Shot Placement on Australian Water Buffalo
Australian Water Buffalo are an amazingly tough animal, underestimated and under gunned by many.
A Bull in his prime will be 600-800 lbs heavier than his cousin the African Cape Buffalo, the Australian Water Buffalo is also about 2-2.5 ft taller with a much denser bone structure. A mature Australian Water Buffalo is 16 plus years, it is not uncommon to take Bulls that are 20 years or older if they are in a wild and free ranging environment like the one in this video.
To make an ethical shot on an Australian Water Buffalo Bull it is recommended to use a minimum of .375 caliber although some hunters may use a .338. On our Australian Water Buffalo hunts we have seen that the .338 caliber is moving much too quickly to achieve maximum expansion of projectile which should be bonded, or, first shot even a solid but this can be left to the experts to discuss in depth.
Taking risky or 50/50 shots is strongly discouraged as a wounded Australian Water Buffalo will be either lost or create a dangerous situation. Taking time to stalk and wait until an almost 90 degree shot is possible and is the best practice. Half way from top of the shoulder to bottom of chest and straight up from the front leg, or if the offset shoulder is slightly forward/behind then centred between the two which should break both shoulders, lungs, and potentially heart.
Depending on the follow up shot (99% of the time a follow up shot is needed) and his position, then the shot should be into the same spot or high neck/spine shot if possible.
