THE ACCURATERELOADING.COM AFRICAN HUNTING FORUM

Page 1 2 3 

Moderators: Saeed
Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
Best Elephant Rifle
 Login/Join
 
One of Us
posted
Considering stopping capability, penetration and shootability, what are some of the good ones regarding elephant hunting? This does not take ranging capability into question as elephant are shot at extremely close range from what I hear.

Thanks,

jfm
 
Posts: 251 | Registered: 05 March 2006Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of MJines
posted Hide Post
.500 NE


Mike
 
Posts: 21865 | Registered: 03 January 2006Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
it's all personnel preference minimum legal in some countries it 375. I have talked to some Ph's who prefer there clients to use a 416 or above. depending on how well the client can handle the big bores. so what ever your comfortable with and what you can shoot well with would be the best choice.
 
Posts: 3818 | Location: kenya, tanzania,RSA,Uganda or Ethophia depending on day of the week | Registered: 27 May 2009Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of PSmith
posted Hide Post
What Mike said.


Paul Smith
SCI Life Member
NRA Life Member
DSC Member
Life Member of the "I Can't Wait to Get Back to Africa" Club
DRSS
I had the privilege to fire E. Hemingway's WR .577NE, E. Keith's WR .470NE, & F. Jamieson's WJJ .500 Jeffery
I strongly recommend avoidance of "The Zambezi Safari & Travel Co., Ltd." and "Pisces Sportfishing-Cabo San Lucas"

"A failed policy of national defense is its own punishment" Otto von Bismarck
 
Posts: 2545 | Location: The 'Ham | Registered: 25 May 2007Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of A.Dahlgren
posted Hide Post


quote:
Originally posted by jfm:
elephant are shot at extremely close range from what I hear.

Thanks,

jfm


Not always, a 416 did the trick here.

AD
 
Posts: 2638 | Location: North | Registered: 24 May 2007Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Jarrod
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by A.Dahlgren:


quote:
Originally posted by jfm:
elephant are shot at extremely close range from what I hear.

Thanks,

jfm


Not always, a 416 did the trick here.

AD


It should have did the trick. he only shot 600 times


"Science only goes so far then God takes over."
 
Posts: 3504 | Location: Tennessee | Registered: 07 July 2005Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of A.Dahlgren
posted Hide Post
AD[/QUOTE]

It should have did the trick. he only shot 600 times[/QUOTE]

rotflmo
 
Posts: 2638 | Location: North | Registered: 24 May 2007Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
What Mike said, but I have a 470NE and I'd be okay with that.

Mike has killed enough to know whereof he speaks.

Rich
DRSS
 
Posts: 23062 | Location: SW Idaho | Registered: 19 December 2005Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
IMHO there is no such thing as the one best DG rifle action type or caliber for elephant. What may be the best for you may not be the best for me. Follow Pondoro's advice and use the largest caliber than you are most effective with. If you can handle a double as well as a bolt then select one, if not then use a bolt gun.

465H&H
 
Posts: 5686 | Location: Nampa, Idaho | Registered: 10 February 2005Reply With Quote
one of us
Picture of Will
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
What Mike said, but I have a 470NE and I'd be okay with that.

Mike has killed enough to know whereof he speaks.

Rich
DRSS


Is this a paid political announcement?


-------------------------------
Will Stewart / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun.
---------------------------------------
and, God Bless John Wayne.

NRA Benefactor Member, GOA, N.A.G.R.
_________________________

"Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped
“Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped.

red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com
_________________________

Hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go.
 
Posts: 19380 | Location: Ocala Flats | Registered: 22 May 2002Reply With Quote
one of us
Picture of MacD37
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
.500 NE


................... Absolutely! tu2


....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1
DRSS Charter member
"If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982

Hands of Old Elmer Keith

 
Posts: 14634 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: 08 June 2000Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of MikeBurke
posted Hide Post
470 Nitro Express in a Double Rifle with a single trigger of course Smiler
 
Posts: 2953 | Registered: 26 March 2008Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of MikeBurke
posted Hide Post
Next you need to ask which bullet performs the best, as I am sure the responses will all be the same. Smiler
 
Posts: 2953 | Registered: 26 March 2008Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
jfm

The one you can afford to shoot and pay the ele trophy fee too. Note the well worn 4-5-8 in my banner with the duct tape holding the action shut.

Mark


MARK H. YOUNG
MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES
7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110
Office 702-848-1693
Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED
E-mail markttc@msn.com
Website: myexclusiveadventures.com
Skype: markhyhunter
Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716
 
Posts: 13088 | Location: LAS VEGAS, NV USA | Registered: 04 August 2002Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
Statistically, the best rifle for hefalumps is a Mauser in 7x57. So long as Bell is the one doing the shooting.

For everybody else, something powerful enough to be too much gun for me.
 
Posts: 490 | Location: middle tennessee | Registered: 11 November 2009Reply With Quote
one of us
Picture of BigB
posted Hide Post
One that is reliable all the time, you shoot well, it fits you well and shoots a 400 grain or above bullet to produce over 5000 lbs of muzzle energy. The bullet should be a solid that is of quality construction and somewhat heavy for caliber.

bolt, double push feed CRF as long as it works.

My choices so far have been a Merkel 470 and Model 70 Win 416 Mag

BigB
 
Posts: 1401 | Location: Northwest Wyoming | Registered: 13 March 2001Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of ozhunter
posted Hide Post
A double in 450, 470 or 500 would be my pick.
 
Posts: 5886 | Location: Sydney,Australia  | Registered: 03 July 2005Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
jfm

The one you can afford to shoot and pay the ele trophy fee too. Note the well worn 4-5-8 in my banner with the duct tape holding the action shut.

Mark


Don't you just hate it when you pull the trigger and bullets sprinkle on the ground. shocker
 
Posts: 444 | Location: Hudson Valley | Registered: 07 July 2009Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
Dinsdale,

What I should have said is tape keeping the floor plate closed but I guess everyone got the picture. Yes and I had the floor plate opening here in US so no accidents in Africa but would be an awful feeling to have the cartridges spill on your shoes with a somethng that bites bearing down on you.

Mark


MARK H. YOUNG
MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES
7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110
Office 702-848-1693
Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED
E-mail markttc@msn.com
Website: myexclusiveadventures.com
Skype: markhyhunter
Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716
 
Posts: 13088 | Location: LAS VEGAS, NV USA | Registered: 04 August 2002Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Dinsdale,

What I should have said is tape keeping the floor plate closed but I guess everyone got the picture. Yes and I had the floor plate opening here in US so no accidents in Africa but would be an awful feeling to have the cartridges spill on your shoes with a somethng that bites bearing down on you.

Mark


No problem mark! You have the right to chose how you die.

465H&H
 
Posts: 5686 | Location: Nampa, Idaho | Registered: 10 February 2005Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
Thanks 465 H&H,

I'll try to keep that in mind. Wink

Mark


MARK H. YOUNG
MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES
7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110
Office 702-848-1693
Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED
E-mail markttc@msn.com
Website: myexclusiveadventures.com
Skype: markhyhunter
Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716
 
Posts: 13088 | Location: LAS VEGAS, NV USA | Registered: 04 August 2002Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
I would like to shoot a elephant with a 50 BMG
joe
 
Posts: 109 | Location: Nunavut CANADA | Registered: 21 June 2010Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Michael Robinson
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Joe-S:
I would like to shoot a elephant with a 50 BMG
joe


Too big to be feasible in a portable, shoulder fired rifle, but not too big as in just too big.

There's no such thing as just too big where elephant are concerned.


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
 
Posts: 13757 | Location: New England | Registered: 06 June 2003Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by MacD37:
quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
.500 NE


................... Absolutely! tu2


Especially in a Blaser S2 ... but if Blaser made the S2 in 45-70 - that would be better ...

coffee
 
Posts: 13301 | Location: On the Couch with West Coast Cool | Registered: 20 June 2007Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
In a new made double I like the 450 3 1/4".

My 450 No2 has served me well.


DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY
 
Posts: 16134 | Location: Texas | Registered: 06 April 2002Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
Let's see. I'll take these in order in which you asked:

A) Considering "stopping capability" once the animal is brained he's brained he's dead and then he stops. You can accomplish that with any big bore.
B) Now regarding "penetration" that's simple. The bigger the caliber the greater the penetration.
C) And finally regarding "shootability", that sorta depends on you, your skills.

Let's say you accept the fine recommendation of Mike, an experienced hunter, and go out and buy that exact same rifle. There's no reasonable guarantee that you'll even like it. There are just too many variables i.e. gunfit, recoil, scope or non-scoped, gun manufacturer, marksmanship, shooting skills, bullet placement, bullet weight, shooting rest, angle of tusker when you pull the trigger, height of elephant, trigger pressure, flinching, side on, frontal, heart/lung, relaxation, and breathing to name a few.

My point is, there's no such thing as a Best Elephant Rifle. We AR members can tell you what we've shot our elephants with, but the guns don't shoot themselves. I took mine with a Rigby .470, but there's a whole range of calibers from .375 on up to 700 N.E. It's not the rifle that makes the Elephant kill. It's what you do with that rifle.

Regardless of what Best Elephant Rifle recommendation you get from this thread, the most important thing is to practice with it, become intimate with your gun and become proficient at hitting the right spot. Invest yourself into reading about some of the variables mentioned two paragraphs above. In the end the Best Elephant Rifle is the one you shot well.

Caliber size is nothing more than a number that lets you tell people how big your gun is. Accuracy lets you kill. Please keep this in mind once you select your gun. And do get some of those good elephant hunting DVD's out there too...Boddington, Buzz, and Johan Calitz have produced some fines one over the last three years.

Happy Hunting and I hope you bring home the big ivory.
 
Posts: 636 | Location: The Hills | Registered: 24 January 2006Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by SableTrail:
Let's see. I'll take these in order in which you asked:

A) Considering "stopping capability" once the animal is brained he's brained he's dead and then he stops. You can accomplish that with any big bore.
B) Now regarding "penetration" that's simple. The bigger the caliber the greater the penetration.
C) And finally regarding "shootability", that sorta depends on you, your skills.

Let's say you accept the fine recommendation of Mike, an experienced hunter, and go out and buy that exact same rifle. There's no reasonable guarantee that you'll even like it. There are just too many variables i.e. gunfit, recoil, scope or non-scoped, gun manufacturer, marksmanship, shooting skills, bullet placement, bullet weight, shooting rest, angle of tusker when you pull the trigger, height of elephant, trigger pressure, flinching, side on, frontal, heart/lung, relaxation, and breathing to name a few.

My point is, there's no such thing as a Best Elephant Rifle. We AR members can tell you what we've shot our elephants with, but the guns don't shoot themselves. I took mine with a Rigby .470, but there's a whole range of calibers from .375 on up to 700 N.E. It's not the rifle that makes the Elephant kill. It's what you do with that rifle.

Regardless of what Best Elephant Rifle recommendation you get from this thread, the most important thing is to practice with it, become intimate with your gun and become proficient at hitting the right spot. Invest yourself into reading about some of the variables mentioned two paragraphs above. In the end the Best Elephant Rifle is the one you shoot well.

Caliber size is nothing more than a number that lets you tell people how big your gun is. Accuracy lets you kill. Please keep this in mind once you select your gun. And do get some of those good elephant hunting DVD's out there too...Boddington, Buzz, and Johan Calitz have produced some fines one over the last three years.

Happy Hunting and I hope you bring home the big ivory.
 
Posts: 636 | Location: The Hills | Registered: 24 January 2006Reply With Quote
Administrator
posted Hide Post
Any caliber that you can shoot accuraterly is good enough.

.375 seems to be the legal minimum, but many elephants are ahot with smaller calibers as well.

Not long ago I heard of a hunter who only had a 7mm Magnum with him when they came across a good bull. His Ph knows him well enough, so told him to give the bull a side brain shot with a Barnes X.

The bull dropped stone dead at the shot.

Bigger calibers do NOT necessarily penetrate better than smaller ones.

I have been told of terrible penetration from the 577 T.Rex on elephants.


www.accuratereloading.com
Instagram : ganyana2000
 
Posts: 69284 | Location: Dubai, UAE | Registered: 08 January 1998Reply With Quote
one of us
Picture of Will
posted Hide Post
quote:
only had a 7mm Magnum


Would that be the dreaded and much maligned 7mm Remington Magnum round with its belted case that has been or was written off for dead? Smiler

You know I have to ask. Was this guy's PH also using a 7mm Remington Magnum with Barnes X's?


-------------------------------
Will Stewart / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun.
---------------------------------------
and, God Bless John Wayne.

NRA Benefactor Member, GOA, N.A.G.R.
_________________________

"Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped
“Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped.

red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com
_________________________

Hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go.
 
Posts: 19380 | Location: Ocala Flats | Registered: 22 May 2002Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of 470Evans
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
In a new made double I like the 450 3 1/4".

My 450 No2 has served me well.


My 470 Evans has killed 2 elephants, a bull and a tuskless. The bull was shot at 8 yds with a frontal brain shot in the jesse at 8 yds. It's a great rifle and the 470 is a good caliber with plenty of power.

If I was going after elephants I'd want to have a double, vintage British of course Big Grin, and I'd go with a 450 3 1/4 as well if I could find one. If I found the right rifle in any of the 450- 470s, I'd grab it.

Bigger is only better if you can handle the rifle. A 375 in the right spot is much better than a 577 in the wrong spot.
 
Posts: 1311 | Location: Texas | Registered: 29 August 2006Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of MJines
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by 470Evans:
Bigger is only better if you can handle the rifle. A 375 in the right spot is much better than a 577 in the wrong spot.


. . . and a .500 in the wrong spot is much better than a .375 in the wrong spot.


Mike
 
Posts: 21865 | Registered: 03 January 2006Reply With Quote
one of us
Picture of Will
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
quote:
Originally posted by 470Evans:
Bigger is only better if you can handle the rifle. A 375 in the right spot is much better than a 577 in the wrong spot.


. . . and a .500 in the wrong spot is much better than a .375 in the wrong spot.


jumping


-------------------------------
Will Stewart / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun.
---------------------------------------
and, God Bless John Wayne.

NRA Benefactor Member, GOA, N.A.G.R.
_________________________

"Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped
“Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped.

red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com
_________________________

Hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go.
 
Posts: 19380 | Location: Ocala Flats | Registered: 22 May 2002Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Saeed:
Bigger calibers do NOT necessarily penetrate better than smaller ones.

I have been told of terrible penetration from the 577 T.Rex on elephants.


Well - that depends on the bullet only.. If A-Square monos were used I can predict terrible performance to happen now and then. Just see Michael458`s thread "Terminal bullet performance" on the big bore forum..
My TRex with 800 grs GS Customs penetrates diagonally through elephants no problem.. Better than any 375 I have tested and even better than my 416 Wby...
 
Posts: 873 | Location: Denmark | Registered: 04 January 2005Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
I read that you need to expect to walk a mile for every pound of Ivory in Elephant hunting (Bulls). My question is simply, who is going to carry that 14-18 lb rifle if it is a 577 T Rex or 600 nitro, etc. Is it like in the old days when a tracker or other in the party carries your gun for you?
Not trying to stir the pot, but I would suspect you should be able to carry your own gun. That could be a boat anchor if walking all day. I do not believe I would want over 12 lbs max and I am in pretty good shape.

EZ
 
Posts: 3256 | Location: Texas | Registered: 06 January 2009Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
SableTrail,

I will disagree with your statement that the bigger the caliber the greater the penetration. In fact caliber is the least important of the variables that affect penetration. Bullet weight in relation to caliber, velocity, and most importantly bullet shape and construction are all more important. In fact smaller calibers meet less resistance and therefore, all other things being equal penetrate more.

Caliber is related to stopping power though on shots that miss the brain
.
465H&H
 
Posts: 5686 | Location: Nampa, Idaho | Registered: 10 February 2005Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
quote:
Not trying to stir the pot, but I would suspect you should be able to carry your own gun. That could be a boat anchor if walking all day. I do not believe I would want over 12 lbs max and I am in pretty good shape.


EZ,

I have to think your right. I feel many get taken in by the romance of the "BIG" double and don't really give much thought to the practicality of hunting with it. To me at the end of a long walk most are just going to be more able to shoot a 10 pound 416/458 or similiar better than some monster cannon that should have its own carriage.

Mark


MARK H. YOUNG
MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES
7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110
Office 702-848-1693
Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED
E-mail markttc@msn.com
Website: myexclusiveadventures.com
Skype: markhyhunter
Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716
 
Posts: 13088 | Location: LAS VEGAS, NV USA | Registered: 04 August 2002Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
I went to a 577 NE in a double for effectiveness and cuz I wanted one...just have a tracker carry it most of the time. It's not like you take unexpected "snap shots" when you're hunting Elephant. With the offer of a $5/day "tip", every tracker will be fighting to carry it. I will carry a more all-around rifle, like a 416 Rigby or 458 Lott bolt rifle.

I would think that if carrying your own weapon on long stalks is a priority for you, the 500 NE in a DR is about as good as it gets.
 
Posts: 20175 | Location: Very NW NJ up in the Mountains | Registered: 14 June 2009Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
465H&H: You are right and I stand corrected. Greater caliber does not instantly gaurantee one greater penetration.
 
Posts: 636 | Location: The Hills | Registered: 24 January 2006Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
I just finished reading Richard Harland's book,
The Hunting Imperative. He sure shot a lot of Elephants with a bolt action .458 Win Mag.


BUTCH

C'est Tout Bon
(It is all good)
 
Posts: 1931 | Location: Lafayette, LA | Registered: 05 October 2007Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of MJines
posted Hide Post
To turn a phrase from a political debate of note:

Hunters, I know Richard Harland, Richard Harland is a friend of mine. Hunters, we're no Richard Harland.


Mike
 
Posts: 21865 | Registered: 03 January 2006Reply With Quote
  Powered by Social Strata Page 1 2 3  
 


Copyright December 1997-2023 Accuratereloading.com


Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia

Since January 8 1998 you are visitor #: