Hippo Question

[pittspilot]

I grew up in Africa, and was well aware that Hippos are considered the most dangerous of the wild animals.

Mean, vicious, and ill-tempered. Get between it and the water, and it would put a lot of hurt on you.

Now, I remember tha folks carrying 30.06's.

But when I think about it, I really don't think a 30.06 would stop a charging hippo. Think about how little you would have to shoot. I really don't think a chest shot would work, and I don't think a head shot is a high percentage one. Thinking about it, I think that a charging hippo would be about the worst animal to deal with. Forget bear.

So does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[nico]

From what I've seen said by the folks with experience (I'm not one of them) the bare minimum one would want to use for DG hunting is .375H&H. As a rule, you'd use the largest caliber you can accurately shoot. iirc, a lot of folks around here use .470NE in a good double rifle like Searcy ($9k and up) for DG hunting.

Just out of curiosity, have you actually heard of someone hunting hippos with a 30-06, or was it just one of those "if I were huntin hippos, I'd use my trusty thurty aut six" type comments? From the descriptions I've heard here, I wouldn't think a reputable PH would take someone out for dangerous game with a 30-06 and most seem to consider dg hunting with any .30 caliber rifle to be suicide.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Pittspilot

OK but first things first...

Where in Africa did you grow up? And what kind of Pitts do you fly?


As far as hunting a hippo in the water from a boat or the bank and popping one in the head just about anything works. Hippo are not dangerous to hunt when they are in the water.


In Mark Sullivans film "Death on the Run" (I think) there is an absoloutly incredible hippo charge sequense. Now guys I'm not endorsing Mark's films or his ethics or anything else. But if you want to see what a hippo charge up close looks like have a look see at that film. That hippo takes two major caliber hit to the head two to put him down and one more to kill him. The first looks like a 416 Rigby and the other two are from a .600NE

And no a .30-06 would not be my choice of weapon against 3 tons of POed hippo. A body shot on a charging hippo with a .30-06 wouldn't even cause a flinch.

I've also seen a piece of footage where a PH turns a hippo charge with a body shot from a .470NE.

I have personally had a hippo rush past me at several yards heading for the water and it was mind blowingly fast. Very scary animal on land or in the water if you happen to be in it the same vicinity with an aggresive bull.

 

[pittspilot]

I grew up in South Africa.

Pretoria mostly, with a few years in Johannesburg. We split in 1984.

I taught in Pitts Specials for a few years. I don't have on currently but am working on it. I have flown about every type except a Model 12 or an S1-11B

I was not really talking about hunting, but mainly talking about when we would go for an evening stroll. We used to often go to St. Lucia which has a healthy hippo population.

And take a 30.06. for protection.

I was just thinking in hindsight that if we had run into hippo trouble, we would have been up the creek.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Yes you might have been up the creek in a bad close range situation. However, I'd take a 30-06 with the right bullet over many other weapons out there. A good 200gr solid between the anoids would definatly do the trick.

I'd really like to fly a Pitts but like many serious aerobatic aircraft once I strap on a chute the things are just to tight for my 6,4" 250lb frame. I used to fly aerobatics in a T-6, fun but just not the same.

The model 12 pitts makes is a pure sex machine from a asthetic point of view. Looks like a rocket. Another airplanes I'd love to fly but probably would need to use bear grease on my butt to get into.

Greg.

 

[DigMe]

The model 12 pitts makes is a pure sex machine... need to use bear grease on my butt..

Whatever is goin' on here....LEAVE ME OUT OF IT!!




brad cook

 

[pittspilot]

Actually a model 12 is fairly big.

You should be able to get into a Pitts special. I had more then a few guys your size get into the S2B that I used to teach in.

The S1S can also be set up for big guy.

Have you looked at Extra 200 or 300's?

 

[H&Hhunter]

Whatever is goin' on here....LEAVE ME OUT OF IT!!

brad cook

Brad you're right, You don't want to know!!


Pitts pilot,

Yeah, I've sat in an Extra 300. I fit just fine. Do you know of anybody who is renting an Extra? Because I'm pretty sure the last time I looked at my budget it did not include , Quarter million dollar airplane..

There is a guy over here in Centenial who's got an S2B I tired her out my problem was after I got into it with a chute my knees wouldn't go under the panel. Maybe his is set up wierd? I really want to do some outside work which I've never had the oportunity to do before.

This is kind of off subject for this forum why don't you drop me a PM or an E-mail if you've got any information. I'd like to talk to you about this some more.

Greg.

 

[HankB]

Most hippos are shot in the water, often as lion bait. This is ENTIRELY different that stopping a charge.

If you look at a placid hippo in the water, facing more or less in your direction, take a look on his head, up between his eyes - you'll see what looks like a flat "triangle" there. The brain is directly underneath. Put a bullet from a .30/06 or practically any other serious hunting rifle through the middle of that, and you've got your hippo.