What caliber to shoot Buffalo with?

[Ranger Dave]

Ok, I have the opportunity to shoot a buffalo in the next couple days. This will be on a ranch setting where they are culling the herd and they're several they can't catch. So they will cull them them the old fashioned way.

I have two options available  .308 bolt action or .50 inline muzzleloader.

I imagine the range will be 100 to 150 yards.

Thoughts

[billt]

I would go with the .308 and the heaviest bullets you can find.

[TAB]

Either will work.   It depends on which one you can shoot better and want too use.   

Me personally would use my guide gun.

[Michael Bane]

.308...maybe the Hornady 178-gr ELD-X...am taking that combo to Africa for plains game in June...heavy bullet definitely!

mb

[alfsauve]

What caliber to shoot Buffalo with?

I think for Buffalo, though I don't know what they did you tick you off, I'd go with a 50 megaton air burst.   

For buffalo, why not go for the nostalgia trip and .50 inline.   Something preventing you from using a 45/70 Sharps?








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[Ranger Dave]

I think for Buffalo, though I don't know what they did you tick you off, I'd go with a 50 megaton air burst.   

For buffalo, why not go for the nostalgia trip and .50 inline.   Something preventing you from using a 45/70 Sharps?

It's New York As for the 45/70 I don't have one

Thanks for all the suggestions I'll be checking to see what bullet weights are available locally







[

[brushmore]

I'd pick the .308.  Of course the .50 cal muzzle loader had a big impact on almost making the buffalo extinct in the first place so no problems with that.  The most important thing in hunting is alway shot placement so shot whatever you are the most accurate with go with that.

[vincewarde]

IMHO, and mostly from what I have read (actually all from what I have read, having never shot a Buffalo), I would use the .308 with the best bullets I could find.  Remember, these things are bigger than Elk, and while a .308 is legal for Elk, many a new cartridge from .338 to .375 in bore diameter has been developed for shooting Elk.  If I had such an opportunity, it would be my excuse to build up a .338-06, a .338 Federal or a .35 Whelen

All kidding aside, you will be operating at the upper end of that cartridge's effectiveness, so use the very best bullets you can.

[tombogan03884]

Use the rifle you are most accurate and comfortable with.
Caliber is far less important than shot placement.
Remember, Karamojo Bell shot over 1000 elephant mostly with 7 and 8 mm Mauser, and most were DRT  shots.

[MikeBjerum]

When I saw bison, I thought right away 45/70.  Then, I read your choices.  I choose muzzle loader.