30-06 for Buffalo...Enough Gun or Not, and Other Questions.

Can I insert a buffalo into a thread named buffalo that is about bison?:confused:

Assuming that its OK, my son shot one with a 30-06 last August. It was a different sort of different scenario, since we weren't exactly hunting buffalo. The key points that turned it into an instant buffalo hunt were:

1) The boss wasn't around.
2) I could back him up myself if needed. That opportunity borders on priceless.
3) The buffalo was in a comparatively open area and would have to cover 80 yards or so to get to cover.
4) The kid can fan a M700 like its a six gun.
5) And once again, the boss wasn't around. We could bluff the young feller.;)

In the time that it takes to say "Boom boom boom boom boom boom, keep shooting, boom boom boom he's down" he had his first buffalo. It travelled most of the distance we had covered, or about the distance I'd have expected one that got pegged a couple of times with a .375 to make it. It was a rather fun minute.

Based on this, would I recommend the 30-06 on bison under any and all conditions? Not a chance. There's quite a difference between seizing an easy opportunity and dealing with what chances the hunt gives you.
 
Last saturday I witnessed a bison get heart shot with a 7mm rem mag with a 175 grain bullet from about 15 yards and it took a few minutes to finally go down. It was doing a good death dance that I would not have wanted to be too close to. If you're not worried about keeping the skull intact, a 30-06 placed on the forhead about 2 inches above the eye line will drop them right quick. Of course, we had one of those shot attempts go wrong once. The bull got up and ran straight at the truck. Tried to get into the box with the shooter. He had to drop another shot in his head from about 3 inches. The big bugger took out the rear quarter panel with his horn on the way down.
 
With big animals, there is no replacement for displacement. Of course the .30-06 will do. If I was limited to the ole ought six, it would be good 220 grain bullets - stoutly loaded though. Bison are the perfect excuse to buy a new gun if you actually need an excuse.
 
I wouldn't recommend a head shot at all, a .30 cal Berger won't come close to punching through the forehead. Behind the ear is the safest for a sure kill at close range. If your aways off a heart shot will get the job done just fine, just takes a bot longer for them to go down.
 
PatchRat said:
Last saturday I witnessed a bison get heart shot with a 7mm rem mag with a 175 grain bullet from about 15 yards and it took a few minutes to finally go down. It was doing a good death dance that I would not have wanted to be too close to. If you're not worried about keeping the skull intact, a 30-06 placed on the forhead about 2 inches above the eye line will drop them right quick. Of course, we had one of those shot attempts go wrong once. The bull got up and ran straight at the truck. Tried to get into the box with the shooter. He had to drop another shot in his head from about 3 inches. The big bugger took out the rear quarter panel with his horn on the way down.
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well at least it was near the truck..... :)
 
30-06 with a 180gr Barnes or Swift would be OK. But just OK. I used my 366 Wagner which worked nicely. They're nto bulletproof, but as Ardent's thread proved, marginal calibers (even the 7RM) just don't cut it. Given that we all want to make quick kills with minimal meat damage the logic would tend toward using a bigger hammer.
 
Odds are you won't get drawn...

If you do, buy a 375 and sell it afterwards if you don't want to keep it.

Bison are about the only animal in BC that I would hire a Guide/Outfitter for, they have it figured out and Bison are huge and the potential for extreme weather is very high.
 
It should be fine but I'd go with minimum 180 TSX or even better a 200 grain bullet like a Nosler Partition. Keep ranges reasonable and get to know the animal's anatomy.
 
I have shot a bison with my standard hunting rig, 30-06 165gr Winchester ballistic silver tip.
One shot through the heart, just inside 200m, took 10 steps and keeled over.
Now getting the other bison to move off the fallen one was a bit of a trick.

Last couple of years I have the 30-06 sighted for 180gr and that's probably what I would use anyhow.
 
Looks like I may have a chance at shooting a Buffalo in Arnhem land, Top end of Australia over the winter! ya just never know who ya will run into ay!

I'l be for sure taking my .35Whelen an 225gr Woodleighs, but the guy who offered to take me has shot them with a 308 an 180gr premiums... id say headshot for sure.


WL
 
30-06 with a 180 gr bullet will meet the requirements for BC. I have killed many bison down to a .308 BLR. 30-06 with a 180 gr bullet is plenty enough for the job. As with anything shot placement is key.
 
Yes, a heavy 30'06 will do the job. BUT, since its buffalo we're talking about...it seems more fitting to use a high-powered 45-70 Gov't round such as Buffalo Bore, Garrett, or HSM Bear Loads perhaps. It comes down to preference. Good Luck!
 
I've been on a few Wood Bison hunts and cleaned up one shot with a 7mm Mag several times for the CO's that was still travelling, last fall. In my opinion .30-06 with a good 200gr bullet suffices, but it's the same idea as a .243 and a good bullet on deer or bear. 99% of the time, just swell, when things go sideways however... Experienced hunters won't have any trouble, and either experienced in inexperienced, there is no tougher animal on the continent and I would highly recommend choosing a .300 with premium bullets or better. A .338 is literally perfect. On any other continent they'd be a .375 and up creature, but we are addicted to bare minimums in North America. Learn the shot placement and like all hunting most of the battle is won, they have odd anatomy.

For size, keep in mind the rifle is about 3 1/2 feet long.

 
WhelanLad said:
Looks like I may have a chance at shooting a Buffalo in Arnhem land, Top end of Australia over the winter! ya just never know who ya will run into ay!

I'l be for sure taking my .35Whelen an 225gr Woodleighs, but the guy who offered to take me has shot them with a 308 an 180gr premiums... id say headshot for sure.


WL
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I'll be up in in the NT for most of August, seeing how hot I can get a four five eight.
 
Ardent said:
I need one of those four five eights next, the stuff I'm hunting keeps growing. Maybe of the .450 Nitro persuasion.
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The 450 NE was fun when I used it, although the Hornady factory ammo was less than inspiring. This time my buffalo cull/test will be fairly straight forward comparison of .458 A-Frames versus CEB Safari Raptors, with a side order of 380 grain Rhinos in a .375.
 
Hayya effingdewd............let me know if'n ya need some 30-06 ammo.
Gots some old/new Imperial 220 KKSP ammo here in Kamloops.
Nuff to keep you happy for a bit.
Send me a p.m iff'n yer attal innerested.
 
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