Heading out in 2 hrs

[Nuclearcricket]

Great report and it sounds like a fantastic hunt. I will admit that I wouldn't have thought those calibers and bullets would have performed like that. Especially that frontal shot.
I have used a 45-70, loaded with smokeless, on 2 occasions to take PA white tail deer and it has performed very well. I have a 44-77 in the works that I had thought of using on deer at some point. Perhaps I should rethink that and drop down to a 38-55 with BP and lead bullets. If a 45-70 is more than up to the job on a 1000 lb buff, it may be a bit of over kill on a 150 lb deer.
Again, congrats on some great shooting and a fantastic hunt.
Sam

[Ironramrod]

Rdnck, Congratulations, an outstanding job and a good report indeed; some spots a little tougher than others, but you guys did well; it doesn't sound like the conditions slowed you guys down to much.
Regards
IR

[rdnck]

I had some great guys with me and they are all good rifle shots. Two of them are relatively new to the black powder game and Sharps rifles, but they seem to be catching on to how to shoot the rifles at various distances in good order. My friend from Oklahoma was low on his first shot at 168 yards because he didn't take into account the hair hanging down under the buffalo and simply held too low. After the first shot, he figured that one out and put the next two in the boiler room at 190 plus. These guys are great, and I am indeed fortunate to be able to call them friends. Shoot straight, rdnck.

[bobw]

Too bad on the weather deal, better than no hunting, but sure can make it less enjoyable. On my first buffalo 2 years ago, I had to hit him 3 times with my 110,but he was on the move and I didn't lead him enuf. Shots thru the back side of the lungs will put them down but not very fast. Shot to the heart is the best but still not an instaneous kill. I know more than a couple of people who have killed their buff with smaller 40 cals, but a shot in the heart trumps any other caliber or power level than a hit not in the heart. Unless one pulls a Dick Savage and square punches them in the brain pan, buffalo can take quite a beating shot anywhere but the heart. With only 2 buffalo now under my belt I've learned a little ,what taught me the most was sticking around the processors and watching the skinning and gutting, duly noting the structural difference in buffalo than most ungulates. Heart is low in the cavity and partially protected by the frt leg, with the spine lower also, the tall bones on the top of the vertebra sure give the old buffalo their hump. A shot to the heart also gets lung as well. Less than a perpendicular angle also causes one to place differently if that is the shot you take. Congrats on a successful hunt and good eats for all. bobw

[Rowdy Rick]

I have had clients use a 45-70 to good effect on frontal shots here. One was a trapdoor rifle just a few weeks ago. The other was an old Armi 45-70 Sharps using a gov. bullet that I use to loan to clients. Both penetrated and exited the full length. One doing so after breaking some bones (a little richocheting inside) Bob's excellent, highly quartered shot was the closest to a frontal with another BPCR gun that I have seen personally, and although it didn't exit it did penetrate well up close to 3 feet through a stomach full of grass, and all the other insides, including the top of the heart. Some depends on the alloy of the bullets, also the time of the year and the thickness of the hair coat makes a difference. I do think and have always said the slower moving large mass bullets are more effective on buffalo than any modern centerfire and bullet combination, and I have seen a lot of them used. I do think there is a cal., bullet wt, alloy, that provides maximum penetration and the 45-70 has proven it belongs in that category. A heart shot is imo the best for most hunters, but it is not a give me. I have seen .416 rigbys have seemingly no effect on buffalo shot in the lungs with proven African loads.....really surprised the guy. The 45-110 still wins out imo over the 45-70 due to being a little flatter shooting for most hunters after buffalo. That 100 to 150 yard range increase makes a lot of hunters miss the heart with 45-70-s. Caliber wise I would recommend the 40-70-s and up for BPCR guns. I did put one down with my 40-65pp in the heart but would call it marginal. Hopefully I will get a chance to do a frontal with the 110 and see how the performance actually compares. As I always tell clients it is still all about where you hit them not what you hit them with.

[Denali]

Nice work Bobw and Rdnck! Thanks for sharing!
Finally got around to this forum. Been busy.

Congrats to some fine eating!

[Rbertalotto]

Great stories right here. On my Bucket List to do a traditional, horseback, canvas tent Bison Hunt one of these days!

Thanks for sharing!