point had recovered and shot the bull once more. At this point the bull had absorbed six shots at close range. This whole thing is on video if you want to watch it. It is pretty damn wild. I do not recall if they shot any more at that point. Possibly once more but not certain. But then the bull trotted away a short distance and fell over, presumably dead. The client climbed into the safety of the truck and after a suitable time period, they both climbed down and the client placed one more insurance shot into the chest albeit from a slightly longer distance, lol. They are unpredictable animals and this is truly not a typical occurrence. PH told me that the bull did about $6k US damage to the Land Cruiser. Plan for the worst and expect the worst.
Just for balance the last two bulls this PH guided hunts on last year were both killed with two shots each from a 375HH using the same ammo and both dropped within a few yards.
