You know those guys that say buffalo turn bullet-proof after the first shot? They're the ones with a magazine full of solids.
I once had to shoot a small mule deer 3 times with a .7mm Weatheby Magnum. The bullets (Nosler partitions) did not hit a bone or open up. This is a bullet that I had used on dozens of mule deer (and elk and black bear for that matter) with mostly spectacular results.
The rationale for solids as backup shots on buffalo is that they can penetrate through 5 feet of buffalo and still break bone, putting you ahead of the game. Hit a running buffalo with a raking shot on the left side and you will encounter a thick paunch filled with partially digested grass. You need all of the penetration you can get.
My advice is to listen to your PH. He has probably seen more buffalo killed than any stateside hunter, regardless of how many trips he/she has made to Africa.
JMO
BH63
I'm quite aware of the theory. Trouble is, the theory has flaws. First off it assumes that the buffalo is going to run straight away; and its best to put one up it's ass, through 2 bales of wet hay and hopefully get the heart or one lung. Its far easier to just break his hip, pelvis or hit the rear spine, all of will put it on the ground faster than you can say "dang". Nothing goes anywhere when its paralyzed from the waist down, and all the good disabling stuff is up high where the bales of hay aren't. I've found that shot buffalo usually run the direction they were pointed, but might go anywhere.
I started with a magazine full of solids, like a lot of people. Then I switched to 2 softs and 2 solids ( at the suggestion of a PH who was fine with all softs but also said that he didn't care what the last 2 were if the first two were good softs) and around buffalo 5 went to all softs except when I throw a solid in to remind me of why I don't use them, or to try out something different to see if that one doesn't suck. Whether you want 1 soft, 2 softs, all softs or all solids there will be a PH somewhere who will agree with you and others who don't.
I'm currently at 135 buffalo on three continents. I don't count those I finished off for other people like PHs do.
