Need Bigger Rifle - Moose/Cape Buffalo

[scotjute]

Am planning several hunts in future years for elk, moose, black bear, wildebeest, impala or similar, and possibly Cape Buffalo (this one is questionble)and need rifle recommendations. My current rifle is 6.5x55 caliber which is probably too small for moose and Cape Buffalo. Prefer caliber big enough without too much kick, flat shooting, not to expensive, legal, etc. .45-70, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby, or others to be considered. Understand that the recommended caliber may not fit everything. May end up selling this rifle once goal has been achieved.

 

[2dswamp]

If I had to choose one gun...

If I had to choose one gun for the purposes you describe....375 H&H

If the recoil is too stout for you...300 Win Mag Can load her light or heavy

Good luck!

 

[Wheeler44]

A lot of moose have been put down with a 6.5x55.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

6.5x55 too small for Cape Buff? Absolutely. Too small for moose? Nah, it'll work just fine for moose and plains game, in my understanding.

For the Buff, whole nuther story - you want a BIG gun. Bare minimum of .375 HH mag or .45-70 upper level II loads. Preferably a nitro round (.450, .470, .500, etc.), or .458 winmag or lott, or a .416 or .460 bolt rifle. The best power to economy ratio is gonna be a CZ 550 Safari magnum in .458 Lott, or a CZ 550 or Win 70 in .375 HH mag.

 

[Grumulkin]

Without question, what you need is a 375 H&H Magnum. The recoil is very tolerable and you can use it for anything from varmints (with solids) as in the African Wildcat pictured to Cape Buffalo. Unlike the 300 Win. Mag., it's actually legal for Cape Buffalo.

 

[wishn4more]

Powderhorn in SA

Had a couple nice big bore rifles on the used rack, may still be there. 210-674-5220... Anyone who answers will help you out. Just a loyal customer!

 

[saddlebum]

375 ruger

 

[wheelgunslinger]

375 h&h is my answer too. I love it as a great all around round for big, medium, and small game.
And, if you want to get creative, Browning made the BAR in that caliber for a while. So, you can shoot it semi-auto if you want.

 

[H&Hhunter]

.375H&H is by far and away the rifle you seek. It can be had in nice light short packages and it is gentle to shoot and gives you all the range versatility you could possibly hope for in a hunting rifle plus the hit and killing power to use on the worlds largest game. I've killed everything from Jack Rabbits to Cape buffalo with mine.

The .375 Ruger is fine choice as well it is nothing more than a standard length version of the .375H&H it offers no more and no less in the power department.

Don't be fooled by internet bwanabes the .45-70 is NOT legal for buff hunting in Africa. It cannot make the minimum energy requirements. Read the latest Sports Afield Kevin Robertson explains it very nicely.

And, if you want to get creative, Browning made the BAR in that caliber for a while. So, you can shoot it semi-auto if you want.

Not in Africa you can't. Semi autos are illegal in most if not all hunting countries in Africa.

 

[B.D. Turner]

I believe Jim Shockey has take all of the above animals listed with a muzzleloader. Ohhh it must have been a ultra mag muzzleloader.

 

[scotjute]

from H&H Hunter :

"...I've killed everything from Jack Rabbits to Cape buffalo with mine."

Being from Texas, that statement makes perfect sense to me! Sounds as if you've been on a Jack Rabbit hunting trip down here. When you're out on the open prairie with nothing between you and an agitated Texas Jack Rabbit but sky, thoughts of "did I bring enough gun" will begin to run thru even the most experienced of hunters!

Is it recommended to scope the .375 H&H for Cape Buffalo?

 

[H&Hhunter]

Yes I think a scope on a .375H&H is a very good idea.

Scoutjute you've obviously never hunted the rare, elusive and dangerous "High Plains" jack rabbit....

 

[mio]

i had a .338 win mag. if that wont kill it im not hunting it.

 

[W.E.G.]

i had a .338 win mag. if that wont kill it im not hunting it.

+1

 

[H&Hhunter]

It isn't about whether it is capable of killing a buff or not I am referring to legality. The .338 and the .375H&H are just about twins in the killing department but the .338 isn't a legal DG caliber in any African countries.

The question was a moose/Cape buffalo gun. The .338 doesn't qualify in the buff department.

 

[uk roe hunter]

i was just watching a you tube vid of a bloke hunting waterbuffalo in australia, he was using .375 Holland & Holland. The animals were not going straight down. the water buff ran away when wounded, cape buff probably won't. Take loads of gun. they are quite nasty when they are angry (like the hulk with horns)

 

[Grumulkin]

Browning made the BAR in that caliber (375 H&H Mag.) for a while. So, you can shoot it semi-auto if you want.

I didn't know that. Legal or not for Africa, I want one.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Hey H&H hunter -is a standard .50 cal muzzleloader like Jim Shockey uses (as someone noted above) legal to use in all or most countries there if you wish to? I've seen that dude kill cape buff his ML!

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Don't be fooled by internet bwanabes

That's pretty funny wordplay right there. Can I borrow that?

Not in Africa you can't. Semi autos are illegal in most if not all hunting countries in Africa.

Sorry, I just meant as a stateside 2nd rifle if you're in love with the round. You can use it on elk and yotes.

I didn't know that. Legal or not for Africa, I want one.

I used to be all in love with African Hunting. I wanted to be a PH. The 375 was my favorite round for years, and I ate slept and breathed Africa and the 375, which was about the time that Browning was making it.
Check Gunbroker. there's usually one for sale. Lots of people have no clue what a great round the 375H&H is, and almost noone knows about the BAR in that chambering. It's super cool though.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Hey H&H hunter -is a standard .50 cal muzzleloader like Jim Shockey uses (as someone noted above) legal to use in all or most countries there if you wish to? I've seen that dude kill cape buff his ML!

Not officially no it isn't and it is nothing more than a stunt in my book. Ive seen Jim's videos where he shoots buff and hippo and dwarf forest buff with his ML. Of course it can be done.

But it is a dangerous stunt with regards to big game. Of course you noticed that in every case he was being backed up by a PH with a heavy caliber double rifle which always mitigates the danger somewhat.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Of course you noticed that in every case he was being backed up by a PH with a heavy caliber double rifle which always mitigates the danger somewhat.

Yeah, I did notice that.

 

[T.R.]

Couple years ago, I spent a day at Brady Ranch in Florida on a photo safari. Frank Brady told me that he has seen these water buffalo soak up 5 or more 30-06 bullets before toppling over. These were modern Premium bullets! Frank said he much prefers to the client arrive with a bigger caliber such as 35 Whelen or larger!

TR

 

[koja48]

client arrive with a bigger caliber

Dang . . . I'd arrive with extra underwear . . .

 

[roo_ster]

FWIW, I was somewhat dreading the first shot of my CZ550 in .375H&H. My shoulder was much relieved when I fired the first shot and...it wasn't that big a deal.

Math might say otherwise, but the subjective recoil of the big rifle with the .375H&H was less than many 12ga shotguns I've shot. Oh, it pushed back alright, but it wasn't a nasty, sharp recoil that I have had with light 12ga pumps, O/U, & such.

It has become my favorite sporting rifle, no doubt.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Poprivit]

Caliber for Cape Buffalo

Not sure if you would be interested in something this big, but I took a Cape Buffalo last April with a Ruger Magnum in .458 Lott. Kicks a bit, but it sure put the brakes on Mr. Buffalo. It's good for any animal in the world.