Bull Elephant Hunting Calibers. What Rifle Would You Choose?

[Scott CWO]

Your username says it all.

 

[Cleathorn]

470NE double. But I like and shoot them well. My son made a one-shit kill with a 375H&H in 2022 and the 458 Lott is a great cartridge, I’ve used my 458 Lott on hippo, croc and Buffalo. Use the guns that you shoot very well and enjoy yourself. Elephant hunting is a special hunt.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

I'd use a scoped .416 Remington Magnum and clap any and all plains game up to 250 yards I happened to come across.

only difference for me here
would have my red dot burris fast fire reflex site for the ele, then when thats done, pop a scope on the barrel and hunt plains game etc

 

[SRvet]

My choice would be my .458 Win Mag ZKK602 with RMR sight and 450 grain flat point solids for up close but I would bring my scoped .375 H&H as well with 300 grain flat point solids. It’s not much of a choice as that’s all I have that is suitable. I would prefer the 458 Win Mag to be a 458 Lott but finding someone to modify the chamber in the UK is difficult and it may be easier just to find a .different 458 Lott instead.

 

[DieJager]

Still a couple of years away but will use my 375 H&H. Will mount a red dot on it. Also I will take a scope. If needed I can change quickly with my pivot mount system

 

[Philippe]

With a 375, you need to get the perfect brainshot. If it isn't, it won't even be shaken.
To do this 458 solid and above. Of course the best would be a double in 500NE

 

[uplander01]

Don’t know if I’ll ever hunt elephant but the tools I have would be a choice between 500 jeffery Mauser, or my 470 double rifle. If I had to pick right now I’d probably go with the 500j, it’s just a bit more natural for personally, I haven’t had enough time to work with the double. In short, shoot what you know you can get the job done with.

 

[Fatback]

I’m planning on hunting an elephant in 2025. I plan on taking a 404 Jeffery.

 

[Ridgewalker]

I envy you Toby what ever you decide to use! I know you’ll make a final decision the day before you leave!
Looking forward to your report!

 

[PARA45]

I'd use my Win Mod 70 in 416 RM, or my AHR CZ 550 IN 375, both with solids. The 416 I can comfortably shoot; it is the max recoil I can tolerate. In your case, I'd say use the 458.

 

[Bonk]

Ruger RSM 404J

 

[Pondoro]

Have used .375H&H, ,458Win. and .475NE.. Will take my .470 or .500 Jeff. next time

 

[AZDAVE]

Primary rifle
Krieghoff Double 500/416

Backup rifle
Bolt gun 505Gibbs

 

[IvW]

My 500 Jeff

 

[Happy Myles]

I prefer 500 grain bullets foe elephant, so on savannah elephant have successfully used 470 Nitro Express, 500 Nitro Express, 500 Jeffrey and 450 Ackley. Hands down my favorite is my 450 Ackley. Mine is extremely accurate. Have also taken a couple Forest elephant with my 416 Rigby because it was what I was carrying in the jungle on two different trips. While hunting in thick cover i like to be prepared for anything i might by chance bump into.

 

[Dirtdart]

If it were me I would use the .404J that I bought from you Toby.

 

[Andrew62]

I have taken 3 elephants, all with my .375H&H. I have recently purchased a 450/400 and would like to take my next elephant with this rifle, however, since I am going to Uganda for buffalo next March, then flying directly to Vic Falls for my elephant hunt, and because I want to take just one gun, I may just take my .375H&H again. My first elephant was taken with solids, my 2nd elephant was taken with Barnes TSX, my 3rd elephant was taken with Barnes banded solids (brain shot). Now before everyone gets on me about using TSX on elephant, I was in Zimbabwe years ago in November, while there, they told me they had an extra tuskless tag, I did not have any solids so that's why I used TSX. What is also interesting, now that I look back on it, is neither of my 2 guides on that hunt carried a gun the entire hunt. I took 3 cape buffalo and a tuskless.

 

[Doug3006]

If I were to use a gun currently in my cabinet, I would go with my Kimber Caprivi in 458 Lott. I would shoot most any 500 grain solid that it shoots accurately. My current inventory includes Nosler Solids, Barnes Banded Solids, and Woodleigh Solids.

 

[Beck]

.450 Rigby Bolt gun or .470 NE Double - would ask my PH and take his advice. I'd also ask the PH about bullets. I have used Barnes TSX's on hippo and buffalo, but I don't know if an expanding solid is a good idea for Elephant.

 

[rookhawk]

If you were leaving this August to hunt a bull elephant and tuskless elephant in Zimbabwe, (as I am), what rifle/caliber would you use? Would you use a double, or bolt gun? 375, 416, or something bigger? I'll most likely be using a Blaser R8 458 WM, with 450gr bullets as my primary gun, with an R8 375 H&H as my secondary gun/barrel. But not 100% decided.
But, If you were leaving this August on the same hunt, what rifle in your current arsenal would you be shooting?

#1 choice would be a 470NE double rifle for a "client caliber". A professional would have the proficiency and utter stopping power of a 577NE or a 500 Jeffery, but we don't need to stop them instantly, we need to kill them ethically. Odds of a client using a 470NE effectively is probably a lot higher than a 577 or 500J because it has more manageable recoil.

Other calibers that would be shortlisted would include 500NE, 450 Rigby, 458 Lott, etc.

If you're only going to hunt elephant once in your life, you'll get by alright with your 458WM and good ammunition, but if you think you may hunt them again, or hippo, or rhino, or buffalo, a 470NE is kinda the gold standard.