Best bullet for Bison

[argouser]

Looking for the best bullet for bison in 338 win mag. Have used various types of 250grn in my moose and bear endeavors, however first time for bison. Any input is welcome

 

[Ardent]

250gr Barnes TSX hands down, it's leaps and bounds ahead of its competition on heavy game. .338 Win's perfectly acceptable, though it's the smallest cal I'd go after bison with, hoping to go out this year myself but it'll be a 300gr TSX in the .375 H&H.

 

[tetachuck]

Any bullet will do. Bison are not hard to kill. They are quite narrow through the chest, and the heart/ lungs are found very low in the cavity . If you shoot too high , you won't hit anything vital. I shot my bison with a .338 250 gr Nosler , but would have had the same result with a Hornady or even a Corelokt.

 

[Northman999]

Stick with whatever you are using if your rifle likes it.

I know a fair number of people who hunt bison with everything from 30-06 with factory 180's, up to hot loaded 45-70 with 500gr cast.

Shot placement is key. A big bull is simply too big to be overpowered by any commonly available centerfire if he is not hit in the vitals, but he will got down just fine when shot right through the boiler, low, as tetachuk indicated. At the Bison hunting course here in the Yukon they reccomend two shots throught the boiler right away, no matter what caliber you are using, and not matter how sure you are of your first shot. Local guides also suggest this, so keep that in mind.

 

[saskcop]

Any quality 250 grainer will do. I am partial to Swift A Frame. Nosler partitions and accubonds would suffice as would a triple shock Barnes.

 

[Budweiser2]

My son used Nosler Partitions and I used Speer.They worked fine.

 

[Hawes]

I've never hunted Bison, but yesturday at Elk Island Park we had a big guy that wasn't too pleased that we were nearby. He charged near us and stomped the ground. Then he stood there starring at us. We were pretty quick to put some distance between him and us, but I know my 45-70 would've put some comfort in my hands!

 

[shallow draft]

Bison are only to be shot with any calibre of "Sharps"

 

[burnt_servo]

Bison are only to be shot with any calibre of "Sharps"

so a .338 sharps ? ....... a 45-120 necked down to 338

 

[Hunt&Hook]

Shot mine with a 180gr out of a .308. Right between the eyes.

Sorry, not a .338, but had to add my 2 cents.

 

[madluk18]

My brother shot a Woods Bison, took 3 partitions from a 350 Rem mag through the Boiler room, just stood there. moved 100 yards, dropped. My dad has used a 220 gr. in a 30-06. So it doesn't make a huge difference. Just shoot it in the right place. Just don't shoot them in the head. the hide is at least 5 inches thick, and the skull is even thicker.

 

[dan belisle]

so a .338 sharps ? ....... a 45-120 necked down to 338

Elmer Keith thought so. Developed a 338x 74R wildcat for the purpose. - dan

edited: - I took a 50-70 rolling block, just for old times sake.

 

[BigUglyMan]

I've got a High Wall 45-70 that wants to shoot a bison. But a 250 NPT would suit me just fine from a 338 WM.

 

[Why not?]

I have killed woods bison with a 250 gr Barnes X in a 375 H&H, one shot. My buddy did the same with a single 300 gr Hornady RN, ancient production, not Interlock or Interbond.

My wife, however, shot a massive bull with her 30-06, two shots, 180 gr Kodiak Bonded Core bullet. Northman999 and BigUglyMan have both seen the mount.

You have to hit them very low, right behind the foreleg, if broadside. Otherwise they will travel for hours, and go a long ways, as attested to by many hunters who have hit them otherwise.

Ted

 

[Eagleye]

Yep, low in the chest is the important thing. I helped track a Bison shot too high. We followed him on sleds for about 5 miles before getting a chance to put in another shot to finish him off. I have shot two bison in my life, both with 338 Winchester and 210 Partitions. They both went less than 40 yards after the shot. I would have no qualms about taking a 30-06 after one, but with 200 Partitions loaded to a safe working max. Regards, Eagleye.

 

[Why not?]

Yep, low in the chest is the important thing. I helped track a Bison shot too high. We followed him on sleds for about 5 miles before getting a chance to put in another shot to finish him off.

You are so right. Three of us tracked one, on foot, for two days in dense spruce bush. It had been hit at least twice, fell once at the shot, and was down again before long. Blood everywhere where it fell.

First day we tracked until dark, almost six hours. Back again early next morning, fully expecting to find him dead in bed. Nope, up and at 'em again for almost another five hours before it was all over.

Again, low.........very low, and tucked in as close as you can get behind the front leg.

Ted

 

[foxytrapper]

The only bison I killed was with an axe, me big hunter. Now for the rest of the story.
Some bum that owned a feed lot drank more beer then his herd had feed. This young cow couldn't even stand up, it was a mercy killing. Yes the cops were called.
Wish I could comment on adequate calibers, but I love my .458win.

 

[Makwa]

I shot a huge old wood bison bull last year with the 225 TSX. Took the top of the heart out and he didn't go 25 yards. I have shot wild bison with a .30-06, .338, .340 Weatherby and .375 H&H using Partitions, TSX and Swift A-frames. As they have said over and over, shot placement is crucial.

People shoot too high on bison both with lung/heart shots and on head shots. Best to spend some time learning bison anatomy and then you won't have any trouble.

 

[t-star]

so a .338 sharps ? ....... a 45-120 necked down to 338

the 348 was a necked down 50-110

 

[ben hunchak]

My Buffalo fell to the 50/90 Sharps, as it should be, 530 gr flat pt., 105grs. of Swiss 1 1/2fg.