Plains99,

NitroX and the professor have summed it up very well.
A couple of points I would lik to add.

The Water Buffalo is vastly underated as a DG animal. Not so much ferocity / agrressiveness
as I believe that Cape Buffalo are more agrressive - I haven't hunted Africa but have spoken t many who have.

The Water Buffalo can be very hard to put down.

In addition, you see alot of stories about them being shot with sub 375 calibres. However the difference
between a huge lone Trophy bull weighing 1 ton with MASSIVE NECK and SHOULDERS aged
12 years and over VERSUS a large cow or younger bulls is tremedous.

I have shot a fair number of Water Buffalo of ALL sizes with a wide range of calibres while
testing bullets and other things (hence 9.3 listed as min below). The above is based on the experience
gathered directly over 5 years or so and from others over 30 - 40 years.

ANY water buffalo and especially a large bull will have no hesitation in charging / having a go at you
if it knows where you are and / or you corner it when wounded. I had a full on charge from a cow
this year that was running away from me (I was chasing it through scrub) and then just turned around
on a dime and came straight for me.

MINIMUM Calibre for Water Buffalo is 375H&H / 9.3 x 64 (or 9.3 x 62 with 286 or preferably 320gn RN's.)

They are well worth hunting so if you get the chance to come over, do so - with your family as they will
love Australia.

500 Nitro