Cape Buffalo Hunt-Bring or Rent a rifle?

[Franco]

Buying and owning a beautiful rifle is part of the rich experience of your African hunt, or any hunt for that matter.
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Very well said.

Rent, borrow, own? If the goal is to take a certain trophy, or trophies, does it matter which option you chose? Only to you, and it depends on the circumstance.

If the cost of a large caliber, DG rifle is what's stopping you from considering a hunt, then rent or borrow one.

If the hassle of traveling with a firearm seems too inconvenient, then rent or borrow one.

Your trophy will be just as dead, the mount will hang or stand the same in your trophy room, and your joy and sense of accomplishment will be equal. You will not be judged or have points deducted because you used someone else's rifle.

Will your hunt be any less memorable with a rented or borrowed rifle - NO.

But, as Kevin said, owning a beautiful rifle is a part of the rich experience - it is an enhancement. Each of my rifles has a history, memories which present themselves as much as looking at the mounts in my trophy room.

It's not easy to describe, but there's a feeling of partnership and confidence when I pick up one of my rifles. I made a 228 yd shot on a croc with my 375, I would not have tried that with a rented or borrowed rifle.

Granted, traveling with a firearm can be a major pain-in-the-butt, and I will not argue against anyone who chooses to rent based on that criteria. Sometimes major issues can occur; I had to charter a flight from Lusaka to Harare once because the airline wouldn't allow 3 rifles. I have explored the option of leaving a couple rifles in Africa as a means to avoid the hassle, it seems that is an even bigger hassle.

For me, and for now, the benefits of having my own rifles outweigh the inconvenience. I hire agents to assist whenever possible, I stay longer in an effort to minimize the pain by dividing it by more days - seems to work.

Consider all the factors, weigh out what is most important to you, and most of all - enjoy your hunt.

 

[Flbt]

I undeerstand the nostalgia about rifles but in reality they are just tools. I never see a carpenter in front of a house holding his favorite hammer. Just saying.

We overly romanticiz tools.

I have seen grandsons of carpenters put grandpa tools on the wall for display.

It’s not up for display in the house but in the tack shed.
My grandpa hook up tool for lack of a better description. It’s a metal hammer/ wrench / pry bar and hole Aliment
It was something he had back when he farmed with mules. Was made to be used on pulled equipment and wagons. Then it just went to the tool box on the 8end then to the A. C. Then to the ford 400 the to the old Massey then to the one in the yard.
Had a buddy point out he had only seen one other and I needed to put it up where it would not get lost.

Told him it had not been lost in all these years.
He pointed out that I not the driving the tractor most of the time now.
So it got put up.

Just saying