Bullet Choice for Giraffe

The Accurate Reloading Forums

This topic can be found at:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1411043/m/4191048461

18 October 2011, 12:18

BianJ

Bullet Choice for Giraffe

We have a giraffe hunt scheduled for end of November and I would appreciate your thoughts on bullet choice for the intended hunt.

My two rifles - 416 rigby with 400 grain Swift A frame bullets and 375 H&H (Barnes TSX 300 gr softs & PMP solids)(back up rifle)

Now the question - would you think the Swift A frames will be fine for the big shoulder bones or should I rather get solids for the 416?

18 October 2011, 20:13

Tim Carney

BJ,

I've shot giraffe and the bones are massive, bigger than Cape Buffalo. I used a 500/450 soft nose as it faced me and severed the radial artery even 'tho the core and jacket separated (an early Woodleigh softnose).

I really like Swift A-Frames and don't hesitate to use them on buff, but if you are aiming to break giraffe bone on your first shot, I'd argue for a solid. If you are shooting for the boiler room, use a Swift A-Frame, but have solids in the second barrel or in the magazine.

Regards, Tim

18 October 2011, 22:17

Die Ou Jagter

I use 338 WM 225 Gr Barnes X. He walked about 20 yds and piled up.

18 October 2011, 22:32

eyedoc

I have killed five giraffe with archery gear. I dissected one early on after botching the shot and having to follow up with a rifle.Since that first ,I have killed them all with one arrow each. Know where the vitals are. They are high and forward of where you might expect them to be.

If you shoot them where they need to be shot, your 375 will kill them quite dead with just about any bullet you want to shoot them with. I suspect they may actually go down quicker with a good soft than a soild.

We seldom get to choose
But I've seen them go both ways
And I would rather go out in a blaze of glory
Than to slowly rot away!

18 October 2011, 22:49

Use Enough Gun

I have killed four. One was shot with a Barnes X, and three with Trophy Bonded Bear Claws or Sledgehammer Solids. All of them dropped to the shot, except the first one with the Barnes X. He went 30 yards. The trophy bonded bear claw shots were: 1)At the base of the head and neck-shooting a .300 WSM; and, 2)Through the frontal area-shooting a .375 H&H. The Sledgehammer solid shot was through the shoulder-shooting a .375 H&H.

18 October 2011, 22:59

JohnHunt

Mine had no problem falling over with 300 grain Swift A-frames from my 375 H&H.

Worlds greatest caliber

19 October 2011, 00:06

Schauckis

quote:
Originally posted by BianJ:

Now the question - would you think the Swift A frames will be fine for the big shoulder bones or should I rather get solids for the 416?

You would want to break the bones why?
I shot mine with a .416 Remington Magnum and Swift A-Frame bullets that performed flawlessly.

I hit him high in the heart; and low in the lungs with the second shot.

But if you intend to break bones you would for sure be better off using solids.

- Lars/Finland

19 October 2011, 03:38

only.375H&H

Never hunted giraffe before, but I am sure that a combination of a good shot placement, with Swift A-Frame on a .375 nothing will stand on four legs for long.
Good hunt.

19 October 2011, 04:54

chuck375

I do plan to go for giraffe (we have a couch that needs recovering!), will use my 500 Jeffery with a 570g TSX ...

Regards,

Chuck

"There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit"

Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness"

19 October 2011, 04:59

retreever

The location of the vitals is most important. Unless one shoots for the vertebrae neck shot.

Mike

19 October 2011, 08:38

505ED

I have shot 2.

One with a 416 Rigby and 400 grain DGX hornady bullets spined it-- then put one in the chest as that was the shot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...ture=player_embedded

The one before I shot with a 9.3x62 with a 286 grain TSX on the point of the shoulder. It did not go down right away. They are tough critters.

19 October 2011, 09:44

Todd Williams

TSX!

19 October 2011, 09:48

redfern

quote:
Originally posted by eyedoc:
I have killed five giraffe with archery gear. I dissected one early on after botching the shot and having to follow up with a rifle.Since that first ,I have killed them all with one arrow each. Know where the vitals are. They are high and forward of where you might expect them to be.

If you shoot them where they need to be shot, your 375 will kill them quite dead with just about any bullet you want to shoot them with. I suspect they may actually go down quicker with a good soft than a soild.

19 October 2011, 09:51

N E 450 No2

I have raken 2 Giraffes, both with double rifles.
One with North Fork 450 FN Solids, in my 450 No2, the other with 286gr Woodleigh Solids.

19 October 2011, 09:52

redfern

Eyedoc,
I see you have shot giraffe, with a bow, I'm thinking of doing a giraffe with my bow in the near future, did you do the frontal shot or the side shot. I'll be using my cape buffalo set up.

19 October 2011, 17:49

BianJ

Thanks for the replies. My PH is also of the opinion that a soft is better and if he is running away, one could follow up with a solid.

As with any hunt, shot placement is crucial.

Appreciate your thoughts

19 October 2011, 17:53

BianJ

Thanks for your replies. My PH is also of the opinion that a soft would work better and if he is running, one could follow up with a solid.

As with any hunt, shotplacement is crucial.

Appreciate your thoughts

19 October 2011, 21:13

eyedoc

Redfern-All of the ones I have taken were with a side shot.My son tried a frontal shot and just missed the hollow striking bone and stopping penetration.The target area is much larger from the side.

I would suggest as much bow as you can skillfully manage, heavy for poundage arrows, and cut on contact broadheads.

We seldom get to choose
But I've seen them go both ways
And I would rather go out in a blaze of glory
Than to slowly rot away!