Does it matter to you?

[Mtn_Infantry]

You and I are not really in disagreement, after all I did use a 458 Lott on elephant, specifically to give me an advantage if I were to slightly miss the brain it would likely stun it and give me the chance for a second shot.

While the 458 Win Mag, 458 Lott, 450 Rigby, 460 Wby and 470 Nitro are not by definition considered stopping rifles, I think they are entirely suitable to be used in that role either by the hunter and/or the PH. I don’t draw a line between .45 and .50.

The great J.A. Hunter in his excellent book “Hunter” ranked the buffalo ahead of the elephant in being more dangerous during a charge. He felt that in spite of it’s massive size, a charging elephant will turn from a shot, even if not immediately lethal but only death will stop a buffalo.

I used a 375 H&H on my Elephant without issues, but I’m a client not a PH. I will admit when the bulls came charging in I did feel slightly under gunned but am confident in my shooting and the bullets I used. That Elephant is the only one of my 8 Dangerous Game animals where a PH has ever fired a backing shot.

I requested he fire if I took a body shot, or a brain shot where the bull didn’t drop instantaneously. That PH was using a 500 Jeffery, and he ironically missed. I can’t really blame him for missing since he was a little preoccupied making sure we weren’t trampled by the other elephants and it was a quick snap shot. I did manage a second shot myself at the spine, which hit a couple inches low. The first shot however did the trick and the bull was down in under 50yds.

Moving forward any additional elephants will likely be hunted with either a 450 or 470 Nitro Express double rifle, but my trusty scoped 375 H&H will always be handy and likely in the hands of a tracker should we see a giant and getting closer isn’t an option.

 

[BJH65]

I used a 375 H&H on my Elephant without issues, but I’m a client not a PH. I will admit when the bulls came charging in I did feel slightly under gunned but am confident in my shooting and the bullets I used. That Elephant is the only one of my 8 Dangerous Game animals where a PH has ever fired a backing shot.

I requested he fire if I took a body shot, or a brain shot where the bull didn’t drop instantaneously. That PH was using a 500 Jeffery, and he ironically missed. I can’t really blame him for missing since he was a little preoccupied making sure we weren’t trampled by the other elephants and it was a quick snap shot. I did manage a second shot myself at the spine, which hit a couple inches low. The first shot however did the trick and the bull was down in under 50yds.

Moving forward any additional elephants will likely be hunted with either a 450 or 470 Nitro Express double rifle, but my trusty scoped 375 H&H will always be handy and likely in the hands of a tracker should we see a giant and getting closer isn’t an option.

Sounds like you had quite an exciting elephant hunt! I too gave instructions to the PH and Warden to immediately join in if the elephant didn’t immediately drop to the brain shot. I’m not certain if I’ll hunt elephant again but of if I do I’ll definitely have the 458 Lott in my hands loaded with 500 grain Woodleigh Hydro solids.

 

[Muskox]

There is some truly gay crap on this website.

1. If you don't like what the ph/guide carries buy him a new rifle in a caliber of your choice.

2. The odds ar very high that the rifle is what he can afford. These guys are not in the same financial bracket as their clients. If you are gay for Blaser, or Rigby or whatever the odds are super high the PH has never even thought about spending $5000-25,000 for this kind of a rifle.

3. I remember someone bitching about Billy Molls an Alaskan guide using a Brownign A-Bolt in 375 as a back up on Kodiak.

 

[matt85]

Im a bit surprised people are getting so upset about this silly topic.

Smallest gun ive been backed up by was a 416. I didnt give it a second thought. Although that PH did end up buying a 500 NE shortly after that hunt... Guess he wasnt fond of being out gunned by his clients .