Hi Mike:



I just shot a Bull Giraffe, check out the African Hunt Report forum. They are one tough SOB. If I was using a 375 H&H... and I even had one with me.. that should be the minimal caliber for these big boys IMHO.



I was there when they were caping out my bull, their skin is over an inch thick, and yes their vitals are far forward. But if you shoot them approximately 2ft down from their head in the neck, they will drop like a ton of bricks. And If you miss the spinal cord, wich is as big as your arm by the way, the main artery that drives the blood up to that massive head will be hit, it will pump blood out like a firehose.



Here is a good load with a great Bullet. Even though I used a 300 RUM on my Giraffe, and neck shot him, I should of used this 375 H&H load.



Swift Aframe 300 or 270 grain bullet, 77 grains IMR4350, CCI 250 Mag primer, Federal nickel brass, Chronyed @ approx 2600 fps. My Model 70 SS shoots 1/2 in @ 100 yards with the 270 grain Swift. The Swift bullet is tried and true, and will out penetrate anything on the market so far from all the test results I am reading, but I hear great results with North Fork and Barnes triple X.



Hope this helps.



Regards... Jim P.

On my hunt in Namibia next year, I'd like to take a Giraffe with my 375 Ackley. A lot of articles I've read say that solids should be used because of the thick skin on a Giraffe. Would a good, premium bullet such as a 270 grain Barnes XLC, or 300 grain trophy bonded bullet to the job?

Mike

I would think that any premium solid would do. My wife used 416 Woodleigh's with great sucess on giraffe in May. Get yourself a shot placement guide, the giraffe's vitals are more forward than you would think

I was wondering about the use of solids on giraffe in Namibia based on this language on the website for the Namibia Professional Hunting Association:

"No solid point cartridge is allowed to be used on antelope or any other species."

Maybe someone can clarify if this applies to giraffe as I have also seen the recommendation for solids.

I hunted a ranch in southern Zim in '97 where the resident game manager shot quite a few giraffe each year for population control and to provide the meat rations that were part of the workers' pay. He used a Brno .375 and shot them with whatever ammunition he could get hold of. The PH I was with used an '06 and said that he had no problems, whatever. Giraffe are big, the fourth largest land mammal after rhinos, but they seem to be a relatively soft target. However, as was stated, the vitals are 'way up front, so get familiar with the anatomy.

I will say that two shots from my 458 Lott did not penetrate all the way through my Giraffe from about 75 yards. I was using 500 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claws at 2320 fps. They are as tough a soft as you can find. The Giraffe was just tougher. If I ever shoot another, it will only be with solids.

You wouldn't believe how thick a Giraffe's skin is. And thier bones are even thicker. I've never shot an elephant, but I believe the Giraffe skin is thicker. May be wrong about that one.

I would recommend a flat nose solid for them, but if all I had was a soft then thats what I use...I am sure a Barnes X in 300 gr. would do very well indeed...

Jim I like your load too. My rifle likes the RE 15 top load maybe a little more, using the 270 A-Frame. In your testing on penetration did you include solids? I think an expanding solid like the GS Fn or if Mike Brady would make up some monolithics, That might be a good time to use them. As I think more about it, I realize we are watching the line get more indistinct between the controlled expansion softs and the slightly expanding solids. Consider the Barnes x and TSX and the FN solids. Just a little difference in terminal performance. I don't know about trajectories though. I guess for most things you are shooting at hunting distances are not such that FN vs PSP make much difference with trajectory. Good hunting. "D"