Who’s done it? Cape buffalo or elephant with traditional large bore muzzleloader?

[Certus]

When I say this I don’t mean a cartridge shooting bore rifle or a muzzleloading rifle using smokeless and a scope etc. No sabots, monometal a (except lead).

I mean a true proper style muzzleloader, 12 bore or larger, percussion or flintlock. Using the holy Black.

Why’d you chose it? Story? Pics? Video?
Even if someone you know did it instead of you then I’d love to hear about it.
Or even just any internet articles you’re aware of I can read.

I think if I wanted to try it I’d opt for an 8 bore with hardened round ball. 4 bore is just too much to want to practice with.

Im going through a phase again of interest in muzzleloaders, as my 10 bore (large 10 at .797”) Fergusson is slooowly edging closer to completion. Needs a bit more metalwork and then a stock made. Its chamber is cut for a reasonably light (for caliber) load of 160gr 2F behind a 770gr (ish) pure lead round ball.
Why this? Didn’t want massive charges since it won’t be used for dangerous game.

 

[Certus]

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

F.C.Selous used one in the 1880’s, or did you mean recently
Gumpy

 

[fourfive8]

Yes, Selous beginning in 1871 through about 1881. He used a 4 bore loaded with a 1750 gr lead round ball over about 410 gr of coarse grade BP. He later lamented ever using that gun as he swore the recoil ruined his shooting ability because of the recoil. His tracker once double charged it just before shooting an elephant with the resulting recoil causing severe lacerations and breaking the stock. This info is from: A Hunter’s Wanderings In Africa by Selous, pgs 73 & 111.

 

[Boone66]

I haven't killed anything with it yet, but I did build a 8 bore with a screw less Nock lock.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

DendaalYes, Selous beginning in 1871 through about 1881. He used a 4 bore loaded with a 1750 gr lead round ball over about 410 gr of coarse grade BP. He later lamented ever using that gun as he swore the recoil ruined his shooting ability because of the recoil. His tracker once double charged it just before shooting an elephant with the resulting recoil causing severe lacerations and breaking the stock. This info is from: A Hunter’s Wanderings In Africa by Selous, pgs 73 & 111.

Yes, I’ve got the book
Didn’t Gert Odendall use one recently?
Gumpy

 

[Red Leg]

Assuming the client is not an expert with open sights on heavy recoiling firearms, and doesn't have years of experience with heavy BP rifles, it sounds like a great way to screw up on a dangerous game hunt where a number of other people will be put at risk.

 

[Boone66]

Assuming the client is not an expert with open sights on heavy recoiling firearms, and doesn't have years of experience with heavy BP rifles, it sounds like a great way to screw up on a dangerous game hunt where a number of other people will be put at risk.

I would hope that anyone doing this would take a couple years of shooting it on a regular basis to prepare. I shoot irons quite a bit as well as heavy recoiling guns, and I would still go back to basics and drill constantly with mine, as well as hunt local game with it a couple years before I took it to Africa and definitely have a big bore cartridge rifle as a back up.