My advice would be get a rifle you can shoot very well (and preferably afford to buy and feed) in a caliber of 375H&H or larger. I prefer the Heym 88PH in 470NE with 500gr Woodliegh bullets. That said, I would not have felt any issue in hunting one with my Dakota 76 in 375H&H with Barnes 300gr bullets either!

If you do have optics on the rifle you choose; you will need to assure they are set to a low enough setting. So when you take your first shot should things get “very close very quickly” you are able to see the charge and not just a blurry patch of hair! Thus the optimal choice is a 1-4X30 or similar “DG” scope. I prefer the Kahles 1-4X30 with a 2nd focal plain illuminated “post dot” reticule for my bolt gun.

If you shoot iron sights (express or otherwise) assure you can shoot accurately with them under field conditions. If you are not sure you can accurately make the shot presented to you; politely decline it. Your PH would much rather get you a better shot than have either of you take an 8 second bull ride to eternity! Another must for hunting with iron sights is a great set of binoculars. I feel you should use them anytime you are hunting anyway however; they are particularly needed when hunting with a rifle without optics.

When I took the buffalo in this picture (see below) he was standing with a small tree to the left of his shoulder and presenting a frontal shot in tight cover. It took having a look through my Swarovski 10X42’s to discern where his shoulder stopped and a tree started. If it weren’t for good binoculars I wouldn’t have been able to make the shot I needed too in order to take this buff cleanly.

PS: I took my binos off when we moved this guy for pictures that is the only reason they are not in this photo! Remember, your binos are just as important as your boots when it comes to hunting!

Best of luck!