Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Buffalo in Tanzania, etc.

Great news!!! Congrats.

Sweet deal all around! If going to Zambia I wouldn't be able to resist adding a puku and chobe bushbuck to the list.

Well it still isn't a 100% done deal yet but it is getting close. Early July 2025 looks to be a full moon and the only other opening is for late May which I likely will take---at Mark's suggestion. The DuPlooys' seem to think there'll be no issue finding Buffalo then, nor crocodile.

So, with that being said....bullets and binos. I will be discussing this with the PH at length but also for once I want to be the one on 24 Hour to ask the inevitable and ridiculously repetitively questions. Yes, I have googled the hell out of it and read opinions as varied as Ford vs Chevrolet. I have a Win 70 .375 H&H with Leupold VXIII 1.5-5X20 that will be going. What are the solid vs expanding bullet experiences here? 300 Gr Swift-A Frame has a reputation.

Binos? My standard Meopta 15X56s just do not sound optimal, like it does in the sheep or mule deer country I am used to hunting. I do have some 8.5X42 ELs that I use for timber hunting. I presume these are good for this kind of hunt?

The 8.5x42's should be great in the thorn bush. I used 8x42's last fall in Mozambique and they were perfect.

We used .375 270 grain TSX bullets to take two large buffalo with one shot each. But there are lots of good bullets that will work well, including the A-Frames.

Thanks bowmanh. Does the 270 TSX have enough velocity from a H&H to expand adequately, even at close range? Sounds like it worked for you, but any others??????

Out of my rifle the 270 grain TSX was going around 2700 fps. Most shots at buffalo are under 100 yards so that's plenty fast enough for good expansion. I shot my buffalo at about 70 yards and my son shot his at about 25. Sure killed them dead pretty fast.

I've shot two Zambian buff with 270 grain A-Frames. No problems.

If I was concentrating on buff I might switch to TSXs. Either will work. I usually use 300 grain bullets but the buff don't care.

As far as solids, ask Johnny. I have hunted three times with Alister Norton, DuPlooy's nephew, I think, and he doesn't feel a need for solids on buff.

T_Inman: I have killed 4 buffalo with the 270 grain Barnes LRX ( because I could not find the 270 TSX) they gave excellent expansion and on a broadside shot tended to be found under the hide on the far side.

I used the Woodleigh 300 HS solid as well. They worked as advertised.

Would like to see pictures of the bullets I recovered?

I think the 8x binos will be ideal.

I have used a 375 H&H on 12 buffalo and have used both the 270 TSX and LRX. Shot three at around 125-135 and they worked just like they did at 15 yards. Muzzle velocities were around 2800 (CFE223).

Have been loading my ammo for May and will be using the 250 TTSX at 2800. Expecting similar results.

Binoculars
I have used 8, 7, and 6x. My current favorites are the 6x. Keep them small and light weight. Anything over 8 is too much. You will be amazed at what the trackers see w/o binos.

Solids are for elephant and hippo not for buffaloes.

300 grain A-Frames

Exactly. Any of today's "premium" expanding bullets are enough for buffalo, and some are little too much.

All of the PHs I know (quite a few) like the Barnes TSX in the .375 H&H. But they prefer the 270-grain to the 300-grain, both because it tends to kill quicker AND doesn't tend to exit--and maybe hit another buffalo beyond the intended bull.

As others have said, your 8x binoculars will be perfect for your Zambian hunt. Regarding bullets, there are plenty of great options nowadays. You can’t go wrong with Swift A-frames, Trophy Bonded Bear Claws, Barnes TSXs, Cutting Edge Raptors and certainly other premium softs. There really is no need for solids these days when buffalo hunting. Johnny is a great guy and he’ll be happy to see you show up with your 375 shooting any of the above as long as you shoot well. It’s all you need for buffalo.

As mentioned above a good quality expanding bullet will get the job done. The Swift AFrames shoot very accurately out of my M70 375h&H, as do the 300 grain TSXs. Either will serve you well. 8x binos are plenty adequate for a buffalo hunt. What scope will you have in your rifle?

Thanks everyone. Google fu said solids really aren’t necessary but I wanted first hand opinions.




Leupold VXIII 1.5-5X20.

What is the campfire’s experience with Nile Crocodile? Same bullets/scope?

It has been 20 years since I hunted buffalo and theres more choices in bullets nowadays. FWIW I used a .375H&H with 300 Gr Swift A-Frames for the first shot. The rest in the magazine were A-Square Monolithic solids. I used them both and was very satisfied with the performance of both.Conventional thinking at the time was a soft first, then solids thereafter, so I went with it, knowing the PHs had a bit more experience with buffalo than I had.

A 350g Woodleigh would be perfect. Woodleigh should be back in business in a few months, so bullets should become available again.

Scope…my 375 has a NightForce 2.5-10. Super tough. Reticle big dot with a circle.

My 416 Rem wore a Leupold VX3 1.5-5 in Talley rings and bases. About 400 through it prior to the trip (Zim) with the 350 gr TSX. It worked.