Call The Shot Elephant

Where do you aim?

  • Red

    Votes: 30 75.0%
  • Blue

    Votes: 1 2.5%
  • Other

    Votes: 9 22.5%

  • Total voters
    40

Altitude sickness

Gold supporter
AH legend
Joined
Jun 24, 2023
Messages
3,542
Reaction score
12,844
Location
Michigan
Media
30
Hunting reports
Africa
1
USA/Canada
2
This bull is charging and at 10 feet you have enough time to raise your barrel and fire. No time to think. Where do you aim.
IMG_5018.jpeg
 
Red dot would be it for me, level with the zygomatic arches
 
If I’m not mistaken, the brain is on the level of the red dot, but since at 10yards (on flat terrain) you will be shooting upwards, I would aim for the crease below.
 
Little below the red dot
 
At 10 feet it is essentially “on top of you” and you are essentially “pointing way up so you need to enter way below the transverse lie of the brain and have the trajectory go way up and back at a rather sharp angle.
 
1724698192740.png


Blue will not even phase it! It might turn it. This would be the shot to take to try desperately to get it to stop charging without killing it (e.g. accidental elephant charge while hunting buffalo), but if this does not work and it is close and truly coming, you are about dead...

Red, above the eyes, and just above the upper end of the zygomatic arches, will maybe graze the top of the brain, especially with a shot angling up, but more probably go just over it. A 9.3, .375 or even .416 will probably not knock it down, but a .500, .470 or .458 Lott will most likely drop it but not kill it. You have about 5 to 10 seconds to run sideways and put another one in the top of its head or a couple behind its shoulder.

I would go a little lower than discussed so far because its head is held up; the shot is angling up; indeed "when in doubt aim low" (attributed to Richard Harland in modern days, but he could have just repeated it from older hands, and in any case advised by Charlton McCallum in his videos) and they do not mean 1" low but 4" low - it is an elephant after all; and the shot is still in line with the zygomatic arches.


PS: red would work if it is coming for you from below, e.g. it is in a shallow river bottom and you are on the bank 4 to 6 ft higher than it.
 
Last edited:
I know a case where the elephant was coming in, too close and no time to aim, the shot did not bring him down, but it make him turn
 
View attachment 629508

Blue will not even phase it! It might turn it. This would be the shot to take to try desperately to get it to stop charging without killing it (e.g. accidental elephant charge while hunting buffalo), but if this does not work and it is close and truly coming, you are about dead...

Red, above the eyes, and just above the upper end of the zygomatic arches, will maybe graze the top of the brain, especially with a shot angling up, but more probably go just over it. A 9.3, .375 or even .416 will probably not knock it down, but a .500, .470 or .458 Lott will most likely drop it but not kill it. You have about 5 to 10 seconds to run sideways and put another one in the top of its head or a couple behind its shoulder.

I would go a little lower than discussed so far because its head is held up; the shot is angling up; indeed "when in doubt aim low" (attributed to Richard Harland in modern days, but he could have just repeated it from older hands, and in any case advised by Charlton McCallum in his videos) and they do not mean 1" low but 4" low - it is an elephant after all; and the shot is still in line with the zygomatic arches.


PS: red would work if it is coming for you from below, e.g. it is in a shallow river bottom and you are on the bank 4 to 6 ft higher than it.
I would shoot between the red and the green…good call!!!
 
Red dot out of the two but yes a little lower than that is perfect
 
The dot from the aimpoint on the first crease below the red. Hopefully at that range I would still be thinking clearly.
 
No higher than red. Probably a bit below depending on head angle, elevation, etc. At 10 feet you better be moving back as you shoot. Even if you brain it, you could end up under the head.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
57,818
Messages
1,240,666
Members
102,092
Latest member
AdriannaBr
 

 

 

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

Tintin wrote on JNevada's profile.
Hi Jay,

Hope you're well.

I'm headed your way in January.

Attending SHOT Show has been a long time bucket list item for me.

Finally made it happen and I'm headed to Vegas.

I know you're some distance from Vegas - but would be keen to catch up if it works out.

Have a good one.

Mark
Franco wrote on Rare Breed's profile.
Hello, I have giraffe leg bones similarly carved as well as elephant tusks which came out of the Congo in the mid-sixties
406berg wrote on Elkeater's profile.
Say , I am heading with sensational safaris in march, pretty pumped up ,say who did you use for shipping and such ? Average cost - i think im mainly going tue euro mount short of a kudu and ill also take the tanned hides back ,thank you .
 
Top