Distance of first shot on the big 5 or dangerous 7?

[Viral_SIGness]

As for the topic at hand-call the ph you are going to hunt with and have a long talk about his expectations. His expectations, then practice your ass off to meet or exceed them.

Already doing that. Been at it for a year.

Correct. I know the outfitter for that hunt and the full story. Craig had nothing to do with it. However, he stepped up and organized a fund raiser for the tracker. It has subsequently helped several other trackers injured during hunts.

For the second time, I NEVER SAID IS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. I FAILED TO SEPERATE THE PARAGRAPH.

 

[Newboomer]

I met my PH on a forum in 2004, and we became friends. He actually left that forum, because arm chair Rambos kept arguing with what he had to say. He hasn't joined any other forums. I'm trying to get him to join here, because this is a whole different atmosphere than the old forum he and I were on.

@Newboomer I wasn't blaming him for that. That was too separate thoughts that I failed to separate. But if he can't train his on daughter any better than that, he doesn't need to be giving advice to anyone. I actually asked the man (on his youtube video where he was answering questions) if he was banned in some areas of Africa. He deleted my comment not twice, but three times. Guess I embarrassed him.

Understood. I guess if he declined to answer your question there must be a defugilty there somewhre at some time.

 

[Viral_SIGness]

Understood. I guess if he declined to answer your question there must be a defugilty there somewhre at some time.

I was asking him, as genuinely curious. I wasn't poking fun at him.

 

[Frank Cavallo]

Leopard was 50 yards, lion was 50 yards, buffalo was 80 yards.

 

[fourfive8]

I certainly don't know all the possible nuances of reactions of each animal after being hit? Those PHs with lots of experience under their belts would be the best sources for that info.

But based on my experience, I would trust or predict the big cats the least of all the DG immediately after being hit. So- low light view for judging, safety, probability of accurate hit all will play a role in best distance for setting a blind for a big cat on bait- that is best left to the PH in charge and will be so no doubt. But it won't be 100 yards either... but determining the exact range for each location, probably requires the greatest skill and experience of any such determination directed by a PH. In addition to the big cats, that inherent unpredictability may include cow elephants immediately after the first hit. I've no experience shooting them at any distance- so dunno the concerns about distances when shooting them. Probably on average fairly close just as with the bulls but?? All I know is I don't trust any cow elephant no matter the circumstances.

Common or best distance for bull elephant. Jeez who knows or can predict exactly, but it is going to be pretty close and certainly no where approaching 100 yards for a lot of reasons!! Again as others have posted the PH in charge will determine when and at what distance. Average maybe 20-30 yards or so?? with some as close as 12-15 yards in really thick cover.

For hippo in water... it's an accuracy game- has to, must, with no doubt about it hit the top 1/3-1/2 of the brain case of the hippo suspended in water and not hit the water. Averages from what I've witnessed- maybe 75-100 yds or possibly a few yards longer usually from a rest from slightly elevated angle. I have no experience of even being along on any hippo on land hunt or rhino hunt... so no info. I would think rhino will be pretty close but hippo hunts on land are many times contrived scenarios so....?

For buffalo, I tend to go with what WDM Bell observed and wrote about when shooting buffalo. They really don't charge hunters at first sight even though the tabloids of the era often times told those tales, nor even when first hit. His observations and analysis seems accurate when he relates they just tend to take off in the direction they were heading or intending to head when hit. Could be at the hunter or not. But in that second or two after the hit it is likely not a charge. Sometimes that first shot can be pretty close but the average may be something like 40-50 yards. Again not likely to ever be much more than about a 100 yards. An example of this keep-on-going-in-original-direction-after-hit behavior was shown in the last one I shot. He was walking at slight angle towards. I shot at about 40 yards. I could tell he looked at us just as the shot went off. The hit was in the leading edge of the near shoulder. He just put on a burst of speed on exactly the line he was walking. He passed by at full speed at maybe 15 yards offering a broadside shot which I took . He showed no reaction as the bullet passed completely through just at the trailing edge of both shoulders. The third shot I put just behind the last rib angling diagonally forward at the off shoulder at a distance of maybe 50 yards. That bullet ended up in the armpit area of the off shoulder. Again no reaction to that shot either. He ran another 50 yards, stopped and keeled over. But just because they tend not to charge at the 1st shot does not mean they won't mount a determined charge during the follow up!! And that could be said of any animal during a follow up. I think even the little bushbuck has that reputation and for sure oryx require a lot of respect and care when trailing after a hit.

The OP asked about average DG 1st shot distances. That's the best I can come with including some reasoning for the average estimates and of course the ideas, experiences of others will vary.

Those distance estimates and guesses at averages have nothing to do with shot distances after the first hit. At that point, anything goes to try to get bullets into any vital area no matter the distance or angle.

 

[Tanks]

...An example of this keep-on-going-in-original-direction-after-hit behavior was shown in the last one I shot. He was walking at slight angle towards. I shot at about 40 yards. I could tell he looked at us just as the shot went off. The hit was in the leading edge of the near shoulder. He just put on a burst of speed on exactly the line he was walking. He passed by at full speed at maybe 15 yards offering a broadside shot which I took . He showed no reaction as the bullet passed completely through just at the trailing edge of both shoulders. The third shot I put just behind the last rib angling diagonally forward at the off shoulder at a distance of maybe 50 yards. That bullet ended up in the armpit area of the off shoulder. Again no reaction to that shot either. He ran another 50 yards, stopped and keeled over. But just because they tend not to charge at the 1st shot does not mean they won't mount a determined charge during the follow up!! ...

And that is why I advocate stopper calibers for DG like buffalo, elephants, hippo on land etc.. Sometimes they just don't know they are dead.

 

[Viral_SIGness]

And that is why I advocate stopper calibers for DG like buffalo, elephants, hippo on land etc.. Sometimes they just don't know they are dead.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Buffalo 35 yards. Ele 18 steps.