salmonchaser
Ammo Smith
- Dec 13, 2013
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Yes there is quite a lot of favorable opinion on Barnes. I saw quite a few Reed bucks yesterday, thought about taking another but my bad wind call kinda shook me.
Africa 2026
- Thread starter Vince
- Start date
- Nov 4, 2004
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Thanks for asking Don. Everything I have read on the 375 H&H for Cape Buffalo points to the Swift A Frame closely followed by the Barnes TSX.
JD338
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- #103
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salmonchaser
Ammo Smith
- Dec 13, 2013
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These guys kill so much game from small Antelope to waterbuck, kudu and eland. We've an apprentice in camp, college age kid. He's already guided 27 kudu, 1/2 dozen eland and doesn't really know many Impala and spring bok. He's also killed several Buffalo and a couple of elephants hunting with his dad.
People we know here talk about too much gun, these PH really talk about use enough.
Certainly my 300h&h is enough gun for Mountain Reebok, Springbok and Impala. 180 Accubonds are certainly up to the challenge. Surprisingly little damage to the carcass. The combination however made up for my bad wind call, with just enough quartering I also got into the far lung.
excellent Nyala and a zebra to boot. That is a good morning.
salmonchaser
Ammo Smith
- Dec 13, 2013
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Found quite a few kudu bulls this morning, good age class bulls but nothing to eclipse my first one. Finally put the sneak on one but he managed to elude us.finally shot a pig. The 300 HH has worked just fine. We're going into a little valley this afternoon one last chance on a Kudduv
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- Nov 4, 2004
- 27,216
- 13,830
- Nov 4, 2004
- 27,216
- 13,830
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Today was a great day!
Nyala in the morning and Kudu this evening. Yesterday’s Zebra was an all day affair. She turned just as I touched off the trigger. We didn’t get her until late afternoon. The PH, and two Trackers/Skinners.
The Nyala went about two steps and the Kudu ran about twenty yards. Not to worry though the Zebra made everyone earn their pay.
Vince
Nyala in the morning and Kudu this evening. Yesterday’s Zebra was an all day affair. She turned just as I touched off the trigger. We didn’t get her until late afternoon. The PH, and two Trackers/Skinners.
The Nyala went about two steps and the Kudu ran about twenty yards. Not to worry though the Zebra made everyone earn their pay.
Vince
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salmonchaser
Ammo Smith
- Dec 13, 2013
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That's a wrap. We spent 1/2 hour watching a good bull kudu this afternoon. He wasn't going to break 50 inches so I finally lowered my rifle and we slipped off. I hadn't planned on Kudu this trip any way, unless he was huge.
The trip was fantastic can't say enough about this outfit.
The trip was fantastic can't say enough about this outfit.
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salmonchaser
Ammo Smith
- Dec 13, 2013
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Very solid examples of Kudu and Nyala Vince. You did well.
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salmonchaser
Ammo Smith
- Dec 13, 2013
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I’m waking up at 0230 or 0300 every morning.
It’s beautiful in the bush no matter what country you’re in.
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salmonchaser
Ammo Smith
- Dec 13, 2013
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This is really the tale of a rifle, of walking and perhaps a new old way of doing things. I had told my PH the first night in camp I was good to 500 with cartridge, load, bullet and skill set but much preferred 100 yards to 500. I also told him I wanted to walk, a lot. Seven days of hunting we covered just over 50 miles on foot. Mark, my PH, was thrilled, or so he said. The shortest stalk we had was a touch over 400 yards on the Gemsbok. Just luck. We had parked a solid mile from where the herd had been seen a day or two before. 10 seconds after I threw my rifle on my shoulder we spotted them at 700 yards. The longest turned into two failed stalks on the Heartabeast, those things are jumpy as hell. We had them initially at 400 in the bottom of a deep steep canyon. Be a long afternoon if I killed him there. We were about 1.5 from the truck. The wind was gusting to 20 and we had just learned via radio all available staff was working to recover two eland killed some distance from the road on a separate part of this 400, 000 acre holding. Mark suggests we send the tracker to cut a big loop, to get below and down wind of the herd. We figured the herd would come up the canyon, cross a bench out in front of us at about 200 yards and ultimately we could get close to them with the truck if I shot one. Didn't figure on the tracker stumbling into a herd of mountain Reed bucks, that ran straight into the herd we were after. Off they go down the canyon and up the other side, around the point but not out of our lives, no sir. Mark and I were waiting for our young tracker when we spotted the herd on a flat separated from us by two canyons, another mile away. We are off, leaving the truck behind. Mark knows there is a two track that will take us to the flat should we get a shot. Down a couple 100 feet, up about the same, gain the back side of the ridge that runs down to the herd. We have covered another mile, we see them but they are at six hundred with a full value wind gusting to 20. We've no cover but or fearless tracker indicates he can try the loop trick again. They should move by us on catching his wind any where from 0 to 200 yards. Eventually the herd mills around, nervous, but not panicked, Mark has us hidden in some rocks. He figures they will crest the hill in front of us and stop like Mule deer. Tracker on the radio, I just spooked a Kudu. I'm starting to pick up some Zulu. Damn thing runs right by the Heartabeast, and nearly over us. The herd goes by at about 40 mph with a 20mph tail wind. I don't even think about shooting. Through the spotting scope we watch them go all the way back to the original canyon, disappearing and then reappearing walking across the bench we had originally hoped they would cross. We got them now I said, bet they walk right by the truck. Bloody Hell!
Off we go we're 2.5 from the truck with some elevation to gain. It was cool when we left, now 0930 or so it's getting warm even with the wind. We c gain the truck, shed some gear and consider our options.
Tracker points across yet another canyon, yep there they are. Not quite a mile. The big bull is still with them, they start bedding down. We got them says Mark. Bloody Hell I respond. The wind is basically towards them but there is a finger ridge between us and them. If we can get to there we will be hidden from view and the ridge should funnel our scent away, maybe. With the tracker at the truck we head off. We gain the bottom of the canyon and start up using the finger ridge for cover.
Eventually Mark peaks over then slides back. A little over 300 full value wind. You're going to shoot prone from that rock no other choice. I slide into position, find the big one and start checking my breathing. Mark says we've been spotted they are starting to stand, wait till he's up and broadside. He's up, he's quartering away and others are already trotting. I was thinking more about my quartering hold, not sure if I held wind or not. Big wet thump. He goes into some trees, the rest of the herd runs but he steps out and stops. He's 400, can you hit him. I dial to 400, take two breaths, set the cross hairs on his neck for the wind and fold him with a high shoulder shot. I feel like crap making a bad shot, thankfully a "proper cartridge and bullet" punched into the lungs. That was our toughest stalk.
Back to the rifle;
From the beginning it attracted attention, six new hunters and their PH were on the range that first morning. Paper at 100, steel plates from there out to 1000. Ok who is first. I was the last to arrive in camp so I waited. Nobody moved so I opened my case and got on the line. 1 1/2 high. Would you shoot a couple of plates my PH asked. Hit 200, 300, 400. Called it good. One guy had an old pre 64 mdl 70 in 06, he shot well. The rest of the guys had chassis style rifles. One guy had a 6.5 creedmore, it's all about bullet placement he said. No it's not said his guide, elaborating on the limitations of the Creedmore.
The #1 attracted quite a bit of attention from the PHs I was worried it wouldn't find its way back. 2980 fps/180 Accubonds met with their approval.
Over the course of the week the rifle achieved first round hits on 10 animals from 120 to nearly 500 yards. #1s are perfectly adequate for a once in a lifetime hunt. The Gemsbok first round got high lung but still needed a follow up. The Heartabeast was certainly a poor shot but the bullet did get into the lungs making the follow up academic. Everything else dropped stone dead.
The rifle carries nearly as nice as a model 94, hard to beat on long walks. It's fast to use, Mark commented everyday how fast I fired. I think it's the balance, it points nearly like a well fitted shotgun.
Time for another plane ride
Off we go we're 2.5 from the truck with some elevation to gain. It was cool when we left, now 0930 or so it's getting warm even with the wind. We c gain the truck, shed some gear and consider our options.
Tracker points across yet another canyon, yep there they are. Not quite a mile. The big bull is still with them, they start bedding down. We got them says Mark. Bloody Hell I respond. The wind is basically towards them but there is a finger ridge between us and them. If we can get to there we will be hidden from view and the ridge should funnel our scent away, maybe. With the tracker at the truck we head off. We gain the bottom of the canyon and start up using the finger ridge for cover.
Eventually Mark peaks over then slides back. A little over 300 full value wind. You're going to shoot prone from that rock no other choice. I slide into position, find the big one and start checking my breathing. Mark says we've been spotted they are starting to stand, wait till he's up and broadside. He's up, he's quartering away and others are already trotting. I was thinking more about my quartering hold, not sure if I held wind or not. Big wet thump. He goes into some trees, the rest of the herd runs but he steps out and stops. He's 400, can you hit him. I dial to 400, take two breaths, set the cross hairs on his neck for the wind and fold him with a high shoulder shot. I feel like crap making a bad shot, thankfully a "proper cartridge and bullet" punched into the lungs. That was our toughest stalk.
Back to the rifle;
From the beginning it attracted attention, six new hunters and their PH were on the range that first morning. Paper at 100, steel plates from there out to 1000. Ok who is first. I was the last to arrive in camp so I waited. Nobody moved so I opened my case and got on the line. 1 1/2 high. Would you shoot a couple of plates my PH asked. Hit 200, 300, 400. Called it good. One guy had an old pre 64 mdl 70 in 06, he shot well. The rest of the guys had chassis style rifles. One guy had a 6.5 creedmore, it's all about bullet placement he said. No it's not said his guide, elaborating on the limitations of the Creedmore.
The #1 attracted quite a bit of attention from the PHs I was worried it wouldn't find its way back. 2980 fps/180 Accubonds met with their approval.
Over the course of the week the rifle achieved first round hits on 10 animals from 120 to nearly 500 yards. #1s are perfectly adequate for a once in a lifetime hunt. The Gemsbok first round got high lung but still needed a follow up. The Heartabeast was certainly a poor shot but the bullet did get into the lungs making the follow up academic. Everything else dropped stone dead.
The rifle carries nearly as nice as a model 94, hard to beat on long walks. It's fast to use, Mark commented everyday how fast I fired. I think it's the balance, it points nearly like a well fitted shotgun.
Time for another plane ride
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