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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Scoped Rifle for Elephant - Dead on at what range??Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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During a recent hunting trip to Zim, (june, 2011), we had to walk a leopard bait some 3Ks off the beaten road. I debated: should I bring my 500 double or 416 Rigby, which has a 1x6 swaro?? I talked myself into taking my Rigby just in case we opportunistically came across some plainsgame....about 1K into the trek, we bumped into our first eles, (solids loaded), after bumping into the second group of eles, detachable scope removed. We actually bumped 4 groups, some in thick jess prior to setting up the bait. I felt much better with the scope off given the close proximity....if the eles are "cheeky" and in close quarters, you may want to get very comfortable with both open sights and scoped..,,of course, if the eles cooperate, you should be fine. | |||
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 Well, there is a mouthful!------------------------------- Will / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun. --------------------------------------- and, God Bless John Wayne. NRA Benefactor, GOA, NAGR _________________________ "Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped. “Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped. red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com _________________________ If anything be of note, let it be he was once an elephant hunter, hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go. | |||
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Since a client hunter can no longer hunt PAC (problem) elephants, is not the logical conclusion that all remaining hunts are for cooperative or non-problem elephants? Will J. Parks, III | |||
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Indeed------------------------------- Will / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun. --------------------------------------- and, God Bless John Wayne. NRA Benefactor, GOA, NAGR _________________________ "Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped. “Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped. red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com _________________________ If anything be of note, let it be he was once an elephant hunter, hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go. | |||
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Maybe I'm reading something into this which was not intended, but "both eyes open" is the way I shoot everything, scopes, receiver sights, open sights. Closing the non-aiming eye may contribute to the problem cited of "catching aim" with a scope at close range. I recommend shooting with both eyes open with every type of sight. | |||
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Bcolyer, I really have no right to respond to this as far as elephant is concerned as I am not an elephant hunter! However I do know something about the use of scoped rifles up close and personal! I have on occasion found my scope filled with hair and nothing else! In those cases I couldn’t distinguish between rump, hump, or anything but hair. In this case the problem was the scope I had on this rifle was a straight 6X, and not well suited for off the muzzle of the rifle! IMO, if I were going to set up a rifle for elephant hunting, here-to-fore I would have said irons only! Today living in my 75th year, and having been diagnosed with macular degeneration in my right eye makes me in need of some help with my vision. With that in mind, My double rifles will soon sport quality Quick-Detach scope mounts, and fitted with a 1-5X28mm Trijicon scope, and shoot with both eyes open, as my left eye is OK, but I’m too old to learn to shoot left handed. Another option is the little Doctor Optics sight which is also operated with both eyes open, and is very light in weight. I would sight the scope in dead on at 25 yards! The setting will place most big bores just about dead on to a inch high at 100 yards, so that at 25 yards or less a beain shot would be point of aim, and out to 100 25 yards would be close enough for follow-up shots on a going away ele for a hip shot! I much prefer good wide “V” express sights on my double rifles, but a guy has to do what he has to do. With a bolt rifle the scope is normally the primary sight, with good irons as back-up, while the double rifle is normally iron sights only, but not always! Scopes have been used on double rifles as long as they have been available, as a special purpose sighting system, and mounted in quality absolute “RETURN TO ZERO” claw mounts, and mounted on the rifle when needed! The fact that scopes were used on double rifles seems to elude many purists when, scopes on double rifles, is mentioned. That is simply ignorance. I say use what ever you NEED to make your shooting on the right spot the first shot, and the rest will take care of it’s self! .............................................  ....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  | |||
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Gentlemen: Thank you for all the wonderful replies. The first thing I have already done.....and in point of fact..... did it before posting here, was to e-mail my PH and ask him his recommendation for scope zero range. Unfortunately, as most of you know.....we are right smack-dab in the middle of season, and I am sure he is out in the bush, because Graeme usually responds post-haste! So....here it is.......UNLESS IT CHANGES! I have all girls in my family so I have become wishy-washy. Using a Ruger, .416 Rigby. Weeks.....in fact.....MONTHS & MONTHS of experience in the bush with this rifle and set-up. 1.5-5 Leupold scope. AND.....I WOULD HAVE DETACHABLE quick mounts, except the damn Warne's do not work right on my Ruger. WHY....WHY....WHY.....the HELL DOESN'T RUGER MAKE QUICK DETACHABLE RINGS FOR THEIR RIFLES??????? It's not like they do not have enough of them out there!!!! I will have it absolutely dead on - shoot the same hole at 75 yards. That should cover most of the scanarios. Except for about 50 different crap-ass problems that can, and will no doubt probably arise. Minor things - like 'miss the brain' and instaneously runn-oft into the THICK BUSH, etc. etc. BUT YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT ONE THING......IT IS MY MONEY....And the frickin' Elephant better not get wounded and runn-oft into the next concession. So, IF he does not go SLAM ASS down.....I'm tellin' Graeme to shoot the hell quick! So what, it becomes a "shared" elephant. The kids (and grandkids) who inherit the Ivory won't know, care, or give a rip. And I am sure I can force myself to live with the indignity of someone else slipping a slug into the ele I cut the tail off of. I always thought shared experiences were suppose to be the best anyway. But seriously....thanks guys for the input. | |||
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I shoot scoped rifles for all of my hunting and my scoped 416 Rem was fine for my elephant bull.At close quarters, a 1.5X view is faster for me than open sites. We practice on wild hogs in S. Texas and scopes are definitely better on running pigs. My bull was killed at 15 paces as he was walking through thick jess.I was sighted in dead on at 50 yds.Hope you have a great hunt! | |||
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You are absolutely right. I have no qualms about the PH doing a back up if they consider it necessary and if they have actually waited to ensure that the first shot was not a brain shot. Buzz told me a story about a client that insisted that Buzz not shoot until the client had fired twice. The client was hunting with a double. After the first shot, he continued to pull on the front trigger. Buzz waited, finally realized what was going on but it was too late. The client fired again but the elephant was already in retreat. The elephant headed straight to Mozambique and was never recovered. I think your attitude on back up shots is spot on. Mike | |||
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Lovin' them DT DR's. If the right trigger fails does the front trigger shoot the left barrel?  ------------------------------- Will / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun. --------------------------------------- and, God Bless John Wayne. NRA Benefactor, GOA, NAGR _________________________ "Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped. “Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped. red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com _________________________ If anything be of note, let it be he was once an elephant hunter, hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go. | |||
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bcolyer , having guided lots and lots of guys with scopes , if your rifle is dead zero at 100 you will be fine - all target areas on an elephant are big enough that the inch or so lower resulting from being close will have absoulutely no effect - zeroing the rifle dean on at 25 will mean that if (and this is unlikely in bots) you get an opportunity at other game thats around 100 , you will be way way high. more important however is that you have a scope that goes to no more than 1.5 at the lowest magnification - and leave it at that low setting . april in botswana means a good chance that you will be in mopane scrub thats relatively thick and green , nothing like the jesse in the zambezi valley but thick none the less so low magnification is a must. expect a shot closer than 30 yards and likely more like 10-20. i hope that this helps "The greatest threat to our wildlife is the thought that someone else will save it” www.facebook.com/ivancartersafrica www.ivancarterwca.org www.ivancarter.com ivan@ivancarter.com | |||
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Most calibers that are usually used for elephant hunting if sighted dead on at 25 will be no higher than 1 1/2 inches high at 100 yards, and around 2 to 3 inches low at 200 yds! A distance only used on Dangerous game that is a "hail Marry" shot at an escaping animal! A dead on 100 yds zero of a scoped rifle would be OK but would make the 25 yard shot way low! Where would you rather have the rifle shooting point blank, with a big bull at 25 yds and getting closer, or at 100 yds coming to you? Let's take the 458 Win Mag with a 500 gr bullet @ 2100 fps zeroed 1/2 inch high @ 25 yds: +1/2 Inch @ 25 yds= +1 1/4 In @ 50 yds +2 1/2 In @ 1/2 in @ 100 yds +1 1/4 In @ 150 yds -2 3/4 in @ 200 yds Now a 458 Win Mag is not a flat shooting cartridge and the spread is 2 1/4 inces form 25 yds to 200 yds, and I doubt anyone I know can hold within 2 1/4 inches to 200 yds with a 458 Win Mag rifle under hunting conditions,off hand or over sticks, whether it is on a buffalo, elephant, or lion, and that half inch high at 25 yds ain't gonna make much difference either! Most big bore bolt rifles will shoot flater than the 458 Win Mag! Now if you are shooting above the 470NE in a double you ain't gonna be shootin much past 100 yds, and more likely no more than 50 to 75 yds on elephant anyway! ........................................  Just sayin!....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 | |||
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Indeed!!! I hunted with friend (he hunted while I video-taped) about 10 years ago and most of this stuff came up. He was using a 416 Remington with a 1.5x? S&B on LOW power. We were in the last few days of the hunt and getting twithcy about not getting a bull. The choice was somewhat restricted. To make as long story ,etc., we crept to with in 30 yds of 4 bulls feeding on a savannah and my buddy rose up and fired (at our PH's direction). Just as he fired the bull moved and the shot took him over the brain from the side but knocked him down. His two followup shots hit over/under the brain in area the size of my palm. Problem was the head moved side to side and the bullets went over or under the brain. All bullets exited. The bull was put down by the PH who didn't wait for the bull to ezcape. His shot split the difference between the other three. We timed the whole thing and it was all over in less than 3 seconds. Never thought an elephant could move that fast. It was my buddy's 3 elephant so he was not a complete novice. He chose scope over iron because of the area. He had a double rife but elected to use the Remington bolt gun. He was a good shot, cool under pressure and experienced. Still the bull almost got away. Things go wrong. And people still doubt that Oswald had time to get off his aimed shots from a 6.5 Carcano! Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Overdoing. | |||
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May be late but I'd agree with safari-lawyer above. A 15 - 25 yd scope zero will mean a high shot at 50, but bottom of bull at 25 will be an inch or 2 above bottom at 50. I'd suggest the trajectory issue of scope height differential from bore is a factor, so play the averages. With that zero an a 416 you'll be virtually dead on 25-75 yds, give or take an inch. | |||
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I start to think I am on some other planet sometimes until someone like you chimes in. If only one would go back and read O'Connor about sighting-in at 25 yards. Thanks Mac for proving, once again, I am not the only sane person in reality universe! ------------------------------- Will / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun. --------------------------------------- and, God Bless John Wayne. NRA Benefactor, GOA, NAGR _________________________ "Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped. “Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped. red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com _________________________ If anything be of note, let it be he was once an elephant hunter, hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go. | |||
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BC You may have wondered what was taking so long for me to finaly throw in my penny. I have logged on often to follow the thread and did not want to comment as the response has been great - well done on a top thought provoking topic- my penny : Ideal situation hunter arrives with both a double and a scoped rifle - why ? scope pin points the shot from any distance 15 - 50 yards where as a double is limited by distance - now where you will be hunting we will be up close and a bit closer - but if you want a brain shot with a higher degree of potential success then a 1.5 to 6 is a good option. As Aaron said he has seen more success with scoped rifles than doubles, I can second that. The bush we will be hunting is thick so sometimes the best shot is a brain and sometimes its a engine room shot. But my penny comment - make the first shot count - and get to know elephant anatomy like you are reading for 7th year vetinerary school. We gonna get close and if we make the decision this is the one - we gonna walk right up to him and then make the best shot possible. Like we say lets get close and then when its realy close lets get another 5 yards closer. Looking forward to a great hunt with you and your family and a lifetime of friendship. Not sure if you got the newsletter but in brief we took 26 trophy elephant in 2 months with our best a hunter from Dallas taking 2 elephant a 70 pound bull and three days later a 55 pound bull his son also took 2 elephant in the same time period. A few high in the 60's and a bunch in the low 60's. But for us just great hunting with great folks and the fact that 12 elephant hunts rebooked for 2012 makes us feel real good for 2012. Speak to you on email later Graeme | |||
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Mac, I don't get it!!! My iron sight 458 when sighted in at 50 is back dead on at 100 (or vice-versa). Either way its NOT way low at 25 yards!!! ________ Ray | |||
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Parallax- the diference between sight-line and bore-sight. your irons are very close to bore line while a scope will be 1-2 ins above. From there its simple geometry. SSR | |||
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OK!? So do this "simple geometry" My iron sights are 0.9" above the bore center. Compare that to a DGR scope that's 1.5" above the bore. ________ Ray | |||
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You need to zero at 100 for dead center 25yds because like Ivan says this is the only way you can be sure your rifle will be accurate up to 50,75 or 100yds should ever the need arise.It is very hard to adjust from 25yds.Any small variations from an absolute zero at 25yds will translate into larger variations at 50 and even larger at 100.An inch off to the right of a pea size target center at 25yds can mean 3 inches to the right at 50yds and 6 inches to the right at 100yds.An inch off to the right of a one or two inch circle target at 25yds could mean 4 or 5 inches to the right at 50 and 7 or 8 inches at 100yds.IMO,one should do the same for open sights. | |||
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RayYour sight-line is above the bore so it is at an angleto boreline. because its an angle it CANNOT be the same at 25 and 50 or 100. If both were in a straight line your impact would be -say with average scope height-1.5 in below sightline. Its a matter of intersecting lines, your dead on point is where the lines intersect be it 25, 50 or 100. At any other distance there will be divergence either high or low.(yes I know sighted properly the trajectory crosses the LOS twice but this is simple form). SSR | |||
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I think what you are missing is that Ray is saying that his rifle, as it is sighted in, hits at POA at 50 and 100 yards. In other words the bullet crosses the LOS at 50 then again at 100.
Your "dead on point" is not where the bore CL and sight line intersect. The bullet is falling away from the bore CL as soon as it leaves the muzzle, therefore it will never hit the intersection of the BCL and sight line. Once it leaves the barrel, the bullet will always hit below the BCL. Because of this, you can sight any rifle in so that the bullet crosses the line of sight twice. Jason "You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core." _______________________ Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt. Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure. -Jason Brown | |||
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Curious as to Ivans C's remark about scopes being set no lower than 1.5x for Eles. Does not the scopes being offered with 1x and 1.1x give you the field of view that is desired at ranges inside of 20 meters. Someone educate me.. | |||
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He said "no more" than 1.5. ------------------------------- Some Pictures from Namibia Some Pictures from Zimbabwe An Elephant Story | |||
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What planet is this? One Planet. One Chance. Oh Crap. ------------------------------- Will / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun. --------------------------------------- and, God Bless John Wayne. NRA Benefactor, GOA, NAGR _________________________ "Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped. “Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped. red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com _________________________ If anything be of note, let it be he was once an elephant hunter, hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go. | |||
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Jason Its a mighty strange cartridge that crosses LOS at 50-going up-and 100-going down. Not saying impossible but I am not hunting with something that slow. Secondly you are technically correct that the bullet starts to fall as soon as it leaves the barrel but in effect at 25 yds it is the same I am speaking of practical world ballistics, let NASA handle the decimals. SSR | |||
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I think we are on the same page. I must have misunderstood your other post.
With low mounted irons I believe 50 and 100 is possible with a 458. But my point is that setting the sights so that the bullet stays within 1" of the line of sight is not too hard with iron sights. Jason "You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core." _______________________ Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt. Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure. -Jason Brown | |||
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This I certainly agree with out to around 100  SSR | |||
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My first ele hunt made me decide between scope or sights. I had never shot an open sight rifle before that safari and I was leaning towards scope for all the concerns mentioned here. Unlike most plains game you really can easily lose a wounded ele and for what you pay it is a real risk. I really didn't practice like I needed to and my first ele was a gang killing with the PH. I decided after that hunt I would put in the work practicing on my double. Second ele was a thing of beauty...frontal stone dropped at 15 yards (In Bots where you should be able to get close). My opinion, open sights makes it both more traditional and satisfying. Anyone who can shoot with a scope can shoot at typical ele distances just as well with open sights. It just takes practice and getting out of your comfort zone. Kalahari Lion (Bots 07)  | |||
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zephyr ,what i meant was no higher in magnification than 1.5 not no lower !! "The greatest threat to our wildlife is the thought that someone else will save it” www.facebook.com/ivancartersafrica www.ivancarterwca.org www.ivancarter.com ivan@ivancarter.com | |||
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Sorry about that... something must have been lost in the translation between Shona and Michiganese | |||
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Mr. Pollock: Glad you are home safe.....and good to know you have been eavesdropping on this thread. Hey, I DID NOT get the latest e-mail newsletter, but it sounds like you knocked em' dead as usual. We have been in the mountains camping all week, and my grandaughter has moved up from the .243 to the .270. She has been absolutely hammering the bulleye at 200 yards with her mothers (my old) rifle. We have got that new Bog-pod rig.....with the rifle rest attachment and she shoots smack through the shoulder into the heart on every animal. BIG PROBLEM is......all she has ever shot is African stuff. I can't get her to move it back just a smidged for the elk and deer. We'll fix that in time. Anyway - save a good Bull for the first of April next year. The rifle is already ready....has been for 15 years.....and I think I can hit the brain from any angle. FAMOUS LAST WORDS !!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk to you soon........See you in Vegas 12' | |||
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Shootaway, you are correct that if the scoped rifle is zeroed at 25 yds it will need final adjustment at 100 yds for exact windage, but the rifle zeroed properly at 100 yds, should be set 2 1/2 inches high,(for the 458 example I offered) so that it will hit at the proper elevations at verious point blank ranges! 2 1/2 inch high at 100 yds! A scope zeroed properly will cross the line of sight at two ranges, in the case of the example I offered it cross the Line Of sight at 25 yds, and 125 yds with a max hight of 2 1/2 inches high in elevation over the point blank range! The point blank range is the range from muzzle to where the bullet crosses the line of sight the second time! ....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 | |||
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The difference is far less with iron sights because the sights are so much closer to the bore center of the barrel, or barrels! However a scope is much higher than Irons so over the point blank range of the cartridge you are shooting the bullet will cross the line of sight twice in it's point blank range. In the case of the 458 @ 2100 fps it will cross at very close to 25 yds,(zero) and again at 125 yds,(zero again) with a high point of 2 1/2 inches over that range! 2 1/2 inches ain't much hoss, Your rifle's irons zeroed crossing the line of sight at 50 yds and and again at 100 yds will have a high point between those two ranges. and will have a low point between the 50 yd zero, and the muzzle of your rifle! The line of sight is a straight line while the bullet path is an arch that crosses the line of sight twice in it's point blank range, and the higher the sight is above the bore the higher that middle will be between the two crossings. In any event a scope on your rifle, being higher above the bore will be much lower impact point between 100 yd zero, and 25 yd than it will with your iron sights! If the scope is set 2 1/2 inces high at 100 yds, it will be almost dead on at 25 yds, and also at 125 yds! Under hunting conditions even over sticks most people cannot consistantly hold a 2 1/2 in point of impact at 100 yds, so what is the problem? Wher you need surgical exact placement is much closer to 25 yds than 100 yds when shooting elephant. ....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 | |||
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Exactly!!! The sights, be they iron or scope, and cut or adjusted with the muzzle of the rifle tilted slightly "up" at muzzle compared to where the sights are where the line of sight is a straight line. I those sights are cut, or adjusted to hit POI at 100 yds the bullet will cross the line of sight between the muzzle and 100 yds and crosses it again AT 100 yds. dropping there after. That is the reason the 25 yd zero is so good is because the rifle is dead on at 25 yds, and only a little high mid range and is dead on again down range! ....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 | |||
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Mac, why don't you just zero it for max +/- 1" and then hold high for longer range? | |||
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................................  Why don't you do that and let us know how it works out for you on your next Lion hunt! Or maybe the PH could let us know if you are unable! ................. ....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 | |||
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First off let me repeat! I am not a elephant hunter, nor is it likely I will ever be an elephant hunter! That being said, I do have some experience with close–in shooting on dangerous game! IOM, the larger the size of an animal the more precise the shot placement needs to be to get the best immediate results. The act of hitting the brain of an elephant from the frontal position has to be VERY precise because the brain is not where you are placing the bullet but 3 or 4 feet back of that spot at an angle. The angle is always changing if the elephant is moving toward you, and so the placement must be different as he closes. For the above reasons my choice would be a wide “V” rear sight, and a 3/8ths white bead front, on a 470NE to 500NE, 1st choice being the 500NE, double rifle. In most cases I wouldn’t have a scope on that rifle for any reason, but on a smaller double like a 450NE I might have a scope in QD rings and bases for special purposes. Unlike the bolt rifle where the scope is normally the primary sight, with irons as a back-up sighting system, the scope on a double rifle the irons are primary, and the scope is the specialty sight to be installed as needed for a very precise shot at longer range or to thread a shot through a small opening in the bush to the vitals of the target animal that is unaware of your presences. Again IMO all rifle under 500NE should have both sighting systems with facility to mount or dismount the scope with perfect return to zero! It is fact that there is no legal rule that says you even have to have sights on your rifle to hunt elephant, but I think it would be a prudent idea to have one or the other type. In my case on dedicated Elephant rifle my choice would be the irons, not matter if bolt single shot or double rifle! ............................................BYE!  ....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 | |||
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Scope or no scope on Elephant? I think it boils down to what you are comfortable with. For me, I like a DR with open sights for nostalgic reasons. But, I have practiced A LOT with that gun. Prior to purchasing it, I shot scoped rifles nearly exclusively for over 40 years. Being proficient with the iron sights took quite a bit of getting used to. I also have a 416 Rigby fitted with a Trijicon 1.25X4 with the post and red triangle. I would not hesitate to hunt Elephant with that set up either as it offers good FOV with both eyes open especially at the lower end of magnification. My recommendation would be go with the scope unless you are willing to put in the time at the range to get completely proficient with iron sights. And by that statement I mean proficient at 10, 20, 50, 75, and 100 yards and all the distances in between as you never know what the end game will actually be. As far as what distance to sight in for? I think that time on the range will settle that. Try different ranges. Sight in for 50, then shoot at 20 and 100. What does YOUR rifle do at those ranges. Then sight in for 100 and shoot at 20 and 50. Again, what does YOUR rifle do at those ranges. Whichever option gives you the most confidence at being able to compensate is your answer. I place the emphasis on YOUR rifle because different set up and caliber combinations will result in different results. I was never a good Geometry student. Like I said, spend enough time on the range and you'll have your answer. | |||
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