417: Double Rifles, 500 NE & Elephant Charges With Jeff Rann

Jeff Rann, one of Africa's most legendary professional hunters with nearly 50 years guiding dangerous game, joins me on the podcast to share his incredible stories of hunting elephant in Botswana. He takes us inside what it's really like to track big bulls, get in as close as 20–30 yards for precise brain shots, face down real charges, and judge trophy ivory on mature animals while navigating the country's massive and growing elephant population. We also finish with an in-depth discussion on the conservation realities in Botswana, why controlled hunting of bulls plays a vital role, and his favorite double rifles and cartridges—including why the .500 H&H and .577 Holland & Holland remain his go-to choices after decades in the African bush. Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPodcast.com/ebook and sign up for my free e-book on the best hunting calibers at to receive the entertaining and informative emails I send out about hunting, firearms, and ballistics every weekday. Join the Big Game Hunting Podcast tribe for the potential opportunity to have a future podcast guest answer one of your questions on the air along with access to all my bonus material at www.patreon.com/biggamehunter  Get in touch with me to make your Africa hunting dreams come true on a hunt in South Africa. We offer outstanding hunting safaris, simplified hunt logistics, assistance with many of the pain points associated with a hunt, and up front pricing with no extra fees. We just opened bookings for 2027 and still have a few spots remaining for May, October, and November 2026. Visit bestsafarihunt.com or email me at john@thebiggamehuntingblog.com to learn more. Make sure to state that you're a podcast listener and I'll give you a special bonus! Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically! Resources Learn more about the Dangerous Game Symposium with Mark Sullivan and Dave Fulson in Las Vegas on 16 May 2026 that I'm attending here. Subscribe to Jeff's YouTube channel here and his hunting operations in Africa here & at the 777 Ranch here. Recommended Episodes   414: Leopard Mauling To Sudan Bongo Hunts With Robin Hurt 177: Elephant Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson 176: Elephant Conservation With Kevin Robertson