As a gun writer with the opportunity to test and try different rifles, I’ve used a number of different rifle models and cartridges for buffalo in many different countries. Some have been good, some have been great, and others are near and dear to my heart—I made them permanent residents at my home. Let’s take a look at some of the buffalo rifles I’ve loved over the years. 

Before starting an article, experienced writers first decide who their audience is. If I were writing this piece for a print magazine I would probably spend a good deal of time explaining why lever-action rifles are worth considering for personal defense. And then I would spend a good deal of time telling about all of the various makes and models that are available to today’s shooters.

As time went by, I moved down into Southwest Texas and took a job as Chief Deputy for a sheriff’s office smack dab in the middle of big ranch country. And that’s when two important things happened. The first was that my district judge really wanted my Marlin .44. The second was that I discovered the Browning B-92 carbine.

But there is more to this story. Ray knew how much I was yearning to hunt some African game. However, I was unable to bring firearms on my trip as I was not on a “scheduled safari hunt” for that purpose. Ray did have in his keep three long guns for use on official business.