Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game American bison (Buffalo) which rifle would you take?

If you elect NOT to shoot the bison with your 375, I can't help but ask, what are you saving it for?

375 Ruger all the way.

But I have to ask, why are we talking about head shots? Would we be talking about headshots of the OP was asking about which rifle to use for moose or elk?

This.........

Really? Do tell.

Family place has run Buffalo for just short of a century. Uncle has run that portion of the ranch for nearly 60 years. A short year is 25 buff and back when the heard was much larger, I believe they did over 100. Some are taken by other hunters (its really a harvest) but that rifle has had its fair share. I need to read the old journals to get official talley.

Back to the original poster, has the outfit you are going with given more info on the hunting style?

i have only ever killed one bigger bull and that was with one shot from an arrow and that bull died quickly. but if i was to take a rifle i would probably use a Savage 99 in a 300 Savage cartridge,that i handloaded the ammo for that buffalo hunt.

1st with my 45-110 and 540 gr ppb's ,2nd with my 50-140 500gr ppb's. A inch above the elbow angling forward right thru the heart. Only a CNS shot will drop them on the spot no matter what you use. It just takes them sometime to die thru the body. You use a Sharps or a Sharps clone this lets you experience 140 years a go and the way it was...… 30-06 in the heart is just as dead as the 375 in the same place sabe? MB

curious, what distances can one reasonably expect to lug a rifle on your intended foray for bison?

That combo would not be legal in AK bison draw hunts. Minimum 30 caliber, 200gr bullet that delivers 2000FP at 100 yards, which they list as being minimally a 220gr bullet from a 30-06. The BP load would be too slow to make the grade.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=deltabison.weaponslegalhunting

Weapons Legal for Bison Hunting
Bison may be shot with any centerfire rifle, handgun, muzzleloading rifle, bow-and-arrow or crossbow that meet the criteria listed below:

Successful bison hunter with harvested bison
Rifle/handgun: must fire a 200 grain or larger bullet, which retains at least 2000 foot-pounds of energy at 100 yards. A .30-06 with a 220 grain bullet is about the minimal weapon that meets this specification.
Muzzleloader: muzzle-loading rifles must be .54 caliber or larger, or at least .45 caliber with a 300 grain or larger elongated slug. Further, for safety reasons, those hunting with muzzleloaders must also have within easy reach a smokeless powder rifle meeting the centerfire rifle requirements listed above.
Black Powder cartridge rifles: must fire a 400 grain bullet or larger loaded with a minimum of 70 grains of black powder or equivalent (.45-70 with a 400 grain bullet or a .44-90 with a 550 grain bullet).
Not Legal — .45-70 loaded with 55 grains of black powder, or a .45-70 with a 330 grain bullet.
Bow: longbows, recurve bows, or compound bows are permitted, but they must have a peak draw weight of 50 pounds or more. Arrows must be at least 20 inches in overall length, and tipped with unbarbed, fixed or replaceable-blade type broadheads. Arrow and broadhead together must weigh at least 300 grains total weight. ADF&G strongly recommends that bowhunters have a rifle close at hand.
Crossbow: must have at least 100 lbs. peak draw weight and at least 14 in draw length. The bolt must be 16 or more inches in length, tipped with unbarbed fixed, replaceable or mechanical/retractable blade. The bolt and blade together must weigh a total of 300 grains or more.
— No electronic devices may be attached to the crossbow.

Ryan, I'd tend to agree... but a .375 Ruger is still a medium bore and for most folks it's pretty manageable. The first critter I killed with my old 375 Ruger was a heart-shot bison heifer, and she died pretty cleanly after the shot and a 30-yard run. I've killed several bigger critters with the 375's since then, and I'm convinced it's a great killer of bigger critters without killing my shoulder.

I'd be interested in seeing the video of the shot behind the ear!



Interesting question. Ryan?

I used my 22 magnum..
True story

Billy

Looks like it would "make the grade" to me.

Is there a 350 gr for the 375? At a moderate speed. Have not done it myself. Be Well, Rustyzipper.

I shot a couple year old bull once on a ranch hunt with a .444 and a 300 grain Nosler Sporting JHP. Right behind the shoulder about halfway up. He dropped like a stone and the bullet exited. There’s a lot of difference size wise between a 2 or 3 year old bull and a big one.

I imagine that their “toughness” is akin to their cousins the beef cow and like an old man told me about them. “Damn cows are too stupid to die sometimes”, was what he told me.

usually in the warmer months if we have to put one down we do it with a base of the ear shot so death is instant. we do have a hunter this year who can only come in may, so I'll let you know if I see anything out of the ordinary. sorry I've been away from the computer to answer sooner, been kinda busy with the move.

The cartridge or caliber argument cannot be won.
Where the animal will likely be shot or what limitations or instructions are provided on where to place the shot has more say in the argument.
There are basically 2 options, either the body shot of your choice or head/neck join shot requested.

The former is achievable with most "big game" rifles and the later, with all suggestions made so far, mostly because they already did it.
I know the.460 Weatherby is enough, because it was.

Woodleigh 350 soft points, protective points and soild. I have loaded the Woodleigh 350gr. PP in my 375 Ruger Guide Gun and got an inch 3-shot group at 100yds. Chronographed them at 2390fps average.