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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,324
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Great article! I would add that a .338 Win Mag is adequate buffalo and bison medicine. I used the 225 gr. Swift A-frame on my bison hunt last fall with outstanding performance. I am looking at a water buffalo hunt as well and that will definitely be the rifle and bullet I will take! Here is a link to the video and some photos of the bison hunt on the Crow Reservation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AawnlLeVlEghttp://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da34b3127ccec68a76c7799600000040O00BatnDVu5cMQe3nws/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/ http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da34b3127ccec68baa3b594800000040O00BatnDVu5cMQe3nws/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
PASS IT ON!
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,436
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,436 |
John,
Who did you hunt with in Texas?
Since I'm headed "down range" for the fall with the Air Force, I'll miss this fall's hunting season, and may try to sneak in a hunt in Texas before I go.
“Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils.” - General John Stark.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,178 Likes: 20
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,178 Likes: 20 |
Yeah, the .338 is adequate, where legal. Unfortunately it isn't legal in almost all of Africa, but I do know a few hunters who have used it on Cape buffalo anyway with uniformly good results.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 16,000
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 16,000 |
it would seem to me that buffalo, not being critical here, was shot just a little high. They are tough creatures to knock down in my opinion. I took in november a .338winmag with 225grain barnes bullets, but opted for a .375H&H with a speer gran slam. Hit that sucker square and blew the top of the heart out, but still took him a while to stop using oxygen. I did see a .338 used on a couple of them and it did work, as well as a .300H&H
THE BIRTH PLACE OF GERONIMO
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,178 Likes: 20
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,178 Likes: 20 |
Which buffalo are you talking about?
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 16,000
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 16,000 |
Which buffalo are you talking about? I was refering to this one. http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9da34...3D550/ry%3D400/
THE BIRTH PLACE OF GERONIMO
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,323
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,323 |
Why did Speer dicontinue their African Grand Slam? I believe it had a tungsten core. The one for the 458 was nice because it was shorter and you could get more powder in the case.
`Bring Enough Gun`
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 379
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 379 |
...not to steal the thread, but AGS were "too expensive" to manufacture, so says Speer. I squireled away a hundred of them for my .458WM. The solids work GREAT on ele's, and the SP do a number on buffalo.
TSIBINDI
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,323
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Thanks for the info TSIBINDI!
`Bring Enough Gun`
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,954
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I have used the 338 win. with 300 gr. Woodleighs on Cape buffalo and the 9.3x62 with 286 Noslers, 300 gr. Swifts and 320 Woodleighs on them also..They are about equal in killing power IMO and they worked but they do not kill as fast as say a 458 Lott or even the 375 H&H in my experience...I can say the same for the 8x57, 30-06, 7x57 or .308 in that they do not put the big bulls down as fast as the 338..
Personally I think the 338 is a tad light for buffalo and I prefer a .375 or better yet the 40 calibers..I think proper buffalo caliber start at the 416s and go up..Not to say that I wouldn't hunt them with the lesser calibers, I will, but I don't recommend it.
Typically in buffalo hunting you shoot him in the heart/lung area and he turns to run and you give him another one up the keyster, and he goes 50 to 150 yards and dies. With the bigger bores it is usually closer the the 50 and witht the smaller calibers it is usually the 150, that is the norm IMO..
The thing is what if gets upset with your treatment of him and he comes your way to make a issue of it, the 50 yard death might just be to your benefit..I know that every time a buffalo has charged me I always swear that I will use a bigger rifle nest time and the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 116
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 116 |
I've also used a .338 Win with the 300 gr. Woodleigh on Asiatic Buffalo, and just as Ray states, I noticed no difference at at between it and my beloved 9.3x62. That said, I simply prefer the 9.3 or .375. I've always liked the .416s and .458s, but I also prefer lighter weapons that a fella can pack around all day and use on a variety of game (perhaps at slightly longer ranges). Thus, I don't use the .40+ calibers much these days. Hell, an 8 1/2 pound .458 is just a bit too much fun for this ol'Montanan!
One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching. -Bill
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 133
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 133 |
After my last buffalo hunt a few weeks ago with my .375, I have to agree with Ray. I'm going to acquire a .458 Win and load it up for next year. Bigger is better when it comes to buffalo.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,237
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,237 |
So I have never been able to subscribe successfully - is there an alternative way to see the article?
Ignorance is not confined to uneducated people.
WHO IS JOHN GALT? LIBERTY!
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,178 Likes: 20
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,178 Likes: 20 |
There is no subscription--everybody on the Campfire should get it. PM me your e-mail address and I'll send you a copy.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 153
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 153 |
I'm going to acquire a .458 Win and load it up for next year. No consideration for a .458 Lott? I don't shoot big bores, nor am I able to hunt African game. My interest is academic, but this is an interesting situation. The buffalo is a tough animal that requires both bullet penetration and expansion, meaning that the right bullet must be traveling at the right speed for successful terminal performance. The .458 Win has had a history of lacking velocity, and I'm wondering what the right combination might be here. Seems that the Lott would come closer to giving the required results. There's also the argument that a hunter shouldn't be using a stopping gun, which would suggest a lighter caliber than .458, but I'll leave that one to the experienced. BTW, I didn't get the article either, so I don't know what arguments JB may have proffered.
"Every country has the government it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 133
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 133 |
That tungsten cored bullet is still available, or was last summer. It's being manufactured in the states by a couple of guys whose names escape me, but you can contact Larry at Superior Ammo in Sturgis, SD and he will give you the info. He loads the round. They cost five bucks apiece. I bought about 75 Speers for my .375. I shot one through an inch of tempered steel at a hundred yards, so they have other uses besides hunting DG.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 286
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 286 |
I have 25 of the AGS if you are interested?
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 286
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 286 |
I have 25 AGS in 458 if you are interested. sedn me an email or PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,074
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,074 |
John, I remember reading an article on Cape Buffalo when I was a kid. This really got me intrigued & ever since then I wanted to harvest one of these beautiful animals. My question is this. In the article they mentioned using a .460 Capstick Rifle. Im somewhat familiar w/ the .470 Capstick but never heard anything again about the .460. Could this have been a major misprint? It was 23 years ago. Any info about this round would be appreciated. Thanks!
Treestands don't demand. Treestands don't complain. Treestands simply ask me to sit down and listen.
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