Call The Shot Dry Land Hippo, Charging

Where to aim

  • Blue

    Votes: 10 17.2%
  • Red

    Votes: 16 27.6%
  • Green

    Votes: 32 55.2%
  • Drop rifle and run

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    58
One question, are we hunting hippo or just get caught between the hippo and where he wants to be? So we might get caught with a pea shooter.
 
Red, or I am waiting for him to drop his head. 20 yards is still fairly far out for a charge. I am guessing red breaks the neck/spine. Either way I think it is enough damage to slow him up quite a bit.

Green if hit as he is now would work, but that head is going to swing, at 20 yards seems like a more likely miss or not fatal hit.
 
Green first shot. Second just keep shooting since I carry an R8 I will be able to get 4+1 in him on the 20 yd charge. I won’t be trampled with bullets still in the gun. (Just kidding) nothing more scary then being on a hippo trail in the reeds at first or last light.
 
I'd use my 470 but any double 450 ne or bigger. I said red but meant green. Although in reality most hippo charges the hippos head is down. I'd honestly like to think I'd wait for that shot. Never been involved in a hippo charge so just speculation on my end.
 
Probably somwere between red and green and then empty my ZKK600 in 9,3x64 Brenneke with total of 4 handloaded Peregrine 293 grains/19 grams solid FP (mixture of bronze and pure copper) in his face. Trying between eyes most of the time.
 
Blue with .577NE or Orange with .500NE.

IMG_6345.jpeg
 
I’m going with green. A krieghoff .500/.416 simply because that’s what I carry these days.

Hippo skulls are a lot thinner than say an elephant and a good head shot near the brain with just about any center fire rifle is going to stop a charge. Get too far away from the brain and you are in for bad times.
 
green model 70 winchester 416 remington mag. 400gr bear claw folowed by hornady solids
 
CZ 416 Rigby, 400 grain Barnes TSX
 
Green dot but I would probably be waiting for him to drop his head or at least square up to me to make the problem easier. I would be carrying a 458 Lott with 450 grain CEB flat nosed solids @ 2250fps
 
Browning BAR .458 WINCHESTER MAGNUM into the green.
 
Last edited:
Ok he is pissed and coming for you.

20 yards and has picked you to chew on.

Which dot

Also call your rifle action, caliber and bullet choice. View attachment 620295
I would say green given though in the picture the hippo looks above you in reality he is not so given he is charging in your picture nothing will stop him but a brain or spine shot. Though a small target green should be the brain shot. Red and blue would both kill him but not before he kills you. I would use my 470 NE DR with 500 grain Barns TSX
 
I would say green given though in the picture the hippo looks above you in reality he is not so given he is charging in your picture nothing will stop him but a brain or spine shot. Though a small target green should be the brain shot. Red and blue would both kill him but not before he kills you. I would use my 470 NE DR with 500 grain Barns TSX
I stand corrected…it appears from people I would trust with my life on our forum that I would need a solid not a soft…my bad. I love my CEBs
 
Somebody OKed the RED spot! Would an expert DG PH please comment on this? Thank you.
 
6.5 Creedmoor to really irritate him so my death would be quick!
Just kidding
Being I mostly carry my 450-400 Heym I would want Swift solids or NorthFork solids. When it’s all over if I’m still in one piece I would be thinking twice about going back to my 470NE
 
Hippo is likely still in warning mode by popping jaws and not at full charge yet. If he comes, he will straighten out and drop his head, presenting a better brain shot angle. I’m going to hold my shot for a just a moment.
 
Ruger RSM 416 Rigby, 400 grain Barnes solid, aimed at his head hopefully around the green dot. Hopefully that will slow him down to allow a better shot. Hopefully my PH is next to me shooting too. :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 

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