Mark Sullivan shows us how to handle a Double Rifle

[Brent in Az]

What are you doing watching 80's porn?

Dirk Diggler?[emoji1787]

What's the tl;dr on why Mark Sullivan is such a controversial man in the safari business.

This doesn't have to do with that but to me, his moustache screams to me "80's porn star."

 

[steve white]

The sound track on at least one of his films was doctored. You can count the shots and it DOESN'T include one round that went in right beside one of the buff's nostrils--you could count the shots and clearly see the impact, new hole and reverberation of tissue from the extra shot because he repeated the scene in slo-mo. In other words someone was even backing HIM up. Of course, I once saw Ivan Carter get his butt saved by a client's shot if you really take a look at the video. It wasn't Ivan's shot that collapsed the bull elephant for sure. On the other hand, nobody goes out there to get actually killed!

 

[IvW]

Is it true that during the prime of Sullivan's popularity, he was always booked 3-4 years in advance?

Who cares? If that rocks your boat go with it.....

 

[IvW]

Brent: Yes, he was. He had a waiting list of both new and waiting clients that many in the industry were very jealous or envious of. It's is interesting that the folks who are negative and those who never met the man in person an base there opinions on what they heard. (I'm still waiting for one gent here to provide the several countries that he heard Mark was kicked out of on both sides of the pond). And, those that have hunted with him have glowing reports.

Why do you need to meet the "MAN" when most base their opinions on his comments and videos? Nothing to do with "what they heard" in most cases rather what has been filmed and published...

Most other experienced PH's dislike the way he hunts(ethics) and not his success......

Hunts primarily buffalo....try this shit on elephant or lion and he would be long gone....

If it is wounded you need to finish it asap....not linger on to increase your dick size for hyped up video footage so you can sell more "hunts"....

I am not a fan....

 

[Tanks]

...
What I do conclude is that his own words point to the fact that he has highly problematic ethics and it is damaging to sportsman's image because I believe his conduct is immoral in light of his intent as he states it.

First, that is your opinion also others might not delve into metaphysical aspects as you have.

Secondly, just about any trophy pictures or hunting advertisements can be taken as unsportsmanlike based on who is looking at them.

Heck, based on some of the comments I have gotten on the social media of the pic below I am the reincarnation of the devil and do not deserve to live. No one can make everyone happy and some people are polarizing, it is not unique to MS. People seem to either love Trump or have a severe case of TDS. I know a few people that have a MSDS as well as @cal pappas has noticed here and at another forum.

Unless it is an incident like "Cecil" no one's mind is going to be changed one way or another in regards to hunting especially based on MS videos that cover a span of decades.

Elephant Hunting

• Tanks
• Feb 3, 2020
• 1

 

[tigris115]

What are you doing watching 80's porn?

Expressing my rights as a red-blooded American

 

[Brent in Az]

Don't be so serious. I hope you realize when someone is being facetious..

Expressing my rights as a red-blooded American

 

[CoElkHunter]

Wow! Never hunted in Africa or DG anywhere. But I guess my bolt action CZ Lott won’t work according to this guy and I can’t afford a double, so I guess I’m out!

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Wow! Never hunted in Africa or DG anywhere. But I guess my bolt action CZ Lott won’t work according to this guy and I can’t afford a double, so I guess I’m out!

I guess @IvW BRNO 602 won’t work either, somebody better tell him.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I guess @IvW BRNO 602 won’t work either, somebody better tell him.

Nope! Just like me, your relegated to hunting PG or prairie dogs! Wish we could afford double rifles! Ha! Ha!

 

[tigris115]

Nah man, I'm fine. That's just my sense of humor.

Don't be so serious. I hope you realize when someone is being facetious..

 

[Aaron N]

Wow! Never hunted in Africa or DG anywhere. But I guess my bolt action CZ Lott won’t work according to this guy and I can’t afford a double, so I guess I’m out!

There are plenty here who will scoff at a CZ, saying it’s not fit for the field without sending to to AHR, so don’t just blame MS!

Personally, I love mine!

 

[CoElkHunter]

There are plenty here who will scoff at a CZ, saying it’s not fit for the field without sending to to AHR, so don’t just blame MS!

Personally, I love mine!

I love mine too! Never been to the field with it yet, but it feels and shoots great. I actually like this video with MS? He’s very anal, but very strong in his beliefs? I actually see no issue with walking towards your quarry to get a close, killing shot? I just have never hunted anything that would allow a hunter to do this? Anyway, until I can afford a double rifle, I guess I’ll stay home and watch MS and others in hunting videos? Ha! Ha!

 

[IvW]

I guess @IvW BRNO 602 won’t work either, somebody better tell him.

WHAT!!!! I guess 29 years of using it and two others without a glitch puts me in the non MS class which quite frankly suites me just fine.....

Hell ya we all long for a double rifle but rest assured many more professionals have used bolt actions with greater success....

Follow up on leopard in my opinion is probably the the best place for a double and in this case it should not be the big boomers, a 9.3x74R, 575 Flanged magnum or the relatively new 500/416 NE or Rigby Nr 2 would be the cat's
whiskers the last two being suitable for Lion as well(back up that is).

For leopard I have never found my "Poor man's double" wanting and as for all the rest well, one well placed shot from the old 500 Jeff on a BRNO ZKK 602 action has flattened everything I ever needed to sort out.....

One double I would love to have is a African Bergstutzen in 9.3x74R/7x57R, for PG hunting.....anyway I don't think MS would approve so let's leave it at that shall we......

 

[Von S.]

I watched the video on Sullivan offering how to handle a double and feel that he is spot on.

 

[bill73]

I watched the video on Sullivan offering how to handle a double and feel that he is spot on.

How many double rifles do you own?

 

[cal pappas]

I don't know how many doubles Von S. owns, but I currently own 18 and in total over the years 60+. All pre war vintage from the UK (England and Scotland). Mark is absolutley spot on in now to handle a double. There are many ways to handle a double and many opinions, too, but Sullivan has developed his own style and from 30 years big game hunting I don't think there are many who can equal his experience. His other suggestions are also valid: binocs under the arm of the non shooting shoulder, leather cartridge loops with bullets visible so they can be pushed out as well as pulled (not just pulled), to carry minimal stuff on one's belt, etc..

Don't take the commentary too seriously; rather with a grain of salt as the old saying goes. Mark will laugh when quail hunting on how the bird makes the choice how it is to die. When he calls a .470 a "lady's rifle" he will laugh with you if you bring a rifle larger than his. I hunted with Mark with my vintage .600 Wilkes and he used a Heym .577 which he referred to has his "mother's .577." I laughed more with Mark on one hunt than in my other 20 safaris combined with numerous PHs. A second hunt was missed due to our schedules not working and this year the virus killed two hunts this year in Africa and another in Argentina. I hope to hunt with Mark again in 2021.

 

[Patrillos]

I hunted with him some years ago, and he is a great PH. He knows ok how animals react, but he is crazy and problematic

 

[Foxi]

I have had email contact with him a couple of times over the last 12 months and was surprised how accessible, polite and humorous he is.
Not the slightest hint of arrogance or anything particularly important and bitchy.
Yes, I would love to go hunting with him, but I'm afraid I won't be able to afford his promi daily rate .
Besides I have only one Ferlach(Austria) double o/u in .458 Win MAg.
There he will faint for sure and I stand there alone

 

[Von S.]

How many double rifles do you own?

Over the decades @bill73 I have bought and sold many....since you asked your question I have outfitted 7 with large bore sxs, 4 with medium bore sxs and 11 bolt big bore all destined to head to africa to make some lifelong dreams come true.

I personally keep 4 for myself. From double barreled canon to tiny flea ass. I must say that I like bolt guns the best with the two biggest being a 600 ok and a 577trex.

The 600 has not made it to africa......... though it did make it to russia and fired one shot with devastating effects.