I'm starting up my reloads for a future Cape Buffalo hunt. I have some big bullets from Montana Bullet Works. I have 100 each of the 420 gr. WFN GC and 100 of the LFN GC bullets both .476-sized. My plan is to use H110 (or WW296) for these loads. Any suggestions? I have new Speer brass (plus some once fired Hornady) and am using Winchester large pistol primers (good for both standard and magnum load). The gun is the Super Redhawk topped with a 30mm Ultradot on a Wiegland (sp?) weaver rail.

You should be able to get around 1,200 FPS with 19 to 20 grains.

You might also look at the SSK design.

The .44 Magnum (NEI #266, a PB variation on the 429-330-GC theme)


In terms of handgun hunting cartridges, the .44 Magnum is truly a definitive landmark. Likewise, in terms of handgun hunting bullets, the SSK .44 FP has an equally important and unique niche in handgun hunting history. This bullet loaded into .44 Magnum revolvers has penetrated the thick, tough, pithy skulls of bull elephant, and slain them in their tracks. It has laid low Cape buffalo, bashed the big bears, and slain kudu bulls and tough zebra stallions. While other bullets (e.g. the 429421) may be better suited to deer/antelope sized game, the SSK .44 FP has a truly remarkable history of killing very large and very tough animals. It weighs 323 grains cast of WW alloy (linotype weight is listed as 310 grains). It is .940" long and has a meplat of .275" (which just so happens to be identical to the 429421), and it seems to penetrate flesh and bone like a drilling-rig punches through soil. You know how sometimes different guns get assigned specific tasks? I have a stainless 7 ½" Super Blackhawk that is my "heavy bullet .44" (so I don’t have to make sight corrections each time I’m working with different bullet weights). This gun takes to the SSK FP like my 130 lb. black lab takes to a deer’s leg bone! Launched with 20.5 grains of W296, this bullet leaves the SSBH at 1274 fps, and 12 shot groups consistently hover right at 1 ½" (as with all of my .44 magnum loads, the spark is provided by the CCI 350 primer). Even after a busy afternoon and hundreds of rounds of this load, the barrel is shiny and clean. The only drawback to this bullet is that when loaded into .44 Mag cases, the OAL of the loaded round is just long enough that most of the common 50 round ammo boxes won’t close. That’s OK, because a 20 round slip-top box works just fine.

I would also take a look at punch bullets, for straightline penetration you can't go wrong.

I second the punch, I've talked to a some guys that have used it in Africa with great results.

I too would not spare the added expense and insurance of the Punch bullet, but the cast will work well if not over-driven.

Very cool, when are you going?!

I have used the 420 WFN on Argentine water buffalo, out of a 9" .475L @ 1380 fps, and I can recommend it. You can manage 1100 to almost 1200 fps from a .480 with 296 or H-110.
This buff is larger than a cape buff. One 420 WFN was recovered after a frontal chest shot which penetrated the length of the body, turned, and went down to the right rear leg("knee") joint, a total of 7' of penetration. BUT, that was with nearly 1400 fps velocity:

Great trophy, Ken! But 7-feet of penetration isn't nearly enough.

LOL!

sounds like your loads should do well with good placement-good luck on your hunt!

Ya Ken why such whimpy load???

if i'm spending the money on that type of hunt, ya can't go wrong with a punch bullet and that is unquestionably what i'd use.

Great Trophy,
Besides the frontal shot any other shots needed to bring down the buff?

Thanks for the suggestions/ideas. The buffalo hunt won't be for a few years but I'm getting prepared by taking the loads over for our trip this fall for plains game. If I get the chance, I may try to use the load out on a zebra, waterbuck or warthog. It'll be overkill so to speak for a warthog but I just *have* to take one with the revolver!

Great Trophy,
Besides the frontal shot any other shots needed to bring down the buff?

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Yes. Look closely at the photo and you'll see a couple of shoulder / high shoulder shots. The frontal shot followed them.

I have used the 420 LFN out of a 6 inch 475 @ 1380 FPS to shoot completely through the shoulders of an Asian buffalo, breaking the main support bone as the bullet exited the far shoulder


The Punch Bullet is the best of the best for large tough game, for extra insurance