Cleathorn
AH veteran
You guys have been great about giving up good advice, backed up by real experience. I have learned a lot from this site. I hope you do not mind another, probably asked and answered already, question.
When hunting elephant, do you think it is better to use a low power (1x4 type) scope with a German #4 reticle or, given that you are likely to be taking that shot at 25 paces or less, to use open sights?
I can shoot well and I shoot often. What I cannot do is shoot with both eyes open. I am right handed, left eye dominant, and have tried everything, included a left-handed gun, but cannot get the results I want. So I am relegated to closing my left eye - which is now instinctive for me to do. I have taken game out to 500 yards ( a Newfoundland Moose with a .300 Win Mag using a Tikka T3 Hunter out of the box with hand loads) so I know I can deliver a good shot.
That said, I have never faced down an elephant at 25 paces, which is a game changer of certainty.
So, I am trying to decide if I should use an open sighted rifle for elephant (I have a hunt coming up this year) and use my .375 with its low power scope for Leopard, Lion and Buffalo.
That leads to another question. Since it's possible to probable that while on the tract of an elephant we are likely to encounter Bufs or something else I might want, will a skinner or scout carry my back-up gun (i.e., the .375) while I carry the other.
If I am on the track of an elephant, I would carry the open sighted .458 Lott and have my skinners carry the .375 H&H. IF we encounter fresh Buffalo tracks or actual Buffalo, I can make the switch.
I would likely need to make a switch anyway because I will load only solids for the Elephant but would likely start with an expanding bullet like a TBBC for the Buf, especially if its in a herd, with solids behind it.
At 25 paces I would think the scope could cover too much of the elephant, making the precise top of the heart shot difficult to locate, especially if its in the bush.
So, if you were the PH, assuming I can handle the .458 Lott as well as the .375 H&H mag, which gun and sights would you most like to see me show up with for elephants? A scoped .375 or open sights on a .458 Lott? Would you let your skinners or other persons carry the back-up gun?
Thanks for the help.
When hunting elephant, do you think it is better to use a low power (1x4 type) scope with a German #4 reticle or, given that you are likely to be taking that shot at 25 paces or less, to use open sights?
I can shoot well and I shoot often. What I cannot do is shoot with both eyes open. I am right handed, left eye dominant, and have tried everything, included a left-handed gun, but cannot get the results I want. So I am relegated to closing my left eye - which is now instinctive for me to do. I have taken game out to 500 yards ( a Newfoundland Moose with a .300 Win Mag using a Tikka T3 Hunter out of the box with hand loads) so I know I can deliver a good shot.
That said, I have never faced down an elephant at 25 paces, which is a game changer of certainty.
So, I am trying to decide if I should use an open sighted rifle for elephant (I have a hunt coming up this year) and use my .375 with its low power scope for Leopard, Lion and Buffalo.
That leads to another question. Since it's possible to probable that while on the tract of an elephant we are likely to encounter Bufs or something else I might want, will a skinner or scout carry my back-up gun (i.e., the .375) while I carry the other.
If I am on the track of an elephant, I would carry the open sighted .458 Lott and have my skinners carry the .375 H&H. IF we encounter fresh Buffalo tracks or actual Buffalo, I can make the switch.
I would likely need to make a switch anyway because I will load only solids for the Elephant but would likely start with an expanding bullet like a TBBC for the Buf, especially if its in a herd, with solids behind it.
At 25 paces I would think the scope could cover too much of the elephant, making the precise top of the heart shot difficult to locate, especially if its in the bush.
So, if you were the PH, assuming I can handle the .458 Lott as well as the .375 H&H mag, which gun and sights would you most like to see me show up with for elephants? A scoped .375 or open sights on a .458 Lott? Would you let your skinners or other persons carry the back-up gun?
Thanks for the help.