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

Several years ago I filmed my brother shoot a buff in the ear hole with his .30-06. It worked.



P

You want bloodshot meat or freezer meat? 223 Remington in the ear hole nice and neat....been there done that

Not what I'd want for an animal that size.

When I took mine I used an original 1863-68 Sharpes carbine in 50-70 government. I used a factory loaded round that was loaded in the 1880's. Saw one took with a 270 Win, 300 Win mag twice, 7mm rem mag, 348 Win, 243 win and 480 Ruger.

Now that's cool!

This is a shot placement issue, not horsepower.

I do not litter, however when I shoot at a head of game I leave the cartridge case where it falls. When I find a single or two empty cases in the woods I ponder what was shot and when. When someone finds my 1880's 50-70 I hope someone imagines it killed a buffalo, which it did, just 120 years after the evidence would lead a person to believe.

My #4 Rolling Block in 45-70

This.

My uncle gifted me his 30-30 that has accounted for hundreds of Buffalo.

I would use my 375 Ruger Guide Gun with my 300gr. Nosler Accubond load traveling 2590fps.

I shot a good Bison with my 375 Ruger and the 260gr Partition bullet. First shot was broadside at 125yds and the bullet caught him just behind the shoulder. Upon impact the bull didn't even flinch. He walked a few steps and then turned around (180 deg) presenting me with another broadside shot. Boom …. and the second bullet also hit him just behind the shoulder. Given a few seconds more and he just tipped over dead. Both bullets had expanded into perfect mushrooms and were caught in the off-side hide, one on each side.

I think if I hunt them again I'll use the 270 TSX bullet and see if it exits.

One thing for sure is that buffalo can soak up a lot of lead.

I’m nostalgic that way too and I think your thought process is pretty cool. I have a large cartridge collection with original and some various cartridges that are quite rare today. I think using an original rifle with its original load to be a very cool way to go and leaving that case to be found in the distant future a neat way of continuing the mystique for others to ponder. 👍

I shot a big bull 2 years ago with an original Winchester model 1895.

A .35win. I handloaded 250 grain Hornady RN. In hind sight I believe it would have worked better with a different t bullet. The first shot at 75 yds was right in the "pocket". He went down on his knees and some other bulls started horning him. He got up and they all took of right into green timber!. The rodeo began. we eventually got in front of them but with the other bulls around him it was hard to get a clear shot, especially with Irion sights. I truly wished for my scoped .375

Eventually got on them and got two more into his chest and off deeper into the green timber. Eventually got on them again and 1 more chest shot and got pretty aggressive ran in and put one behind his ear. The bulls were pretty pissed and had to haul ass to get out of there.

The other bulls finally left. So I had a 2800lb bull 1/2 mile into green timber.

We got to a ranch and got a tractor and old jeep, chain saws and 5 guys. Actually made a road to get him out.

When gutting him out I found 4 off the Hornady's 2 of them hit ribs and were broke up and barley penatrated one lung. The other 2 went through both lungs a bit high and were in the rib meat but didn't make it to the hide.

I believe a better bullet would worked better. These chrono'd 2400.

All in all quite a experience. Bull was 8 1/2 years old, Ground most of it to hamburger, 950lbs of it!

Excellent meat but getting kinda sick of it.


BTW I have a .375 Ruger guide gun in the classifieds.


Lefty

ONE good 405-420gr cast or a Lehigh WFN 380gr solid copper out of a .45-70 would have made an air hole out the other side.

We have taken two with 7mm-08 with 120 ttsx.
Both noggin shots.
My wife’s was from a tractor tire to bison at 30 yards. Mine was from tractor tire to bison at 100 plus.
Behind the ear worked for a sample of two.

Assuming this is a ranch hunt. Grocery shopping with a rifle. Shot placement trumps caliber as already stated. Took a bison cow a few years back. 7mm08 160 grain accubond. Neck and skull junction dropped where she stood. Rancher shoots his meat bison with a 17 remington. Waits for the perfect shot in the ear hole.

Find out what shots the ranch wants you taking. Some will insist on head shots. Others don't trust peoples shooting abilities and want body shots. If they want body shots then I would go large caliber and tough bullet. Otherwise whatever caliber and rifle combo you would use for whitetails, that you can shoot the most accurately, for headshots.

I have killed them with 58 and 62 cal muzzle-loaders, 375H&H and 44 magnum handgun. If you have a bullet that will hold together and if you can place it well, about any heavier caliber deer rifle or any elk rifle will do. The one I killed with the 44 was a single shot through the brain and the bull dropped instantly, and the bullet exited the rear right "bump" of the skull.
So placement with penetration is what is needed. All the rest is of no importance if you break their neck or hit the brain.

But if you want to shoot them through the ribs like a white tail, I would say go as large as you can. That's what I did with both muzzleloaders and the 375. All went down in about 10 seconds, but none dropped at the shot.

If I ever go after another I will probably use a 9.3X62, 9.3X74R, 375H&H or a 404 Jeffery.
Just because I can.

That covers it.

Interesting dilemma.

As it happens, a friend and I shot two Nebraska bulls, each 1,700 pounds live weight, about ten years ago. We both used Model 700's, his in '06 and mine in .375 H&H, and we both shot Barnes X bullets. While both calibers proved adequate to the job, my instinct is that the success of the '06 was substantially attributable to the Barnes X. That said, I'd opt for the .375.

I harvested one w a 9.3x62 to the head and saw another taken with a 270 to the head. Both went down immediately, but you need to let them lay for a bit before touching them or you might get a reflexive kick.