I wish I could hunt with a muzzle loader in africa

leslie hetrick

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I would bring my TC big bore .58 cal rifle( top picture) and shoot a heavy min-ball.( lower picture TC hawken silver cougar 50 cal ,unfired). in the blind I hunted a lot of large kudu passed with in 20 yards and were very easy shots with .375 H&H mag . leslie. PS look close at the last picture of the blind.

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Let me side-step your primary question, and address what troubles me about your photographs. From what I can see, you were hunting at close range over a manmade waterhole and feeding location - what is essentially a bow-hunting set-up on many high fence operations. You are correct it makes for a pretty uninteresting rifle hunt - particularly with what I assume was a scoped .375? With your experience in hunting Africa you already know that how game will be hunted is a critical part of the dialogue one needs to have with an outfitter. Unless the area is particularly small or the PH particularly lazy, the VAST majority of outfitters will never place rifle hunters in such a set-up. Like a modern bow, it would be an opportunity for use of a black powder arm. Sorry you were trapped into that.
 
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not high fenced, other water close by and not big for Africa, but a private farm. that we self cater(feed our selfs and wash out own clothes and do stalk and blind hunt both). it helps keep the cost down for the common man-hunter. leslie.
 
My mistake - sorry - I'm tracking now. Then you are correct. A muzzleloader would be fun in that environment. Have you considered a traditional cartridge rifle of some sort with open sights? I have a single shot Winchester 1885 in 38-55 and a modern single shot 45/70 (one of those Quigley replicas). Either would work for that sort of hunt. Even better might be a Martini Henry in 577/450 which would be effective at close range and a traditional bushveld rifle from the end of the 19th century. You could even use blackpowder loads in one of those. A group of our members do a traditional hunt each year with such weapons. Any of those would be fun in that environment. https://www.africahunting.com/threa...ltevreden-farm-in-limpopo-south-africa.38630/
 
I use a friends modern rifles to avoid the hassles of importing them, I was hopeing the importing of a muzzle loader would be easier ( my friend has no muzzle loading firearms), but have read getting the black powder in africa would be a problem too. my 58 caliber with receiver sight is a solid 2-2.5" group shooter at 100 yards from a decent rest. I have a lot of older big bore rifles and hunt with then takeing medium size animals.

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Import isn't that big a hassle. I would be awfully tempted to tote that big Sharps along for your next hunt over there. Would strike me as the ideal compromise.
 
Glad you had some good times plus found a hunt that worked for you. You can take a muzzlerloader over just need to arrange for powder over there. It is different but can be done. Really looking forward to the day when guys don't try and judge how others hunt and right away make it about high fence or they don't like how someone else's hunt.

Hope you get to use one of the fine guns over there soon though.
 
I have made five trips over to Africa and hunted on both private farms and safari lodges, and had very good hunts on both. and have made life time long friends there and have brought African friends here. Leslie.

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I have made five trips over to Africa and hunted on both private farms and safari lodges, and had very good hunts on both. and have made life time long friends there and have brought African friends here. leslie.


Same for me plenty of good guys over there to hunt with. I think a lever gun could make for a fun hunt to. I am going to try and use the bow a bunch this year on my trip.

How big is that kudu in the last blind picture . he is right there that is for sure
 
close t0 45", not big enough to shoot, last july my friend shot a 56" kudu at that blind. the camp girls realy liked my harlyey shirts. Leslie.

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Hope you get that muzzle loader over there for a hunt. It appears you have everything else figured out with your many trips over. Good Luck!
 
Leslie, as mentioned in my other thread about the 1883 Era Black powder hunt , you are welcome to participate in this hunt next year 2019. There are conditions we set ourselves ( the hunters on this hunt) Since this is a re-enactment hunt of the way the old Boer/English hunters hunt , in the 1800-1910 era you need to wear the era clothes . No modern black powder rifles/powder, you need to hunt on foot, stalk animals up to thirty paces before shooting . You need to carry the hunted animal into the camp, slaughter it , skin it and process it`s meat.
Every one needs to participate in the camp activities like making food, baking bread, washing dishes, accumulate fire wood ect.
No modern item may be visible in the camp area. There are no blinds to shoot from, all hunting is done by method of bush craft, especially when you hunt by tracking fresh tracks and tracking by sound, when the impala is in rut, they would balk to defend their territory ...
Black powder is available in all gun shops in South Africa, a new product , Obatex is a new black powder available in our country.
It is only according to these requirements that hunter`s abroad may participate in our annual 1883 Era Black Powder hunt.
I would like to see you and fellow Forum hunters on such a hunt ...(y)(y)(y)(y) You have fine black powder rifles..
 
I saw a Winchester lever action in the post, what is the age cut off for the black powder rifles? I have a few Winchester 1873,s a 1876 and a 1886 along with 1892,s-1894,s Winchesters. you can now buy black powder the sporting-gun stores? do you need a license to buy it and to buy caps or flints? what grades are available-4f-2f-3f and at what cost? sorry for all the ????. leslie
 
My PH and outfitter, Kobus DeVilliers, specializes in black powder. He holds the 1000 yard record for an original black powder cartridge rifle and is a former member of the South African shooting team. He can fix you up with any type of black powder hunting you want to do.
My first year, I took a .45 muzzleloader and took all my larger trophies with it.

http://www.jakkalskuilsafaris.com/index.htm
 
Leslie, as mentioned in my other thread about the 1883 Era Black powder hunt , you are welcome to participate in this hunt next year 2019. There are conditions we set ourselves ( the hunters on this hunt) Since this is a re-enactment hunt of the way the old Boer/English hunters hunt , in the 1800-1910 era you need to wear the era clothes . No modern black powder rifles/powder, you need to hunt on foot, stalk animals up to thirty paces before shooting . You need to carry the hunted animal into the camp, slaughter it , skin it and process it`s meat.
Every one needs to participate in the camp activities like making food, baking bread, washing dishes, accumulate fire wood ect.
No modern item may be visible in the camp area. There are no blinds to shoot from, all hunting is done by method of bush craft, especially when you hunt by tracking fresh tracks and tracking by sound, when the impala is in rut, they would balk to defend their territory ...
Black powder is available in all gun shops in South Africa, a new product , Obatex is a new black powder available in our country.
It is only according to these requirements that hunter`s abroad may participate in our annual 1883 Era Black Powder hunt.
I would like to see you and fellow Forum hunters on such a hunt ...(y)(y)(y)(y) You have fine black powder rifles..

Gert - how does one get onto that trip? It seems wonderful and truly unique experience. Kind regards.jp
 
JP, this is a hunt done every year to get together hunter, using black powder rifles(original/copies of the rifles used in the 1800 era ...most of these hunters are knowledgeable in bush craft, skilled in crafts like black smiting, leather processing, survival skills, tracking skills, living off the veld as well as versed in Boer/English war history . Participation numbers are determined/decided by the area hunted on the farm. We kept the total numbers of participating hunters/visiting hunters at twelve to fifteen hunters. Not all hunters participate the whole week and a few days, some hunters visit for a few days due to their work obligations. The permanent hunters are about ten hunters doing the whole hunt.
Enough food for the first two days are taken on the hunt..from the second day`s end we commence living off the veld..(y) As mentioned above, all hunting is done on foot...all meat is processed in the camp , all meals are prepared over the open fire, we use the skins to process into thongs and skins for clothing...
It really is a great experience ...(y)(y)(y) I managed to get hold of two oxen this year that we will use to collect fire wood and transport a Kudu that will be too heavy to carry on a pole to the camp.We will inspan the Kakebeen ox wagon at the farm gate to tow the ox wagon to our camp site about a kilometer from the farm gate this year..this will be something special about this year`s hunt.
 
Good day to all members on the Black Powder forum..here is a great opportunity to participate in such a hunt..due to enquiries in regards to a Black Powder hunt in Africa

Good day to all members. Herewith an invitation to a very unique hunt for a Traditional Black powder hunter .
Interested hunters can to contact me by PM.


Here is a complete explanation of what this hunt is about:
1880 theme black powder African Pioneer hunt.
An experience of a lifetime – South Africa.
It is an experience you will remember for the rest of your life.
Only 4 bookings allowed.
Cost is $6000 per person
10 days (3-10 May 2020)

Included:
- Airport transfer to and from OR Tambo ( JHB International – South Africa
- All trophy, hunting and export permits
- Kudu
- Impala
- Blue wildebeest
- Warthog
- Era specific black powder rifle rental and instruction
- Professional hunter and guide
- Transport of trophies to taxidermy
- Era specific accommodation (Bell or A-frame tent sleeping on a stretcher)
- Era specific clothing, shoes, hat, belt (Your own clothes will not be allowed)

Beware:
- This is not an ordinary hunt.
- You are welcome to book a modern plains game and/or dangerous game hunt before or after this 1880 black powder African pioneer hunt.
- If you do not wish to partake in this experience, you are welcome to book a modern plains game and/or dangerous game hunt with us. Please find the 2020 pricelist attached.
- Do not be disillusioned, this is a true 1880 African pioneer black powder hunting experience.
- The members of the hunt consists of only 4 (four) clients and 10 (ten) specialist South African 1880 black powder pioneer hunters which include 4 (four) professional hunters.
- You will be required to fall in with the daily routine of the camp and you will not receive any special treatment.
- You will be required to do your own chores and those of the camp assigned to you.
- You will walk and stalk your animals and bring them into camp on the back of donkeys.
- You will help skin your own animals, debone the carcass, cut biltong, make wors (sausage), prepare the spices, hang the meat, make fire, cook, bake, make a knife, make shoes, make a whip, wash dishes and partake in the traditions of that era.
- The survival of the camp depends on the family unity of the camp. Everyone has to do his part.
- You will fall in with the South African group and you will find this experience tough and challenging.
- Bread is baked daily in the river wall and food is prepared on open fire. You you will get to help with everything.
- Ablution is a pit toilet and the shower is under a tree with a screen.
- This is an authentic experience and there is no half measure.
- You will be allowed a mobile phone and camera to capture your memories and so do all the participants. Photo’s and video’s will be shared… and that is as modern as it gets.

Excluded:
- All taxidermy costs
- Trophy fee of animals bagged, wounded or lost
- All trophy export costs
- Air charters (where applicable)
- Government tax (where applicable)
- Hotel or lodge accommodation before or after the safari (where applicable)

Terms:
- To confirm a booking and secure dates, a deposit of $1000 or €1000 for booking confirmation is required. Big 5 hunts where specified animal/s is/are booked, an additional 50% deposit for these specified animal/s is required.
- Please take out own cancellation insurance.
- The balance of the safari (ea.: daily rates, services and animals hunted) is payable on the last day of the safari.
- Please note only wire transfers, travellers checks, credit cards and cash will be accepted as payment.
- Please note that all credit card payments wiII incur a 3% surcharge.
- No personal or bank certified checks can be accepted as payment.
- There will be no refunds on cancellations, but your deposit can be transferred to the following season.
- Before commencement of the safari, clients are required to complete and sign a safari contract and a general information sheet.
- All clients and observers are required to read and sign our indemnity form before the commencement of any safari.
- Prices are subject to change without notice due to circumstances out of our control.
- Any travelling day between states/hunting areas will be considered a full paying hunting day for hunters and observers.
- Any client wishing to fly between areas during a safari is responsible for his own plus his professional hunter’s and skinner's air fare.
- Value added tax (VAT) of 15% at present, is included in all rates and transportation fees.
- Trophy fees are exempt from government VAT IF they are an export item. If an animal is wounded & lost, VAT is payable and will be charged. VAT cannot be claimed back at the airport on the daily rates or transportation as it is considered a service provided.
- We accept no responsibility for any illness, accident, claim or loss of whatsoever nature arising during and after the safari.
- Clients are advised to take out their own medical insurance and cancellation cover
 
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I have talked to a number of hunters who have used traditional black powder rifles over in South Africa.

You just need to plan for it and have your outfitter purchase the black powder or substitute and caps locally and then sight your rifle in for what they purchased.

Their hunts were not over waterholes or out of blinds but spot and stalk. Granted like most of South Africa it was on a high fence farm but the area was bigger than some states here in the US.
 
We supply all black powder and bullets/rifles to the hunters who do not want to bring their own rifles...
 
Gert,

I haven't read any questions on this, so I'll ask:

Being an American, and your reenactment is 1882-1884. Would it be acceptable for an American to join your reenactment wearing American period clothing and to use an American period correct firearm?

Clothing could be anything from western, west of the Mississippi, "cowboy" attire to East of the Mississippi farmer or city "dude", to post "Civil War" "Yankee" military attire.

American firearms of this period were being converted from muzzle loading to black powder cartridge guns: Sharpes, and Remingtons, in rolling block and trap door actions and Henry's (Winchester) lever action. And of course black powder cartridge revolvers and shotguns.

I'll have to refresh my memory, but around these years a Frenchman (?) or Belgian (?) in Europe and an American in one of our New England states were both working on developing a "smokeless" powder.
 

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