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The photos that follow are of me stopping a charge from a cow elephant this year.

The photos were taken by Dave Hulme, a Zimbabwe photo journalist who happened to be in camp and asked if he could come along with us. Remember - he doesn't have a rifle!

By Will's figuring, I should have dropped the cow with the first shot, but what happens when you don't? Or when the PH's second shot - the first was a warning over her head - doesn't kill her either.

The first two shots are mine, then the PH's second barrel, then my right barrel after reloading just one, then the PH's right after he reloaded one and then my right after another reload of just one. I got four off, all hitting where I thought they should - my two frontal brain shots were low, as was the PH's. My first heart lung was right on and my second raking shot went the length of the left lung.

Here she is on her way.

About where the PH fired his warning shot.

The farther of the two trees is nine yards, the closer in seven yards. This is my second shot striking, my barrel is visible to the left. You can see the puff of dust from my bullet to the right of the right eye.( Actually, on these smaller pixel count photos you can't see the dust, its lost in the shadow)

She is wheeling to get outa dodge, PH Richard Tabor fires his second barrel about now.

I have reloaded just my right barrel and I make a good heart lung shot.

Richard gets in a heart lung shot after loading just his rght barrel, I'm just lowering my rifle after making a raking shot that ran the length of the left lung.

The calm quiet after the action

Continues...as we quietly contemplate the follow up.

Dave, who has a hell of a sense of humor lightens the mood.

Follow up. Fourty five minutes of tension. Relief is a physical sensation when we find her, dead, and only thiry yards from where we lost sight of her - though in a slightly different direction than she was heading.

Marcel Thys sidelock in 458wm shooting North Fork 450gr flat nose solids at 2190fps for me. $lots

Kreighoff 470NE shooting 500gr Woodleighs at 2250fps for Richard Tabor. $less

A cold beer afterwards - priceless!

Dave was the only one of four wearing a kahki shirt and both Richard and I got the sense that she had picked him out.

JPK

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