Non-trophy Elephant hunt question

poprivit

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I would like to go to Zim for a non-trophy elephant hunt. My primary hunting toy will be a Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum from their Performance Center. This limits which countries I could hunt. Who here has done this, or knows a good outfitter who can set up this type of hunt?

I took a large stink-bull giraffe with this revolver in ZA in 2006. One Hornady 500 gr. soft point and DRT.

IMG3a.jpg
 
Hi POPrivit

Have you looked at a tusk-less elephant hunt?

I am not positive who to check with for this year.

Buzz Charlton (SP ?) comes to mind?
 
That is one Awesome Bull you have there Congrats! and good shooting. I'll check around for you I do know some outfitters there that do that but I don't know if they would do it with a revolver.
 
Mokore Safaris
CM Safaris
Martin Pieters Safaris

All very good with elephant, all good guys to deal with.

Make sure you are upfront with ever you book about using the pistol. Some operators have no issues, some have concerns.....
 
Thanks all. I'll contact the outfitters and if I set up such a hunt, I'll let you know.
L1000985.JPG
 
Good looking pistol you have there. You have probably researched this quite a bit. I don't know anything about hunting an elephant with a pistol but have a couple of questions if you don't mind answering a novice.

What bullet do you plan to use?

Does it have the power to make it to the brain? Frontal and side?

Does it have the power to make it to the heart?

Does the elephant have to have the front leg forward to get penetration?
 
I would be worried about the 500 S&W ability to penetrate enough animal... with a proper barrel length and heavily loaded cartridge the 500 S&W can generate similar power to an average 45-70 load. while this is certainly not weak considering its a pistol, it may not be enough for an elephant. using a hot loaded Hornady XTP you would be able to get about 2500 ft/lbs of muzzle energy with a bullet that has a SD of .275.

the general requirement is 4000 ft/lb of energy and .300 SD.

not saying it cant be done, just saying to think carefully about it before trying.

-matt
 
Beautiful old bull you have there.

You might try Nyamazana Safaris who is a member here. PH is Wayne Van den Bergh. The following attachment is trophy prices. Just ask about non-trophy.

http://www.africahunting.com/threads/discounted-trophy-elephant-hunts-on-offer.15604/

All the best.

Hello Poprivit,wheels and other fellows.
Im hunting since teenager times and I traveled as a hunter and fisherman over the half world and enjoyed it.
But ,always when I see a Giraffe was killed,just for happynes,my heart stands still for a moment,because Im horrified.
Am I really the only one here, who thinks so ???

all the best
Foxi
 
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Pretty much Foxi, I see nothing wrong with killing zebras and giraffes. Because people usually can't stand either being killed.
 
Paul Pluff at S&W (Director of Marketing) has a number of stories about the 500 and elephant hunting. I've talked to one hunter who took a non-trophy elephant in Zimbabwe. He used CorBon 440 gr. hardened lead bullets and the ele was DRT. Google "Elephant handgun hunting" for more information. I'm thinking about using the same load.

Oh, I will have a 375 for backup. I might not have all my marbles, but I'm not totally insane.
 
as enysse said, your pretty much on your own in that mind set Foxi. i see nothing wrong with killing a giraffe or any other critter for that matter. we humans are currently at the top of the food chain and we like to keep the skills that put us there sharp.

poprivit, mind tell us what kind of velocity your getting with those 440gr hard cast bullets?

handgun huntin has always been an interest of mine but ive never followed threw with it. i often think about getting a S&W X frame from the custom shop in .460 S&W. i admire the 460 S&W because it allows you to use a number of other cartridges for practice (45 scholfield, 45 long colt, 454 casull) and i have an abundance of 45 LC brass.

-matt
 
It does 1550 fps with 2340 ft-lbs of ME. The 460 with bullets under 300 gr. makes a great 150 yard hunting weapon. I went with the 500 because I knew I was going to hunt Africa with it.
7a1.jpg
 
Hard cast lead bullets of the LBT variety tend to have excellent penetration for the level of power. Despite what some will say, they do not penetrate as well as a traditional elephant cartridge, but should be reliable on a side brain shot (on a frontal shot, only if the head is low and even then I'd be hesitant).

I'd look into a 500 grain bullet with the LFN profile. It'll wade deeper than the 440 grain bullet. Before taking either, though, do some serious testing and, even if you buy cast from a reputable source, check for hardness (if you have a feel for it, a hammer and an anvil are all that are required...if not, buy a hardness tester from Veral Smith).
 
I would like to go to Zim for a non-trophy elephant hunt. My primary hunting toy will be a Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum from their Performance Center. This limits which countries I could hunt. Who here has done this, or knows a good outfitter who can set up this type of hunt?

I took a large stink-bull giraffe with this revolver in ZA in 2006. One Hornady 500 gr. soft point and DRT.

View attachment 28053
While this is not related to your question, I must say that the coloring of your giraffe is absolutely beautiful. Congratulations.
 
@edward I believe has hunted elephant with a hand gun. Maybe he can provide some advice.

Good luck, got to give you credit for wanting to do it with a handgun. Actually you might be smarter as I am assuming it is lighter to carry than a rifle all day long.
 
This thread is 5 years old, did he end up doing the hunt?

I saw he hasn't been on the forum for 6 months though.
 

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