First Safari - I’ll hunt plains game - What caliber?

@mark-hunter View attachment 633757
That's the website mate.
Maybe @Daisy could read it and stop believing in the tooth fairy, Santa Claus and YouTube.
Real world results from real world research by real people. Not you tube and other advertising garbage.
Bob ob

:unsure::A Whistle::A Whistle:.....we are still talking about hunting 4 legged animals and not "primates" through....say a wall, correct?.....
Nah, nothing alive. I just shot a paper target, but when I did it was really dead.
 
@Doug Hamilton
Was this figure of speech, to make a point, or you were serious about 50 BMG in hunting?
Who hunts with 50 BMG? And with what platform?

(BTW I agree with all you said, after 50 bmg)
@mark-hunter
There is a YouTube video of some Muppet shooting a giraffe in the head with a 50BMG. Worked well but to me it was a stunt.
Bob
 
Nah, nothing alive. I just shot a paper target, but when I did it was really dead.
@Doug Hamilton
Dang mate you can even kill paper targets with a poorly placed shot out of a 243. Not pretty but works well in paper and you don't need to track it usually.
Bob
 
@mark-hunter That's the website mate.
Maybe @Daisy could read it and stop believing in the tooth fairy, Santa Claus and YouTube.
Real world results from real world research by real people. Not you tube and other advertising garbage.
Bob ob
Bob, I do have to disagree with your comments on YouTube. There are a ton of videos on their that demonstrate real tests by real individuals that are not for marketing. This is one of my favorite channels lately. He repeats the same exact tests on different factory ammo into gel blocks. Some very good information on bullet performance and ammo performance in his videos.
 
@Doug Hamilton
Was this figure of speech, to make a point, or you were serious about 50 BMG in hunting?
Who hunts with 50 BMG? And with what platform?

(BTW I agree with all you said, after 50 bmg)
Unfortunately not a figure of speech. I find this individual as unethical and disrespectful to the animals he hunts as those advocating for 223 on moose and elk, but unfortunately here is one of his videos. There are many more.
 
Definitely, not my "cup of tea".

It's probably not even legal, because, I doubt that he was even using an expanding bullet, which, as far I I know, is required for all big-game animals, in every state, in the USA.




This is also complete B.S...

You can't kill anything with a rifle without sending matter into the quarry.

You might be able to make it deaf, if you are close enough, but you won't kill it, unless you cause it to have a heart attack, stroke, or a lethal case of non-physical trauma.
 
I used to think that I was a nice guy...

As I approach 60, maybe I should just embrace "curmudgeon."
 
Unfortunately not a figure of speech. I find this individual as unethical and disrespectful to the animals he hunts as those advocating for 223 on moose and elk, but unfortunately here is one of his videos. There are many more.
When I referred to .50 BMG, I meant it as hyperbole. I had no idea anyone was actually using it to kill animals. Since he used it to make a head.shot through the eye he could have used any cartridge to get the same result. Silly stunt.
 
This is also complete B.S...

You can't kill anything with a rifle without sending matter into the quarry.

You might be able to make it deaf, if you are close enough, but you won't kill it, unless you cause it to have a heart attack, stroke, or a lethal case of non-physical trauma.
If this comment was directed at my post. If find using a 50 BMG disrespectful to the animal because of motivations behind it. The rifle is not practical as a hunting rifle and it is extreme overkill on a deer. It wasn’t done with a 458 or 470 to get practice for DG hunting which I could understand. He didn’t select it because it was more appropriate to the task than other calibers. You are right that some bullet has to make contact with an animal to kill it, but I think hunting and taking animals should he more than a stunt for YouTube views that appeals to target shooters. Ethics seem to mean less and less each year sadly.
 
If this comment was directed at my post. If find using a 50 BMG disrespectful to the animal because of motivations behind it. The rifle is not practical as a hunting rifle and it is extreme overkill on a deer. It wasn’t done with a 458 or 470 to get practice for DG hunting which I could understand. He didn’t select it because it was more appropriate to the task than other calibers. You are right that some bullet has to make contact with an animal to kill it, but I think hunting and taking animals should he more than a stunt for YouTube views that appeals to target shooters. Ethics seem to mean less and less each year sadly.
I didn't really understand that comment either. Nobody said that the deer wasn't shot with a bullet.

I do agree with you about ethics though.
 
Definitely, not my "cup of tea".

It's probably not even legal, because, I doubt that he was even using an expanding bullet, which, as far I I know, is required for all big-game animals, in every state, in the USA.




This is also complete B.S...

You can't kill anything with a rifle without sending matter into the quarry.

You might be able to make it deaf, if you are close enough, but you won't kill it, unless you cause it to have a heart attack, stroke, or a lethal case of non-physical trauma.

It's probably not even legal, because, I doubt that he was even using an expanding bullet, which, as far I I know, is required for all big-game animals, in every state, in the USA.

I watched the video only once and without going screen by screen.

Short answer:
1. It's not BS.
2. I have no idea what bullet this guy was using.
However, I can neither confirm nor deny by what means, if any, may possibly be used to convert an FMJ, Armor piercing, or other such ammo; into a bullet otherwise deemed illegal for combat use under the Geneva Convention and/or under international law governing such use of legal or illegal weapons; as suitable for legal hunting use. JIMHO....."Heard it from a friend, who heard from a friend, who heard it from a friend",.... It's not all that hard to transform FMJ or AP ammo to "mushrooming" or "solid" legal hunting ammo. I might be wrong or misleading, but "I think" the use of a file might have been mentioned, and something about improving accuracy(?) by removing factory burrs off ammo.(?) may have been mentioned.

You can't kill anything with a rifle without sending matter into the quarry.

Normally I would whole heartily agree. But, I have to whole heartily disagree with you based on facts and first hand experience, as a witness.

All such instances involved using legal weapons. Ammo...uh...yes and perhaps no. I can neither confirm nor deny what may or may not have happened. However, I can confirm that if such a thing may have happened, I'm sure the ammo used is legal for what was being hunted or used for "target practice"......All other details....my memory is a bit blurr....that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Perhaps ....One incident might have involve a whitetail deer that may have required me to skin and gut it. Perhaps because possibly any other(s) that may have been present could have lacked experience in such skills.

Perhaps another incident possibly involved a snake and a (bluegill(?) fish. "Your honor,...my mind is a little fuzzy.....if I remember correctly, I think,....or perhaps.....it might of happened the time I held a real....firearm.....maybe(?)."

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!

So...Yes...the "concussion" from a...."bullet"/ firearm....can kill an animal, reptile, fish. Under certain circumstances!
As to the video in question.
It's obvious the guy missed a head shot.
It's obvious the deer is dead.
It's obvious the deer's left eyeball has traumatic damage.
Based on my knowledge of through historical data on easily frontier life where large caliber muzzle loading rifles were used to dispatch squirrels for food. (Variuos plausible theories).

I therefore concur the deer in the video Could Have been killed by the concussion / "sonic boom" of the 50 cal. bullet passing by its head.

It's probably not even legal, because, I doubt that he was even using an expanding bullet,

Depends on individual state regulations. In his state, or rather the state he was hunting in; may allow or otherwise dictate the use of "Ball"/ "FMJ"/"Solid"/"Non lead" bullets only for use in hunting.

Edit: To clarify myself.
I am not condoning what the guy did. In fact IMO it is totally despicable on all aspects of hunting and on hunters.
 
Last edited:
Unfortunately not a figure of speech. I find this individual as unethical and disrespectful to the animals he hunts as those advocating for 223 on moose and elk, but unfortunately here is one of his videos. There are many more.
He’s not the only one who’s done it for a YouTube video. There used to be several other videos out there. I personally know someone who uses their Barrett on hogs, and know of at least 1 coyote they’ve killed with it. I’m not advocating for anyone to do it just saying it’s happened more than people surmise they just don’t post if for the world to see.

There are some pretty serious hunters using 338 Lapua Mags. I know of one specific LM rifle that has accounted for at this point probably 100+ big game animals including Sheep, Moose, Elk, Ibex and Grizzlies. I sold my LM last year and know it accounted for at least 3 or 4 deer by the new owner. There are some hunters running 375 and 408 CheyTacs to great success.

I’m not here to judgement on anyone’s hunting styles, choices, or methods as long as they’re legal. I can however guarantee when something is hit with the bigger calibers it typically hits the ground a lot quicker than if shot with a .223, .243, or 6.5. This generally holds true regardless if the smaller caliber has the best bullet and the 338 or 50 has the worst. Big holes mean big blood loss, and big energy transfer.
 
When people regardless of what weapon they choose to be proficient with are accustom to shooting certain ranges. They often have a hard time adjusting to ranges outside those set range parameters using the same weapon.

Broad stroking this.

A person use to setting up, zeroing, shooting their deer rifle at 100 yards and maybe making a few 150 yard shots have a tendency to get target panic when suddenly they find themselves having to take a 200 + /- shot at an animal.

A person use to setting up, zeroing and shooting their rifle at 500, 600, 700, +, yards are now having to make a 200+/- yard preverbial "chip shot" over think or don't think and make a bad shot or miss an animal because they miss compensated the "oh that's a give me shot".

I will also venture to say not many, especially first timers, take a rangefinder to Africa. Relying heavily on their PH to know/judge the range accurately enough for a good shot.

Not in my first hand experience. I write about this in my hunting reports and when I provide first hand experience to opinion of other members threads or posts. I try my best to provide detailed explanations as to importance and post pictures of process.

Others seem to assume and speculate, which I find unusual…

Where ever anyone intends to hunt, with whatever caliber or rifle they intend to use, which or whatever equipment they chose to use, in my humble opinion, they should be as confident and proficient as possible.

I will range animals beyond 200 yards because I generally don’t like to guess and probably have some trust issues. I also use the same rifle, scope, and bullets to kill large to medium PG animals out to 380 yards as I do night hunting the smallest at 30 yards +/-…

You’ll find detailed information to support my claims in my hunting reports and my media…

Again, to each their own.

Good luck to the OP with the choice of .30 caliber or whatever Caliber you chose. Enjoy your First Safari and I hope it’s 1 of many!
 
Last edited:
Bob, I do have to disagree with your comments on YouTube. There are a ton of videos on their that demonstrate real tests by real individuals that are not for marketing. This is one of my favorite channels lately. He repeats the same exact tests on different factory ammo into gel blocks. Some very good information on bullet performance and ammo performance in his videos.
@375Fox
Gel tests give a great idea on how a bullet may perform BUT game ain't made of ballistic gelatin and a bullet may react differently in game depending on what structure is hit.
I do use said tests to give me some idea of how a projectiles may perform but it's on game performance that matters to me.
That's just me tho. There's a lot more knowledgeable people than me, but at least it gives me an idea.
Bob
 
12 pages later! My thoughts, although the topic been covered numerous times in this thread.

I’ve been hunting in the plains and bushveld in South Africa for over 40 years and have a fair amount of experience.

Firstly a poor shot is a poor shot no matter what caliber is used, secondly I have noticed that bigger calibers with good penetration seem to make better stoppers.

For bushveld species up to Wildebeest I think a 7x57 will suffice, anything larger I would want a heavy projectile 30. caliber or above. That includes the European 8mm’s, 9,3’s as well as what I consider the best bushveld caliber, the 375, provided the hunter is able to shoot it well.

For longer shooting in open areas I would consider a caliber like the 270 the minimum for any larger species and a minimum of a 30 caliber magnum for Zebra and Eland.

I would also recommend good bonded or monolithic bullets for all calibers as they have they turned calibers such as the 300WM into versatile all rounders able to take species at close or further distances. This is a bonus for a hunter coming to experience hunting with one rifle while partaking in both above mentioned hunting scenarios.

Finally I would urge hunters to honor and consider the animal he is hunting by endeavoring to give it a quick painless death. To this end the phrase “ Use enough gun “ makes the best sense.
 
@375Fox
Gel tests give a great idea on how a bullet may perform BUT game ain't made of ballistic gelatin and a bullet may react differently in game depending on what structure is hit.
I do use said tests to give me some idea of how a projectiles may perform but it's on game performance that matters to me.
That's just me tho. There's a lot more knowledgeable people than me, but at least it gives me an idea.
Bob
If a bullet fails in gel it will definitely fail on game. If a bullet does well in gel it has a better chance of doing well on game. That’s good information to know before trying on game. The point of my post was there are some good resources on YouTube. It’s not all marketing.
 
If a bullet fails in gel it will definitely fail on game. If a bullet does well in gel it has a better chance of doing well on game. That’s good information to know before trying on game. The point of my post was there are some good resources on YouTube. It’s not all marketing.
@375Fox
Agreeded mate that why I watch that sort of thing to give me some idea.
Would I use a Barnes Varmit grenade in deer even tho the video shows how good it is. No but conversely I would use an SST on rabbits.
Bob
 
Expanding on the quote, “Use enough gun”, I would add “for the species being hunted”.

I hunt a lot of varmints (think coyotes) and have a number of varmint calibers but I would never think of shooting an elk with my 220 Swift. I guess common sense is not all that common these days.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
57,115
Messages
1,222,862
Members
100,169
Latest member
LillianKit
 

 

 

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

EC HUNTING SAFARIS wrote on MarcoPani's profile.
Happy Birthday, from Grahamstown, South Africa.
I hope your day is great!
Cheers
Marius
EC HUNTING SAFARIS wrote on Ilkay Taskin's profile.
Happy Birthday from Grahamstown, South Africa! I hope you have a great day!
Cheers, Marius
idjeffp wrote on Jon R15's profile.
Hi Jon,
I saw your post for the .500 NE cases. Are these all brass or are they nickel plated? Hard for me to tell... sorry.
Thanks,
Jeff [redacted]
Boise, ID
[redacted]
 
Top