Recent content by Willie Barnard

Salute to those who served on both sides of the Atlantic. The date 31 May also has special significance for South Africans. 31 May 1902 The peace of Vereeniging is signed between Boer and Briton, ending 3 years of brutal war, but also the end of the two Boer republics. 31 May 1910: The Union of...

Those that have hunted Blue wildebeest, know that they are born sick, and then get better with every bit of lead you hang on them. So it was with this cow. The first shot was a frontal quartering shot on the right shoulder, just a bit too lateral. After penetrating the shoulder, it missed the...

However the story of the short 7 mm cartridges is well researched, they were not shortened to save raw material. Those 3 mm would make no practical difference. The 7x54 cartridges were made from 7.65x53 Argentine cases, prepared for Argentina,, and no longer needed because Argentina also opted...

Bruce, you are right about the dumping of instantly obsolete rifles on the Boer republics. The 4 years between the Jameson raid and the 2nd Anglo boer war was a time of hectic small arms purchases by the 2 Boer republics. The Raid opened their eyes to how woefully unprepared they were for a war...

Alchemist, thanks for the welcome. As soon as I get around to it, I'll start a thread on snakebite and share some info.

Thanks Leslie, for the reply and the wonderful photos. I envy your eyesight. Williebees

Cliff, I once had a chat with a hunter from Minnesota, his words: "I like your so-called winters." If you strike a really cold spell, the minimum night temperatures may go down to -3*Centigrade, with day temperatures between 16 and 22 *C. July is really the best time of year for a hunt in...

Nice Lesley, what is the distance you have to get inside of with the flintlock? We found that if the gun is rifled, and has a proper set of iron sights, 80 m is about maximum. (My replica 1776 Brown bess, is a smoothbore, and only has a bayonet lug, no sights. With her you need to get within 20...

It is 1884 in the ZAR. The little Boer republic is 30 years old, recognized by the treaty of London in 1854. Yes there was that unfortunate interlude of British rule from '77 to '81, but that misunderstanding was clarified at Majuba on 27 February 1881. Now the flag of the ZAR is flying in...

Thanks for the all the welcomes. I just thought, I could make my intro so much shorter: "I like guns and gnus.":) Gert thank you for the kind words - we are planning our Pioneer hunt for March this year. Thanks to Gert the forum can look forward to a great crop of photos!

My name is Willie Barnard, and I live in Limpopo province RSA. My favourite animal is the blue wildebees/ brindled gnu/ streifengnu/ Connochaetus taurinus. From there my nickname "Williebees" I love all kinds of hunting, and all kinds of guns. Looking forward to chat with you guys.