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Elephant Defense and Firearm Effectiveness

Jul 29, 2025

Overview

This lecture discusses the challenges of shooting an elephant and the effectiveness of different firearms against its thick skin and skull.

Elephant Anatomy and Protection

  • An elephant's skin is about 1 inch thick.
  • Beneath the skin are dense muscles and strong bones.
  • This structure acts as natural armor protecting the elephant from external harm.

Firearm Effects on Elephants

  • A 9 mm Glock is a small caliber firearm.
  • Shooting an elephant's head with a 9 mm Glock may not penetrate its thick skull.
  • There is a chance the bullet could bounce back without causing serious injury.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Caliber — the diameter of a bullet or internal diameter of a gun barrel.
  • Penetrate — to enter or pass through something, such as a bullet going through skin or bone.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Review elephant anatomy for further study.
  • Research effects of different firearm calibers on large animals.