On this page
When a Cape buffalo comes at you on Vurhonga Savanna, you don’t get long to think. The buffalo is already too close for the rifle. That is where the .45-70 Jernberg Superior has earned its place in our sidearm slot.
It is a pistol, but it fires ammo rated for classes 4 to 9, so it can legally take everything from a deer to a Cape buffalo, a lion or a bison. These are the screenshots from our own hunts, and here is why we recommend it for Africa and every other reserve with big game.
Cape buffalo at close range on Vurhonga Savanna, the Jernberg in hand
A buffalo in the grass ahead, the break-action pistol out
The buffalo down. Vurhonga Savanna, Cape buffalo, class 9Screenshots from our own save. Tap any image to enlarge.
Why It’s Our Big-Game Pistol
- It reaches class 9. The Cape buffalo, lion, bison, water buffalo, yak, banteng and tiger are all class 9, and the .45-70 ammo is rated for every one of them. Most handguns stop at class 6.
- It is the pistol you can draw on a charging animal. A rifle is slow to bring up when a buffalo is closing. A pistol in the sidearm slot is already in your hand.
- It takes a scope. The mount is there if you want to stretch it, though we keep shots short.
- You can put the big load in it and stop worrying. Soft-point flat-nose or hollow-point, both are class 4 to 9.
The Catch: One Shot
The Jernberg is a single-shot break-action pistol. You fire once, then you have to break it open and reload. That is the whole trade-off. It is the best way to carry class 9 ammo in a pistol, but it only gives you one chance per load.
So we treat it like this:
- The rifle is still your main gun. Take a proper rifle for the shot you plan to make. The Jernberg is for when the plan fails.
- Let it close, then fire. With one shot, a hurried shot at distance wastes it. Wait for a clean, close shot at the chest.
- Keep it loaded and the sidearm key ready. Learn how to draw it without looking.
- Back away after the shot. If it is still moving, put distance between you and it while you reload.
- Carry a second option for the first shot. If you want more than one chance, the Rhino 454 below fires more than once.
What It Can Take
Every one of the 58 species inside the .45-70’s class range. The class 7 to 9 animals are the reason to carry it:
| Class | Species | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Banteng | Emerald Coast Australia |
| 9 | Bengal Tiger | Sundarpatan Nepal Hunting Reserve |
| 9 | Cape Buffalo | Vurhonga Savanna |
| 9 | European Bison | Hirschfelden Hunting Reserve |
| 9 | Lion | Vurhonga Savanna |
| 9 | Plains Bison | Silver Ridge Peaks, Yukon Valley Nature Reserve |
| 9 | Water Buffalo | Parque Fernando, Sundarpatan Nepal Hunting Reserve |
| 9 | Wild Yak | Sundarpatan Nepal Hunting Reserve |
| 9 | Wood Bison | Askiy Ridge |
| 8 | Grizzly Bear | Yukon Valley Nature Reserve |
| 8 | Moose | Askiy Ridge, Layton Lake District, Medved-Taiga National Park, New England Mountains, Revontuli Coast, Yukon Valley Nature Reserve |
| 8 | Saltwater Crocodile | Emerald Coast Australia |
| 7 | American Alligator | Mississippi Acres Preserve |
| 7 | Black Bear | Askiy Ridge, Layton Lake District, Mississippi Acres Preserve, New England Mountains, Silver Ridge Peaks |
| 7 | Black Caiman | Intisuyu |
| 7 | Eurasian Brown Bear | Medved-Taiga National Park, Revontuli Coast |
| 7 | Manitoban Elk | Askiy Ridge |
| 7 | Rocky Mountain Elk | Silver Ridge Peaks |
| 7 | Roosevelt Elk | Layton Lake District |
| 7 | Sambar | Emerald Coast Australia |
Africa First: Vurhonga Savanna
Vurhonga Savanna is the reserve where we carry it most. It has the Cape buffalo (class 9, 360 to 950 kg) and the lion (class 9) on the same grass, and both can come at you. Our lion guide has our shot-placement notes. The Cape buffalo is a legendary-difficulty animal and a diamond needs a trophy rating of about 151, so it is a big prize as well as a dangerous one.
The other reserves with lots of big game are Sundarpatan (tiger, yak, water buffalo), Silver Ridge Peaks and Yukon Valley (bison, bears, elk), Askiy Ridge (wood bison, moose) and Emerald Coast (banteng, saltwater crocodile).
Which Ammo?
| Load | Class range | Classes | When we use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| .45-70 Soft-Point Flat Nose | 4-9 | Our default for head-on and charging animals. The flat nose keeps its weight and pushes through to the vitals. | |
| .45-70 Hollow-Point | 4-9 | Broadside shots where you want it to expand and stop the animal faster. |
The ammo choices are our own rule of thumb from play. The game lists both loads as the same class range.
How It Compares
| Handgun | From | Classes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| .45-70 Jernberg Superior | High Caliber Weapon Pack | 4–9 | Single shot, scope mount, about 75 m |
| Rhino 454 | Base game | 4–9 | Revolver: more shots, no DLC |
| .44 Panther Magnum | Base game | 3–8 | Revolver: stops at class 8, so no buffalo or lion |
| Focoso 357 | Base game | 2–6 | Our light self-defence revolver for wolves |
If you do not own the High Caliber Weapon Pack, the Rhino 454 is the base-game answer for class 9, with the bonus of more than one shot. Our Focoso .357 is the lighter gun for wolves and anything up to class 6. All of them are on our weapons page.
Screenshots from our own save. Class ranges, range and capacity from our weapons database; they can change with patches. Written October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a pistol kill a Cape buffalo in Call of the Wild?
What is the best handgun for big game in Call of the Wild?
How many shots does the Jernberg hold?
How far can you shoot the Jernberg?
Where do I get the Jernberg?
Everything on this page comes from playing and studying the game. If it helped, pick it up from the official store and support the studio that makes it.
Get theHunter: Call of the Wild on Steam → Also on PlayStation and Xbox. Store prices change; check the store for the current price.