SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Buffalo Hunt

Beemaa,

re: the broken horn bull, exactly what i wanted. not pretty, just a cool old warrior bull. if i could have picked from 20 different bulls, big or small, i wanted one with a broken horn and a full life. thats exactly what i got.

not sure about the article you are referring to. Phil Shoemaker, a local hunting guide, had a 450-400 zoli, and wrote about it regarding hunting brown bears several years ago. in fact i discussed with him which one i should buy before i made a move on the rifle i now own.

i am a fan tho! in john (pondoro) taylors book, in the front end he wrote a little bit about the o/u double rifle, it just was not a common configuration back then, but he said good things about it. many european doubles built today are in a smaller caliber, but are o/u configuration. the 450-400 has been described as "perfect, perfect, perfect for cape buffalo" by craig boddington and taylor. on my bull it did a great job. i'm sure it will be outstanding on brown bear, and i have taken two moose with it at fairly extended (for a double gun) ranges.

so, yep, i am a fan. my gun shoots very well. i could even load it a bit hotter, but there is no need. the only thing i wish is that it was made in stainless steel. i am not a "classic" or "traditional" kind of guy, i want something that works, and up here in a corrosive environment of alaska, stainless would be hard to beat. (my rifle does have pretty nice wood on it tho)(y)

i need to post the video of my shooting my bull (yep, got it on video!
 
1dirthawker - Yep, Phil Shoemaker.
I know you are a guide in AK and as is Phil, just didn't want to assume anything.
https://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/ri255partial.pdf

I'm with you on being non-traditional.
More of a stainless & fiberglass/kevlar guy myself.
My firearms are tools with jobs to do and sometimes it involves rain, salt, dirt with no (or very little) time for immediate cleaning.
When the job is over, the tools get the spa treatment.

Anyway, didn't mean to get off topic.
I'll keep looking for a stainless O/U and let you know if I find one.
Until then, it looks like your 450/400 has things covered.
Cheers.

PS - Yes, you need to post that video.
 

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  • ri255partial.pdf
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i got it to jerome, hope he can figure it out
 
Really like your buff..................thanks for the report...................FWB
 
Great shooting with what is probably the perfect caliber for buffalo in a double! Well done.

The other bull also appears to be a bruiser!
 
IVW,

thanks.

my bull was pretty big according to izak and neil, however, i agree with you, the other bull looked even bigger than my bull (body size).
 
Yours is a real warlord, proper old dagga boy massive bosses and to be quite honest I prefer worn down and broken horns myself.

Great stuff and thx for sharing the video.
 
Awesome.
3 shots in just under ten seconds, well done.
And I like the new avatar.
 
Awesome buffalo! Nice shooting. Thanks for sharing your story
 
dirt hawker,
I sure enjoyed your report. Thanks! Good story. Good old broken horn bull!
Also, you used good NF bullets! And that Zoli rifle is awesome. I would like to get one if the price is right.

Your flight over there was a bit longer than mine from Kamloops BC Canada.

Cheers, Brian
 
Nice old buff! really like the busted horn and huge boss. The 450/400 is such a nice well rounded caliber. Mine is also a O/U but a Verrney Carron and I got it in a couple gun trade and didn't want to like it and was just going to go to the range shot it and sell it as the other double was a 9.3x74 Chapuis. But boy did it shoot and form and function won out over tradition. My 9.3 and the 450/400 are my most favourite rifles. 190 is a long shot for a double! nice wildebeest too.
 
AZDAVE,

hey, thanks, god grew him, i only shot him.;) i was fortunate to find the bull in a fairly short time. i really like my o/u double, it truly shoots great. i need to shoot a single barrel for a group just to see how well it actually shoots. i bought it to keep, but until you shoot the rifle you are not completely sure what you got.

190 yards is a long poke for a double, but not mine!!:cool: i have shot 2 moose with it, one was 220 yards, the other was farther! i can only say that the north forks have treated me well so far, i would shoot a wood leigh or a hawk bullet if not a north fork in my gun. i nearly bought a VC, but was talked into the zoli. i believe both are fine rifles. and you picked an excellent caliber. :D
 
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1dirtwawker - I've been obsessed with the O/U double rifle for quite a while.
Now you are telling me that you are taking game (moose at that) at over 200 yards...
I'm loosing my mind and the wife has threatened a computer hostage situation, if I don't stop.
Rifles are like a drug to me and I need a 12 step sponsor with a sense of humor and high speed internet.
 
BeeMaa, I am in the same boat. I have to go to Gun Buyers Meetings! I want a O/U with two barrel sets. 375 Winchester and 50-110. Then I will quit! Brian
 
Then I will quit! Brian
Suuuuure you will.
Just like I said I would quit when I got my 300WSM.
And when I got my Benelli SBE, and two more Beretta silver pigeions because you can't just have a 12ga, you gotta have a 20ga too.
We are all going to quit...when we die.
It's an addiction I can live with.
Cheers mate.
 
Congratulations great bosses on that old boy. Man would have loved to have seen a matching set on him. Well done.
 

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Cwoody wrote on Woodcarver's profile.
Shot me email if Beretta 28 ga DU is available
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Pancho wrote on Safari Dave's profile.
Enjoyed reading your post again. Believe this is the 3rd time. I am scheduled to hunt w/ Legadema in Sep. Really looking forward to it.
check out our Buff hunt deal!
Because of some clients having to move their dates I have 2 prime time slots open if anyone is interested to do a hunt
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