The Distance to Sight in For Cape Buffalo?

[roklok]

Just no.

MPBR for a 2530 FPS 300 Grain bullet 2.9 inches high at 100 yards. 6 inch vital would work on a lion, brown bear, or anything else. Dead nuts hold from 30-200 yards.

Not sure why you would cripple yourself with a 50 yard zero.

An inch high at 100 would give you a dead nuts hold from 33 to 141 yards on a 2 inch target.

Gotta disagree, splitting hairs maybe. I am a huge proponent of sighting for MPBR for most rifles and general purpose hunting. That is how I have pretty much every hunting rifle set up. However, for buffalo hunting I broke from this and went dead on at 100 (and 50). I did this for a couple reasons. I had watched lots of videos shooting buffalo in heavy cover, and I want my bullet to be traveling as close to my line of sight as possible. That extra half inch or inch deviation from line of sight could mean the difference between a good shot and clipping a branch. Second is for precisely placing a shot at a small area in certain circumstances (brain). I do not expect to be shooting at an unwounded buffalo past 100 yards, and if a wounded one is heading away past 100 yards a bit lower hit isn't going to matter as in that circumstance will most likely be holding in the high middle of the black. For a general purpose zero of a 375, I agree with you, for a dedicated buffalo zero I think there are valid reasons for a 100 yard zero.

 

[trperk1]

Gotta disagree, splitting hairs maybe. I am a huge proponent of sighting for MPBR for most rifles and general purpose hunting. That is how I have pretty much every hunting rifle set up. However, for buffalo hunting I broke from this and went dead on at 100 (and 50). I did this for a couple reasons. I had watched lots of videos shooting buffalo in heavy cover, and I want my bullet to be traveling as close to my line of sight as possible. That extra half inch or inch deviation from line of sight could mean the difference between a good shot and clipping a branch. Second is for precisely placing a shot at a small area in certain circumstances (brain). I do not expect to be shooting at an unwounded buffalo past 100 yards, and if a wounded one is heading away past 100 yards a bit lower hit isn't going to matter as in that circumstance will most likely be holding in the high middle of the black. For a general purpose zero of a 375, I agree with you, for a dedicated buffalo zero I think there are valid reasons for a 100 yard zero.

Agree with you. I've only done one buffalo hunt but it was extremely thick cover. And why sight in for 200 yards anyway as I had no intent of a shot that far. Sighted in at 100 I was like a inch high at 50 and 5" low at 200.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Agree with you. I've only done one buffalo hunt but it was extremely thick cover. And why sight in for 200 yards anyway as I had no intent of a shot that far. Sighted in at 100 I was like an inch high at 50 and 5" low at 200.

My buffalo rifle could become my elephant rifle within a matter of seconds. I want it shooting as close to dead nut on from 10-50 yds as possible.

 

[375Fox]

My buffalo rifle could become my elephant rifle within a matter of seconds. I want it shooting as close to dead nut on from 10-50 yds as possible.

It also has a high likelihood of taking PG up to 300 yards. I question how many people have actually shot their rifles at 10, 25, 50, 100 yards to see the real difference of point of impact. I don’t think many realize they are low under 25 yards.

 

[Beck]

100 yards - don't over complicate it

 

[Doug Hamilton]

In theory, the 300 g, 375 H&H should cross the line of sight at both 50 and 100 yards. I've yet to experience this in real life on the range, and testing it against a Cape Buffalo is a bit unsettling. I've been told I am too anal, but in a head on charge at 30 yards, bullet placement is EVERYTHING, and the brain shot is the ONLY thing. My standard deviations, using both Barnes TSX and North Fork SCFB, are 1.5" from 50 to 100 yards. At 100 yards, 1.5" will easily put me inside a high heart/lung target space. I might be answering my own question here, but what would your "preferred" zeroing range be?

I have my .458 Win sighted in dead on at 100 yards. It is about 1.5" high at 50. There is no part of a buffalo that is smaller than that.

 

[Flipper Dude]

It also has a high likelihood of taking PG up to 300 yards. I question how many people have actually shot their rifles at 10, 25, 50, 100 yards to see the real difference of point of impact. I don’t think many realize they are low under 25 yards.

If I’m hunting buffalo it has ZERO likelihood of taking plains game over 75-100 yards.

But that’s just me. I can see the logic.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

.375 H&H
100 Yard Zero
300 Grain Barnes TSX

 

[375Fox]

If I’m hunting buffalo it has ZERO likelihood of taking plains game over 75-100 yards.

But that’s just me. I can see the logic.

It’s never zero. I took an eland at 250 yards this year in the area adjacent where you hunted your buffalo. My previous hunt there I never took a shot over 75 yards due to the brush and never imagined a rangefinder would be useful in that area.

 

[Flipper Dude]

It’s never zero. I took an eland at 250 yards this year in the area adjacent where you hunted your buffalo. My previous hunt there I never took a shot over 75 yards due to the brush and never imagined a rangefinder would be useful in that area.

My point wasn’t that those shots aren’t available to take. It’s that I’m not taking them.

 

[Nhoro]

Download the Hornady Ballistics app and see what your trajectory is. My 458 lott with correct velocity input is 0.79 inches high at 60 yards with a 100m zero. That is the biggest deviation from the line of sight and it is negligible. The trajectory falls off pretty quick after that, already 0.9 inches low at 120 yards.

Even accounting for possible inaccuracy of the app, I think 0 to 100 m variation is close to zero. So I aim dead on from zero to 110 yards and don't worry about .5 inches either way.

 

[Safari Dave]

If you are hunting with a scoped bolt action, then zero at 100 yds.

Shoot it enough to know exactly where it will hit at 10-200 yds. Know it by heart and don't worry about it.

There is nothing better than actually, shooting your rifle.

With enough bullets down range, at varying distances, it can almost become instinctual.


Don't extrapolate.

Just shoot, shoot, shoot...

(off hand, off sticks, benchrest, tripod, etc.)


IMO, most hunters do not actually shoot enough.

(I'm fortunate to live in a very rural area. ( I average shooting at least 5 rounds every day)).

Shot about 150 rounds yesterday, in my back yard.

 

[BGGMKLR]

In theory, the 300 g, 375 H&H should cross the line of sight at both 50 and 100 yards. I've yet to experience this in real life on the range, and testing it against a Cape Buffalo is a bit unsettling. I've been told I am too anal, but in a head on charge at 30 yards, bullet placement is EVERYTHING, and the brain shot is the ONLY thing. My standard deviations, using both Barnes TSX and North Fork SCFB, are 1.5" from 50 to 100 yards. At 100 yards, 1.5" will easily put me inside a high heart/lung target space. I might be answering my own question here, but what would your "preferred" zeroing range be?

Your PH's advice is always the best.
Spike

 

[JG26Irish_2]

That’s a crazy story! I want to watch that video, can you post the link to it?

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=882889639835493

This is the link to the video of the buffalo hunt. Hopefully, it works for you as I am not all that tech savvy. It was posted on FB. I think there is also a Youtube version but I cannot find it at the moment.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

Several commented on the Buffalo video being with comments about the hunter, the PH and their respective skills both hunting DG and shooting. Unless the commentors know the hunter and the PH and have 1st hand experience with their skill at arms, I think your negative speculation is unfair. I think to make such judgement you would need to be there. We can all speculate. I first mentioned the video only to underscore the unpredictable nature of the Cape Buffalo and its tough nature.

I do not know the hunter personally, but have been in his shop where some of his hunting trophies from all over the world are on display as testament to his high level of hunting experience. I have hunted with the PH and know first hand of his professionalism and skill. We are all human and can only plan for the worst, no matter how unlikely it might be. It falls in the same category of pilot lore. Such as "Any landing we walk away from is a successful landing" Translation: "Any Cape Buffalo hunt we all walk away from was a successful hunt.".

Lynn appeared to make two good first shots. The PH and others also made several seemingly well aimed followups after the initial surprise. What would we do differently? They got close and shot and then shot again and the buff was down. They approached from the rear, and placed an insurance shot rather than just kicking it in the ass or touching the eye. Upon the charge they took effective cover and fired again until the threat was down. I find it hard to be critical. Upon the charge, it would have been nice to have a 500NE dbl, but not all of us have one. The PH is looking for one.

I think of the Pilot's prayer is also applicable to DG hunters: "Dear God, please don't let me F##k Up."