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How do you shoot a charging elephant?

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
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Back in those days when they still allow you to shoot at elephants, it was customary to stand your ground (fearlessly) and take careful aim right between its eyes before pulling the trigger.

All these factors apparently will work to your favour if your gun does not jam at that crucial second when that charging two-storey hunk of menacingly flesh is almost upon you.

Hunters of old like to talk about the adrenalin rush as you take aim with that powerful rifle and pray that the single bullet will bring it down and not with you, too.

I believe sometimes the authorities still allow shooting of elephants under special circumstances.

But seriously, how do the bonafide hunters actually bring down a rogue elephant, minus the Hollywood stuff?
 
From a distance.

BTW, there were usually several other guides and armed gun bearers ready to put in a few more shots should the hunter fail to do the job.
 
How do you shoot a charging elephant?


Take away his credit card. While he's standing around dazed and bewildered, let him have it right between the eyes.


:cool: :D :p
 
it is usually accepted that a frontal shot on a charging elephant should be taken at under 40 yards, and one shold make his point of aim a little below the eye. a flat or round nosed solid bullet should be used and one that is of monolithic construction rather than a jacketed bullet is most effective, avoid pointed bullets as they tend to ricochet off the skull. also the jacketed round nose bullets will tend to flatten, and several failures have been seen with some of the early kinoch designs. as there may be a need to penetrate up to 2 ft of bone to get to the brain. in most countires game laws require the use of a large caliber rifle no smaller than a 375 h+h as a minimun caliber. in some countries due to failure of the .375 to preform there are game laws requiring even larger calibers as a minimum. there is some legal elephant hunting that is allowed.

alex
 
I had a co-worker that had to shoot a berserk circus elephant about 40 years ago. The police asked for his assistance as he was a gun collector and the only person in the area with an elephant rifle. He shot it near the eye and the elephant's skeleton went to a museum.
 
A few years ago I met and talked with a man who'd worked as a Govt. elephant "cropper," in Southern Sudan, Africa. He'd killed more than 1,200 elephants in the cropping situation.

He said he got as close as possible, and shot them either between the eyes, or if a side shot, in the "dished out" hollow between the eye and the ear.

His main rifle was a .416 Rigby, although he at times used a .458 Win. Magnum. He said the .416 Rigby worked better on elephants than any other caliber he'd ever used , and what some other "croppers," used.

FWIW. L.W.
 
You can get some personal answers to this question in the African Hunting forum at www.huntamerica.com . One of my older friends shot some problem elephants when he was a surgical missionary in Africa. He aimed for roughly the third wrinkle on the trunk. He claimed that location put the bullet most directly into the brain box. His current heavy rifle is a 470 Nitro Express double rifle. A lot less punch than a 600 or 577 NE, but considered adequate for elephant.
 
Seeing this thread reminds me of that old joke,Whats the stuff between elephant's toes..........slow native's.

I wouldnt even know where to start to answer this question,God forbid any of us are in that situation:eek:
 
In 1995 i was lucky enough to go on big game safari, with barry duckworth. Although I didn't have elephant on my game list I was offered a 50 pounder. We came upon him while stalking bushbuck on the kachowie river. Stalking to with in 50 yards the beast was pulling small trees up to throw at us...I declined because of my empty pocketbook..had already shot 15 head...what a rush to be that close.
 
YIKES!!!! I would hate to be in that position. The best way is from faaaaaaar away with a high powered rifle and telescopic sights. The elephant, should of course only be a fake one.

It is far more gratifying to shoot with a camera nowadays.:)
 
Drop to one knee.
Sight UNDER his belly as he runs toward you.
Shoot his nuts off. ANY caliber will do.

This won't stop him from killing you, but
he'll remember you long after you're gone.
 
W.D.M."Karamojo"Bell,who probably shot more elephants than anyone,killed most of his elephants with a Mauser chambered in 7x57.Of course he favored an ear shot from the side.
 
"...as there may be a need to penetrate up to 2 ft of bone to get to the brain."

2 feet of bone?!! That must be a typo. 2 inches maybe?
 
if I'm shooting at an elephant that means that my flight took a wroung turn somewhere :D But if I had a choice it would be with an M2 browning cause if it's coming to kill me I really aint gonna care about a clean kill and trophy potential I'm gonna pump so many rounds into it that all thats gonna be left is four legs and a pile of red goo......
 
I've killed many an elephant here in the New Jersey bush without the aid of a gun. As the elephant charges, point to the sky! He will look up & then you run & hide under his belly. Begin to 'tickle' him on the belly (elephants are very ticklish) & within 5 minutes he will die laughing! Please! Do not try this at home - only professionals should attempt this manuver! Sorry for this post; I'm on my 4th beer & I'm getting slap happy!
 
Originally posted by Naro
Drop to one knee.
Sight UNDER his belly as he runs toward you.
Shoot his nuts off. ANY caliber will do.

This won't stop him from killing you, but
he'll remember you long after you're gone.
Click to expand...

Naro, a BIG FYI... elephants may be the only mammals with their testicles located inside the body cavity... good luck finding the sac on your charging elephant!
 
Mongo:

"elephants may be the only mammals with their testicles located inside the body cavity... good luck finding the sac on your charging elephant!"

You see.. that's only the ones we haven't shot out here in Tennessee. Used to have a covey of 'em with sacs hanging down. Not any more.
 
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