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The following refers to heart shots on Cape Buffalo bulls:-

I've never seen a calibre that will put them straight down when the bullet is put in the wrong place, but FWIW I've had at least 5 occasions in recent years when I've shot previously wounded Buff with my .500 Jeffery and it's taken them clean off their feet and they haven't so much as moved a limb thereafter. I can't say for sure if they died immediatly but they certainly didn't move again and by the time I got up to them which I guess usually takes a few minutes they were all as dead as charity.

Two of those occasions, my bullet hit saplings just before hitting the Buff and one other occasion the Buff was running away from me at a slight angle when I shot. The bullet entered just offcentre of the texas heart shot and penetrated the entire length of the animal and stopped at the front of the chest cavity. The animal spun 180 degrees with the impact of the bullet and dropped like a sack of coal.

I've seen 2 similar stopping shots from a PH and good buddy who works for us who uses a .458 3 inch Stewart. One of those, the buff turned a somersault in the air before piling up.

I've never met Kevin Robertson but we have friends who know us both and I know his reputation. I guess I don't agree with everything he writes but nearly so and I'd say his opinions are pretty damn reliable and worth a great deal of serious consideration.

I guess that then brings in the question of what do I consider a good Buff calibre for a client to use.......well, I guess I'd have to say whatever he shoots confidently and competantly..... but a 416 is better than a 375 and so on. IF he can handle the recoil of a .500 or bigger and shoot it well at a variety of distances then I see no reason why he shouldn't use it....... I like to try to get my clients a shot at a maximum of around 40 yards - and closer if possible but there is the odd occasion that longer shots are necessary.

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Steve "Shakari" Robinson
Kuduland Safaris (Africa) Ltd
info@kuduland.com
www.kuduland.com

Edited by shakari (12/04/06 03:44 PM)

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