IS IT TRUE??!!! AND HOW???!!! AND WHO???

[Rifleman336]

I just read in Rifle Magazine about DRC's modified Marlin 1894 in .44 Mag. ( I want one! No make that three! ). The authour mentioned every type of game animal on the planet, including an ELEPHANT has been killed by a .44 mag Revolver??!!! Is that true ??? Who did it? What type of rev? Barrel length?? LOAD??

I have a hard time believing this. I mean I know it's no slouch in the power department (out of a pistol about my limit) but even out of rifle I thought it would be to light to take down Dumbo without getting stomped flat by ones quarry.

I can't wait to hear this one, I know Paco has made many a speech about how much killing power isn't needed to kill some animals. But an elephant!


Rifleman 336

[rjohns94]

larry Kelly of Mag na port arms is but one of those who have taken the worlds most dangerous animals, and largest including the elephant, with the .44mag. He did it with a 7 1/2 inch stalker conversion I believe.

[Hobie]

That is a nifty rifle!

That something was done doesn't mean it is something just anyone can do. Take swimming the English channel or crossing the Atlantic in a rowboat for instance. Yeah it has been done but there was an incredible amount of preparation and planning and the conditions had to be right.

[Ysabel Kid]

Heck, you can take out an elephant with a .22 - as long as you hit him in the eye, and can wait a long time for him to die from the infection!

I have a hard time believing a .44 can punch through the heavy hide on a pachyderm, but then again, I'm sure someone has tried and proved me wrong!

[rjohns94]

Randy Garretts loads are pretty awesome and are a long ways away from the .22

[rjohns94]

http://www.lasc.us/FryxellBulletsOfSSK.htm

SSK bullets used in .44mag for elephant and cape buff

[Blaine]

Elmer and others did the same thing with the .357 when it first came out in the thirties There was one load, a 158 JSP IIRC, but they loaded those first ones a bunch hotter than the factory ones today....

[Bramble]

Heck, you can take out an elephant with a .22 - as long as you hit him in the eye, and can wait a long time for him to die from the infection!

I have a hard time believing a .44 can punch through the heavy hide on a pachyderm, but then again, I'm sure someone has tried and proved me wrong!

It will get through the hide but will struggle to get to the vitals except on a perfect shot. It will not penetrate the skull reliabily. If it all goes wrong then it is the PH with an adaquate rifle that will stop the pistelero getting stomped. No handgun will stop a charging Elephant.

That is not to say it cannot be done in perfect circumstances, but for the love of heaven I wish that for the sake of the poor beasts that people would stop using handguns on large species. 99.9% of people cannot shoot well enough to even attempt it.
Even Elmer who invented the cartridge, never intended it for such use. He shot his elephants and other large game with a .476 NE or .500 NE.

Sure there are specialist loads now that claim to make adaquate big game rifles out of deer guns and hand guns but I just do not see the point. Most of us own many guns, why not just buy an adaquate caliber for the intended task. The purpose designed big game rifles from 9.3 upward will shoot side to side through the largest game on the planet with the correct bullets, the big nitros will do it end to end.


Regards

[Hobie]

Bramble,

I agree. But that is a darn nifty rifle.

[Rifleman336]

Granted I'm not worried about any elephant here in Ohio, short of one rampaging out of the zoo or the circus. My brother poseses a weapon proven to take a elephant, a Thompson center Renagad in .54 Cal that and , according to a load book a 190gr charge of FFFG under a 500gr bullet can shoot through the shoulder!

This brings me around to two other questions. Now I think it was back in the late 80's or early 90's there was video of a rampaging elephant at a circus in Hawaii. It killed the trainer/handler and when it went outside the police were shooting it for ever with the 9mm's and buckshot out of their shotguns. In the end some body was able to down it.
I don't know with what or how.

The first question is this. Here in Ohio our "wonderful" legeslators make this a shotgun only state (other than black powder) for long arms. Now we have just about every color of the rainbow, when it comes to slugs. Remington's coppersoild looks the meanest of the bunch. Has anyone, to anyone knowlage, known anybody to go after elephant with a shotgun loaded with slugs? How successful were they.


The next question is about .44 cast bulliets, I noticed in the linking articlal above, that JDJ moulds (which are no longer made) were very good on penitration. What are the best moulds/ commercial over the couter pre-cast bullets on the market for hardness and penitration.

Rifleman 336

[Modoc ED]

I believe Capstick (sp?) in Africa took an elephant with a .22LR. I don't remember the circumstances but it has been doen by a few. Of course it is something that I do not endorse.

[Rusty]

Capstick himself didn't take an elephant with a .22 but he does tell the story of someone who did... twice.

I believe Lynn Thompson the owner of Cold Steel Knives also used a .44 handgun in Africa to take everything he wanted.

I like everything about the rifle except the takedown part. I've just never seen a use for it myself. I know Brian sez why he likes it. I really love that large octagon barrel though.


Rifleman,
You might want to check out Dixie Slugs. Their goal is to duplicate the old English Paradox rifles. They also have a forum for those that are dedicated slug shooters. They're also great to answer questions for you.

[tman]

elephants have been killed with the .375 h&h, and lesser rounds, such as the .303, 7mm mauser and.308 wfc. probablly more often than with the.458wcf., because people use what they have, as opposed to what an expert reccomends. if a bullet holds together and penetrates, it will destroy organs and cut arteries. thats all it takes. stopping power is a myth. bullet construction, placement, and range considerations is what STOPS game. the .44 magnum , with the right bullet will stop an elephant at 50 yards, so will a .458 win. you can use what you want, if you adhere to the above.

[piller]

Even if it is possible, I don't have the skill to take anything like that with a handgun. Mike Rintoul of Grizzley Cartridge/Cast Performance is probably good enough, and he posts here in this forum. It does sound like fun to try, if and only if you have a P.H. such as 86er backing you up with something big enough to keep you from becoming too closely acquainted with a large angry critter.