IN 2001, IN MOZAMBIQUE WE WERE HUNTING HIPPO IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE FAR INTO THE SWAMPS, WHERE THERE WAS A GOOD SIZED POOL THAT HELD HIPPO. YOU TRY TO BRAIN THE HIPPO WHEN THEY COME UP FOR AIR, BARELY SHOWING THE TOP OF THEIR HEAD. IF YOU MAKE A SOLID HIT ON THE BRAIN THEY JUST DIE AND SINK, THEN BLOAT AND FLOAT A FEW HOURS LATER. IF YOU JUST GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE BRAIN, THEY'LL DIE BUT WILL ROLL AROUND FIRST. I DID THE LATTER WITH A 10 INCH FA 454 WITH A 45 COLT CYLINDER USING 305 gr. FP PENETRATORS AT OVER 1,600 fps, SO THE PH ALSO SHOT IT IN THE HEAD WITH A 458 LOTT. WHEN RECOVERED, WE CUT THE HEAD OFF AND DEEP DOWN IN THE NECK WAS A BULLET, WHICH THE PH PROUDLY PROCLAIMED TO BE HIS BECAUSE OF THE PENETRATION, BUT UPON EXAMINATION IT WAS MY 45 COLT BULLET. AS IT TURNED OUT, I OUT PENETRATED HIM. NOW, UNDERSTAND THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN EXACT SHOTS, BUT AT LEAST ON THIS OCCASION MY 45 COLT OUT PENETRATED THE 458 LOTT.

IN 2003, IN ZIMBABWE, WITH THE SAME 10 INCH 45 COLT REVOLVER, BUT USING A 305 gr. PENETRATOR WITH A WAY TOO WIDE MEPLAT, I SHOT A CAPE BUFFALO THAT WAS FACING ME (I DETEST DEADON SHOTS) AND IT TOOK OFF AND WE LOST THE TRACK TOWARDS DARK. 2 DAYS LATER WE SAW HIM AGAIN, THIS TIME HE WAS BROADSIDE I PLACED THE BULLET LOW IN THE SHOULDER, IN WHAT SHUD HAVE BEEN A KILLING HEART SHOT. THE BULL STAGGERED AND ALMOST WENT DOWN. YOU COULD SEE THE ENTRY SPOT ON THE SHOULDER. I WANTED TO KEEP SHOOTING BUT THE PH SAID NO NEED TO. GUESS WHAT, WE NEVER FOUND THE SOB. I FIGURE THAT TOO WIDE OF A MEPLAT BULLET HIT HIM HARD AND HURT HIM BUT FAILED TO PENETRATE.