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Minimum caliber to turn an elephant?

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31 December 2008, 20:12
Jeff Wemmer
Minimum caliber to turn an elephant?
quote:
He's still dead, isn't he??


He sure is...!

But, not as result of using a 7x57 on elephant!

JW out
01 January 2009, 00:03
Bo Rich
I feel that the hunter should take the rifle that he feels most comfortable with, and the one that he hits well with. I mostly use older Model 70's when I hunt, and I have taken my .375 H&H Magnum to Africa twice. Once for Lion, then again for Cape Buffalo. Me, and the rifle did well. When I go back for a Elephant I will take this old friend. I hit where I aim with this rifle, and I don't think any land animal will do much harm if hit with a well placed .375 H&H Magnum.
01 January 2009, 00:42
JPK
From Saeed, "and make sure you put that bullet in RIGHT place."

I knew this would come up, it is the typical refrain from those who shoot light for the game cartridges. It drips with the arrogance of over confidence or inexperience, the fantasy of one's perfection.

When the situation allows, this is of course the only plan, no matter what rifle one is holding. But a couple doeses of reality: 1.) No man is perfect. Misses will happen. Even world champion shooters miss, that is what determines the winner of the competition, a world class shooter missing. 2.) There aren't many world class shooters! 3.) Its when the situation goes to hell and a successful brain shot is either not made because of typical and common human error or not availble for any of a variety of reasons - angle, visibility, range, time, ... etc, that the big bore is needed.

The question posed in the thread was about stopping an elephant. The assumption wihtin this question is that the situation has already gone to hell. We're not talking about an unaroused elephant at 30yds. Hitting the "Right place" in an emergency is not so easy as Saeed and others pretend and why bank your life on it when using a large bore rifle provides additional, if unreliable, margin for error. Error stemming from our imperfection, which we all live with as human beings.

JPK


Free 500grains
01 January 2009, 01:11
Rich Elliott
"It is my belief that any good slap in the face, from any of the .450s up,will most times turn a chargeing ele. However, I wouldn't take that as an absolute, and be ready to slap him again if it didn't!"

Mac,
"Most times" you're probably right. But I can attest that it doesn't happen every time Wink

Rich Elliott


Rich Elliott
Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris
01 January 2009, 01:20
pichon1
quote:
Originally posted by JPK:
From Saeed, "and make sure you put that bullet in RIGHT place."

I knew this would come up, it is the typical refrain from those who shoot light for the game cartridges. It drips with the arrogance of over confidence or inexperience, the fantasy of one's perfection.

When the situation allows, this is of course the only plan, no matter what rifle one is holding. But a couple doeses of reality: 1.) No man is perfect. Misses will happen. Even world champion shooters miss, that is what determines the winner of the competition, a world class shooter missing. 2.) There aren't many world class shooters! 3.) Its when the situation goes to hell and a successful brain shot is either not made because of typical and common human error or not availble for any of a variety of reasons - angle, visibility, range, time, ... etc, that the big bore is needed.

The question posed in the thread was about stopping an elephant. The assumption wihtin this question is that the situation has already gone to hell. We're not talking about an unaroused elephant at 30yds. Hitting the "Right place" in an emergency is not so easy as Saeed and others pretend and why bank your life on it when using a large bore rifle provides additional, if unreliable, margin for error. Error stemming from our imperfection, which we all live with as human beings.

JPK


JPK, your last paragraph, I think, sums up the situation perfectly.

We are talking about a less than ideal situation here.(ie a pissed off ele).

Your summation is, I believe, irrefutable. beer
01 January 2009, 01:43
shootaway
For ele,I'd go with the 450 Dakota,or 470mbogo,or 495 A-square,or the 450 Watts Magnum, or the 475 Ackley Magnum,or the 505/530 Woodleigh.