.40-70 BN for Buffalo

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SchuetzenDave
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Re: .40-70 BN for Buffalo

Post by SchuetzenDave »

I saw pictures of a South African Buffalo shot through both sides of the heart.
They tracked it five miles before they shot it again in the head.
The first solid bullet had punctured right through the buffalo and through both sides of his heart.
It's heart was so strong it sealed the puncture wounds on each beat and easily ran five miles.
I think something with a bigger bore like a .50-90 would be better to try to knock one of them down.
Smaller calibers may put a hole through them but you need to make a hole large enough to bleed one of them out.
Michael Johnson

Re: .40-70 BN for Buffalo

Post by Michael Johnson »

While I think it is perfectly acceptable to shoot the American Bison with a 40, 45, or 50 cal BPCR (and I have done so with a 45-70 and a 50-90) I would not want to go after African Cape buffalo with one. The reason is that if wounded they really want to kill you, not run off for five miles. Every year several hunters or their professional hunter guides have been seriously wounded or killed in pursuit of Cape buffalo.If I ever hunt Cape buffalo in Africa, I will bring my 416 Remington Magnum loaded with 400 grain Swift A-frame bullets. I have a friend who shot a Cape buffalo six times with a Holland and Holland 500 BPE before it went down (all shots in close quarters-100yards). I think this internet hunting is quite amusing but it ceases to be funny when you become the hunted.For a good read check out Solo Safari: Hunting Africa on Your Own Without a Professional Hunter by Terrance Cacek published by Safari Press. It talks about hunting Cape buffalo alone without a guy to get your ass out of the frying pan.
sandhillcowboy1
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Re: .40-70 BN for Buffalo

Post by sandhillcowboy1 »

I have seen a 1 1/2 yr old buffalo shot twice at around 100 yards not flinch after being hit with two rounds from a .416 Rigby. Mid section lung shots. Animal ran off nearly 70 yards. The shooter thought he was missing and could not believe there was no reaction from the animal. He had hunted African Capes before using the same gun.. Have spent a lot of time visiting with Redneck on these subjects...........it is complicated.

Have seen a 40-90 BN penetrate nearly 3/4 of the distance somewhat diagonally through a cow buffalo, passing through the heart and stomach. Paper patch 350 grain at 100 yards.

Just a couple personal observations.
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rfd
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Re: .40-70 BN for Buffalo

Post by rfd »

along the same vein, i would think/guess that a .40-65 starline case with 72+ grains of lightly compressed swiss (1-1/2f? 3f?), under a .060 LDPE wad, under a 392 grain PPB slick, should generate enuf horse/bison power to knock down or at least mortally wound a buff at a reasonable shot distance with a properly placed slick point of impact ... ?
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77 sharps
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Re: .40-70 BN for Buffalo

Post by 77 sharps »

If the bullet had a blunt round nose similar to the 457125 or a flat point of at least .25” I would not hesitate at all using it on a bison. I would avoid the heavy shoulder bones. They would most likely stop the bullet.
sandhillcowboy1
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Re: .40-70 BN for Buffalo

Post by sandhillcowboy1 »

rfd wrote: Sun Feb 17, 2019 8:41 am along the same vein, i would think/guess that a .40-65 starline case with 72+ grains of lightly compressed swiss (1-1/2f? 3f?), under a .060 LDPE wad, under a 392 grain PPB slick, should generate enuf horse/bison power to knock down or at least mortally wound a buff at a reasonable shot distance with a properly placed slick point of impact ... ?
Have seen a .40-65 using around 65 grs. of GoeX 2F, powering a 350 gr PP custom Hoch bullet break rib, through heart, and clip rib on opposite side upon exit at 100 plus yards. Buff down for the count in short order. Not a very large meplat on the bullet. That is about as small as I would recommend for bison.

Rick
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rfd
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Re: .40-70 BN for Buffalo

Post by rfd »

the 392 grain AM 40-400P slick has a 3/16" meplat.
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Clarence
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Re: .40-70 BN for Buffalo

Post by Clarence »

I agree with 77sharps, although I'd likely want at least 1/4" meplat.

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Re: .40-70 BN for Buffalo

Post by 77 sharps »

rfd
If you are primarily a target shooter and want to shoot one bison. If that bullet fits your rifle, there’s enough weight there to trim the meplat back enough to get a .25 or .28” flat. I normally use a bullet patched.004” under bore diameter to allow multiple shots. A Lee push through die can be used to reduce the bullet diameter if required.
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rfd
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Re: .40-70 BN for Buffalo

Post by rfd »

77 sharps wrote: Mon Feb 18, 2019 3:39 pm rfd
If you are primarily a target shooter and want to shoot one bison. If that bullet fits your rifle, there’s enough weight there to trim the meplat back enough to get a .25 or .28” flat. I normally use a bullet patched.004” under bore diameter to allow multiple shots. A Lee push through die can be used to reduce the bullet diameter if required.
yep, i have a tool i modified that will add any amount of meplat to lead or lead alloy bullets.

thanx,
rob.
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bobw
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Re: .40-70 BN for Buffalo

Post by bobw »

rfd wrote: Sun Feb 17, 2019 8:41 am along the same vein, i would think/guess that a .40-65 starline case with 72+ grains of lightly compressed swiss (1-1/2f? 3f?), under a .060 LDPE wad, under a 392 grain PPB slick, should generate enuf horse/bison power to knock down or at least mortally wound a buff at a reasonable shot distance with a properly placed slick point of impact ... ?
short of a CNS or brain shot I'd bet there is damn few cartridges with any style of bullets that will "knock down" a buffalo at the impact. Fall from a mortal wound after awhile from a well placed chest shot yes, but knockdown no? Rick how many you seen knocked down at the impact on a non CNS or brain shot? bobw
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Chief Beck
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Re: .40-70 BN for Buffalo

Post by Chief Beck »

hey Bob,

I think Kurt "Dropped" one his on impact with one shot from his Sharps .44 2-5/8" BN awhile back.
I would have to go back and dig it up again to be sure unless Kurt chimes in.

Dennis
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Don McDowell
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Re: .40-70 BN for Buffalo

Post by Don McDowell »

Yup that yearling Kurt shot with his 44-90 dropped like a rock.
One of Ricks hunters also has a video of one going down on the spot from a 40-90 bn.
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Kurt
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Re: .40-70 BN for Buffalo

Post by Kurt »

The one I shot in North Dakota with the .44-90 bn went less than 100 yards with one shot before he folded up. I think you need a brain shot on Bison for him to drop on impact. The second one using the .44-77 took two shots that hit less than 3" apart through the lung and the last one with the .44-77 took two through the lung and a put down behind the ear that made him drop like a rock on impact. They are a tough critter.
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bobw
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Re: .40-70 BN for Buffalo

Post by bobw »

Like I said CNS or brain shot to drop like a rock at impact. Rick has seen more buffalo croak than anyone I know. bobw
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