303 for water buffalo?

Jimmy243 · 05-11-2008, 01:58 AM

I was thinking a nice No1 MKIII SMLE with 10 shot mag and open sights would be a good buffalo rifle.
I know a lot of blokes won't use anything less than a 338 Win, but the 303 is no softie and theres 10 shots in the mag. Thoughts?

Mooseman684 · 05-11-2008, 02:25 AM

Many African animals have been killed with a .303, including Elephants, lions,and water buffalo... However I would want someone backing me up with a large Magnum just in case !!!

irish murphy · 05-11-2008, 02:39 AM

I would say pretty much as mooseman has.Plenty of big game animals have been brought down with the old 303.But i wouldnt use anything smaller than a 375H&H magnum personally.The 10 shot mag would be very handy with something that cal,but i would like a bit more stopping power.A good brno 602 375H&Hmag or bigger.5 shots in the magazine.

wirehunt · 05-11-2008, 03:01 AM

And yet think about Australian history, just how many buff where cleaned up with the 30 and no back up of some 'other' rifle???????

irish murphy · 05-11-2008, 03:06 AM

and you are saying?????You would feel comfotable with a 303 if you had another choice?In the old days when the history was made there was a 303 and bugger all else available.

Mooseman684 · 05-11-2008, 03:18 AM

It is always better to be Over Gunned than Overrun !!!
(Ancient Alaska Proverb)
Rich

wirehunt · 05-11-2008, 03:27 AM

With the 30 there was always lead in the air so........there was hope. These flash new cannons, well most people take five rounds with them, thats not much lead in the air

irish murphy · 05-11-2008, 03:31 AM

I can fire my brno just as quick as my smle.And actually hit whats in front of me mate.

samuel · 05-11-2008, 03:35 AM

That is like saying it would be better to hit them with 10 small cars than 5 big trucks. sam.

wirehunt · 05-11-2008, 03:45 AM

So what do you say about the arrow chuckers then samuel? 20 push bikes than 10 cars than......

If you need more than 180 X 10 (=1800 which equals a lot of lead) to kill these raging buffs then you need to go back to shooting school.

irish murphy · 05-11-2008, 03:48 AM

I have a video of some bowhunters hunting scrub bulls.You can keep that to yourself if you like running and climbing trees.Have you ever hunted scrubbers or buff?I dont think so.

Jimmy243 · 05-11-2008, 04:54 AM

I am certainly a fan of the quote "it's better to have a rifle that will do the job when everything goes wrong, rather than only when everything goes right".
5 shots would be plenty. I thought most large magnums only held 2 or 3 rounds in the mag.
Only posed the question because the smle is the biggest rifle I own, and buffalo/scrubbers are the biggest animals I expect to hunt. I would love a nice safari magnum like the brno, but wouldn't use it enough and don't know if I could handle the recoil. (303 doesn't phase me at all, but never fired anything bigger)

irish murphy · 05-11-2008, 05:14 AM

You wouldnt have a problem with a Brno mate,its a 10 pound rifle with a scope on it.My 602 holds 5 shots.I love my smle too but would rather use my brno on a scrubber any day.

billy · 05-11-2008, 06:27 AM

any animal that size that looks at me like i owe it money makes me want a POWERFUL rifle!

Nathan123 · 05-11-2008, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wirehunt

And yet think about Australian history, just how many buff where cleaned up with the 30 and no back up of some 'other' rifle???????

Yea but those blokes like Tom Cole used to ride along side of em on a horse and shoot them in between the shoulder blades and take out the spine, then someone came along and gave em a finishing shot.

Moose i beleive he was talking about Aussie buffalo, Cape buffalo are not water buffalo.

I have shot buff in the Territory. If i had a choice i would not choose a .303, as much as i love them they are not a buffalo rifle, But if i was out with a three o and came across a buff i would have a go at him, i would feel quite nervous about it but i would give it a go.

The main thing to consider when hunting something that can (and will) kill ya is, It is not weather it can do the job when everything goes right, but it has to be able to do the job when everything goes wrong. How often is everything 100% perfect no matter what you are hunting.

Speaking from experience, if ya dont put him down, 9 times out of 10 he is coming to get ya. And once buffalo get hyped up on adrenalin they are hard to stop.

irish murphy · 05-11-2008, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan123

Yea but those blokes like Tom Cole used to ride along side of em on a horse and shoot them in between the shoulder blades and take out the spine, then someone came along and gave em a finishing shot.

Moose i beleive he was talking about Aussie buffalo, Cape buffalo are not water buffalo.

I have shot buff in the Territory. If i had a choice i would not choose a .303, as much as i love them they are not a buffalo rifle, But if i was out with a three o and came across a buff i would have a go at him, i would feel quite nervous about it but i would give it a go.

The main thing to consider when hunting something that can (and will) kill ya is, It is not weather it can do the job when everything goes right, but it has to be able to do the job when everything goes wrong. How often is everything 100% perfect no matter what you are hunting.

Speaking from experience, if ya dont put him down, 9 times out of 10 he is coming to get ya. And once buffalo get hyped up on adrenalin they are hard to stop.

I dont think it would matter if it was an asiatic water buff or a cape buff.They are all big cranky buggers.

Nathan123 · 05-11-2008, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irish murphy

I dont think it would matter if it was an asiatic water buff or a cape buff.They are all big cranky buggers.

That they are. Only one thing meaner than a Buffalo in this country, and that is a Scrub bull. Well 2 if ya count my ex missus, she would make both of em turn tail and head for the scrub, LOL.

Taurus Fan · 05-11-2008, 07:06 AM

Water Buffalos? Asian Water Buffalos? When I was in Viet Nam I used to see little kids herding them around with a stick to keep them moving. Hell yeah, I'd shoot one of them with a .303, they're just a dumb cow. Like shooting a Holstein

webs · 05-11-2008, 07:07 AM

Lets see,why not hunt Whitetail with a .22 rimfire.It would kill them(sooner or later) and a 50 round clip should be adequate.Why take the chance of wounding an animal that could result in personal injury to the hunter or suffering to the animal.

Nathan123 · 05-11-2008, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taurus Fan

Water Buffalos? Asian Water Buffalos? When I was in Viet Nam I used to see little kids herding them around with a stick to keep them moving. Hell yeah, I'd shoot one of them with a .303, they're just a dumb cow.

You have no idea. Yes they came from the same place, they are Asiatic Water Buffalo. Yes they are domesticated in their native country.

They have been wild animals here since the First fleet. They are a very dangerous animal, and can and will kill you in a heart beat.

05-11-2008, 01:58 AM	#1
Jimmy243 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 28	303 for water buffalo? I was thinking a nice No1 MKIII SMLE with 10 shot mag and open sights would be a good buffalo rifle. I know a lot of blokes won't use anything less than a 338 Win, but the 303 is no softie and theres 10 shots in the mag. Thoughts?

05-11-2008, 02:25 AM	#2
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,694 Images: 2	Many African animals have been killed with a .303, including Elephants, lions,and water buffalo... However I would want someone backing me up with a large Magnum just in case !!! __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

05-11-2008, 03:01 AM	#4
wirehunt Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Otago New Zealand Posts: 656	And yet think about Australian history, just how many buff where cleaned up with the 30 and no back up of some 'other' rifle??????? __________________ Happy Hunting

05-11-2008, 03:18 AM	#6
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,694 Images: 2	It is always better to be Over Gunned than Overrun !!! (Ancient Alaska Proverb) Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

05-11-2008, 03:27 AM	#7
wirehunt Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Otago New Zealand Posts: 656	With the 30 there was always lead in the air so........there was hope. These flash new cannons, well most people take five rounds with them, thats not much lead in the air __________________ Happy Hunting

05-11-2008, 02:39 AM	#3
irish murphy Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canberra,Australia Posts: 1,028 Blog Entries: 5	I would say pretty much as mooseman has.Plenty of big game animals have been brought down with the old 303.But i wouldnt use anything smaller than a 375H&H magnum personally.The 10 shot mag would be very handy with something that cal,but i would like a bit more stopping power.A good brno 602 375H&Hmag or bigger.5 shots in the magazine.

05-11-2008, 03:06 AM	#5
irish murphy Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canberra,Australia Posts: 1,028 Blog Entries: 5	and you are saying?????You would feel comfotable with a 303 if you had another choice?In the old days when the history was made there was a 303 and bugger all else available.

05-11-2008, 03:31 AM	#8
irish murphy Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canberra,Australia Posts: 1,028 Blog Entries: 5	I can fire my brno just as quick as my smle.And actually hit whats in front of me mate.

05-11-2008, 03:35 AM	#9
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	That is like saying it would be better to hit them with 10 small cars than 5 big trucks. sam.

05-11-2008, 03:45 AM	#10
wirehunt Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Otago New Zealand Posts: 656	So what do you say about the arrow chuckers then samuel? 20 push bikes than 10 cars than...... If you need more than 180 X 10 (=1800 which equals a lot of lead) to kill these raging buffs then you need to go back to shooting school. __________________ Happy Hunting

05-11-2008, 03:48 AM	#11
irish murphy Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canberra,Australia Posts: 1,028 Blog Entries: 5	I have a video of some bowhunters hunting scrub bulls.You can keep that to yourself if you like running and climbing trees.Have you ever hunted scrubbers or buff?I dont think so.

05-11-2008, 04:54 AM	#12
Jimmy243 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 28	I am certainly a fan of the quote "it's better to have a rifle that will do the job when everything goes wrong, rather than only when everything goes right". 5 shots would be plenty. I thought most large magnums only held 2 or 3 rounds in the mag. Only posed the question because the smle is the biggest rifle I own, and buffalo/scrubbers are the biggest animals I expect to hunt. I would love a nice safari magnum like the brno, but wouldn't use it enough and don't know if I could handle the recoil. (303 doesn't phase me at all, but never fired anything bigger)

05-11-2008, 05:14 AM	#13
irish murphy Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canberra,Australia Posts: 1,028 Blog Entries: 5	You wouldnt have a problem with a Brno mate,its a 10 pound rifle with a scope on it.My 602 holds 5 shots.I love my smle too but would rather use my brno on a scrubber any day.

05-11-2008, 06:27 AM	#14
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 12,203 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 146	any animal that size that looks at me like i owe it money makes me want a POWERFUL rifle! __________________

05-11-2008, 07:06 AM	#18
Taurus Fan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cobra Command Headquarters Posts: 811	Water Buffalos? Asian Water Buffalos? When I was in Viet Nam I used to see little kids herding them around with a stick to keep them moving. Hell yeah, I'd shoot one of them with a .303, they're just a dumb cow. Like shooting a Holstein Last edited by Taurus Fan; 05-11-2008 at 07:08 AM.

05-11-2008, 07:07 AM	#19
webs Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 255 Images: 3	Lets see,why not hunt Whitetail with a .22 rimfire.It would kill them(sooner or later) and a 50 round clip should be adequate.Why take the chance of wounding an animal that could result in personal injury to the hunter or suffering to the animal.