How to Build a Cape Hunting Gun

Choose your action

• 1

  Select the type of action you are most comfortable with for your rifle. Cape Buffalo are dangerous animals that may require you to take a second shot (or more!) in rapid succession to end a charge. With this in mind, semi-automatic, bolt-action and lever-action rifles are most commonly used. Single-shot rifles are not recommended. Large double-barreled "elephant guns" are an option but are often prohibitively expensive.

• 2

  Decide on a caliber for your rifle. Cape Buffalo are heavy game that require a belted magnum to take successfully. While weapons chambered for such medium rounds as 30.06, 7mm magnum, and .444 Marlin have been successful with proper shot placement, bringing a rifle chambered for the larger-belted magnums is generally advised. On the smaller side of the acceptable, safe calibers are the .300 and .338 Winchester Magnum rounds, and the comparable calibers from Weathersby and Laupa as well as the .375 H&H. These rounds are both common and comparatively inexpensive. Old tried and true "elephant gun" rounds such as the .470 Nitro, .416 Rigby, and .500 Nitro are certainly sufficient, but platforms for these behemoths are few and the rounds are much more expensive (sometimes as much as $50 per bullet for the larger Nitros).

• 3

  Chose efficient optics that you will need for your Cape rifle. The fact that the Cape Buffalo is a large animal and that most of the animals taken are at less than 100 meters in scrub grass means that you will take very few long-range shots. With this is mind make sure your rifle has excellent iron sites or in some cases after-market reflex sites that are fast to acquire. A scoped rifle is going to be a liability when trying to take a second shot at an oncoming Cape.

• 4

  Sling placement on the rifle. Cape hunts are genreally done from Range Rovers with a short stalk. While the typical belted magnum Cape rifle is going to weigh close to twice as much as a comparable deer rifle, you may just be adding a useless attachment to your rifle by adding a sling. Areas that have Cape buffalo herds are also common lion areas and most hunters find it prudent to carry their rifle in a more ready position rather than slung over the shoulder.

• 5

  Site your weapon in at 100 meters and practice firing a rapid follow-up shot to your first. The life you save could be your own.