Going to Limpopo in South Africa the end of July with my 9 year old

Ty W Hart · Feb 5, 2020

My son won a hunt to Limpopo and we are heading there at the end of July. He will be 9 years old on the hunt.
I am a guide in Arizona for kids with life threatening illnesses and disability’s. My rifle setup is a model 700 in 30-06 in the Outdoorsman’s chassis that goes on my tripod with an Harvester suppressor. He likes to shoot it but does not shoot it well yet. 7” group at 50 yards. He shoots his 6.5 Creedmore “that he won as well” it’s a cheap Savage youth with the same suppressor way better half the size group. So obviously there is recoil issue. He has a good shoulder pad that I sewed up to fit him. I think where I went wrong was having him start the 30-06 with the full load Nosler 180 grain that we plan on using for the hunt instead of light load 150 grain bullets. His 6.5 likes the 140 grain Nosler partions.
With all that being said he wants to go after his number 1 is Black Wildebeest and number 2 is zebra number 3 is oryx then a couple smaller plans game. With his shooting ability I don’t think I can get him to where I would feel comfortable shooting over 100 yards. I still have not had him try down loaded 30-06 yet. Our outfitter really wants him shooting 180grain Bullet. If it comes down to it I can lock the 30-06 in the tripod and use my phone to sight through the scope and he can just pull the trigger when I get it on and locked down. We are shooting 4.5 inches five shot groups at 300 yard like that but not what he wants.
All that to ask a couple simple questions.
Should I take both rifles and let him use the 6.5 for some animals and the 30-06 for others? If so what is ok to shoot with the 6.5 Creedmore? Or just take the 30-06 and try to hunt them like an archery hunt.
I really appreciate any educated input.

Mekaniks · Feb 5, 2020

Take the 6.5 for him if that is what he is most comfortable with. My son was 13 used a .243 and took a blue wildebeest, springbok and blesbok

mikecatt13 · Feb 5, 2020

You have several months to get his shooting up to par. Go back to basics, use a 223 or something similar and get him shooting sub 2" off sticks at 50yds and move up in caliber, hope he at least makes it to his 6.5 by the time you go but set standards and stick to them. Practice and hammer the fundamentals of how to properly support the the gun, stance, and SQUEEZE the trigger. I'm no guide, but I would say 3-4" groups off sticks sets his max yardage, whether that ends up at 50 or 150, stick to it and it leaves some margin for error for being excited on an animal vs paper.

For example, when I practice with my bow I start at 20 yards and shoot 5 good arrows in a row per yardage (usually a 3" circle). When I get 5 I move back. Some days I get to 40, some days 80. No sense in moving further until the fundamentals are hammered in and results are as desired at a closer range first

Know his limits, communicate with the PH to avoid wounded animals. Its all about shot placement. If you blow a stalk trying to get to 50 yards, the next stalk or 2 will still likely take less time than chasing a wounded animal miles

Shootist43 · Feb 5, 2020

Ty, a little over a year ago I had my youngest grandson snuggle up to a 44 Cal. Ruger Deer Slayer. Not thinking things through I had him kneeling on the seat when he squeezed off a round. It darn near knocked him on his rump. My bad. It took a lot of talking to get him to try the 6.5 x 55 Swede. that I had finally put a kid sized stock on. Thankfully he shot it well and took a doe during the Michigan Youth Season in September. Don't rush him, You are unlikely to have more than one chance at getting him to want to use the '06 again, don't blow it. The lad was putting 5 out of 6 rounds into the X & 10 rings of a 100 yd. target at 50 Yds. The doe he took was at 65 Yds. You want your son to make clean kills on the animals he shoots. I think you'd be better off limiting him to Impala sized game to start off with. BTW my grandson was 9 years and 2 weeks old when he shot his doe.

nztimb · Feb 6, 2020

Giday Ty and welcome to the A H forums

Ty W Hart · Feb 6, 2020

mikecatt13 said:
You have several months to get his shooting up to par. Go back to basics, use a 223 or something similar and get him shooting sub 2" off sticks at 50yds and move up in caliber, hope he at least makes it to his 6.5 by the time you go but set standards and stick to them. Practice and hammer the fundamentals of how to properly support the the gun, stance, and SQUEEZE the trigger. I'm no guide, but I would say 3-4" groups off sticks sets his max yardage, whether that ends up at 50 or 150, stick to it and it leaves some margin for error for being excited on an animal vs paper.

For example, when I practice with my bow I start at 20 yards and shoot 5 good arrows in a row per yardage (usually a 3" circle). When I get 5 I move back. Some days I get to 40, some days 80. No sense in moving further until the fundamentals are hammered in and results are as desired at a closer range first

Know his limits, communicate with the PH to avoid wounded animals. Its all about shot placement. If you blow a stalk trying to get to 50 yards, the next stalk or 2 will still likely take less time than chasing a wounded animal miles

Thanks for the reply. The Harvester takes virtually all recoil out of the 6.5. I agree 100% 3”-4” group is his max effective range whatever the distance. I have tons of experience guiding in Arizona 25 + years. Ugh it hard to say that! One thing I learned is most people over estimate their ability or their rifles abilities to magically do everything for them. That being said I do have that set up now for disabled hunters. I even have a blow tube set up to pull the trigger for those that cannot. That just not what my son wants to use. I will try to upload some pictures of the setup.

Ty W Hart · Feb 6, 2020

This is the setup without the phone or mechanical trigger.

cpr0312 · Feb 6, 2020

Welcome to AH and best of luck on the hunt!!

Ty W Hart · Feb 6, 2020

cpr0312 said:
Welcome to AH and best of luck on the hunt!!

Thank you

slam8031 · Feb 6, 2020

I took our four children to RSA in 2017. They were 9,11,14 and 16--They shot a 25.06 with the harvester suppressor--we practiced with a 17HMr--probably 100 shots each--the three youngest (daughters) shot 5 impala and a blesbok between them, all one shot kills. My son shot the 25.06 for a blue wildebeest and my 375 for a waterbuck--he probably had 250 practice rounds with the 17hmr. no recoil, little noise, and moving to the suppressed 25.06 for the girls was a simple move for them. practice with light rounds, limit the number of heavy recoil rounds would be my suggestion. Hope you have a great time!! Make great memories!

mikecatt13 · Feb 6, 2020

Ty W Hart said:
Thanks for the reply. The Harvester takes virtually all recoil out of the 6.5. I agree 100% 3”-4” group is his max effective range whatever the distance. I have tons of experience guiding in Arizona 25 + years. Ugh it hard to say that! One thing I learned is most people over estimate their ability or their rifles abilities to magically do everything for them. That being said I do have that set up now for disabled hunters. I even have a blow tube set up to pull the trigger for those that cannot. That just not what my son wants to use. I will try to upload some pictures of the setup. View attachment 328727

Neat setup. I bet if you just go back to the fundamentals with a small caliber for a bit then work him back up to the 6.5 he will be fine. 6.5 is fairly versatile, see if the gun likes a heavier bullet, theres lots of animals that are capable of being taken with a well placed 6.5 with a quality bullet like an aframe. Practicing with that smaller caliber a bit will save some $$$ in ammo too. If he can hold those groups out to 100, depending on the area and terrain of course, I bet your PH will get him plenty of opportunities within his comfort zone

shootist~ · Feb 6, 2020

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/6-5-x-55-swede-for-african-plains-game.42253/

Ty,

The above thread is full of excellent advice (both pro and con) on the 6.5 for plains game. I've probably read that thread a half dozen times as I have planned for my 1st SA hunt (also in July in Limpopo).

In this case, the linked discussion is on the 6.5 Swede version, but the Creedmoor is ballistically equivalent - Reloads to Reloads up to 140 grains. (The only possible exception is that the 6.5x55 can use heavier bullets.)

You would know more than most of us what the 6.5 CM is capable of. IMO - take it, but match the ability of both the round and the shooter to the game.

My primary rifle at this time is also a 30-06, but my PH stated he has no problems with me bringing the 6.5 Creedmoor. He has seen at least one, in the hands of a capable shooter, perform very well indeed. And that was with 130s.

Shootist43 · Feb 6, 2020

Ty, one of the things I forgot to mention is that the stock on the Swede my grandson used had a 12 & 3/4" LOP, it was also the Thumb Hole version. He couldn't manage a thick wristed stock.

Tra3 · Feb 6, 2020

Welcome to AH!

definitely take two rifles. Your son will feel more mature knowing he has his own rifle on a hunt in Africa. He can be involved in carrying it, cleaning it and have it leaned next to his bed at night. In the year 2090 he will still be talking about it.

As for the 6.5CM, my 12 yr old son used that caliber to take a zebra, springbok, Blesbok, warthog, red hartebeest and a steinbok. He was shooting 142 nosler ABLRs. My son weighed maybe 75 lbs at the time.

I used that same rifle on elk this year.

The PH will likely get him in close for a seated shot with the sticks. Practice that, with your knee as an elbow rest for him.
Electronic ear protection makes a big difference too, taking noise down as much as possible helps (even better with a suppressor and electronic muffs!)
We did a lot of .22 and .17 hmr shooting for practice. Then we moved up to a .22-250. He would only shoot the 6.5 for 3-6 rounds during a practice session.
Another piece of advice: when you arrive, see if you can discretely buy a variety of new and unfamiliar candy/chocolate and bring it on your hunts. When things get tough, a short candy rest makes a world of difference. We half jokingly call it “crisis chocolate”. Not surprisingly, it works for adults too.

shark_za · Feb 7, 2020

The only issue here is convincing your PH to let your kid shoot with his 6.5. I am already convinced its a better plan just from what you are saying but its his call.
A well placed 6.5 140gr+ bullet is better than a gut shot 180gr 30 cal.

Black Wildebeest are tough but I personally think that is partly because they are shaped weird and people don't hit the heart as often as other animals.
A 140gr Nosler Partition in the same spot as any other 180gr bullet will not have very much difference in the end result.
Good luck with getting his Inkonkoni !

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · Feb 12, 2020

Ty W Hart said:
My son won a hunt to Limpopo and we are heading there at the end of July. He will be 9 years old on the hunt.
I am a guide in Arizona for kids with life threatening illnesses and disability’s. My rifle setup is a model 700 in 30-06 in the Outdoorsman’s chassis that goes on my tripod with an Harvester suppressor. He likes to shoot it but does not shoot it well yet. 7” group at 50 yards. He shoots his 6.5 Creedmore “that he won as well” it’s a cheap Savage youth with the same suppressor way better half the size group. So obviously there is recoil issue. He has a good shoulder pad that I sewed up to fit him. I think where I went wrong was having him start the 30-06 with the full load Nosler 180 grain that we plan on using for the hunt instead of light load 150 grain bullets. His 6.5 likes the 140 grain Nosler partions.
With all that being said he wants to go after his number 1 is Black Wildebeest and number 2 is zebra number 3 is oryx then a couple smaller plans game. With his shooting ability I don’t think I can get him to where I would feel comfortable shooting over 100 yards. I still have not had him try down loaded 30-06 yet. Our outfitter really wants him shooting 180grain Bullet. If it comes down to it I can lock the 30-06 in the tripod and use my phone to sight through the scope and he can just pull the trigger when I get it on and locked down. We are shooting 4.5 inches five shot groups at 300 yard like that but not what he wants.
All that to ask a couple simple questions.
Should I take both rifles and let him use the 6.5 for some animals and the 30-06 for others? If so what is ok to shoot with the 6.5 Creedmore? Or just take the 30-06 and try to hunt them like an archery hunt.
I really appreciate any educated input.

Ty W Hart
Bullet weight hurts.
Try down loading the 06 with 130 grain pills and a 60% of the max charge of hogdon 4895 /AR2206H.
This will be milder shooting than the full house credemore.
Work up to full power loads with the 130 grains or to a level he is comfortable.
When it comes time to hunt just change to 130 grain Barnes ttsx.
These will handle the game he wants. Tell the Phone is using the 06 Loaded with Barnes he will be happy. If range is an issue you always have the option of hunting from blinds.
In the meantime use low recoil rifles even a 22 to build his confidence.
Just my 2cents worth mate.
Cheers
Bob Nelson

sureshot375 · Feb 13, 2020

I have a good friend who owns a game ranch in Limpopo. His dad has a old 243 that has killed a pile of kudu.

Take the rifle he shoots best. Pick the right shot, preferably broadside. Limit the shots to a reasonable distance.

Honestly the hardest part will be the stalking and being able to get sighted on the animal in brush. Perhaps the outfitter has some blind set ups that he can hunt from.

Going to Limpopo in South Africa the end of July with my 9 year old

Ty W Hart

Mekaniks

mikecatt13

Shootist43

nztimb

Ty W Hart

Ty W Hart

cpr0312

Ty W Hart

slam8031

mikecatt13

shootist~

Shootist43

Tra3

shark_za

Bob Nelson 35Whelen

sureshot375

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