So - I have just got my elephant hunt confirmed for this August. I am going to hunt the Okavango in Botsvana with Chris Collins as my PH. The hunt will be for ten days, and if time allows I will also take some plains game. If some of you have experience with the area and the PH I would really like to know about it. What should I expect?

The question is now which rifle and what load to use... I have a rifle in 416 rem. mag I used on my two previous trips to africa and for all my moose hunting. I know this should be my choice since it's the rifle I'm used to shoote and already gained confidence in. But still I feel it's a bit on the light side for something as big as an elephant bull! And maybe I'd like an excuse to get a new rifle with more punch. I've been thinking about getting a Ruger in 458 Lott - maybe just as a backup rifle. The question is if I will see any significant difference from my 416 in the ability to kill? Or should it be something like a 500 A2?

The next question is what bullets to load. I am so fortunate that my 416 shoots almost everything to the same POI. But so far I have never loaded any solids. I have mostly been shooting the 410 gr. Woodleigh RN and the 350 gr. Barnes X and had great success with both. But what solids would you experienced elephant hunters recommend me to load? I got my hands on some 400 gr. Barnes Solids and a whole bunch of 400 gr. Hornady solids. I also have access to Rhino solids. What would be my best pick?

Well, just need to keep myself busy until I'm going!

Congratulations! I know just how you feel, since I am also going on my first ele hunt this year (in Zim). Thus, I can't give you a whole lot of advice. But I've met Chris Collins and he seemed like a very decent guy, whom I would be happy to hunt with.

Btw, although many will probably say that you should get something bigger, I'm going to use my little 375H&H, since it's what I'm used to using.

Skitt Jakt!

The .416 Rem is plenty of rifle for a elephant! I watched my .416 drop a elephant, save your money for more critters while in Africa, use your .416

I will be heading to Zim in August, not quite the same reason, I'm going for Leopard and buffalo. My .416 will be with me as well as my .270..................

Good luck on your jumbo! have a safe and successful trip!

quote:

Originally posted by Tommy Igi:
What should I expect?

Expect to walk a lot, and at a rapid pace.

quote:

The question is now which rifle and what load to use... I have a rifle in 416 rem. mag I used on my two previous trips to africa and for all my moose hunting. I know this should be my choice since it's the rifle I'm used to shoote and already gained confidence in. But still I feel it's a bit on the light side for something as big as an elephant bull! And maybe I'd like an excuse to get a new rifle with more punch. I've been thinking about getting a Ruger in 458 Lott - maybe just as a backup rifle. The question is if I will see any significant difference from my 416 in the ability to kill? Or should it be something like a 500 A2?

The best choice will be a rifle you shoot well and can carry all day over many long miles of fast paced hiking. If you really want to try out a 500 A2, don't let anyone stop you, but it certainly should not be considered a necessity for this trip.

quote:

The next question is what bullets to load. I am so fortunate that my 416 shoots almost everything to the same POI. But so far I have never loaded any solids. I have mostly been shooting the 410 gr. Woodleigh RN and the 350 gr. Barnes X and had great success with both. But what solids would you experienced elephant hunters recommend me to load? I got my hands on some 400 gr. Barnes Solids and a whole bunch of 400 gr. Hornady solids. I also have access to Rhino solids. What would be my best pick?

Use solids.

Hornady, Woodleigh, Barnes, GS Custom, North Fork, and Norbert Hansen's SuperPenetrator can all do the job for you. It might be faily easy for you to get some of the SuperPenetrators since they are made in Germany. Try this website:

http://www.spezialgeschosse.de/

Good luck and have fun!

Sounds like you are all set. I will be after elephant myself later this year in the Caprivi Strip, just north and east of where you will be in Botswana. Not my first elephant hunt, but I do hope it will be my first elephant!

Your .416 is plenty big enough, but why not go bigger if you want to give bigger a try? You'll never have a better excuse!

I will be taking delivery of a new custom .500 A-Square within the next several days and will take it to Namibia along with my .458 Lott as a back-up rifle.

I'll be using Woodleigh solids. Good hunting and good luck!

Tommy,

You are in for a hunting experience like no other. Until I had actually followed the tracks of a particular bull and made the brain shot I really had no idea what a rush it could be. In hunting I personally think that an elephant hunt stands alone as a unique adventure.

I think your 416 paricular since you say you are use to it would be the rifle you should use.

Regards,

Mark

Tommy,

Congratulations on your elephant hunt. I spoke with Chris at length in Reno and also booked with him for elephant but not until 2007. I was impressed with him and liked his mobile tent method of hunting, much like the old days. I shoot a .416 Rem. also and whereas I know it can certainly kill and elephant it is not considered a stopper cartridge. If you would like to try a large caliber you could not have better excuse. To paraphrase what a PH once said when asked why he used a 600NE he said "because I couldn't find anything bigger". But do allow yourself time to get comfortable with the big bore before you go.

I will look forward to the report of your trip and how things went with Chris.

CFA

What gun??? Tom, I used the Ruger in 458v Lott..in the summer of 04 Gokwe North near Matusadona national Park...I hunted in the jess in a river bottom 14 foot high thick green cover...Stalking into the wind walking the paths that the eles broke thru the heavy stuff.. Once you get close you will wonder if you have enough gun.. Is my gun loaded?? Is the firing pin broken?? All these thoughts will be swirling in your mind while concentrating on the eles in front of you...Wait till you sneak up on one at 20 feet and see how he is camoflagued in the sunlight and shade...

Mike