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Hunting >> Hunting in Australia, NZ & the South Pacific

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RLI
.375 member


Reged: 01/10/03
Posts: 534
Loc: Victoria, Australia
Calibre for Camels?
      #34364 - 05/07/05 09:44 PM

I am preparing for a Camel shoot and the question of the best calibre for this comes up , some use .30/06 but these animals sometimes have to be shot at extreme range as it can very hard to get up close and they are big, I have narrowed it to .338Win as the best choice but can use .300H&H or .375H&H any thoughts on this?

Steve

--------------------
"Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid." — John Wayne


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500Nitro
.450 member


Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
Re: Calibre for Camels? [Re: RLI]
      #34372 - 06/07/05 04:03 AM

Steve,

338 Lapua Tactical Rifle on a steady BiPod accurate out to
800 - 1000 metres. The just drop them.

No, you'll need something that goes minimum 300 metres accurately
(if not 400) so you can stop any hit ones from running - or you can run
/ drive after them !!!

300 WM, 300WSM, maybe something bigger but then you loose out on
flat trajectory.

Also remember if you end up walking it can be a long fast chase so you
may have to carry what you shoot.

Good hunting.

500 Nitro


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rgp
.333 member


Reged: 17/06/04
Posts: 373
Loc: TX & VIC
Re: Calibre for Camels? [Re: 500Nitro]
      #34379 - 06/07/05 01:44 PM

Dumb question here but how do you know which are domestic and which are feral?

This is as close as I ever got to a camel in Australia...there were actually three camels present and the third one spotted me and thirty seconds later they were all 200 yards away even though I obviously hit two of them with a 35mm "Canon".



Richard.


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500Nitro
.450 member


Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
Re: Calibre for Camels? [Re: rgp]
      #34381 - 06/07/05 02:20 PM



There's no such thing as a dumb question.

" how do you know which are domestic and which are feral?"

You find out after you have shot them !!!

No, really there are not many places in Australia that have tamed camels
that run wild so generally you would be pretty safe to assume they are wild
and the person you are with should know anyway.

However I did HEARD of one person who saw a camel near a road, stopped, got out his
rifle, shot at what he could see of it (it was in a dip in the sand) and when he went over to it
he found it was tethered !!!

Not sure how true it is but it's a good story.

500 Nitro



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rgp
.333 member


Reged: 17/06/04
Posts: 373
Loc: TX & VIC
Re: Calibre for Camels? [Re: 500Nitro]
      #34383 - 06/07/05 02:58 PM

500 Nitro,

Thank you, I had wondered about that with respect to camels, donkeys, and horses that I saw in outback SA and NT in unusual locations far away from any station headquarters.

A young cousin of mine who is in Iraq now says to not worry about shooting the camel, just make sure you get the driver before he gets you.

Richard


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500Nitro
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Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
Re: Calibre for Camels? [Re: rgp]
      #34385 - 06/07/05 03:36 PM


rgp

As a general rule I go by what the locals say. If they say it is OK on
any horses (Brumby's), Camels, Donkey etc, then I shoot them.

I am a bit more cauious on Cattle (ala Scrub Bulls) as the stations are
so big that the animals only see humans once a year.


Good luck to your cousin and hope all goes well for him
and he gets home safely.

Tell him to shoot the Camel and then the person becomes a stationary target
- although I think shooting Roos on the run would probably make good practice
for a person bobbing up and down on a Camel !!!

Then again, use an Anti Tank Rocket and you'd get both with the one shot.

500 Nitro


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rgp
.333 member


Reged: 17/06/04
Posts: 373
Loc: TX & VIC
Re: Calibre for Camels? [Re: 500Nitro]
      #34387 - 06/07/05 04:33 PM

500 Nitro,

I remember the term brumby but did not use it because I did not remember whether it was a horse or a donkey.

I'd like to try camels in Australia and if I ever do I would prefer to use one of my "use it on anything" .375's. In actual practice I'll probably have to borrow a rifle as usual when there and use whatever is available.

Not certain if my cousin in Iraq was joking about the camels or not, I don't know if camels are common there as I haven't been to Iraq. They probably can't do too well on the camel with AR15's and I think all he has now is an AR15 and a Beretta 9mm...he managed to weasel out of gorgeous South Korea, choosing to return to a combat assignment in Iraq instead...

Roos were the hardest to hit critters I ever shot with rifle or camera because of that zig zagging bounce and it was hard to avoid embarrassing myself especially after a friend talked about how "Tex shoots matchsticks at 200 metres like the Beverly Hillbillies." I was present to hear this discussion and was thinking that is way too much to demonstrate.

Roos were also the hardest to photograph...none of my night time photos of roos developed properly and all the daytime ones were blurred. The one I photographed that was in the headlights perfectly motionless expecting me to drive around him...that photo came out solid black.

Regarding cattle with nasty attitudes, I'm glad Aussies expect that occasionally because I've seen too many nasty ones myself. Just try telling an American to be careful around a cow...they usually don't believe it.

Richard.

Edit...

The photo I took above, the closest camel was a maximum of 30 - 40 metres away. These camels were not very big and I would estimate their weight at a maximum of 550 lbs, probably less than that. As you can see from the photo you might be in business on the one on the right with any decent hunting rifle from a .303 or .308 to anything larger. The one on the left looks like a good reason to carry a .375 or larger.

Also I was sneaking from one bush to the next...could have very easily gotten a lot closer, I think to within 25 or 30 feet, but crawling around Australia on my stomach is not something I want to try...coming nose to nose with a poisonous snake while crawling on the ground is not my idea of fun. Yes I was born and raised in America and snakes make me nervous. - rgp

Edited by rgp (06/07/05 04:51 PM)


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ALAN_MCKENZIE
.400 member


Reged: 24/03/04
Posts: 1214
Loc: Western Australia
Re: Calibre for Camels? [Re: RLI]
      #34393 - 06/07/05 11:27 PM

I have shot my fair share of camels for both pet meat and also wild dog baits.
I used a 308 but would have prefered a 338 loaded with 250 or 300 gn projectiles.
Most of my shots were under 100 yards so bullet placement was good,however I would not try to shoot camel at distances greater than 100 yards using a 308.
They are tough and will travel a long way if badly hit so better to use a heavier calibre and get good penetration.
They are a heavy boned animal.

--------------------
"Dogs always bark at their master"
Sir Seretse Khama.25th June 1949


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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39059
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: Calibre for Camels? [Re: ALAN_MCKENZIE]
      #34420 - 07/07/05 02:04 PM

"How do you tell whether a camel is wild or domestic?"

As you will probably be shooting on private land the land owner will tell you if you can shoot camels, horses, scrub bulls etc or not.

If you are shooting on unrestricted unallocated crown land, open slather on all introduced species.

Regarding scrub bulls remember many large cattle stations (ranches) only operate on a proportion of their total size. Any bulls outside of that area are not mustered. Again the owner or manager will tell you if it is OK or not. And bulls can be aggressive irrespective of whether they are truly born wild or not.


--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"


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Ben
.400 member


Reged: 22/08/08
Posts: 1917
Loc: Northern Territory, Australia
Re: Calibre for Camels? [Re: NitroX]
      #114198 - 11/09/08 09:44 PM

Just thought I'd add my two bob worth on this old topic. I've been in on the hunting / culling of a few dozen camels. Here is a list of calibres that I, my family and friends have used successfully, and wouldn't hesitate to use again:

6.5x55mm, 7mm STW, .30/30, .308, .416 Rigby.

I don't recommend the .22-250 at all, although my Dad (who is an excellent rifleman) shot one camel in the head with it for a case of "lights-out".


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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
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Re: Calibre for Camels? [Re: Ben]
      #330253 - 18/07/19 01:50 PM

Saw this old post become active, I'd use my 8x68S.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"


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Ripp
.577 member


Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA
Re: Calibre for Camels? [Re: NitroX]
      #330267 - 18/07/19 10:52 PM

I would think the .338 would be a great choice.. or up.. like .375H&H...
have never shot one.. think it would be fun to do so..

Ripp

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..


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tophet1
.400 member


Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
Re: Calibre for Camels? [Re: Ripp]
      #330284 - 19/07/19 08:03 AM

I'm getting close to having shot 100 camels on numerous trips to far west Qld. Seen and used just about everything from .243 to .416 Rigby.

1) What habitat will you be hunting in ?
2) Have they been shot up before ? ie behaviour.

This will help you choose a hunting rig.

They will be accustomed to the sound of diesel-engined 4x4's and associate that with humans. This is one reason I use a petrol 4x4.

If they have been regularly shot up they will run and not stop. You will rarely get a second shot. Camels are inquisitive and will often move off a short way, stop and look back. You have to be ready to take your shot then as it is your best chance. If they move into high gear they are gone.

If its a family group shoot the lead male or matriarch first. Like goats they are lost when leaderless.

I've never shot a camel over 300 yards and most have been within a 100. Be prepared to shoot to 300 metres though. Take a bipod or have a rest ready on your truck. if you are in broken country be prepared to turn off the truck and get out. They will wonder what is going on.

I have found camels react less to slow and heavy projectiles. The higher velocities 'shake them up' more effectively. My 7x57 with 175's was hopeless. Your .338WM or .300 H&H will do fine.

Shot placement. Head shots work (of course). Back of the head is best where the spine meets the skull. The locals where I shoot use a .22WMR for that shot after dark with a spotlight. During the day or in wind I wouldn't !! Neck shots will put them down but not kill them straight out. With larger cals I go for a shoulder shot. This will anchor them for follow up shots.

The best success I have had was with a .264WM and 140 Woodleighs. I am in the process of putting together a varmint barrel .308W with 165 Woodleighs and a BDC reticle scope for my next trips as I like to watch my fall of shot and the BDC will save time with range.

If where your going is wide open, been shot up and flat, buy a .338 Lapua.

They are great sport, either hunting or 'bombing up'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81qizfK_eW4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFcnTCKTotU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN2ounlOFVY

Edited by tophet1 (19/07/19 08:06 AM)


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Ripp
.577 member


Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA
Re: Calibre for Camels? [Re: tophet1]
      #330300 - 19/07/19 11:45 PM

Now THAT would be fun.. 338 Lapua.. smoking them in the back of the head..

Suddenly have a great urge to shoot a camel..

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..


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3DogMike
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Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1404
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA
Re: Calibre for Camels? [Re: Ripp]
      #330310 - 20/07/19 03:01 AM

30mm preferred but 20mm would suffice!
Wrong geographic area though......



--------------------
"Here's to killing people you don't like with people you do"

"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon

“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields


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poprivit
.333 member


Reged: 09/04/07
Posts: 396
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
Re: Calibre for Camels? [Re: 3DogMike]
      #330311 - 20/07/19 05:38 AM

Not the same animal, but I shot an old stink bull giraffe with a S&W 500 Magnum, Hornady 500-grain load. Hit and smashed a vertebrae high on the neck. DRT!

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