This is BobW with big cow taken with his 50-140. Diagonal quartering away shot through heart.
This is the .50 PP bullet recovered alongside an unfired one
This is the video of Bob's shot showing impact of bullet. Herds bunch when they sense danger and getting one to isolate is one of the toughest parts. Plus laying on frozen sand in January with wind blowing adds to fun:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCPXAdP ... e=youtu.be
This is Wild Bill with his large cow taken with a 40-65 pp hollow base Hoch mold bullet 350 gr.
This is the recovered bullet. This shot was identical to Bob's at the same distance. Went through heart and stopped just before exiting. Bullet travel was same direction, traveled same distance through critter, both critters were down after three steps. Both animals reacted similarly upon bullet impact.
So, we have two similar size buffs shot with two calibers on the opposite end of the spectrum size wise, that penetrated almost 3/4 of the length of a mature cow buff. Distance was same, 100 yds. Bullet damage is similar. Bob can fill in details on his buff as far as bullet wt. retention, etc. This is why I say making any broad sweeping statements regarding bullets, calibers, in BPCR when buff hunting is difficult. These are not my theories, just actual observations, and why I maintain that bullet placement is paramount to bullet or caliber. Now I do think different bullet configurations, profiles, and alloys may react differently upon impact with bone and on thinner skinned critters, and Rdnck and some others have done some good experimentation in that regard. Both these bullets above impacted bone during their travel. FWIW hope that answers some questions about the .40's abilities on buff hunting.
These quartering shots, especially away, are tricky. You need to visualize in 3D. Most people don't hold back far enough for angle. This was Bob's second hunt and spend a lot of time shooting with him so know his abilities. Bill is an old friend who originally got me into Sharps and is one shot on all the buffs he has taken.. Brain shots are very effective and very tricky. I did not recommend them for my hunters. If you do elect to take them I would get in close. There is a lot of area on the head that is non lethal. I always recommended heart shots for my clients.
Yea, buffs will charge, especially when mortally wounded. Had a TV show with a couple hosts and two videographers. One guy made a just above the heart shot in lungs on nice bull. Went down and was just about expired when we walked over the hills to get to him. I recommended waiting just a couple more minutes before we approached and if not done we would do a coup de grace. Well the young videographer asked if he could finished him off when we went up. I told him yes, but stay back about 15 yards. Well we were still waiting and I was visiting with host filming and he decided to go on his own. Walked up to it and put the muzzle behind the ear. Before he got a shot off the "dead" buff opened his eyes, jumped up, and charged right after the cameraman! Well, he emptied his .44 revolver shooting back over his shoulder at the charging buff. The buff went about 30 yards and keeled over dead.........no thanks to the hits from the .44. The videographer got fired on the spot. I was not happy, nor was the host. If you have never seen a dangerous buffalo, you have not been around them long enough. An 81 year old buffalo rancher told me that when I was getting into the business. Good words to live by.
Rick