A Shikari, A Pack Of Hounds & One Very, Very Angry Leopard

[Major Khan]

Great story. Wounded cats are so unpredictable... Great job on finishing off that Leopard.
Bruce

This is exactly why I love hunting these brutes ... More than ANY other game animal on God's Green Earth , Bruce .
Forest panthers are the ultimate thrill to hunt !

 

[Major Khan]

Another suspenseful story. Can't wait for the next one from one of you great hunters.

Why thank you so much , my friend .
I shall write the next 1 ... Day after tomorrow .

I still have some hand loading duties ,tonight ... which need tending to ! Cheetal deer season in Monpura is almost upon us .

 

[Major Khan]

My dear friend Ponton
You have done it to me again my friend. Kept me waiting 3 days to find the conclusion to your marvelous story. The suspense you left me in each day was positively agonizing. It added so much more to the story making us want more.
Riaz if fortunate Melina didn't want to hunt hunting leopard for her birthday.
Keep writing my friend you are truly gifted and Riazs stories are enthralling.
When are we going to read about beating the leopard with the rifle my friend.
Keep safe and well my dear friend
Your humble reader and friend
Bob

Wait until you read the next 1 , Bob !
By the way ... I have already posted the article resolving around Riaz being forced to club the wounded forest panther off his client . Here it is .
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/the-hunting-leopard-which-almost-killed-my-client.56586/

Perhaps , it may also interest you to know ... That Melina DID shoot 2 man eating forest panthers herself in 1973 and 1974 .

 

[Panther Shooter]

Major Khan Sir
This is another marvelous narration , indeed . I have a small question , since I have never used Eley cartridges in my life . Did Eley offer copper plated buckshot cartridges , back in those days ?

 

[Bearbait1]

I wonder if part of the problem with the buckshot was that it was too soft? It may have been pure lead with little or no tin or antimony to harden it.

 

[Major Khan]

Major Khan Sir
This is another marvelous narration , indeed . I have a small question , since I have never used Eley cartridges in my life . Did Eley offer copper plated buckshot cartridges , back in those days ?

Why thank you so much , Panther Shooter . Eley never used copper plating on any of their buckshot sizes ( AAA , SSG , SG & LG ) . I believe that a few years ago , Eley ceased to manufacture any shot size larger than BB .

 

[Major Khan]

I wonder if part of the problem with the buckshot was that it was too soft? It may have been pure lead with little or no tin or antimony to harden it.

A couple of points need to be remembered , Bear Bait 1.
> Any buck shot ( regardless of size ) lacks penetration on the hard skulls and chest muscles of panthers ( except perhaps ... clouded panthers )
> If you HAVE to use buck shot cartridges to try to stop a charging panther ( And I am not saying that you should ) ... Then , only taken at ranges less than 4 metres ... With the point of aim being above the panther's eyes .
> The harder the buck shot ... The greater your chances of success are . Copper plated SG is a better choice than unplated LG .
>The Eley Alphamax LG 12 Bore cartridges during that era ( which would get imported in to East Pakistan ) did not have a very large powder charge in them . Observe .

This is a box of Eley Alphamax 12 Bore plastic cartridges ... Manufactured in the 1980s and purchased directly from Great Britain . Note the " High Brass " head ... Indicative of a larger charge of powder .

Now , this is an Eley Alphamax LG 12 Bore paper cartridge ... Which was actually imported in to East Pakistan , during the 1960s ( The time when this incident had occurred ) . Note the " Low Brass " head ... Indicative of a smaller charge of powder .

So , Riaz was being forced to use LG cartridges ... Which not only used unplated lead pellets , but also used a low charge of powder .

 

[Panther Shooter]

A couple of points need to be remembered , Bear Bait 1.
> Any buck shot ( regardless of size ) lacks penetration on the hard skulls and chest muscles of panthers ( except perhaps ... clouded panthers )
> If you HAVE to use buck shot cartridges to try to stop a charging panther ( And I am not saying that you should ) ... Then , only taken at ranges less than 4 metres ... With the point of aim being above the panther's eyes .
> The harder the buck shot ... The greater your chances of success are . Copper plated SG is a better choice than unplated LG .
>The Eley Alphamax LG 12 Bore cartridges during that era ( which would get imported in to East Pakistan ) did not have a very large powder charge in them . Observe .

This is a box of Eley Alphamax 12 Bore plastic cartridges ... Manufactured in the 1980s and purchased directly from Great Britain . Note the " High Brass " head ... Indicative of a larger charge of powder .
View attachment 347983

Now , this is an Eley Alphamax LG 12 Bore paper cartridge ... Which was actually imported in to East Pakistan , during the 1960s ( The time when this incident had occurred ) . Note the " Low Brass " head ... Indicative of a smaller charge of powder .
View attachment 347984
So , Riaz was being forced to use LG cartridges ... Which not only used unplated lead pellets , but also used a low charge of powder .

Major Khan Sir
This is exactly why I much prefer Winchester cartridges . The amount of propellant in those Eley paper cartridges are pitiful .

 

[Major Khan]

Major Khan Sir
This is exactly why I much prefer Winchester cartridges . The amount of propellant in those Eley paper cartridges are pitiful .

Oh yes ... Definitely , Panther Shooter .

 

[cpr0312]

Thanks for sharing another one! Enjoyed the read!

 

[Major Khan]

Thanks for sharing another one! Enjoyed the read!

Why thank you so much , Cpr0312 .
It is my utmost privilege that you have enjoyed Riaz's reminiscences so much .

 

[Ridgewalker]

SUCCESS THROUGH SHEER LUCK

I will take luck any day to skill!
Thanks Riaz for allowing us to read another of your exciting times! And your lady is apparently awesome!
Thanks Poton for For taking the time and posting it!

 

[Major Khan]

I will take luck any day to skill!
Thanks Riaz for allowing us to read another of your exciting times! And your lady is apparently awesome!
Thanks Poton for For taking the time and posting it!

Why thank you so much for your kind words , Ridge Walker . It is my utmost privilege that you have enjoyed Riaz's reminiscences so much .

 

[Nyati]

Thank you for another great and enjoyable story Major.

In Europe we use dogs of various breeds for hunting, but I never heard of using German shepherds, it really surprised me that they were used in India.

 

[Uncle Sauce]

Great story Major - thanks for recounting Riaz's story for us all!

 

[Major Khan]

Great story Major - thanks for recounting Riaz's story for us all!

Why thank you so much for enjoying Riaz's reminiscences so much , Uncle Sauce . It is my utmost privilege to be able to narrate chapters from his book ... And be able to translate them , from Bengali to English .

 

[DieJager]

Well, and another great story, Major. If you did not notice yet I am catching up on your articles.

 

[Major Khan]

Well, and another great story, Major. If you did not notice yet I am catching up on your articles.

You catch up ... To your heart's content , Die Jager . I consider it an utmost privilege that you enjoy my articles ... So much , and read them with so much enthusiasm .