I was discussing calibres with my nephew the other day and I remarked that I remember Ross Seyfried had commented once that 5 and 1/2 ft.penetration might be required for a frontal brain shot on a bull elephant.He looked at me like I had just grown a third eye but I think my memory is correct.

Any help is appreciated.

Best,
brair

I could only see 5 1/2 feet required under unussual circumstances, like a big, old bull with a big head close but on a bank or hill above you looking down his trunk at you.

Then the POI required to reach the brain will be well down the trunk.

JPK

I am NOT an expert: but I can't imagine any more than 3 feet being necesary unless you had a wierd backside angle to the brain. A back side angle would be tough and I'd imagine not recommended at least for a first shot.

Like JPK said maybe on a high head trunk shot.

But five feet wouldn't hurt anything.

The better question is how are you going to get it?

A really big Botsanna bull might require 5 feet of penentration on a low trunk shot but 4 feet will usually cover most situations.

465H&H

I have Personally found, that a 286gr Woodleigh Solid from a 9,3x74R at @2250fs, a 400gr Woodleigh Solid from a 450/400 3 1/4" at @2200fps, a 450gr North Fork Flat Point Solid at @2250fs, and a 480 Woodleigh Solid at @2150 from a 450 No2, give more than adequate penetration on elephants, and cape buff.

With Softs, the above calibres work great on plains game as well.

Thanks for the help.Maybe my memory is slipping.
Regards,
brair

Briar,

This bullet was found sticking out of the skin on my 16 year old cow which was shot through the zygomatic arch. (465 grain TCCI solid RN).



Three shots, 33-39 inches penetration.



The 450 grain North Fork flat nose solid did 60 inches.



I would consider three feet to be an absolute minimum on a cow.

You will certainly want more than that on a bull.

Andy

Interesting.

I think any of the premier mono solids would do nicely. If you want to see pictures of what a 370 grain North Fork flat point solid will do look at my hunting report of 10/5/06. The solid sticking out of the rhino should resolve any doubt about penetrating.

So do you think the 500 grain .458 barnes banded solid would meet the meplat/feeding/non damageing to bore/pennetration standards? Its fairly easy to get, and get loading info for. Id be shooting it at 2100 fps in a win mag, problably h 4895,, dave..

I use the 458wm. I think for mono bullets 450grs is the way to go. I prefer North Fork flat nose 450gr solids.

I use AA 2230 and drive the NF's at 2220fps. My rifle is a double, you can drive the NF's faster out of a bolt. I've seen well over four feet of penetration on frontal brain shots with the NF's at 2220fps and over five feet more than once.

If you choose the Barnes or NF 450's, try both H 4895 and AA 2230. The AA 2230 will probably be the better choice, at least it has been in my rifle.

Nothing wrong with a 500gr Woodleigh, btw. I push these at 2145fps with AA 2230 and while they do not have the penetration of the 450gr NF's they have enough and perform reliably. I use them for the first shot. And I wouldn't hesitate to use the Hornaday DGS flat point steel jacketed 500 grainers. But for the (very long) mono's, stick with 450grs.

JPK

I have seen some big bodied Caprivi elephant up close, and I can't imagine needing 5 1/2 feet of penetration to reach the brain on a frontal shot.

The biggest bodied elephant on record is the monster from Angola on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

I have seen that bruiser up close too, and not even he would require that deep of a borehole on a frontal brain shot. Here he is: