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hoppdoc
.400 member

Reged: 02/03/06
Posts: 1791
Loc: Southeastern USA

MAX DISTANCE ON A TROPHY DG ANIMAL???
#73675 - 12/03/07 10:04 AM

I have never hunted DG and closer is always exciting, but what is a realistic distance to max for a trophy shot on DG such as a Buff?? We all want to get 50 yds and in but sometimes----

This thread will make PH's shudder but each hunter needs to know his comfort zone when a unique situation pops up.

Example-
I am Buff hunting and sight a sure nuff wallhanger cape Buff herd bull with 48" hard boss is out there 100-125 yds and there is no way to get closer and daylight is fading, etc. You have your favorite longer range DG gun( I hope mine would be my new 416 Rigby)and must decide.I know would be severely tempted to shoot.

Whatcha gonna do????

Alright guys you gotta say it-- What would be your individual max closure shooting distance if the Buff of a lifetime is in front of you??

--------------------
An armed man is a citizen of his country, an unarmed man just a subject.

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Savuti_One_Shot
.300 member

Reged: 24/01/07
Posts: 139
Loc: Florida

Re: MAX DISTANCE ON A TROPHY DG ANIMAL??? [Re: hoppdoc]
#73680 - 12/03/07 11:31 AM

I think 125 yds is no problem under the conditions you laid out.
However, the limiting factor will be your PH. If he has enough confidence in your shooting abilities, he might let you go a bit further.
I strongly suggest paying rapt attention to everything the PH says. After all, it's his skin if the buffalo patty hits the fan.
BTW, he'll have you shoot a target on arrival in camp, ostensibly to check zero. But what he's really checking is your ability to use the rifle.

Bonne Chance,
SOS

--------------------
"I've this damned cannon." - Robert Wilson

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JPK
.375 member

Reged: 31/08/04
Posts: 734
Loc: Chevy Chase, MD

Re: MAX DISTANCE ON A TROPHY DG ANIMAL??? [Re: Savuti_One_Shot]
#73691 - 12/03/07 01:20 PM

I would pass on the shot - I hope - since, imo, I would be depriving myself of the thrill of getting close. For buff, 25yds is close. 40, maybe 50yds is the outside. Of the four I have killed, the distances were 20yds, 50yds, 20yds, 35yds. I have passed on longer shots but it has yet to "cost" me the buff since persistence has resulted in finally getting the closer shot.

But then I haven't seen a 48" buff standing there begging me to shoot him either. One of the trackers has had my 375H&H in case I've wanted to make the switch, but it has never come to that and I hope it never will.

For elephants, 30yds is a long shot. 15yds is great. Ranges for me with elephants:
25yds, 23yds, 20yds, 20yds, 12yds, 15yds, 20yds, 11yds, 10yds, 25yds, 7yds.

I don't think I'd go over 50yds, even on the phantasy 100lber.

Savouti-One-Shot is right, and the PH is also watching to see how you handle your rifle, with familiarity or not, safely or not...

JPK

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mickey
.416 member

Reged: 05/01/03
Posts: 4647
Loc: Pend Oreille Valley, Idaho

Re: MAX DISTANCE ON A TROPHY DG ANIMAL??? [Re: JPK]
#73702 - 12/03/07 06:18 PM

I would consider shooting any unwounded buff at 100 plus yards as sniping. I know people do it all the time but that is what they think is appropriate for them.

I think hunting involves stalking, not just setting up shooting sticks at 100 plus yards and shooting. It is easy to wrack up a big score if you stay well away from The D in DG.

--------------------
Lovu Zdar
Mick

A Man of Pleasure, Enterprise, Wit and Spirit Rare Books, Big Game Hunting, English Rifles, Fishing, Explosives, Chauvinism, Insensitivity, Public Drunkenness and Sloth, Champion of Lost and Unpopular Causes.

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ozhunter
.400 member

Reged: 18/08/04
Posts: 1692
Loc: Sydney, Australia

Re: MAX DISTANCE ON A TROPHY DG ANIMAL??? [Re: JPK]
#73703 - 12/03/07 06:24 PM

The Buffalo I have hunted have been taken from twenty to eighty meters and the Ele around fifteen meters which I would think is about the average distance for these game animals.
My one Lion was taken at around ten meters which was a bit close!
ozhunter

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JPK
.375 member

Reged: 31/08/04
Posts: 734
Loc: Chevy Chase, MD

Re: MAX DISTANCE ON A TROPHY DG ANIMAL??? [Re: ozhunter]
#73711 - 13/03/07 01:00 AM

OZHunter,

Interesting guess that 15 meters is about average for elephants. 15 meters is just shy of 17yds. I ran the average for all of the elephants I;ve shot and it comes to 17.1yds.

I think bulls are easier to get close to. I don't believe the average shot is near 17yds for all elephants, or even only bulls though. I think there are plenty of PH's and hunters who won't approach that close.

Buff can be tough to get really close to for the same reason as cow elephants, lots of eyes, ears and noses.

JPK

Edited by JPK (13/03/07 01:01 AM)

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500Nitro
.450 member

Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: MAX DISTANCE ON A TROPHY DG ANIMAL??? [Re: JPK]
#73716 - 13/03/07 02:23 AM

hopdoc

Even though I know I would be capable of the shot, I'd let it go.

Generally, I don't take the FIRST shot past 100 or so yards
but the other factor is the light fading so IF it didn't drop, you are limited in the time available to follow it up and I would hate it to become Lion feed.

This is just my HO.

Others may take the shot which is fine by me if that is what they choose, each to their own.

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jorge
.275 member

Reged: 13/07/05
Posts: 88
Loc: Orange Park, Florida

Re: MAX DISTANCE ON A TROPHY DG ANIMAL??? [Re: 500Nitro]
#73823 - 14/03/07 12:14 PM

Well count me in the "sniping" column. We had passed up a few buffs and we were getting towards the end and I wasn't about to come home empty handed (yeah, I know I'm not a "true" hunter, I like to win) so I had to make the 80 plus yard shot. Off the sticks it was very comfortable. Now the follow up shots were under twenty yards and he was still standing. jorge

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500grains
.416 member

Reged: 16/02/04
Posts: 4732
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah USA

Re: MAX DISTANCE ON A TROPHY DG ANIMAL??? [Re: jorge]
#73826 - 14/03/07 12:49 PM

Max distance?

ele - 25 yards, but prefer under 15 yards, and strongly prefer under 10 yards.

buffalo - 40 yards, but prefer under 25 yards and closer if I can manage it.

Close = fun for DG.

For deer hunting my preference are just the opposite. I really don't like to take a shot under 300 yards because it is too easy.

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butchloc
.300 member

Reged: 18/12/04
Posts: 230
Loc: faribault mn

Re: MAX DISTANCE ON A TROPHY DG ANIMAL??? [Re: 500grains]
#73878 - 15/03/07 04:59 AM

as i remember it leopard about 100 yds, lion about 50 yds, ele about 30yds, buff. from 80 yds to 50 ft. croc about 75 yds, hippo about 75 yds. much can be said about distances, however the reality of the thing is for you to sneak up as close as you can and feel comfortable with. Sometimes it just isn't possible, sometimes it is

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duggaboybuff
.224 member

Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 16
Loc: melbourne Vic

Re: MAX DISTANCE ON A TROPHY DG ANIMAL??? [Re: butchloc]
#74564 - 25/03/07 08:11 PM

If you get in close, you will enjoy the hunt so much more.

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SGraves155
.224 member

Reged: 07/11/06
Posts: 15
Loc: NW Arkansas

Re: MAX DISTANCE ON A TROPHY DG ANIMAL??? [Re: 500grains]
#75054 - 30/03/07 02:41 PM

Quote:

Max distance?

ele - 25 yards, but prefer under 15 yards, and strongly prefer under 10 yards.

buffalo - 40 yards, but prefer under 25 yards and closer if I can manage it.

Close = fun for DG.

For deer hunting my preference are just the opposite. I really don't like to take a shot under 300 yards because it is too easy.

Dan, I usually agree with you, but the statement on deer doesn't compute!

--------------------
Steve

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MRobinson
.275 member

Reged: 29/01/06
Posts: 66
Loc: New England

Re: MAX DISTANCE ON A TROPHY DG ANIMAL??? [Re: SGraves155]
#75226 - 01/04/07 04:17 PM

I killed a buff at just shy of 100 yards once.

There was no way to get closer - we were separated by nothing but the naked bed of a Selous sand river - and we needed lion bait.

The Lott did the job perfectly.

--------------------
Mike

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