Hippo - softs or solids?

21 January 2018, 12:32

Charlie64

.

Coming off the Big Bore section where there is a thread on 416 ammo a number of contributors mention solids for ele and hippo !?

Hunted hippo on land in Zim end of 2017, using softs and the PHs double. Did the job fine.

Is there a hard and fast rule as to what bullet for hippo ?

Interested to get opinions and thoughts.

Cheers

Charlie

.

21 January 2018, 13:13

fairgame

Charles,

A fairly safe rule is a good quality 'soft' followed by a solid.

The theory being is on hippo that you have ample time to align your first shot and a head shot with a 'soft' is devastating and allows for some margin of error.

In the event of wounding your quarry the target will change quite dramatically and for example a quartering or going away body shot maybe all that presents itself.

Although many claim shooting a hippo in water is like shooting a fish in a barrel you would be surprised at how many completely fluff it up!

In addition when a hippo charges you from water you are confronted by a Tsunami of teeth which will require a good penetrating projectile.

21 January 2018, 14:46

Saeed

Shot many with Barnes X and Walterhogs bullets.

21 January 2018, 17:38

fulvio

A-Frames or Barnes X would do the job though preference would lean towards the Barnes.

21 January 2018, 20:22

Baker458

Are you specifically talking about hunting hippo on land, using body shots? When people shoot them in the water, they are going for the brain with a soft so it's a drastically different bullet requirement.

I shot mine on land, with four 500gr solids from my 458 Lott, all in the body. None passed through him (I have all four). Based on the amount of penetration I've had with Barnes X bullets on buffalo, I might not be confident that I could 'double lung' a big bull hippo with softs in the body.

I might try an X in the chamber, with a magazine full of solids to back it up. Especially if he were in the open, where I felt confident that I could hit him multiple times.

I would only shoot a hippo in the water if I were desperate for a big lion bait, and could not find one on dry ground. For me, it would not be 'hunting dangerous game.' I very much enjoyed the hunt and certainly hope to bag another hippo on land someday!

22 January 2018, 01:15

jdollar

I think you should let the hippo decide how he wants to die- softly or solidly......

22 January 2018, 05:18

clayman216

Good question. I was hunting hippo, in water, my PH suggested that I use a BARNES TSX first for a brain shot and I fel5 I should use a solid. I shot front on, perfectly between ears. The TSX opened up quickly and drilled a trench down the skull even though the shot was perfectly placed. Afterwards he told be that I should have used a solid first and that it was a learning experience for him. The hippo was finished with some follow up shots but it was a bit dicey for a while. Bottom line - SOLIDS.

22 January 2018, 05:32

Michael Robinson

The Barnes X is hard to beat. But the caliber and velocity must be sufficient. I use .509s at 2,500 fps. With lesser calibers, I would be inclined to use Barnes Banded Solids.

22 January 2018, 07:37

Saeed

quote:
Originally posted by Baker458:
Are you specifically talking about hunting hippo on land, using body shots? When people shoot them in the water, they are going for the brain with a soft so it's a drastically different bullet requirement.

I shot mine on land, with four 500gr solids from my 458 Lott, all in the body. None passed through him (I have all four). Based on the amount of penetration I've had with Barnes X bullets on buffalo, I might not be confident that I could 'double lung' a big bull hippo with softs in the body.

I might try an X in the chamber, with a magazine full of solids to back it up. Especially if he were in the open, where I felt confident that I could hit him multiple times.

I would only shoot a hippo in the water if I were desperate for a big lion bait, and could not find one on dry ground. For me, it would not be 'hunting dangerous game.' I very much enjoyed the hunt and certainly hope to bag another hippo on land someday!

I have shot dozens of hippo, both in the water and on land.

Always took a head shot.

Never had a failure.

22 January 2018, 07:38

MacD37

quote:
Originally posted by fairgame:
Charles,

A fairly safe rule is a good quality 'soft' followed by a solid.

The theory being is on hippo that you have ample time to align your first shot and a head shot with a 'soft' is devastating and allows for some margin of error.

In the event of wounding your quarry the target will change quite dramatically and for example a quartering or going away body shot maybe all that presents itself.

Although many claim shooting a hippo in water is like shooting a fish in a barrel you would be surprised at how many completely fluff it up!

In addition when a hippo charges you from water you are confronted by a Tsunami of teeth which will require a good penetrating projectile.

Gentlemen, the above is the reason one always asks a question of a person who knows the correct answer. Andrew is the one to ask!

If you miss the brain with that first shot and he gets back in the water he may or may not survive. The only shot that will stop him in his tracks is a solid through the brain or a big soft near the brain. IN the water all the target you have is the brain, and on land if he charges you the brain is the only target that will stop him in his tracks regardless of bullet type.
......................................................................

22 January 2018, 09:49

crbutler

I've always used TSX or Northfork cup point solids (depending on which rifle)

The head shot is not that demanding of the bullet, I was taken out after one with an 06 for tribal rations, but we couldn't find one quickly enough to make it happen.

If you fluff the shot, especially on land you will want solids at that point!

23 January 2018, 00:09

MARK H. YOUNG

I've shot 4 hippos for cat baits and they've all been in the water. A soft works very well for that and only puts one hole in the skull. A solid as I found out messes the skull up more because it makes two hole and this is relevant if your going to keep the skull as a trophy. After looking at how thick the hippos skin was on the bulls I shot there is no question in my mind that I'd use the biggest bore I had with solids if I were hunting them on land and anticipated making body shots.

Mark

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23 January 2018, 00:46

cal pappas

My three hippos were all with solids. One with a .450-400 and two with a .600.
Cal

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24 January 2018, 01:20

mufasa

My experience is similar to Saeed's. I began shooting hippo with my large caliber solids, even for head shots. Later I learned that good expanding bullets for brain shots were just as effective. I shot my last hippo with Fairgame using a .300 Win. Mag. with a 200gr TSX with no problem. That does not mean that I think a .300 Win. mag is suitable for a hippo on dry land or a wounded hippo anywhere. MMP

24 January 2018, 05:13

Magnum Hunter1

I shot a hippo on land back in October. Shot was about 45 yards and my 416 Rigby with solids put him down after a 50 yard dash. Shot was right behind the shoulder. Solid was Hornady DGS. Same I used on water buffalo in Argentina with same results but half the run.

25 January 2018, 05:49

tom o

Took a 30 yard shot with a solid standing rest. 250 gr. Barnes solid from a 9.3 x 62 about 1" below the ear hole on advice from the Ph. Worked perfectly, hippo looked like it just went to sleep, small entrance & exit hole, traversed the brain.
A lot of work to get that bad boy out of the water.