I only have one plains game safari under my belt. One of my goals in life is to hunt elephant, at least once.

I have looked over The Perfect Shot and visualized elephant pics and still have a hard time with the location of the brain.

For a little fun, I took some elephant pics off the web that did not metion any copyright. I superimposed a crosshair on where I "think" the shot should be placed.

I am an admitted wantabee and have a lot to learn. I would probably try a heart shot in reality. Just for fun. Insults and question fo my lineage are acceptable.

You probably already have it, but Ron Thompson's book Mahohboh is a great reference for this.

Hmm, never done it, but, I am wondering if, in that first picture, you are not shooting too high. You are shooting up at an angle. I will let others comment.
Peter.

Well if this does not get a post from Will, nothing will!

Well, I think that you need a little more practice

Always put yourself at ground level and remember that your bullet usually has to angle up and cross through the brain. Some of your shots are high and/or off center for a brain shot. Reread the perfect shot (picture the broom handle between the ears etc....).

gotta get back to work...

That second bull............ Ooooooooooooooh!!!

Brad

Bull elephant stand 11 to 12 feet tall.

Bearing that in mind, several of your shots seem high to me. This is of course assuming that they are being taken from proper elephant shooting range, which is close.

I am certainly no expert, but missing high is not good.

Please understand, I'm no expert on elephant hunting, haveing been on only two hunts as back up for a friend, and to shoot Buffalo. With that said I'd say all your frontal shots are about 5" high, and some of the side shots are high as well.

The no 3 bull is about right, but about 4" too far left. It'd a long way back through that skull to the brain.

This is hard because these pictures are taken with a long lense. That makes the line of sight to indicate you being much taller that you really are. With the ele as close as they seem in the pictures, the general area for a frontal brain shot would be just about the first wrinkle in the top of the trunk! IMO

Now if you really want the facts, Will can tell you perfectly.

Depends on whether they are charging!

Copyrighted pics?

quote:

Originally posted by CanadianLefty:
Well, I think that you need a little more practice

Always put yourself at ground level and remember that your bullet usually has to angle up and cross through the brain. Some of your shots are high and/or off center for a brain shot. Reread the perfect shot (picture the broom handle between the ears etc....).

gotta get back to work...

If an Elephant is facing you straight on, what is the distance from the outter surface of the trunk, to the center of the brain?

im going to agree with most every one on here 99% of all your shots are far to high and most are of center.

1 - tad too high & too far left
2 - can't see it, looks too low
3 - about 8 or 9 inches too low
4 - bingo
5 - can't see it
6 - too far back
7 - bingo
8 - tad too high
9 - more centered

This is the type of thread that makes AR great.

quote:

Ron Thompson's book Mahohboh is a great reference for this.

I agree 100%. Afted reading and reviewing this book you will know where the brain is.

Brain shots are easy if you know where to aim.

Jason

You'd have one ele only - if those crosses mark where you would place your bullet rather than where you think the brain is.

18" to 2'6" from the skin on the forehead to the middle of the brain.

Side brain 1' to 18" is about right.

Generally you are shooting up into the animals head, so the bullet must go in below the brain.

Ganyana is right (Re: Your Question about distance from the outter surface of the trunk, to the center of the brain). Besides, he has more experience than many of us here.

Ganyana,

At least 2 spot on, and more that are close enough. I'd bet any number of elephant with you. You pay for the ones I brain and I pay for the ones you do.

Hi Will. Your on. No caliber bigger than .308 allowed though...

First wrinkle on the trunk ? If the head is raised that gives a different shot than if the head is lowered does it not ? Shouldn't you shoot for the brain not the wrinkle ?