.338 for cape buffalo anyone??

[Mondyrocks]

Has anyone had any success with this weapon versus cape buffalo?
I've shot at several and all I'm getting is flesh wounds, even when I was bang on 150 metres away and hit one smack broadside?
Players on PS4 and Xbone are getting lung shots with the.338 but for me so far no luck at all??

[❄️The Last Frontier 😊]

Try the hawkedge with 600gr arrow they run a little but I have dropped several of them in one shot!

[CMDR.FREEZER]

https://steamcommunity.com/app/518790/discussions/5/1737715419900865534/

Not even the 470 will drop them for me. its as if they got 600mm tick world war II battleship armor.

[kampfer91]

The 270 polimer round managed to hit 1 lung and it still wander around a bit till it succumb to the bleeding . It was a joke shot at a sleeping buffalo from a far but i was surprised when the purple circle pop up on the map ...

[yogisgoat]

I shot one broadside at 42m with the .338 and scored a flesh wound--animal never went down. That's not tough, that's stupid.

[Big Rich]

So this is just pure speculation that ive concluded from playing; but I've managed to kill half a dozen or so Buffalo with the .338 and im convinced that it just doesn't have enough power to penetrate a buffalo at a normal effective range of 164y. The game states that the .338 is considered the "minimum" caliber to use when hunting Buffalo; i kind of just read into that statement as "sub optimal" meaning you'll have to make some adjustments to bag a kill. You can make up for lack of power by shooting from a closer range, almost all of my kills on a Buffalo with the .338 have been <50y and most of my shots at >100y were non lethal shots.

So in conclusion, you need to get closer; i wouldn't count on the .470 giving you a huge boost in helpfulness either if you plan at shooting at range, since the effective range on that rifle is pretty low; you'll have to get close.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1502093575

[PESCADOU]

I killed several buffalos at the .338 and even managed to kill one at 7mm (luck?).
The new 4.70 is not worth anything if you pull beyond 80 meters and I do not use it anymore, I will use it on the Taiga bear lol

[Old Goat]

There doesn't seem to be much margin for error when you shoot a big one. Thick hide, rock hard muscle density and incredible staying power.

[Hidden Gunman]

Originally posted by Reallyoldguy:

There doesn't seem to be much margin for error when you shoot a big one. Thick hide, rock hard muscle density and incredible staying power.

In reality, most places it's illegal to hunt cape buffalo with anything less than a .375 H&H express, and that is considered the bare minimum acceptable for 'the big five'.

Standard practice for express rifles is first shot is a using an expanding round, second is using a solid, whether it is needed or not. Once it is down on the ground, put another into the spine for good measure. Cartridges are cheaper than hospitals or funerals.

[Frank Drebin]

I use only 600gr bolts. They drop really quick this way. But havee .454 sidearm ready to grab for defense. It's 50/50 that they or a another one is turning around and chase you.

[Hidden Gunman]

Originally posted by Wylander:

I use only 600gr bolts. They drop really quick this way. But havee .454 sidearm ready to grab for defense. It's 50/50 that they or a another one is turning around and chase you.

A friend of mine hunts cape buffalo every couple of years either in africa, or on one of the game reserves here in south australia...he took one a couple of years ago using a .416 rigby, with raptor projectiles. The frangible round shattered the right shoulder, and dropped it, but it got up on three legs and could only scuttle around in a circle...he put the solid through it's chest, and it passed through it lengthways and exited out the back of the right hind leg. That put it down, but they still had to finish it. Very tough animal. They video'd the shoot, and opened it up to check the damage (he's a specialist ammunition dealer, and it was the first time he used raptors), and it gave me a lot of respect those projectiles, and buffalo.

[Narf]

I don't have problems downing them with the 338 by hitting a lung. It won't be very quick, which won't give me the best score, but it will go down. My problem with them is that they seem to be able to sense at ridiculous distances. Even when I am in a slow crouch and not making any noise it will often pick me up at 100 or even 150m distance. The only encounters where I got really close was when I was stationary and it walked up to me. Seems like those buffalo can even hear me when my noise display doesn't even show a single bar despite me moving. Maybe a bug?

[wersonnst]

With 338 1 to 5 at 200m+. Closer may be less. With .470 Nitro Express Soft Point Bullet up to 50m 1. With .470 Nitro Express Full Metal Jacket Bullet 1 to 2. The .470 is excellent for bison.

[Mondyrocks]

Originally posted by wersonnst:

With 338 1 to 5 at 200m+. Closer may be less. With .470 Nitro Express Soft Point Bullet up to 50m 1. With .470 Nitro Express Full Metal Jacket Bullet 1 to 2. The .470 is excellent for bison.

Please excuse me if I'm being stupid but I just don't understand what you're trying to say here?

[jf3000]

The 338 is for close combat not long distance, 2 shots generally will drop the buffalo as long as u dont die trying.

[❄️The Last Frontier 😊]

Try the 470 though on bison WOW do they drop like flies and still get 100% integrity!!! One shot and their down no matter where you hit them so long as not just a flesh wound!