If I might interject regarding the "50# bow can kill almost anything in Africa" comment;
Please, please stick to the smaller species of plains game (Springbok, Kudu, Impala, Warthog etc...)
Unless you've already been & experienced just how freaking BIG most of the game is (An average sized Gemsbok is bigger than your average Elk & an Eland can weigh upwards of 900#!) I'd be very, very leery of only shooting 50# unless you're using a very heavy arrow. The tenacity of most African species hs to be seen to be believed. You think a Whitetail running 200yds after a duble-lung is impressive? Try tracking a warthog for over a half mile with it's heart literally cut in half.

I'm not saying you shouldn't shoot 50# or that you need to shoot heavier, I'm just, respectfully, suggesting that you be very, very selective with your shot selections. And remember to keep your shots forward! African game keep their goodies a lot closer to the front than American game  

Hey Buff, PM me your address, I have some 90-100# teak shafts for you to have some fun with.  The bare shaft weight on them average 800 grains.  I was able to weed out 8 of them.  I have close to 30 in the 75-85# range in the same weight class.  

It was nice talking to you on the phone tonight.  We are looking forward to putting a hurt on them hogs down there.  It'll be here before we know it.

Over actual poundage, bow design is the big factor.
Im presuming you'l be wanting to use a Widow

Ill see if i have some pics of Elephant ribs, i remember having a really good look at a full skeleton they had on display at the Elephant display in Kruger.

Honestly, if you center a Rib, neither a 83lb or a 100lb trad bow is going to work. Its a bit of a lucky packet, you go through the Ribs and your in with a good chance.

but even with a great shot, the Bulls can go a long way, their heart is huge but your broadhead is tiny.

As Rob said, pic your shots well with a 50lb set-ups


We did some interesting testing this year during Buffalo Season, with interesting results on penetration, broadhead integrity, and interesting to see which broadheads really outperformed some of the big name heads.  Man did we bend and break so heads

I am shooting a 76# Longbow right now with a 800gn arrow. But am considering to up my draw weight Before i go buff hunting this coming year  to high 80's low 90's and up my arrow weight. I am wanting to get the most penetration possible, just dont know if i am over doing it or not LOL.

Hey Marty,
I am no expert here, but my hh rogue is around 101# at 30". I normally only draw 29" but have shot it at 30". It shoots the same arrow as my morrison dakota longbow that is around 80# at.my draw. Even though the hh design is less efficient, it is considerably faster with the same arrow. If you can handle 100#.comfortably with a similar style bow, that is what I would use. I don't shoot the heavier bow as well. It is only for training. That being said, I will defer to Andy and others with real world experience as far as what is needed. 50# for Buff and elephants? Not this guy.

I don't mean to get this off topic, but being ignorant to the exotic hunts i was under the impression that it wasn't legal to hunt elephants but then I did a quick google and found sites offering to set them up. Can any one elaborate a bit? Or post a link to the rules/regulations? Thank you.

Elephants are endangered in some areas and overpopulated in others.  The money from the government fees goes partly to conservation efforts.  Animals that are on the CITIES lists are only huntable with prior written consent.  The animal parts can only be exported under certain conditions.  If it's a "problem" animal and hunted under those conditions then it's non-exportable to countries that are part of the CITIES agreements.

If you're really interested in learning about African hunting there are some very good websites where you can learn a lot about it....it's fascinating.  Unfortunately we're not allowed to mention other websites here, pity.

the chef

I did that Matt, I used a 70# bow with various broadheads and ramin wood arrows that weighed alot.the metal was an old furnace that I just hauled out of my basement a week before.
I ruined some stuff. Poked some holes and broke most of the heads and all of the shafts except one.I drove that shaft right out the end of the head until it hit the steel. I prefer cement blocks or padio blocks. maybe a big phone book eh?
What ever you use will be cool. can't wait to see it.
Chuck

Some special limbs such as employing mutliple carbon layers and/or carbon-foam combinations may be worth investigating.

good stuff

Buff, there was some special on TV the other night as I was told. They were setting up a recurve to hunt elephants. My dad couldn't provide any other details other that they were using different configuration jells to simulate the different mediums encountered when attemping to make a complete pass thru.

Perhaps someone else can provide more details.

I want my name on the arrow for the elephant!

There is one spanish guy has shot big five + others with 90# recurve:

http://www.losgrandesdeafrica.es/los_grandes.es/Fotos/Fotos.html

What do you think?

I think that his accomplishments are highly laudable. I wish he had done a write up on the hunt for the Rhino. The penetration that he got is incredible. It would appear that between all of Buff's hunts and this fellow a strong case has been made for the German Kinetics product.

I am just wondering his equipment selection and for example that elephant seemed to be shot under the animal. He used 514 gr arrow (205 fps) for buffalo and for rhino 650 gr arrow (190 fps)!

This is something totally contradictory what I seen and read. 514 gr and 205 fps will not penetrate through medium sized buffalo.

I have 2 bows. One is 107# and the other is 120#. The difference in speed and penetration is significant. Although I cant say the effect on an elephant.

QuoteOriginally posted by DG2:
I am just wondering his equipment selection and for example that elephant seemed to be shot under the animal. He used 514 gr arrow (205 fps) for buffalo and for rhino 650 gr arrow (190 fps)!

This is something totally contradictory what I seen and read. 514 gr and 205 fps will not penetrate through medium sized buffalo.

where are these figures from?

those are not Predator 90# arrow speeds. a 60# predator shifts a 500gr arrow at 200fps.

I'm no big game expert but I do shoot arrows of that weight at those speeds. I can tell you that I wouldn't be shooting big pigs with such light arrows

QuoteOriginally posted by DG2:
There is one spanish guy has shot big five + others with 90# recurve:

 http://www.losgrandesdeafrica.es/los_grandes.es/Fotos/Fotos.html  

What do you think?

How can you believe all of this Is true       ??

Send Dennis Kamstra an email. He is going after elephant with his #70 Stotler. He might be hunting now so it might be hard to get a hold of him.

Buff,

Ive got a Martin hunter 100# in the mail, on its way to me.

I currently shoot a Stotler gamegetter elite carbon/bamboo 70#. ill post some arrow speeds (when I work out how to make strong enough arrows) and also some penetration tests (if i can find anything that stops the stotler's 10gpp arrows! let alone the 100#)

cheers