Zero for Elephant

[mark-hunter]

My rule of the thumb.
Most calibers, up to and including 375 hh, when zeroed at 100, will have same zero at 50.
I checked ballistic tables for 416 rigby.
Same.

So the trick is to know the increments from zero to 50 meters, due to scope height.
All together not to copmlicated.

Make zero at 100, double check on target what you have at 50.
Consider holdovers from zero to 50.
Go hunting.

 

[grand veneur]

My rule of the thumb.
Most calibers, up to and including 375 hh, when zeroed at 100, will have same zero at 50.
I checked ballistic tables for 416 rigby.
Same.

So the trick is to know the increments from zero to 50 meters, due to scope height.
All together not to copmlicated.

Make zero at 100, double check on target what you have at 50.
Consider holdovers from zero to 50.
Go hunting.

You are right, but it is terrible that you have to give such recommendations to people who should normally have hunting experience in their home countries.

 

[375Fox]

My rule of the thumb.
Most calibers, up to and including 375 hh, when zeroed at 100, will have same zero at 50.
I checked ballistic tables for 416 rigby.
Same.

So the trick is to know the increments from zero to 50 meters, due to scope height.
All together not to copmlicated.

Make zero at 100, double check on target what you have at 50.
Consider holdovers from zero to 50.
Go hunting.

That’s a good rule of thumb for plains game or buffalo. A good percentage of elephant will be taken with brain shots at 25 yards. No one is going to be thinking about holding an inch or two over in that situation especially if it just turned to face you. Sight the rifle in for the most likely range on an elephant. For my elephant hunt I was told to expect a frontal brain at under 25 yards and that’s what I got.

 

[grand veneur]

A brain shot should only be do at very close range anyway. A heart shot, however, is a better alternative when shooting distances are somewhat greater. Once again, you cannot determine your shooting conditions in advance, it is all a matter of circumstances.

 

[375Fox]

A brain shot should only be do at very close range anyway. A heart shot, however, is a better alternative when shooting distances are somewhat greater. Once again, you cannot determine your shooting conditions in advance, it is all a matter of circumstances.

If the PH says 8/10 are taken with a brain shot in a thick brush area or they’d prefer first time elephant hunters take a heart/lung shot in relatively open concession I’d be willing to bet the shot you’ll get and should prepare for and sight in appropriately for. The time of year and the concession adds to that probability.

 

[spike.t]

Scope or iron sights?.....

 

[SRvet]

Attached is a drop chart for my .458 Lott with 450g CEB solids. Hopefully close enough to the OP setup for initial consideration. As you can see even zeroed a touch high at 100m the bullet will hit within 1.1 inches of point of aim from 10m all the way to 150m. It will be precisely on zero at between 25 and 30m which is perfect. Having hunted elephant in the thick Jesse bush of the Zambezi valley, that pretty much covers me for up close and personal through to a backup hip shot across a dry river bed. Pretty flexible and not hard to learn really.

 

[Tucketed]

Scope Swarovski 1-6 with red dot, older eyes. I understand ballistics of any gun I hunt with and the territory I will be in. I was just trying to understand for Elephant knowing it’s at typically 20 or under.

 

[ActionBob]

A brain shot should only be do at very close range anyway. A heart shot, however, is a better alternative when shooting distances are somewhat greater. Once again, you cannot determine your shooting conditions in advance, it is all a matter of circumstances.

On my hunt, only a brain shot was acceptable. The animal needed to drop in it's tracks. A heart shot elephant could have easily ran into a National Park. On a different country. Can you imagine the problems that could cause?

 

[BryceM]

You're not going to believe this, but for most DG rifles, it makes no difference. The following are ballistic tables for a .416 caliber 400 grain TSX Barnes bullet at 2400 fps sighted in at 100 yards.

0 - 1.6" low (assumes a 1.6" scope mounting height)
10 - 1.16" low
20 - 0.77" low
30 - 0.45" low
40 - 0.19" low
50 - 0.00"
60 - .13" high
70 - .20" high
80 - .20" high
90 - .13" high
100 - 0.00"
150 1.72" low
200 - 5.28" low

So, out to 100 yards the most you'll ever be off is a bit more than an inch. For most distances it's good enough to hit an elephants eye (1.5" diameter) if you're steady enough. The brain is much larger than that. Inside of 10 yards the scope won't be helping all that much anyhow. Out to 150 yards, it's a dead-on hold for any PG animal (or wounded DG).

By random coincidence, 50 yards is the point at which the bullet crosses the reticle on its way up, before falling a bit back to zero at the 100 yard point.

If you still aren't convinced, sighting in at 50 yards gives you this:

0 - 1.6" low (assumes a 1.6" scope mounting height)
10 - 1.16" low
20 - 0.77" low
30 - 0.45" low
40 - 0.20" low
50 - 0
60 - .13" high
70 - .20" high
80 - .20" high
90 - .13" high
100 - 0.01" low
150 1.73" low
200 - 5.29" low

Maybe this diagram that I stole from the Internet helps. The bullet passes through the line of the reticle at 50 and 100 yards.

Sighted in at 100 yards, the same bullet at 2100 fps crosses the reticle at 38 yards and again at 100 yards, so it only holds perfectly true for the situation I presented. For most DG rifles, pick something else to worry about, like shooting technique, etc.

 

[Andrew62]

For my upcoming Buffalo/tuskless hunt I sighted in at 50 yards. One of these two shots is Swift Aframes, the other is Cutting Edge Solids. POI is virtually identical.

I did use the Federal ballistics chart, it stated that I’d be shooting 1.9” high at 100 yards if I were sighted dead on at 50 yards. I am shooting a .375H&H, 300 grain bullets.

 

[375Fox]

You're not going to believe this, but for most DG rifles, it makes no difference. The following are ballistic tables for a .416 caliber 400 grain TSX Barnes bullet at 2400 fps sighted in at 100 yards.

0 - 1.6" low (assumes a 1.6" scope mounting height)
10 - 1.16" low
20 - 0.77" low
30 - 0.45" low
40 - 0.19" low
50 - 0.00"
60 - .13" high
70 - .20" high
80 - .20" high
90 - .13" high
100 - 0.00"
150 1.72" low
200 - 5.28" low

So, out to 100 yards the most you'll ever be off is a bit more than an inch. For most distances it's good enough to hit an elephants eye (1.5" diameter) if you're steady enough. The brain is much larger than that. Inside of 10 yards the scope won't be helping all that much anyhow. Out to 150 yards, it's a dead-on hold for any PG animal (or wounded DG).

By random coincidence, 50 yards is the point at which the bullet crosses the reticle on its way up, before falling a bit back to zero at the 100 yard point.

If you still aren't convinced, sighting in at 50 yards gives you this:

0 - 1.6" low (assumes a 1.6" scope mounting height)
10 - 1.16" low
20 - 0.77" low
30 - 0.45" low
40 - 0.20" low
50 - 0
60 - .13" high
70 - .20" high
80 - .20" high
90 - .13" high
100 - 0.01" low
150 1.73" low
200 - 5.29" low

Maybe this diagram that I stole from the Internet helps. The bullet passes through the line of the reticle at 50 and 100 yards.

Sighted in at 100 yards, the same bullet at 2100 fps crosses the reticle at 38 yards and again at 100 yards, so it only holds perfectly true for the situation I presented. For most DG rifles, pick something else to worry about, like shooting technique, etc.
View attachment 701987

I won’t believe it because I’ve never had any rifle match a ballistics chart. I shoot my rifles at 25, 50, 100, 200, and 300 before hunts to know. I’ve never had a rifle where the bullet didn’t fall faster than planned.

 

[John Telford]

I prefer 75 yards for all
My DG rifles from .404 to .505 . If in doubt refer to Pierre bd Walts book African Dangerous Game Cartridges for a detailed explanation.

 

[grand veneur]

On my hunt, only a brain shot was acceptable. The animal needed to drop in it's tracks. A heart shot elephant could have easily ran into a National Park. On a different country. Can you imagine the problems that could cause?

Depending on the cartridge used, no elephant will run into the NP after a heart shot.

 

[Foxi]

my PH from South Africa,Valie Enslin from "Thats Africa Safaris" (round 20 Ele hunts per year)
told me that in the open Kruger area it is a duty to try a headshot with the first shot.Distance mostly 20 meters .The officials fear a wounded one can go in the Kruger NP.

I was told from a PH working at HHK,10 Outfits in Zimb ,that they dont allow headshots on ele anymore,because when the hunter is missing the brain,90 % of the elefants get lost.Heart-lung and the are lying down on the ground after 200 meters.

the index finger shows the earslit,red cavity is the brain.The fist right is the eye.

 

[Scott CWO]

For elephant, 25 yards and know rise/drop from line of sight to 100 yards. Most elephant are taken inside of 50 yards. Before my Botswana hunt, I sighted in my iron sights and red dot Leica Tempus for 25 yards on my 458 Lott.

 

[Nhoro]

My 458 lott rises to 1 1/4 " high at 55 m. So it is negligible difference in zero. I just zero at 100 m and consider it good for anything closer.

 

[Scott CWO]

My 458 lott rises to 1 1/4 " high at 55 m. So it is negligible difference in zero. I just zero at 100 m and consider it good for anything closer.

An elephant hunt is a unique hunt utilizing a brain shot with the target being the size of a football. It is an expensive hunt and not the easiest shot so it’s best to be exacting in preparation. For buffalo, brown bear and other game, close enough is good enough. For elephant, I thought it best to be “dead-on” and zeroed at 25 yards, as my outfitter suggested.

 

[ActionBob]

Depending on the cartridge used, no elephant will run into the NP after a heart shot.

Well i guess I should have you as my PH next time because the PH I did have insisted on a brain shot. I shot my elephant within 100 yards of the river that is the International border.

I used 400 grain Woodliegh Solids and the elephant went straight down on the first shot so it seemed to work quite well.

And to me shooting an elephant is just different than other animals. It is a highly intelligent and social animal. After being in amoungst them for 9 days (we saw elephant every day of the hunt and got very close most days) I felt the elephant deserves a fast clean death. I understand a heart shot can be considered fast and clean. But a brain shot is just flipping the switch off. Instant.

Not saying I condemn or would refuse to take a heart lung shot in the right situation... But on my hunt with that PH it was a decision he was making in each instant. He had two reasons 1. As mentioned regarding the border. 2. In his experience when an elephant dropped instantly, it's companions quickly moved off. When a heart/lung shot was taken and the beast died more slowly, any herd mates would stay around trying to get their fallen comrade back up. His experience was that it was an emotional and very dangerous situation.

 

[zephyr]

I pondered the same question when building my 505 Gibbs. with the help of Terry Wielands book "Dangerous Game Rifles" I settled of 30yards for my choice of bullet and it's velocity ..
As we know a bullet's trajectory starts depending on your sighting system (open or optic) and inch or 2 below the line of sight, crosses the line of sight on the way up and at some point crosses the line of sight on the way down. Most of us sight in our everyday hunting rifles for when the bullet crosses on the way down..
Wieland recommends that you sight your DG gun in where the bullet first crosses the line of sight on the way up, as DG can be, up close and personal.. Playing with the JBM trajectory web site moving the zero until I found what I liked... I ended up filing the rear sight of my 505 in at 30yards, the 525gr bullet traveling 2300fps starts 1" below the line of sight crosses at 30yards and then descends through the line of sight at 105yrds all the while staying within a caliber's distance of the line of sight to 110yrds This is theoretical data from the JBM Web Sight which was later confirmed on the range
... Bye the Bye My elephants were all shot inside of 20 yards, My Buffalo have all been inside of 40...
Best of luck

JBM

www.jbmballistics.com