Chasing the Black Death

[Ontario Hunter]

Congrats! Ignore the Canadian comment above.

For loading quickly. Once my load development is done almost every practice shot I do is a sting of 6 shots. I take one shot off the sticks, immediately come off the sticks and shoot the second shot barrel offhand. Then move/run 5-10 yards while loading two more from my ammo belt. Then move again loading from an ammo belt.

I think that is the key to getting quick at loading. Make sure it from the belt you are hunting with and don’t pick up or try and catch your cases. Eject them all.

I set up multiple targets and of if the terrain allows put some clay targets on a backstop.

Ignore my comment? Okay ... so you practice reloading your double while running around at the range and that makes you good to go. But is your range on unknown irregular ground covered in long grass and/or thick brush? Are you practicing reloading while dodging an angry 1700 lb animal that is trying to stick a horn through you?

I think the key is be aware that double rifles have their limitations. And reloading under very stressful situations is one that simply cannot be downplayed. Franz may be able to increase his reload time better than ten seconds by practicing more but if the animal is hit close range, it comes for shooter, he misses the second shot (easy enough to do in a high stress situation with moving target) or doesn't drop it, then he has to reload the rifle on the run over unknown ground, trying to hang onto a broken open gun with one hand while fishing for two rounds with free hand, and then successfully place the cartridges in open chambers and snap the gun closed. That's just a lot of potential for things to go wrong. Practice all you want in a controlled environment and then convince yourself that practice applies to field situations. Nope. Not really. I submit a hunter would be better off practicing on moving targets, reloading on the run, etc with a bolt action. The shooter can reload the chamber WITH BOTH HANDS ON THE GUN and he can do it without taking his eyes off the target, and he can do it at least four times before needing to reload. And even then, if he's shooting a proper DGR with snap over, he can drop an extra round in the rifle just as quickly if not more quickly than reloading two rounds into a double rifle. Personally, though I'm still fairly dextrous, I would trust myself more to work a bolt handle in a high stress situation than fishing two cartridges simultaneously from belt with multiple fingertips and putting them in the gun without dropping one ... or both. Simple physics.

There is no argument that quality shooting is the most important factor when hunting dangerous game. But even in the best situations with best shooters a quality first shot or even two is not achieved. Then second factor is quantity. Accessing quantity with consistency and speed is the third factor. It is what it is.

 

[MacJenkins]

What appears to be a nice gentleman is excited to show footage of his first Buffalo hunt and you piss on his thread. It’s just sad.

 

[Muntjacer23]

Congrats on a beautiful buffalo!

 

[Denvir Tire]

What appears to be a nice gentleman is excited to show footage of his first Buffalo hunt and you piss on his thread. It’s just sad.

He must be stopped....

 

[Ontario Hunter]

What appears to be a nice gentleman is excited to show footage of his first Buffalo hunt and you piss on his thread. It’s just sad.

No. He asked if we saw something that he could improve on. My suggestions were well intended. And I'm sure he has accepted them as well intended, not pissing on him. Even Franz noted some concern about reloading time. He had a very nice 416 along that he contemplated using and apparently still unsure whether it was the right decision to go with double. I offered my thoughts.

Apology accepted

 

[Mark458]

Be careful where your muzzle is pointed. At one point you were sighting over your double with PH standing right in front of you. Not sure what was going on there as he was momentarily obscured from camera view. Surely he didn't ask you to do it. And the second time the cameraman told you not to shoot when PH was still ahead. Off to the side but maybe he might move at the moment shot was taken. Also, you'd blow his ears out.

Odd that you shot the bull through both shoulders but he apparently was able to continue running unhindered. I too would like to have seen what the bullets looked like.

The other suggestion is on the stalk minimize your movement as much as possible. I'm always glued to PH's tail (literally) and keep his body between me and the quarry at all times. One silhouette moving is certainly less detectable than two or three. I noticed at one point you were ducking and dodging several times around your PH trying to see what he was looking at. Wait till he motions for you to step up and look. One set of eyes during final stalk is sufficient. Or two if the tracker is scouting.

You have pointed to the obvious issue with double rifles, i.e. reloading. You put two well placed shots in that bull and he kept going. Good thing he didn't go for you in those ten seconds it took to reload. Imagine if the terrain had been more irregular or heavy brush. You could easily trip and fall over while trying to reload a broke open rifle on the run.

Very unusual that a "very old" Cape buffalo bull would have horns that are not even in the least bit broomed on tips. Obviously not seen much if any combat. I wonder if he was a naturally sterile "oxen"? Or maybe gay? Presumably homosexual gene mutations are not limited to human species.
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No. He asked if we saw something that he could improve on. My suggestions were well intended. And I'm sure he has accepted them as well intended, not pissing on him. Even Franz noted some concern about reloading time. He had a very nice 416 along that he contemplated using and apparently still unsure whether it was the right decision to go with double. I offered my thoughts.

Apology accepted

I think many of the points you made have some validity. I know you have hunted for many years and along the way you have accumulated a great deal of knowledge through those experiences and I'm sure many of us could learn from those experiences you share.

With that being said I feel you often come across as harshly over critical. Believe me I have been very guilty of this myself so don't get the idea I'm portraying myself as some sort of saint because I'm not. Moving forward I'm making a concerted effort to be more positive, supportive and constructive.

I ask you to look back at your initial comments. You had a 5 paragraph post that started with you busting down the door "guns a blazin". You spent the first 4 paragraphs criticizing every move the hunter made, then when you ran out of bad things to say about him you turned your guns on his beautiful trophy buffalo. You went as far as insinuating his buffalo might be "gay".

At no point in any of your comments did you say anything positive or encouraging. If you had perhaps started off by saying "Congratulations on your first buffalo hunt and what a beautiful trophy you have taken" then the following criticisms may be taken a bit more seriously.

Again I am far from perfect, but I am trying to do better. Perhaps if you are willing to soften your tone a bit then people will be more open to accepting the valuable knowledge I'm sure you have to offer.

Thank you and God bless.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Being gay is not an insult. Is what it is. People, and presumably some animals, are born that way. So what?

If you follow the threads from Australian fellows, you would know the difference in horns between "normal" bull water buffalo and "oxen" that have been castrated or, in some cases, naturally sterile. I have seen this many times with deer. We called them stags. Their horns stay in velvet. But they also fall off every year. A horned animal in the wild that does not mate can develop very long horns because they don't fall off and are not worn down fighting. The Aussie oxen have such immense horns one wonders how they hold them up. I think the curious thing about Franz's bull is it had well developed bosses. How did that happen without brooming off the tips, even slightly? Very uncommon. Does that mean it's "defective"? No it's a beautiful but apparently, to me anyway, atypical looking set of horns. Personally, I find atypical more appealing.

 

[skydiver386]

That Buffalo is absolutely AWESOME! Huge bosses, unbelievable curl that looks especially good in the pic from the rear.

Franz my friend, everything you do is first class.

 

[Mark458]

Being gay is not an insult. Is what it is. People, and presumably some animals, are born that way. So what?

If you follow the threads from Australian fellows, you would know the difference in horns between "normal" bull water buffalo and "oxen" that have been castrated or, in some cases, naturally sterile. I have seen this many times with deer. We called them stags. Their horns stay in velvet. But they also fall off every year. A horned animal in the wild that does not mate can develop very long horns because they don't fall off and are not worn down fighting. The Aussie oxen have such immense horns one wonders how they hold them up. I think the curious thing about Franz's bull is it had well developed bosses. How did that happen without brooming off the tips, even slightly? Very uncommon. Does that mean it's "defective"? No it's a beautiful but apparently, to me anyway, atypical looking set of horns. Personally, I find atypical more appealing.

Your last two sentences are as close to a compliment that you have come, but you said it to me. Tell Franz he's the one who took this beautiful buffalo

 

[Ruraldoc]

Just saw this thread. Wow! Congratulations on a great buffalo and a great hunt.

Using the double rifle just made it perfect.

 

[tinktink12]

If that is a gay buffalo like OH claims I want one too! That is one of the biggest buffalo I have seen. Awesome boss, and curl!

 

[franzfmdavis]

Great shooting! What system do you use for running shot practice?

It wasn’t the best system, but it was readily available and close to my house so I could use it weekly. I went to the 25 yard range with a quartering buffalo target that was 1/5 size. I then took my first shot at about 25 yards (the max at the indoor range) and had my friend use the target pulley system to move the target toward me (to mimic a charge) and I took my second shot at about 7 yards.

 

[franzfmdavis]

Congratulation, how many yards approx. did you take your first shot?

About 50 I would guess but I didnt range it.

 

[franzfmdavis]

What appears to be a nice gentleman is excited to show footage of his first Buffalo hunt and you piss on his thread. It’s just sad.

It’s not a problem. I asked for critiques and fully expected some constructive criticism. I appreciate it and can learn from it.

 

[franzfmdavis]

I appreciate the support from everyone. I genuinely don’t get insulted by blunt or direct comments. I just assumed people have good intentions and try to read their comments with that frame of mind.

 

[Mark458]

I appreciate the support from everyone. I genuinely don’t get insulted by blunt or direct comments. I just assumed people have good intentions and try to read their comments with that frame of mind.

I'm glad you have a good positive attitude. Congratulations again on a great buffalo

 

[Brian]

I'm glad you have a good positive attitude. Congratulations again on a great buffalo

Franzfmdavis, Man, you've got class!

 

[franzfmdavis]

Ignore my comment? Okay ... so you practice reloading your double while running around at the range and that makes you good to go. But is your range on unknown irregular ground covered in long grass and/or thick brush? Are you practicing reloading while dodging an angry 1700 lb animal that is trying to stick a horn through you?

I think the key is be aware that double rifles have their limitations. And reloading under very stressful situations is one that simply cannot be downplayed. Franz may be able to increase his reload time better than ten seconds by practicing more but if the animal is hit close range, it comes for shooter, he misses the second shot (easy enough to do in a high stress situation with moving target) or doesn't drop it, then he has to reload the rifle on the run over unknown ground, trying to hang onto a broken open gun with one hand while fishing for two rounds with free hand, and then successfully place the cartridges in open chambers and snap the gun closed. That's just a lot of potential for things to go wrong. Practice all you want in a controlled environment and then convince yourself that practice applies to field situations. Nope. Not really. I submit a hunter would be better off practicing on moving targets, reloading on the run, etc with a bolt action. The shooter can reload the chamber WITH BOTH HANDS ON THE GUN and he can do it without taking his eyes off the target, and he can do it at least four times before needing to reload. And even then, if he's shooting a proper DGR with snap over, he can drop an extra round in the rifle just as quickly if not more quickly than reloading two rounds into a double rifle. Personally, though I'm still fairly dextrous, I would trust myself more to work a bolt handle in a high stress situation than fishing two cartridges simultaneously from belt with multiple fingertips and putting them in the gun without dropping one ... or both. Simple physics.

There is no argument that quality shooting is the most important factor when hunting dangerous game. But even in the best situations with best shooters a quality first shot or even two is not achieved. Then second factor is quantity. Accessing quantity with consistency and speed is the third factor. It is what it is.

I’ve been thinking through the shots I took on the hunt and how it may have played out if I would have used my bolt gun instead of the double as suggested.

I believe that in the actual scenario that occurred on my hunt, if I were using a bolt gun, I would not have been able to chamber a second round and get back on target fast enough to get the second shot into his right shoulder before he ran out of sight behind the thicket.

While the video is not great at that point, you can hear the speed between the two shots, and the bull was 1/2 way to the edge of the bush when I took the second shot.

I was off the sticks at the time of the second shot and had gotten back on the moving target after re-aiming the gun following the recoil of the first shot.

With my bolt gun, I would have had to recover from the recoil, eject the spent case, reload a round, aim on a moving target and fire. At best I believe it would have taken twice as long, and likely more, to get off a second shot.

The bull went down about 75 yards from where I he was fist hit and 50 yards from where he was hit the second time. Im not sure if he would have gone down as quickly if he didn't have the second shot in him, and may have even been able to come around the backside of the thicket toward us.

This, I believe, is one of the main arguments in favor of a double rifle - the speed of the second shot.

While it is logical to suggest that I may have had quicker access to a third and fourth shot, the potential inability to get a very quick second shot makes me continue to lean toward using a double for dangerous game (and just practicing on reloading faster for the third and fourth shot in different scenarios as suggested).

I can imagine that the speed of the second shot it is even more critical on elephant which seems to be hunted regularly at 15-20 yards.

 

[Rare Breed]

Wise man!!!

 

[Hedge774]

Well done, Sir! Hopefully, I will have a report like this to post on here one day! Keep it up, stay safe, God bless.