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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Muzzleloaders & Blackpowder

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Trooper
.224 member

Reged: 01/12/20
Posts: 19
Loc: USA

10 Bore & Cape Buffalo?
#370498 - 20/10/22 09:52 AM

Is a 10 Bore muzzle loader RB adequate, marginal or unacceptable for Cape Buffalo?

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26992
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: 10 Bore & Cape Buffalo? [Re: Trooper]
#370499 - 20/10/22 10:30 AM

Within relatively close range, with appropriate loads, it should be adequate. I would say adequate would be a .750" RB, hardened with antimony & a bit of tin to about brinel 13 or 14, along with a decent charge of powder, say 7 to 9 drams.
27.3gr. to the dram.
A ball of that size should give some cavitation through the lung/heart area. That is, it should make a hole larger than it's diameter or perhaps the same size, ie: .77", through that medium.
If single shot, you should have some sort of backup - maybe even if SxS.
I've never killed nor hunted a Cape Buffalo.

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3DogMike
.400 member

Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1464
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA

Re: 10 Bore & Cape Buffalo? [Re: DarylS]
#370500 - 20/10/22 11:43 AM

Depending upon the actual ball and powder charge your 10 ought to be "quite adequate"

Figure that in the old days the dangerous game loads for a 10 bore (cartridge gun) would have been 8 Drams (218 grains) and a round ball or conical. Hardened ball usually cast of 1:15 mix & maybe added mercury. ……sorry no mercury these days.

Just be aware that you cannot easily (as in basically impossible) ship Black Powder for your cartridge gun or muzzle loader to any of the places where you might hunt Cape Buffalo. So you "may" be limited to whatever locally sourced & problematic "black" is available in country.

According to the vintage reports, and a few modern reports, the 10 and 8 bores are quite adequate for making the Cape Buff "Hors De Combat".
- Mike

--------------------
"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon

“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields

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Trooper
.224 member

Reged: 01/12/20
Posts: 19
Loc: USA

Re: 10 Bore & Cape Buffalo? [Re: 3DogMike]
#370877 - 29/10/22 11:11 AM

Many thanks men.

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26992
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: 10 Bore & Cape Buffalo? [Re: Trooper]
#370878 - 29/10/22 12:02 PM

The outfitter (PH) should be able to procure and tell you exactly what he can get.

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39877
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: 10 Bore & Cape Buffalo? [Re: DarylS]
#370885 - 29/10/22 03:07 PM

Quote:

The outfitter (PH) should be able to procure and tell you exactly what he can get.

I wouldn't assume that at all. Supplies in Africa are not the same as North America. Sometimes it's major to ensure there'sa loaner rifle in camp. If not specifically arranged it might not be there.

If wanting to use black powder specifically for the hunt, and have it in the camp, one would need to ensure this is an agreed requirement and that it can be done.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Edited by NitroX (29/10/22 07:05 PM)

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39877
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: 10 Bore & Cape Buffalo? [Re: 3DogMike]
#370887 - 29/10/22 07:14 PM

Quote:

According to the vintage reports, and a few modern reports, the 10 and 8 bores are quite adequate for making the Cape Buff "Hors De Combat".
- Mike

When reading old books the hunters seem often to need a number of shots on large animals. Is it bad shooting or lesser effective guns. And also loose animals.

Keep that in mind.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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3DogMike
.400 member

Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1464
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA

Re: 10 Bore & Cape Buffalo? [Re: NitroX]
#370901 - 30/10/22 09:44 AM

Quote:

When reading old books the hunters seem often to need a number of shots on large animals. Is it bad shooting or lesser effective guns. And also loose animals.

Keep that in mind.

Oh to be sure, and likely some of both.

Even today one reads of animals not hit correctly with the first shot and requiring quite a few more shots to finally bring them down for good. Seemingly applies even to nimrods armed with .458's, .500's and .577's?
Could be more of that than gets admitted or told of.
- Mike

--------------------
"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon

“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39877
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: 10 Bore & Cape Buffalo? [Re: 3DogMike]
#370902 - 30/10/22 11:30 AM

Yes, a bit of both. I haven't read some of these books for a long time but remember being shocked at how consistent giraffe, hippo, buffalo, eland etc needed to be shot many times and often escaped. As for ethics going from spears, bows even more primitive guns, it probably was an improvement. The one shot kill kill idea is a NITRO EXPRESS concept!

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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