shooting a buffalo with a contender

[hyltoto]

Do you guys think a 300 win mag is enough gun? If not which Encore bbl do you rekon is the best given about a 150 yd shot? The 45-70 seems awful weak and the post here a couple of weeks ago didn't seem encouraging  for hotter loads.

[Daveinthebush]

I was talking to a friend at work on the subject and the State of Alaska has a regulation on foot pounds of enery, bullet weight and or feet per second required for hunting buffalo.  Search as I might I can't find the information tonight.

I do remember though that we ran some ballistic reports on his 45/70 and with a "hot" handloaded 300 grain he would have just barley qualified with his Contender.

Wish I could give you some more information and will post the regulations up here if I can find them.

[KN]

Either one will drop a buffalo. I am assuming you meant in an Encore and not a contender? At least for the 300WM. If your talking about an Encore it will handle full house loads in 45/70. Although its a bear to shoot.  KN

[hyltoto]

so sorry folks...

[JMCrane]

I have both and both would work. Many buffalo have been taken with the 45-70 for many years. In an Encore in factory ammo you could shoot Buffalo Bore 350, 405, 430 or 500 grain. The first three have muzzle energy over 3400ft lbs. Don't shoot these in contenders. Several loads in the 300 win mag would work fine (200 grain Nosler Partitions come to mind). I thing determining what range you expect to shoot at would be key. I personally would choose 45-70 (just for nostalgia) out to 200 yds and the win mag beyond that. Sounds like fun.

[thomas]

If you are after Bison then the 45-70 should be fine. Many Bison were taken in the U.S. by the 45-70.
Now if you really mean Buffalo then forget the 45-70.
tom

[Ladobe]

Didn't JD Jones take Cape Buffs with a 375JDJ about 30 years ago?   I know he took Bull Elephant with it on that safari.