Just looking at and wondering; is a giraffe a tough animal to put down. I have zero experience in this area. Do you need a big caliber rifle? Where do you shoot a giraffe. I have always been a heart and lungs guy but was wondering on a giraffe. A big black stink bull intriques me.

My one and only giraffe was taken in the Natal area of RSA last year with Crusader Safaris and Rad Robertson as PH.
We stalked close enough for a 40 yd shot from my 375 H&H. I was using Federal ammo and Barnes TSX for the first round and Sledgehammer solids underneath. Rad explained to me that all of the vitals are ahead of the front legs when viewed from the side. When I popped out in the open, I met the old stink bull frontally and put the 300 gr TSX right between the two humps, then put a solid into the near hump as he wheeled around. He collapsed like a drilling rig!

Justin - I've shot 6 of em, they are lots of fun! Yes, very tough animals - with vitals far forward in their chest. But a .375 is still a good choice, its all about putting it in the right place.

You can add one to your 2013 buff hunt in Zim!

Get a copy of Kevin Robertsons book The Perfect Shot.
It even comes in a compact paperback edition.
It explains where to shoot & what calibers & bullets are best for each species of African game.

Definitely thinking about it Aaron. Still trying to figure out how I am going to get you to be my PH on that trip.

I've shot two with a 500NE. That in itself makes for a good hunt as there is NO WAY you are going to sneak up on them without knowing you are there!

My first took two 570gr TSX and 1 458 DGX to bring him down.

The second took two 570gr TSX to go down.

Tuff animals and yes, Robertsons "Perfect Shot" will help you especially on Giraffe. The vitals are in an odd place visually.

I just took a giraffe a couple of weeks ago. Used 375 ruger with 270gr soft points. Shot was right at the base of the neck and it dropped like a ton of bricks. The perfect shot would have been a little lower but my shot did the job.

I studied the Perfect shot book, and quizzed every PH I got near before I shot my giraffe. It seemed like nobody argued the book, but the answer I remember best was "shoot him in the neck if you want it to drop, and shoot it in the body if you want to follow it around for awhile."

When the shot came it was either a clear shot at the neck or a brush screened body shot. I took the base of the neck with a .375, and no following was neeeded. It looked like a crane falling over.

This past trip in May to Namibia. I was going to use my 375 H&H, but plans were altered to fit the circumstances. One shot from a 7 Rem Mag with 150 gr PMP, and shattered the spine. Halfway between the shoulders and head, and halfway from front to back is the key; the target is about the size of your forearm.

Last year, my son put two badly placed 470's into a big stinkbull and then had to chase it and use 4 more!

Poorly hit giraffe are the stuff of legends around the campfire.

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It looked like a crane falling over.

I like this description it really reminds me how my giraffe fell.

here is where to shoot... Neck and body shots. The skull is unique to bring home.
Mike

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Originally posted by Todd Williams:

Tuff animals and yes, Robertsons "Perfect Shot" will help you especially on Giraffe. The vitals are in an odd place visually.

+1

Little Joe:
Giraffe are fun to hunt and a challenge, too. I shot mine several years ago in south Africa with a 1904 vintage .450 no2 double by Joseph Lang. Stalking them in the traditional manner is impossible and my guide made an excellent suggestion that worked: instead of walking up to the animal (he can see you as his is so tall no matter what one hides behind) we walked parallel to him several times outside of his bubble but slowly began to angle in towards him. I was able to get in two quick shots in the lungs and he ran 80 yards or so and dropped. A unique experience I will never forget. I brought home the skull, the two front feet with small wood tables attached, and a full rug with head pressed flat. Zebra rugs pale by comparison. The heart is forward in the chest (if I remember correctly) but any heavy and well-constructed bullet in the shoulder or vitals will do the job. I'd pass on the head shot as the skull is nice to have. I'm sure you will enjoy you hunt. An open sighted up close shot will be far more remembered than a scoped magnum assassination at 300 yards.
Cheers,
Cal
PS. Regards to Ben, Hoss, and Adam!

I have shot a number of giraffe. I have shot one with the .300 WSM and three with the .375 H&H. On one occasion, the .300 WSM was the only rifle on the truck with me at the time, and I used it to shot one at the base of the head, per the PH's request and recommendation. Dropped it in its tracks. However, I would not view that as something that should be done on a regular basis. The PH had faith in my shooting. I would highly recommend the .375 H&H as the basic overall caliber to shoot them with.

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Originally posted by LittleJoe:
Just looking at and wondering; is a giraffe a tough animal to put down. I have zero experience in this area. Do you need a big caliber rifle?

Yes.

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Where do you shoot a giraffe.

Most typically in Africa.

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I have always been a heart and lungs guy but was wondering on a giraffe. A big black stink bull intriques me.

On a more serious note:
What has been said here is valid - do a search also and you'll find a couple of good threads.

I shot mine @ 48 meters w/ a .416 Rem Mag and I was plenty pleased I didn't opt for the .375.
The skin is very thick and the bones and muscles strong so you need to hit it well unless you spine/neck shoot it.

I souldn't go for the neck shot but that's me: more certain to hit the lungs/heart as the target is so much bigger.

Have a look at Robertson's Perfect Shot!!!

- Lars/Finland

I just shot a old stink bull two weeks ago and used a .375 H&H with a 300 gr. Swift A-frame @2555 fps. The range was around 50 yds. and I shot it through the heart, high forward of the shoulder area. The bullet stopped in the shoulder meat on the off side, it lacked a couple of inches for complete penetration. I was happy that I did not have my .280 in hand, but probably would have gone for the base of the skull shot if I had. That is the sum total of my experience!

Thanks for the feedback. I would have to use a 375 as that is as big as I have at this point. I feel very confident in it and appreciate all of your comments.

Only shot one back in 2010 in Namibia. I Studied the pics of the vital areas in the Robertson perfect shot hardcover book the PH had before we hunted this one. Used my .338 Win Mag with 250 gr. TSX. One shot into the base of the neck/shoulder area, it ran maybe 100 yds and toppled over. Used a second finishing shot once we got up close to it.
The "work" started with getting it into position for pictures and jsut got more challenging from there to get it loaded whole onto a 2 axle trailer (thought the PH was gonna burn up his winch he had on his safari truck) and then once it was at the skinning area where as many as 8 people worked on getting it skinned and salted over the enxt 3 hours. Biggest critter I ever shot!!

Willi