Out of Africa...

[bowji john]

Well now.

I know we do not fly out until October, but I have started to 'locate' stuff I will be taking.

I bought a couple of these a few years back - one for me and one for a mate (who is on this trip).

Not suitable for much in the UK - but apparently (in extremis) you can kill a Buffalo with it.

Recon Scout VG~1 SAN -MAi for the knife buffs.





View attachment 240927

Getting kit together is very much part of the fun

6 months before an exped, I start sorting out kit

Then …

3 month’s before the exped I start chucking out some of the mountain of gear I collected in the previous 3 months

By departure I’m pretty much at the stage I was 6 months ago

However….

I’ve had months of endless fun

 

[sh1kar]

I have a list I keep on file and pack about a week before, discovering in the process I no longer have some of the stuff on it or its too late to buy it in time.........

S

 

[sh1kar]

Getting kit together is very much part of the fun

6 months before an exped, I start sorting out kit

Then …

3 month’s before the exped I start chucking out some of the mountain of gear I collected in the previous 3 months

By departure I’m pretty much at the stage I was 6 months ago

However….

I’ve had months of endless fun

Equally good fun is a couple of trips with the 500 to practice off hand as probably haven't picked it up for a year. Only to discover I am not as good as i remember (Last buff I shot dropped straight to a HILAR at about 35 yards offhand. This was October 2017)

S

 

[bowji john]

Equally good fun is a couple of trips with the 500 to practice off hand as probably haven't picked it up for a year. Only to discover I am not as good as i remember (Last buff I shot dropped straight to a HILAR at about 35 yards offhand. This was October 2017)

S

I’m never as good as I remember

Nor as good as I think I am

The older I get the better I was

 

[sh1kar]

Just had the 500 out of the cabinet today. Checking and all that. I can't get the targets and sights in focus together anymore. Myself and another of the party with a 500/465 have decided this is going to be a double rifle trip only. Going to have to get close with everything now. Not to bad on the Buff but that should be interesting with Eland and Warthog

S

 

[bowji john]

Never fails to surprise when the eland, a bloody big animal, seems to disappear like smoke

 

[sh1kar]

Need to get him early for the steaks

 

[zambezi]

Never fails to surprise when the eland, a bloody big animal, seems to disappear like smoke

I spent half a day following a tracker in thick thornscrub trying to find a very old Eland bull in Namibia November 2021. [You cannot see its huge body in the image below, but look at the dewlap touching the water]

He was very distinctive as he only had one horn and I dubbed him the "Unicorn".

At the end of about 6 hours tracking we finally got to within 20m. We could hear but not see him. He briefly stepped into view and then disappeared again. Visible to invisible in 3 strides. Not to be seen again.

A week after I got back, the PH sent me a tantalising image of the Eland drinking at one of the waterholes ["Oliphant"] at which he has a PTZ night cam.

Sending that footage was doubtless a challenge to return and try again!

 

[Stalker62]

Well now.

Whilst I have plenty of .416 rounds in solids, (bought many years ago) I do not have any in soft points.

I have just been looking a the prices!

I had no idea that they were so expensive; and so I have increased my security around them accordingly...

 

[Rhodesianjess]

Shouldn't be a problem, I'd rather have solid than soft. Raking shots better results, broadside both shoulders broken. Anything coming at you with nasty intention, solid better for stopping or turning it.
Hopefully the rain out there at the moment brings the grass on, might draw in game you wouldn't have seen otherwise. Only mid to late twenties Celsius, not too bad at all.

 

[Stalker62]

Shouldn't be a problem, I'd rather have solid than soft.

I absolutely get that, but I am thinking I need some soft points for the Plains Game.

 

[Jamouk]

Are you using the 416 for plains game as well ?

 

[Stalker62]

Are you using the 416 for plains game as well ?

That's the plan.

Seems mad but the .416 is only conditioned for UK zeroing and then transporting to the airport - so it seems a shame not to give it a run out.

I do have the more sensible option of just taking the .375 or even the .308.

There are only two of our four who are after Big Game this time.

 

[Jamouk]

I can understand that fully ! Ammos not going be cheap i would have liked to have seen the look on my face when i first bought some 375 and asked for the premium grade trophy safari ammo and got told it was 160 a box ! God knows what 416 is !

 

[Stalker62]

God knows what 416 is !

Fairly sure it is north of £250.

If I can find a box of soft points, I can check zero with the solids and a couple of softs - and still leave a dozen or so rounds for the trip.

 

[Jamouk]

Im going to look at a job in Dover today so going to pop into Wilsons in Thanet after .. want me to see what they have.. sure they stock it they had about 7 different options of 375

 

[bowji john]

I’d be keeping one eye on fulfilling my ‘good reason’ for ownership so I too would take the 416 (404 in my case)

.375 as well if I could justify the extra $250 for a second rifle

 

[Jamouk]

Maybe lay of the Duikers tho !

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Im going to look at a job in Dover today so going to pop into Wilsons in Thanet after .. want me to see what they have.. sure they stock it they had about 7 different options of 375

There was a small RFD in Clarendon Road Dover but I have not heard for yonks about him. Good luck on the job front. Is it checking vehicles for illegal trophy imports??

 

[zambezi]

Maybe lay of the Duikers tho !

Here is a link to a well established safari team in SA. In this clip they are going after a Blue Duiker with a .375.

Apparently, loaded with solids, the .375 delivers a humane despatch with limited risk to the pelage should you want to engage a taxidermist afterwards.