Call The Shot My 2021 Elephant Bull

[Altitude sickness]

Due to my very negative experience with a brain shot under poor conditions, I have become a supporter of heart shots for elephants. I shot two elephants this way with the cartridge 500 Schüler and in both cases they go down in place, similar to shot deers.

I have a total of one tuskless kill. I practiced for the frontal and side brain. Had it burned into my muscle memory. As soon as the first shot breaks, rack the bolt and shoot incase the brain shot didn’t work.

Well after many stalks and looking over a lot of elephant’s, the one cow that checked all the boxes. Mature, tuskless and no calf.

She was positioned in light tree branches at 20ish yards. so my PH said heart shot. The .505 Gibbs with .525 grain CEB solid hit the left leg went through the heart and hit the right leg. She dropped instantly.

So my vast elephant experience

Tells me there is a third shot that will drop an elephant if the angle is possible and the power and bullet allows.

Both front legs and heart hit and they can’t stand. It’s a much larger target.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I may not have got bone on the left leg. But I definitely hit bone on the right leg.

 

[Green Chile]

Side brain is one thing but frontal brain shots are very complicated and a very common presentation when they hear or wind you. In other words, not a good idea for many but commonly seen. If I was a PH, I would not allow them in most cases or I would be prepared to backup shoot immediately. I took a heart shot on my last ele and was pleased to see it drop quickly. I will be doing more heart/lung shots.

 

[sureshot375]

The video of the shot is below. Please ignore the music. I didn’t do that. Also, consider that I am to the right of the camera by a good bit so the camera angle is a bit deceptive.

There were 4 bulls spread out feeding. We checked the first bull, but he was too big.( there were size restrictions). We maneuvered around to this bull, and after some discussion I was given the green light. Although closer would have been ideal, this was the shot we had at 35 yards. There was no cover in between us and the bull. The wind was blowing strong and he had no idea we were there.

Like many of you here, I did not like the shot. He kept his head quartering towards for a long time. I waited. It was a little awkward. I could tell everyone was ready for me to shoot, but I waited. If I’ve learned anything in my years of hunting it is that there are times when it’s now or never, and there are times when you need to wait. This was a time to wait. Eventually he turned his head a little, but from my angle still not a pure side shot. For a normal side brain I would aim a hands width in front of the ear. In this case I aimed about a hands width behind and somewhat above the eye. Normal side brain this shot would be too far forward.

I center punched the brain with the exit behind the ear on the off side. You can’t tell from the video, but I put the second barrel in the chest as he fell. Although I a whole heard of armed individuals with me, no backup was necessary.

I hope this has been helpful or at least entertaining. A brain shot on an elephant can be deceptively difficult.

Elephant Shot Clip

Rifle was a Krieghoff .500/.416 with the standard iron sights.

 

[Green Chile]

Angle is even tougher to the right. Well done. Were you on the sticks waiting? What ammo in your 500/416 and were there any adjustments needed for regulation? I'm looking for the right loads for my Krieghoff 500/416.

 

[VertigoBE]

pe

The video of the shot is below. Please ignore the music. I didn’t do that. Also, consider that I am to the right of the camera by a good bit so the camera angle is a bit deceptive.

There were 4 bulls spread out feeding. We checked the first bull, but he was too big.( there were size restrictions). We maneuvered around to this bull, and after some discussion I was given the green light. Although closer would have been ideal, this was the shot we had at 35 yards. There was no cover in between us and the bull. The wind was blowing strong and he had no idea we were there.

Like many of you here, I did not like the shot. He kept his head quartering towards for a long time. I waited. It was a little awkward. I could tell everyone was ready for me to shoot, but I waited. If I’ve learned anything in my years of hunting it is that there are times when it’s now or never, and there are times when you need to wait. This was a time to wait. Eventually he turned his head a little, but from my angle still not a pure side shot. For a normal side brain I would aim a hands width in front of the ear. In this case I aimed about a hands width behind and somewhat above the eye. Normal side brain this shot would be too far forward.

I center punched the brain with the exit behind the ear on the off side. You can’t tell from the video, but I put the second barrel in the chest as he fell. Although I a whole heard of armed individuals with me, no backup was necessary.

I hope this has been helpful or at least entertaining. A brain shot on an elephant can be deceptively difficult.

Elephant Shot Clip

Rifle was a Krieghoff .500/.416 with the standard iron sights.

perfect shot, Waidmannsheil @sureshot375
you did good to wait a little more!

 

[sureshot375]

Angle is even tougher to the right. Well done. Were you on the sticks waiting? What ammo in your 500/416 and were there any adjustments needed for regulation? I'm looking for the right loads for my Krieghoff 500/416.

I used the Norma PH with Woodleigh solids. They shot great in my rifle. Mine was made in the 90s and regulated with the Krieghoff branded ammo which had Woodleigh bullets.

I have a newer rifle with ejectors that loves the Hornady ammo.

 

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

The video of the shot is below. Please ignore the music. I didn’t do that. Also, consider that I am to the right of the camera by a good bit so the camera angle is a bit deceptive.

There were 4 bulls spread out feeding. We checked the first bull, but he was too big.( there were size restrictions). We maneuvered around to this bull, and after some discussion I was given the green light. Although closer would have been ideal, this was the shot we had at 35 yards. There was no cover in between us and the bull. The wind was blowing strong and he had no idea we were there.

Like many of you here, I did not like the shot. He kept his head quartering towards for a long time. I waited. It was a little awkward. I could tell everyone was ready for me to shoot, but I waited. If I’ve learned anything in my years of hunting it is that there are times when it’s now or never, and there are times when you need to wait. This was a time to wait. Eventually he turned his head a little, but from my angle still not a pure side shot. For a normal side brain I would aim a hands width in front of the ear. In this case I aimed about a hands width behind and somewhat above the eye. Normal side brain this shot would be too far forward.

I center punched the brain with the exit behind the ear on the off side. You can’t tell from the video, but I put the second barrel in the chest as he fell. Although I a whole heard of armed individuals with me, no backup was necessary.

I hope this has been helpful or at least entertaining. A brain shot on an elephant can be deceptively difficult.

Elephant Shot Clip

Rifle was a Krieghoff .500/.416 with the standard iron sights.

Great write up, thank you for sharing the clip.

 

[Rare Breed]

Side brain is one thing but frontal brain shots are very complicated and a very common presentation when they hear or wind you. In other words, not a good idea for many but commonly seen. If I was a PH, I would not allow them in most cases or I would be prepared to backup shoot immediately. I took a heart shot on my last ele and was pleased to see it drop quickly. I will be doing more heart/lung shots.

Interesting. I shot mine in April in a perfect heart lung shot but he turned and kept coming with a second shot being a front brain shot that dropped him instantly

 

[Green Chile]

On heart shots, they tend to go in the direction they are facing or turn from the shot and run away from you...assuming they didn't know you were there or wind you. On the last one, I hit him on the left side of his heart and he turned to his right upon impact but was down in 5 seconds, falling on the run. He took the other bulls with him so that turned out well.

On cows or tuskless it can be VERY different. They will hunt you down and level everything in their anger. Very different than shooting bulls. On those I want to brain them and not have them go even 10 feet. Nasty things.

 

[SRvet]

The video of the shot is below. Please ignore the music. I didn’t do that. Also, consider that I am to the right of the camera by a good bit so the camera angle is a bit deceptive.

There were 4 bulls spread out feeding. We checked the first bull, but he was too big.( there were size restrictions). We maneuvered around to this bull, and after some discussion I was given the green light. Although closer would have been ideal, this was the shot we had at 35 yards. There was no cover in between us and the bull. The wind was blowing strong and he had no idea we were there.

Like many of you here, I did not like the shot. He kept his head quartering towards for a long time. I waited. It was a little awkward. I could tell everyone was ready for me to shoot, but I waited. If I’ve learned anything in my years of hunting it is that there are times when it’s now or never, and there are times when you need to wait. This was a time to wait. Eventually he turned his head a little, but from my angle still not a pure side shot. For a normal side brain I would aim a hands width in front of the ear. In this case I aimed about a hands width behind and somewhat above the eye. Normal side brain this shot would be too far forward.

I center punched the brain with the exit behind the ear on the off side. You can’t tell from the video, but I put the second barrel in the chest as he fell. Although I a whole heard of armed individuals with me, no backup was necessary.

I hope this has been helpful or at least entertaining. A brain shot on an elephant can be deceptively difficult.

Elephant Shot Clip

Rifle was a Krieghoff .500/.416 with the standard iron sights.

Beautiful shot! Im a bit late to this thread but my answer was immediately behind the red spot

 

[Foxi]

I haven't shot an elephant yet, so I deliberately don't have an opinion on this. On my last hunt in Zimbabwe I met a PH from HHK (10 outfits!!).
He told me, that if the head shot doesn't work, 90% of the time you can't find the elephant and they hardly ever let guests shoot at the skull.
Only shoulder shots, they run 100m and that's it.

 

[grand veneur]

I haven't shot an elephant yet, so I deliberately don't have an opinion on this. On my last hunt in Zimbabwe I met a PH from HHK (10 outfits!!).
He told me, that if the head shot doesn't work, 90% of the time you can't find the elephant and they hardly ever let guests shoot at the skull.
Only shoulder shots, they run 100m and that's it.

I also think that it is better to place a heart shot, but unfortunately it is not always possible. Did the PH say what caliber the guests shoots with and what he does after the first shot was fired ?

When it comes to shooting an elephant with a heart shot, there are certainly big differences between doing it with a cartridge 375 H&H Magnum or with a cartridge 500 Jeffery.

 

[Foxi]

I also think that it is better to place a heart shot, but unfortunately it is not always possible. Did the PH say what caliber the guests shoots with and what he does after the first shot was fired ?

When it comes to shooting an elephant with a heart shot, there are certainly big differences between doing it with a cartridge 375 H&H Magnum or with a cartridge 500 Jeffery.

Your Jefferey and your .460 Weatherby are cartridges full of conviction.
But in Zimbabwe they are probably found in the per mille range.
At HHK many guests shoot with their rental guns.
Zimbabwe is .375 + .458 Country and these are also their weapons for guests.
However, I can only assume what is predominantly used, which I have not questioned.
(By the way, the PH never takes a shotgun anymore for leopard tracking because of bad experiences).
Foxi

 

[grand veneur]

Compared to buffalo hunting, where I accompanied many hunts, this was not possible with elephant hunting because only one hunter is in the camp at a time. That's why I can only repeat what PH told me, and it seems that some, depending on the cartridge used, shoot immediately after the client. Maybe the professionals on the Forum can enlighten us on a few things. Noted in passing, I would never venture into elephant territory alone without a rifle of caliber 458 as minimum.

 

[Foxi]

Compared to buffalo hunting, where I accompanied many hunts, this was not possible with elephant hunting because only one hunter is in the camp at a time. That's why I can only repeat what PH told me, and it seems that some, depending on the cartridge used, shoot immediately after the client. Maybe the professionals on the Forum can enlighten us on a few things. Noted in passing, I would never venture into elephant territory alone without a rifle of caliber 458 as minimum.

I always told my PH's: if we are in mortal danger, they can do what they have to, but only then and not shoot prophylactically.
Who accepts that the PH shoots immediately?
I wouldn't spend any money on it.
Not one Dollar, not one Euro.

I always feel underarmed with my .375 when we encounter elephants (even sometimes by buffaloes).
But my PH's in Zimb. go into the thickest stuff with this caliber to look for elephants and have survived (so far ).

 

[grand veneur]

I always told my PH's: if we are in mortal danger, they can do what they have to, but only then and not shoot prophylactically.
Who accepts that the PH shoots immediately?
I wouldn't spend any money on it.
Not one Dollar, not one Euro.

I always feel underarmed with my .375 when we encounter elephants (even sometimes by buffaloes).
But my PH's in Zimb. go into the thickest stuff with this caliber to look for elephants and have survived (so far ).

Surely you also can consider smaller calibers. A friend and PH of mine stopped and killed an attacking elephant in Malaysia with the cartridge 9,3x74R and that with a rifle that I also used in this country for hunting water buffaloes. Nevertheless, he also swore by the cartridge 460 Weatherby Magnum, a cartridge that he used as PH in Cameroon.

 

[Foxi]

"A friend and PH of mine stopped and killed an attacking elephant in Malaysia with the cartridge 9,3x74R"

Mr. Kathan ,randomly ?

 

[grand veneur]

Yes !