Shot Placement on Cape Buffalo

Shot Placement During Cape Buffalo Hunting Safaris

Buffalo, in general, are just born mean and this Big Five African game animal knows how to play an extremely dangerous game! Do not be fooled by the fact that these guys hardly look like warriors and seem to be unassuming.

Buffalo don’t show any emotion or behavioral change before charging. From a still, calm, and statue-like position, they will suddenly burst into a full charge at the chosen quarry flattening everything in their path and leaving a wake of destruction. In most African countries, the minimum legal requirement for a buffalo hunting safari is a .375 caliber.

The questions that come to mind when buffalo hunting are:
Just how much is enough gun?
What will the circumstances and conditions be when deciding where exactly the buffalo to aim and take the perfect shot?

When hunting buffalo, the actual hunt goes through a series of phases, including:
Location of the herd of buffalo or the single “Dugga Boy”
The approach to the buffalo
Selecting a mature buffalo bull or cow to be culled
Taking the shot on the buffalo.

African Buffalo: Just how tough are they?

The buffalo is an exceptionally tough member of the Big Five African game animals. Poorly hit, they have adrenaline pumping through their bloodstream and are exceedingly difficult to drop and stop. Killing a buffalo cleanly is about taking that perfect shot. It is said that when hunting buffalo, it takes one perfectly placed bullet to kill him and another 8-10 to convince him that he is dead!

Buffalo Shot Placement: Brain and Neck

Taking a first shot at either the brain or neck is certainly not recommended. Both targets are small and there is a real risk of missing your target. The neck of a mature bull is well-muscled. A non-fatal shot will then be the result. Brain shots are only recommended when at close range, dealing with a wounded buffalo. Only a brain shot from a very high-powered rifle with enough stopping power will stop this killing machine while charging the hunter on a game hunting safari.

Buffalo Shot Placement: Frontal Body Shots

This frontal shot is often an option the hunter must consider. In many instances, the buffalo will be looking directly at you, investigating the perceived threat. This frontal shot placement is tricky as the target is smaller. If the hunter pulls or pushes the shot, the bullet will miss the vitals in the chest and travel inside the shoulder. Hitting the buffalo hard from the front is deadly. The same formula applies, hit the buffalo one-third the way up from the brisket. There will still be room for the bullet to move. What the hunter does not want to do is shoot too low. If the bullet travels a little high, it may still hit the spine, and if only slightly low, will still hit the heart or the blood vessels feeding it. When hit solidly in the chest, the normal reaction of the buffalo will be to take a few steps forward as it is the buffalo’s immediate reaction to absorbing so much energy. The hunter needs to reload and pump more lead into the buffalo as after moving forward, the buffalo will present shots.

Shot Placement on Cape Buffalo - Front View

Buffalo Shot Placement: Heart Shot

Most dangerous game professional hunters prefer the hunter to take this shot on a buffalo hunting safari. The buffalo has a huge heart and taking this shot will also result in the breaking of either one or both shoulders. The hunter needs to aim one-third of the way up on the shoulder. The bullet will break the bone and travel into the heart or damage the blood vessels within the heart. If the hunter misses the heart and pulls the shot, the bullet will usually enter the lungs, also certainly killing the buffalo. If the shot is pushed forward, the bullet will go through the brisket harming the buffalo along with only throwing a small or non-existent blood trail. The shot mustn’t go above the mid-way imaginary horizontal line across the buffalo, as this will miss all the vital organs.

Buffalo Shot Placement: The Lung Shot

Among big game hunters who are not only shooting for a trophy bull but want to utilize the meat, this is the preferred shot placement. Many communities rely on the meat harvested to feed their families and a lung shot will result in little meat damage. The lung shot also presents the largest target for the hunter. When the buffalo presents itself broadside, follow up the back line of the foreleg. A third of the way up along this line will result in a successful lung shot. The hunter mustn’t shoot too far back as the lungs will be missing and the result would be a gut shot into the stomach.

Buffalo Shot Placement: Angles when Quartering

On quartering angles other than from the broadside position, both the front legs will be visible. The chest cavity lies between the front legs. The hunter needs to try and visualize exactly where the center of the chest lies. When it comes to buffalo hunting in Africa, shots taken while quartering must only be taken if the angle is small. The shot as usual must be taken one-third on the shoulder and not be higher than the mid-horizontal line. When the buffalo is quartering away from you, aim a little behind the shoulder. When the buffalo is quartering towards you, the hunter must aim between the shoulder and the neck. The hunter must draw the line “mentally” to stay on the vitals while taking quartering shots. Hitting the stomach is not an option when on a buffalo game hunting safari.

Buffalo Shot Placement: “Fleeing Shots”

A shot on a buffalo bull that is unwounded and “fleeing,” giving the hunter a rump view is NEVER to be considered as a first shot. Not under any circumstances! A “Central Texas Heart Shot” will have little chance of hitting any of the vital organs. If the buffalo has been wounded and the fleeing shot presents itself, it must be taken. Aim at the spine/base of the tail. Depending on the angle of the hunter, a solid shot directly into the hip joint is a good option to take, thus immobilizing the buffalo.

Shot Placement on Cape Buffalo - Rear View

Buffalo Hunting in Africa: After Shots Have Been Fired

After firing the first and second shots, immediately ready yourself to fire again. While observing the action and motion of the buffalo post shot, be sure to put your rifle back on safety. Due to the excitement and adrenaline, this aspect of gun safety is often forgotten.
A dead buffalo is to be approached by professional hunters, hunters, and trackers with extreme caution. Depending on the circumstances, a final “insurance shot” or the “Coup de Grace” is often fired.

When buffalo hunting in Africa, safety is always the most important consideration. Always listen to your professional hunter and be observant as to the conditions that continuously change during game hunting safaris.