Thread: Karamojo Bell article

That is commitment!

I still reckon I would feel better with something a bit bigger than a .308!

Originally Posted by Spudattack

I still reckon I would feel better with something a bit bigger than a .308!

I would feel better leaving him be

Originally Posted by Gibo

I would feel better leaving him be

But this is the whole point of this thread 😉
What if he won't leave you be!

Well as in that situation a brain or spine shot is the only thing that will stop it so providing whatever round has enough penetration it aint going to make any difference what size it is, only how accurately the shot is placed.

was one guy using a shotgun?

I think it is probably a double rifle.

The shot from the PH put him down and the double looked .45 or bigger. A small/medium bore dosent have the energy to stop a charge, the brain is well protected and not that large. Bell was a very good shot and lucky, many ivory hunters did not die off old age.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Well as in that situation a brain or spine shot is the only thing that will stop it so providing whatever round has enough penetration it aint going to make any difference what size it is, only how accurately the shot is placed.

If you have enough power a shot that doesn't hit the brain but has enough concussive effect will render it unconscious, calibre size could mean life or death.
Also bear in mind you need to get through up to 80cm of skull to get the brain on a frontal brain shot on a big bull!
Also always take what writers say about themselves with a pinch of salt, bell was an ivory hunter first, so whether he followed up many of his wounded is speculative, I have read accounts that say he left a lot of them in order to shoot more ivory rather than waste time following a single beast.
He was also a bit of a girl with recoil, he would not have owned a tikka .270!
So for what he was doing a smaller calibre would be suitable, if however you are in the business of following up animals your client has wounded in bush with almost zero visibility may I suggest something heavier!

I don't quite know you could say Bell was a girl with recoil, anyone who deliberatly wires the triggers together on a 450/400 double has to know that it is going to recoil!!

Originally Posted by stug

I don't quite know you could say Bell was a girl with recoil, anyone who deliberatly wires the triggers together on a 450/400 double has to know that it is going to recoil!!

Only going what other writers have said of him, I think it was Harry Selby that said he was recoil shy hence his preference for lighter calibres, maybe calling him a girl was a bit exaggerative!😊

Wouldn't Selby be of the wrong generation to have any first hand experience of Bell? Bell died in the 50's while Selby was only starting to make a name for himself.
I think it is fair to say that Bell did much of his hunting in a time with less pressure on the animals which would have given him a bit more leeway in getting closer.

Originally Posted by Spudattack

If you have enough power a shot that doesn't hit the brain but has enough concussive effect will render it unconscious, calibre size could mean life or death.
Also bear in mind you need to get through up to 80cm of skull to get the brain on a frontal brain shot on a big bull!
Also always take what writers say about themselves with a pinch of salt, bell was an ivory hunter first, so whether he followed up many of his wounded is speculative, I have read accounts that say he left a lot of them in order to shoot more ivory rather than waste time following a single beast.
He was also a bit of a girl with recoil, he would not have owned a tikka .270!
So for what he was doing a smaller calibre would be suitable, if however you are in the business of following up animals your client has wounded in bush with almost zero visibility may I suggest something heavier!

Doubling the speed quadruples the energy thus giving an unfair advantage at close ranges to lighter faster bullets. Unless you missed the brain by a few thousandths of an inch calibre is still irrelevant.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Doubling the speed quadruples the energy thus giving an unfair advantage at close ranges to lighter faster bullets. Unless you missed the brain by a few thousandths of an inch calibre is still irrelevant.

Especially if the "missed the brain by a few thousandths of an inch issue" is on one slightly miffed and now really grumpy elephant

Upping the speed brings other issues of bullet deformation and lack of penetration, it is generally accepted that 2600 fps is as fast as you want to go to for reliable penetration on pachyderms.
Think you will fins a .416 rugby with 400gr is doing about the same as a 220gr .308. So will have almost double the energy.