The great Asian buffalo was in an ideal position almost flank and less than 40 meters. The wind was right in an open pasture similar to the South African veld. While centered the sight of the Leupold scope from Danny Giacone from Florida, a Knight blackpowder gun in the Vital Triangle, according to the indications of the local PH, Fernando Arino, who supported him with his inseparable Winchester bolt-action in the powerful 458 Win. in case the things went wrong.

A slight pressure of the trigger and the recoil movement of the weapon surprised the gunner. The black figure of the animal was like in a cloud as in a dream by the smoke generated by the Pyrodex powder. The PH that had a lot of experience in this type of armaments, because of that had been placed a little flank so that the wind swept the smoke to him that prevented the vision in case that the animal put itself nervous and attack the hunter.

The first shot was in the correct place and the Barnes X bullet of caliber 45 impelled by two pellets of Pyrodex, worked properly. With Fernando’s assistant behind the video camera filming, the great animal turned in around with difficulty, and Danny started the slow recharge of the weapon with the confidence to be protected by his PH from any bad temper of the buffalo. This adventure began searching internet his year when Danny and his friend John Stafford from California, contacted the outfitter Fernando Arino from “Argentine Adventure” that offers big game hunting in several farm to fulfill South American Diamond Award.

Buffalos

Water buffalo or bubalus bubalis of Asian origin were introduced in Brasil but around the years 1940 in Argentina. There are very corpulent animals that live closely to the water or marsh places and if they are hurt by bad shooting, transformed themselves into a nightmare when attack in the way similar to the African cousins, the big Syncerus caffer.

Within the water buffaloes are several subspecies such as the Murrah of short and heavy horns; the Jaffarabadi of Indian origin, with long horns that falls on both sides giving him a graceful presence like Pluto the dog; the Mediterranean ones, carabaos and other ten species more.

They are great animals with a weight that can arrive at the ton, have a strong structure with a heavy skin for which minimum rifle calibers are required like the classic 375 H&H, but in this special hunt Danny would use a blackpowder rifle Knight in caliber .45 whereas John would travel light: and will use some of the many rifles from Anuritay, Ranch.

The clients can choose from a rifle in .243 Win, 308 Win;.300Win.Mag; 458 Win Mag all bolt actions and also a double rifle Westley Richards in caliber .476 WR and until lever actions carbines in caliber 44 Win. Mag and 32 Special.

Sometimes a difficult decision for the customers but John taking into account the animals to hunt only use two guns: A Ruger International carbine in 308 Win. for the medium game and a Winchester model 70 in 375H&H for the buffalo.

But the great question soon would be revealed: it will be enough gun the blackpowder rifle for animals whose weight went up around a ton?

Blackpowder Gun

As we said at the beginning of the story, the shot from Danny’s gun was perfect. Correct the proper distance and the election of the good hollow point Barnes X bullets work within the animal breaking him not only the leg but touching the heart. With the gun properly loaded again Danny and his PH continued the hunt, trying to made a rapid shot to the animal that now tried to hide inside the whole group of buffaloes.

The loud voice of the PH suggested, “Danny put another bullet near the neck!” This time helped by the support of a long shooting stick the blackpowder hunter place another Barnes bullet where indicated its PH. The hit buffalo walked two steps, falling the first back quarters like a boat that sinks in slow motion.

The hunter tried to recharge frenetically, but Fernando calmed him, “Take your time Danny” said in a quiet voice. “There is no danger.” But in any case when their rifles where ready in the meantime they approach for a finishing shot. With the gun loaded they they walked to the buff to finish task.

They approached by the back part of the animal but the buff mortally hurt sing the Death Song. The last firing was only for safe. The autopsy result that the animal was technically dead with the first shot. That was the beginning of the safari in search of South American Diamond Award for Danny and John.

It was different for John hunting. When his buffalo hunt arrived, the wild animals were in an open field very similar to the African plains and were easier to locate to a good head. This time the weapon was a conventional rifle and Winchester mod. 70 bolt action in 375H&H with a scope sight of hardly 2.5 Xs and with 300 grains of a well known American ammunition. The approach was not easy anyways because the winds changed of direction several times but once the trophy were located John place a well constructed bullet in good place. The animal left the place running and looked for a refuge between scrubs very closed. The PH and John walked again trying to see the animal before it detects them the buffalo was almost covered by the bush but another well placed bullet finish the job. The tension finish when the PH touched the eye.

Enter Rios

It is an big province in the East part of Argentine, In the old days was covered by an extensive forest, but because an intensive and exhausting operation of their forest by cutting and manufacture of firewood charcoal, there are not many forest now but in places like LM with some forest are populated by a great amount of wild fauna like pumas, wild boar, brown brocket deer, wild pigs, goats, ostriches, many wild cats to mention the important species but now also the great buffalos, red stags, Indian blackbuks and other species in some private ranches like in LM.

The Hunting Ranch is surrounded by virgin forest that is very difficult to penetrate while hunting because the owner opens roads denominated ‘picadas’so the horsemen or hunter can see the wild game when they are on the move or feeding.

The temperatures of the place are relative high since the region is to the same height as Cape Town in South Africa, Also very dry, it warms up during the summer and in the hunting season it is rather warm in the mornings but during the night is getting cold.

LM is a very comfortable hunting ranch with modern medical facilities and good attention. The generator for electricity power is 220 W. and it is only possible to be communicated by cellular telephone. Near town C.Elia about 10 km from the Ranch is a telephone public cabin. You can travel to Buenos Aires — the capital of Argentina — and from there in a domestic flight near the farm where a Van waits for the hunters. Introducing guns and their ammunition is no difficulty whenever the hunters fulfill the requirements in the origin country and a statement in the Customs when arrived at Ezeiza Airport, Argentina

Conclusions

LM is a very good choice; it seems to me ideal for hunting with blackpowder guns as with bow and arrow or with handguns because the shooting distances not exceed 100 yards. The Hunting Ranch ruled by the PH “Fernando” and the members of the staff have a lot of hunting experience.