I know this thread will become the usual whipping post and that is fine if that is ones interest. It is not mine. So let’s jump to the obvious question here. I have been told on another thread, that hippo are easily killed with a small caliber weapon. A .243 was recommended if I remember correctly.

So asking the obvious question…you mean to tell me (and I'm supposed to believe) you could stop this charging killing machine with a .243? If this is true and this is so easily done, then why is Sullivan the only person on the planet with charging hippo footage if stopping an enraged rogue bull hippo is as easy as some would say?

I think those that would suggest this have never faced a hippo charge in their life otherwise they would never suggest such a thing. Let it be known (and this is a plug) Sullivan's new movie, Death in Full-Charge (available in February 2014), will be his best movie ever. So good in fact that even you (Russ B) will want to buy one!

DVD title added 12-07-13

Best regards,
Shawn

Shawn,

The point is not stopping a charging hippo with a 243.

Hippos are probably the most avoidable dangerous animals in Africa, so why temp fate and get yourself into a position of being charged?

In all my encounters with hippos over the years, all one has to do is keep his wits about him, and give them enough space.

Of course, one cannot tell when one is likely to get close to one who has been pestered which might charge.

In which case I prefer to have whatever rifle is suitable for big dangerous game, rather than a 243.

Killing a hippo with a 243 should not be a problem, if one chooses his shot.

But, a 243 will not be a caliber I would want to hunt anything in Africa with.

Shawn:

Under ideal conditions and the application of a perfect shot to the brain is what was intended by the poster who suggested the .243

If wounded, enraged and charging, the .243 may not be quite effective and in charge mode conditions there isn't much room for error.

Shawn:
You know I'm on your side but here we go again! As I write this I am trying to put together a few gents to hunt with Mark and myself in 2015. Preferably a double hunt. I will take my .600 and I've sent out a few email to friends to consider joining us.
Let the games begin.
Cheers, mate.
Cal

PS. If I had a .243 in this instance, I would throw it at the hippo with the hope he would trip over it while I jumped behind Mark!

If you read the other thread carefully, that particular hunter categorically said that he never shot a charging hippo with a 243.

I agree with you in all other aspects.

I enjoy watching MS videos. He must be doing something right to NOT have a single client complaint!

Shawn, I'm glad to hear of the new DVD - lookin' forward to it, mate. Cheers!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Shawn,

a 243 will not be a caliber I would want to hunt anything in Africa with.

Saeed, I find the 243 great for all my Duiker and steenbuck charges. When my life is on the line, there is nothing better than my trusty 243.

DVD sales a bit slow are they, Shawn?

Shawn,

The way you misquoted that poster to suit your own agenda would make many a journalist green with envy, well done.

quote:

So asking the obvious question…you mean to tell me (and I'm supposed to believe) you could stop this charging killing machine with a .243? If this is true and this is so easily done, then why is Sullivan the only person on the planet with charging hippo footage if stopping an enraged rogue bull hippo is as easy as some would say?

A tad hypocritical Shawn. You clearly have an issue with people taking potshots at Mark, but have no scruples about having a dig at Russ B, inventing your own version of what he said in the process.

As I recall, Russ B said he had shot hippo with a .243, and I'm sure he has. He said nothing about stopping a 'charging killing machine' hippo with a .243...

To answer your question, the reason why Mark Sullivan is the only person on the planet with charging hippo footage is that few others have been charged by hippo. I can't comment on how easy it is to stop a charging hippo, but it is very easy to avoid being charged by one. Simply don't go and look for it.

quote:

Originally posted by David Hulme:
I can't comment on how easy it is to stop a charging hippo, but it is very easy to avoid being charged by one. Simply don't go and look for it.

.... but then how will you let them decide how they want to die?

quote:

Originally posted by David Hulme:

quote:

So asking the obvious question…you mean to tell me (and I'm supposed to believe) you could stop this charging killing machine with a .243? If this is true and this is so easily done, then why is Sullivan the only person on the planet with charging hippo footage if stopping an enraged rogue bull hippo is as easy as some would say?

A tad hypocritical Shawn. You clearly have an issue with people taking potshots at Mark, but have no scruples about having a dig at Russ B, inventing your own version of what he said in the process.

As I recall, Russ B said he had shot hippo with a .243, and I'm sure he has. He said nothing about stopping a 'charging killing machine' hippo with a .243...

To answer your question, the reason why Mark Sullivan is the only person on the planet with charging hippo footage is that few others have been charged by hippo. I can't comment on how easy it is to stop a charging hippo, but it is very easy to avoid being charged by one. Simply don't go and look for it.

Common sense have never stopped Mark Sullivan have his own version of things

This thread is BS. Just a cheap marketing effort. Let it go and it will fall off the front page.

quote:

Originally posted by Milo Shanghai:
This thread is BS. Just a cheap marketing effort. Let it go and it will fall off the front page.

................................................................BINGO!

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
Shawn:
You know I'm on your side but here we go again! As I write this I am trying to put together a few gents to hunt with Mark and myself in 2015. Preferably a double hunt. I will take my .600 and I've sent out a few email to friends to consider joining us.
Let the games begin.
Cheers, mate.
Cal

PS. If I had a .243 in this instance, I would throw it at the hippo with the hope he would trip over it while I jumped behind Mark!

Heck, I'll be one of your "few gents".

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by Milo Shanghai:
This thread is BS. Just a cheap marketing effort. Let it go and it will fall off the front page.

Actually, it's free marketing. Not like it doesn't happen here everyday. I would suggest to you guys that Express and MS have shown they are concerned about others well being with their generous support of the Stu Taylor Benefit. How about a little slack?
Jeff

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Bunduki:

quote:

Originally posted by Milo Shanghai:
This thread is BS. Just a cheap marketing effort. Let it go and it will fall off the front page.

Actually, it's free marketing. Not like it doesn't happen here everyday. I would suggest to you guys that Express and MS have shown they are concerned about others well being with their generous support of the Stu Taylor Benefit. How about a little slack?
Jeff

Or even better, "put up or shut up"

Here we go again .....

As I recall , Russ didn't recommend a 243. He simply stated he has shot several with a 243 at close range. I will bet my last dollar is you asked Russ what he choice of caliber would be on a charging hippo, it would not be a 243.

Why does Mark have this footage? That is simple in my book. He doesn't shoot them in the water like most do. Sure most will run away. They can and do charge ocassionally. Personally, I have seen it twice . Once, we had a hippo jump up from the bushes and come for us when we had zero idea a hippo could be there.

Is this a marketing ploy? Probably . What is wrong with that ? Businesses market themselves every day in differs ways.

Like him or not , with the efforts on behalf of Stu Taylor, Mark has established himself as a stand up guy IMHO. Of course, some will never see that . They would find fault if Mark found a cure for cancer. Well done Mark and Shawn. Many of us here appreciate your offer for the benefit of Stu.

quote:

Originally posted by Milo Shanghai:
This thread is BS. Just a cheap marketing effort. Let it go and it will fall off the front page.

Get over it! Don't read it if you don't like it. It's not like the header doesn't scream STAY AWAY! to you. Better yet use the ignore feature. It works, I know.

quote:

I enjoy watching MS videos. He must be doing something right to NOT have a single client complaint!

I see this exactly.
Best wishes.
B.-Hunter

:-)

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Saeed:

But, a 243 will not be a caliber I would want to hunt anything in Africa with.[/QUOTE

There is a lot of very good hunting to be had with a .243 in Africa. Sure, not big game, but a lot of the smaller antelope are a real challenge.

Another vote for a free advertising forum......

I applaud Shawn and Marks support on the STU fundraiser.
As to a 243. , I didn't think it is legal in any AFrican country to shoot them with that calibre!
375 or 9.3 are min as legislated.

Cheers

Nick

Ps if you don't like MS , then don't open the thread!

quote:

Originally posted by Nganga:

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Bunduki:

quote:

Originally posted by Milo Shanghai:
This thread is BS. Just a cheap marketing effort. Let it go and it will fall off the front page.

Actually, it's free marketing. Not like it doesn't happen here everyday. I would suggest to you guys that Express and MS have shown they are concerned about others well being with their generous support of the Stu Taylor Benefit. How about a little slack?
Jeff

Or even better, "put up or shut up"

Very funny indeed!

So now all the professional hunters in Africa who have never had any of these silly charges have to put up or shut up?

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by Nganga:

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Bunduki:

quote:

Originally posted by Milo Shanghai:
This thread is BS. Just a cheap marketing effort. Let it go and it will fall off the front page.

Actually, it's free marketing. Not like it doesn't happen here everyday. I would suggest to you guys that Express and MS have shown they are concerned about others well being with their generous support of the Stu Taylor Benefit. How about a little slack?
Jeff

Or even better, "put up or shut up"

Very funny indeed!

So now all the professional hunters in Africa who have never had any of these silly charges have to put up or shut up?

Hi Saeed,
I think you misunderstood my point. It was aimed at MS's detractors. For them to either put up (donated to Stu) or shut up. We all know how you feel about MS, but you stepped up and made a generous donation regardless. Heck, you might even wind up hunting with MS.

Steve

quote:

Heck, you might even wind up hunting with MS.

Sorry Steve,

He is not the sort of professional hunter I would hunt with.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Heck, you might even wind up hunting with MS.

Sorry Steve,

He is not the sort of professional hunter I would hunt with.

Saeed, you stand a good chance of winning. In the likely event you do, I propose you auction the hunts and further boost the Stu Taylor fund. What do you think?

You CAN stop a Hippo charge with a .243!

Have Mark do it for his next movie please. I will buy that, but only if he puts out a Blu-Ray.

Thank you.

Do they make a .243" flat nosed solid?

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Do they make a .243" flat nosed solid?

Yes we do!

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Do they make a .243" flat nosed solid?

Great!! With this thread about Mark Sullivan AND flat nose vs. round nosed solids added I predict we hit 30 pages by the endo of the week.

You would have to hit the brain using a .243, otherwise you would get chomped. It would not stop a charge hitting any other part of the hippo body. The .243 is a fine caliber for regular deer sized game and warthog; even leopard would die quickly to it.

Saeed…I agree with you that hippo are avoidable in most situations if that is ones intention.

Fujotupu…Exactly!

Cal…I agree with your .243 conclusion…and your hunt sounds exciting!

Nakihunter...thanks yes I did see that as his posts continued down the page and that became clear.

BenKK…Great to hear from you. Cheers!

gman21…what you meant to say was the way I framed his comments not misquoted.

David Hulme…yes I agree…it is very easy to avoid being charged by one. Simply don't go and look for it.


Rather than being quick to criticize, I would rather provide some clarity and useful information where someone has provided information that could be construed as being off the mark. No pun intended.

Let’s try to be honest about the post on the thread I mentioned. While it had some interesting comments it was really more about being a disingenuous post. I believe it was about trying to minimize the skills needed to kill a charging hippo. I put the posters comments in quotes for clarity.

“Without trying to be clever a Hippo at close quarters is absolutely the easiest animal to drop in its tracks, if you hit them anywhere in the head they go down, some may after a bit get up again but will certainly give you ample time to finish them off. I have shot several Hippo with a 243 in the brain at 10 yards or closer."

“Whilst it makes for great movies it really does not require a huge amount of bravado or shooting skill.” “Furthermore Hippo are simple to get a charge out of particularly during the dry season …They give you plenty of warning, charge in the open and are very easy to put down. So in short great to watch but with an easy conclusion.” To me this suggests hippo are easy to put down on a charge.

“Yes true Shawn I certainly do not advocate inviting a charge from any animal but out of all dangerous game Hippo are really the easiest of all to stop.” “I guess most people get a huge amount of excitement out of a Hippo charge but I think that when they experience it personally it may be a bit of a letdown. Just my opinion, nevertheless fun to watch.” We are back to the suggestion that charging hippo are easy to stop.

What I took from this exchange is that hippo charges may be a bit of a letdown but are fun to watch. Is killing a hippo that is milling around an experience from which one can truly draw a fair comparison?

In all fairness, the poster did later go on to back pedal and share that his resume was a little thin in the area of charge experiences. “I mentioned that I had shot several Hippo with a 243, none of these animals were charging, my point was that Hippo do not present any huge challenge as far as penetration is concerned. Their skulls are relatively thin for their size and therefore can easily be killed with a small calibre weapon.”

While this may be his experience, and I am sure it is, how does this help with the conversation of charging hippo? “It is in my humble opinion a lot easier to shoot a charging animal when you are prepared for a charge, you have time to set it up and time to prepare yourself for his exit from the water.” It has been my experience that most everything can be easier if prepared for but not necessarily easy. There is a difference.

“I can assure you that Hippo do go down when hit by a large calibre weapon in the head, the shock of the bullet entering close to brain seems to put them down easily, which will give you time especially when using a Double Rifle to put in a fatal second shot.” I believe there is some valuable comment here regarding the benefit of a double rifle for hunting dangerous game up close. Assuming something that can kill you will go down easily is probably not a wise assumption to make.

Here is a short clip from my YouTube channel to ponder. Two hunters prepared for a charge shooting .577 NE doubles. The hippo was hit 4 times. The first two shots fired at nearly the exact same time right on top of each other that missed the brain and then the hippo was hit again with two more shots fired at nearly the same instant.

Link to Video Clip

“With the age of Movie and TV some PH'S Mark included have done an excellent job of marketing themselves, but I would doubt very much if his skill in the bush or with a Double Rifle is significantly better than anyone else.”

We are all entitled to our opinions.

Shawn

quote:

gman21…what you meant to say was the way I framed his comments not misquoted.

Semantics, still a gross misrepresentation of the original context

I would have to disagree, spot on regarding the context actually.

quote:

Originally posted by ExpressYourself:

Here is a short clip from my YouTube channel to ponder. Two hunters prepared for a charge shooting .577 NE doubles. The hippo was hit 4 times. The first two shots fired at nearly the exact same time right on top of each other that missed the brain and then the hippo was hit again with two more shots fired at nearly the same instant.

Link to Video Clip

Shawn

Was that second, unseen shooter the "client hunter," who was paying for the hunt and hidden in the video except for the muzzles of his barrels poking in briefly at the end, from Stage Right?
If so, I guess Mark Sullivan was paying for the cameraman filming from behind Mark Sullivan's right shoulder the whole time.
Just as it should be when the plan is to get footage of Mark Sullivan stopping the charges of animals "hunted" by his clients.

Regardless of the above: If PH personalities deserve diagnosis, then Mark Sullivan's diagnosis is "narcissitic" or just "greedy."

Let me pose a question. If you were a cameraman, would you rather film behind Mark Sullivan or an client with unknown skills?

If a lawyer asked THAT question of a Mark S.
antagonist on the witness stand, and obviously
under oath, boy oh boy..!

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
If you read the other thread carefully, that particular hunter categorically said that he never shot a charging hippo with a 243.

I agree with you in all other aspects.

I enjoy watching MS videos. He must be doing something right to NOT have a single client complaint!

That's one way of looking at it I suppose, just like I have never heard a client complain after he has shot his trophy bull tahr or buck chamois in our country using a helihunter including one that posted on this forum some time ago posing with his trophy tahr after he had leaped from the chopper, ran over and shot his cornered animal with a 12 gauge and buckshot. Each to his own but the words "doing it right” can have many connotations.