Accuracy of The perfect shot books

[Albert GRANT]

I just aquire a 1999 print in hardcover of Kevin Robertson's the perfect shot- africa edition as well as a 2003 print of the pocket version. My question is- are all the depictions accurate? What do people think of these? I want to make sure if I'm studying, that it is the right material. Thanks for any input

 

[James.Grage]

Study the book. It is so close or exact that it would scare you.

 

[Royal27]

Study the book. It is so close or exact that it would scare you.

That pretty much sums it up.

 

[Albert GRANT]

I thought so but wanted to check with people that had experience with them. I was told they are worth a lot of money, so I figured there must be a reason

 

[Royal27]

The first edition ain't cheap!

That's why I have the pocket version.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Have a look at this link and compare them.

http://www.africahunting.com/community/shot-placement/

Have fun studying.

 

[CAustin]

This was a good find!

 

[Bert the Turtle]

I spent plenty of time studying the Perfect Shot before my first trip to Africa. It did me well. No complaints whatsoever.

I like it so much, I own the pocket edition and the second edition as well. It will not steer you wrong.

 

[slam8031]

+1 Bert!! The anatomy and shot selection is spot on!! I studied both before both of our trips over. I even met Robertson at D.SC. And he signed my copy of the second edition. Great research material is always good preparation!!

 

[Philip Glass]

It's a great resource. Sure lots of antelope are similar but when you go after different game the book really helps. I have the new edition and was amazed at the info in there. I am hunting lion and leopard and the anatomical differences will surprise you. Also I want to hunt a Klipspringer and had no idea their hair is like quills. The shot placement for them is critical because you can put a hole in the wrong place and ruin the mount. I never knew this.
I'm taking the book with me!
Regards,
Philip

 

[Royal27]

@Bert the Turtle what's the real difference between the first and second edition?

 

[Royal27]

Also I want to hunt a Klipspringer and had no idea their hair is like quills. The shot placement for them is critical because you can put a hole in the wrong place and ruin the mount. I never knew this.

Solids help with this as well. My klippie took a Texas heart Shot exiting left chest. Very little damage from that 300 grain .375 solid. If I had used a tsx....

 

[Hank2211]

Great books. The key too shooting animals rather than targets is understanding the angles and the placement of the organs. Hard, not impossible, but hard, to do without something like the pictures in The Perfect Shot.

I lent the first copy I had to a hunter in the same camp. Found out the next day that he'd left, with my book! Very classy, but I guess he knew a useful book when he saw it.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

@Bert the Turtle what's the real difference between the first and second edition?

Mainly, it covers more species.

From Safari Press:" Kevin “Doctari” Robertson’s best-selling book on shot placement for African game, The Perfect Shot, has now been completely revised and updated: extensive additions to the text; 300 all-new photos of the animals covered; and revised, detailed anatomical drawings. The Perfect Shot II also has shot-placement details for a number of species not covered in the original edition, including blesbok, bongo, black wildebeest, grysbok, nyala, reedbuck, roan, and steenbok. In all, twenty-seven African game species are now covered."

The discussion of projectiles is brought up to date.

The addition of more species is nice but not really important from a shot placement perspective: if you know where to shoot a blue wildebeest, you can probably figure out where to shoot a black wildebeest. The discussion of the various species is more valuable in my opinion.

Overall, if it were one or the other, the second edition is more comprehensive, but I would not say you are at any practical disadvantage if you only have the first edition. If you like Dr. Robinson's writing as I do, then there is more to read in the second. Probably more than anything else, I purchased the second edition because I think Dr. Robinson has made significant and valuable contributions to hunting through his books and I want to support that.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

Great books. The key too shooting animals rather than targets is understanding the angles and the placement of the organs. Hard, not impossible, but hard, to do without something like the pictures in The Perfect Shot.

I lent the first copy I had to a hunter in the same camp. Found out the next day that he'd left, with my book! Very classy, but I guess he knew a useful book when he saw it.

I think Hank makes an extremely important point. Use the books to understand the anatomy of the animal. The target is inside the animal: your job is to learn how the inside relates to the outside. Don't aim "just behind the shoulder" or "the point of the shoulder" (I still have no idea what that means) or for any other surface structure. Aim for the top of the heart, the great vessels, the brain, the spinal cord- whatever internal anatomic structure is appropriate. My usual goal is to remove the great vessels from the heart. It is an extremely effective shot with a large margin of error.

 

[Philip Glass]

Solids help with this as well. My klippie took a Texas heart Shot exiting left chest. Very little damage from that 300 grain .375 solid. If I had used a tsx....

I think that is what I will do. Using solids that is not the TX heart shot! I have some Northfork solids that Safari Arms loaded for me. They shoot in the same hole as my 300gr Nosler Accubond loads.
Regards,
Philip

 

[cpr0312]

Its a great resource to have

 

[Red Leg]

While in Moz next year, I'll have opportunities at Oribi, Sunni, and Red and common duiker. Kicked around bringing a small second rifle, but the 300 gr solid is hard to beat. Got to love that .375.

 

[ve7poi]

It is a great resource and has stood be it good stead on four trips so far..
Planning 5th trip and I regularly reread to make sure I can feel confident of a well placed shot each time. No guessing he did a superbly good job in depicting vitals placement in game..

 

[sheephunterab]

Also I want to hunt a Klipspringer and had no idea their hair is like quills. The shot placement for them is critical because you can put a hole in the wrong place and ruin the mount. I never knew this.
I'm taking the book with me!
Regards,
Philip

You can pretty well say the same about any of the tiny 10! We typically print all the shot placement references from here for each animal we are hunting before going. http://www.africahunting.com/community/shot-placement/