Rifle Lessons Learned from the Zimbabwe Professional Hunter Proficiency Exam

[Rafiki]

Ruger RSM .375 H&H - front bead sight was too small, needed to be replaced. Bolt handle almost disappeared in that chubby stock. Hard to grasp. Handling was clubby. Bolt stop was a little sticky. Trigger was so bad I replaced it, but new trigger was too small / Short for the thick stock so I had to have a gunsmith smooth the original. Sold it.

Totally agree with your assessment of the 375 RSM although you missed the balance issue. I also bought one but took on the challenge of addressing the flaws because I believe that the bones were really good. The first thing to go was the front sight, replaced it with NECG sight.

The stock is a club as you said but it's just wood so I had mine reshaped. Couldn't do anything about balance without adding weight to an already 10lb rifle.

The result ended up with a vert accurate rifle that works flawlessly. Of course the obvious comment is "you shouldn't have to do all that in the first place" .... Very true.

 

[Longwalker]

About the others, not much to tell.

One is a Verney-Carron Impact Plus takedown bolt action 9.3x62. Worked perfectly from the start. Still does. It's a push feed, detachable magazine, switch barrel rifle. Not what most would consider a dangerous game rifle. Even though I never used it on dangerous game, I would if I had the opportunity. It was effective on Giraffe, Eland, Kudus, Oryx, Bushbuck, Impalas, Warthogs, etc. and also local Canadian game. It won't feed flat nose solid bullets, my only complaint. But Woodleighs feed very nicely and shoot accurately. Still have it, one of my favourite rifles.

the other rifle was a Merkel 140AE double in .450-400 3". Only complaint I had is that it wasn't regulated with ammo that I had available. Had it re-regulated. It has been accurate, dependable, and trouble free. Killed a couple Cape Buffalo and some local moose and elk with it. I recently sold it, just because I like a variety of experiences and a .375 is better suited to my local hunting.

The last is a Beretta Silver Sable O/U double 9.3x74R. It was dependable except also needed to be re-regulated with ammo I could buy. It did suffer a broken firing pin which I had no trouble purchasing locally and installing myself. I keep a spare set of firing pins stowed in the rifles case.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi longwalker!

Excelent and useful reports!!! As the old, and always right, tale: "...the devil is in the details..."
Your experiences reflect the same as in the "ganyana" great article!
I can tell my experience because I am a firm beleiver of a 100 % reliable and reasonable accurate big game rifle:
My first, and only big game rifle for 20 years, was my greatgrandfather's Original Sporting DWM 7x57 made on the M93 Mauser action. From the start it was a great shooter with my first handloaded ammo. It even can chamber-extract-ejects 5 cases from the magazine, not cartridges...was, and is because I still have it, a pleasure to use. Is a 100 % reliable rifle. Period.
My second one was a BRNO ZKK 601 .308 Winchester. Made in 1977, one of the last with that peep sight in the rear bridge and the front sling swivel in a barrel band. What a change...! Rough operation as if bolt were covered with sand...I needed to polish the inside of the action with a lot of "elbow grease" to smooth it enough. After that, the rifle bolt operation improves a lot but not even close to my Gold Standard DWM!!
The third rifle was, is, a Winchester 70 pre 64 (made in 1954). I got it from a south african boer guy who arrives Patagonia for a living project. Doesn't work for him and returned to SA. But his rifle stays with me!!! After fixing a bedding, its end as another 100 % reliable and very accurate 375!!!! Feeds, fires, extracts and ejects 4 cartridges from the magazine as if there were no cartridges at all....GREAT dangerous game rifle!! I use a lot for big red deers in the Andes down here and some really wild feral cattle.
The four rifle was a Mannlicher-Schoenauer GK long rifle in 7x64. Came with a great HENDSOLT Diavary 1,5-6x36 in a lateral GASTINNE-RENETTE mount. The best made (1964) factory rifle I ever have had!!! I use it for 8 years. Even got a single trigger for it, as you know...but I never liked rhe action and the too heavy and slow lock time...A friend made my an offer I couldn't refuse...sold!!! The fifth rifle is a Sporting arsenal made Mauser-Werke Argentine 1935 action, originally a 7,65x53. Perfect and also 100 % reliable!! I change the barrel for a SIG 7x57 surplus unused one made for the Chilean M98 Mausers. It is now another FAVORITE Big Game rifle!! The fifth one is an FN-AKAH 30-06 from the sixties. Made in Belgium. As all FN sporting rifles I know, is PERFECT in every way!!!
My sixth, an last one, for sure is the BRNO ZKK 600 in 9,3x62. Made in 1967. A very different ZKK from my first 1977 made!!!!!! Polished and smooth from the start!!! Another animal !!! Is my all around favorite rifle right now.
As you can see, I never had, nor want, a "modern" rifle.
May be because I started with an old but 100 % reliable and still accurate rifle, it was the high standard I tried to got for all other ones!!
Best regards and Happy New year for you and Family!

CF

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

Man....just the best thread. I do wonder if the modern M70 Winchesters all (or any) need to be re-bedded versus the current factory bedding. Has anyone had problems with stocks splitting? I realize it might improve accuracy but mine is shooting amazingly well right out of the box.

 

[BeeMaa]

@Longwalker - Have you tried a Blaser? Hard to imagine going through all those rifles with that kind of luck. Hope the Browning works for you.

 

[Longwalker]

BeeMaa, I suffer from combining Champagne tastes and a Beer budget. With the wisdom of experience, I should have just spent 4x as much, bought a Blaser R8 or a Heym Martini Express or a new Mauser 98 and avoided all the disappointment.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Agree longwalker!
To me, the HEYM MARTINI would be the Nr 1 candidate !!!

 

[Longwalker]

Clodo, it's so nice to have made friends with you on this site! Our tastes and experiences are so similar, despite very different cultures and home environments! Cheers to all fine discerning outdoors gentlemen! I hope I get to meet you in person one day!

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi Longwalker!
I hope so!

My best wishes to you and your family!

 

[steve white]

Clodo, it's so nice to have made friends with you on this site! Our tastes and experiences are so similar, despite very different cultures and home environments! Cheers to all fine discerning outdoors gentlemen! I hope I get to meet you in person one day!

Well, I would remind you and Clodo that early in this thread, I seem to recall Ganyana saying that it was no use offering a Boer rubbish at any price. He meant it as a compliment. Maybe you are both qualified to be referred to as "honorary Boers." Good Hunting!

 

[Flbt]

It’s not a dangerous game cal.
I tried 2 ruger m2 77 a 05 that o have sine new and a used heavy barrel o9
I worked them as hard as I could today
Guess I am lucky both throw the cases out with no problems at all.
One case hit my down tailgate and dented the case hard enough I threw it away.

So I guess I am lucky to have them that work.

 

[SStomcat]

Great article by a great person

 

[colorado]

I agree with the Mauser variants for DG. I have a CZ 550 in 500 Jeffery that has been worked on by Wayne at AHR to include a M70 type 3 pos safety, single stage match trigger and fill and straighten the bolt. I love the rifle, it feeds, functions flawlessly and in a 3 shot group at 50 yards it's hard to tell there's more than one hole. That being said I have a beloved Rem 700 BDL in 270 Win that has probably seen close to 1000 days of hunting since I bought it in the late 60s. It's never failed to feed, function or extract. It sill shoots .5 inch groups at 100 yards (it's on it's third barrel). I've killed dozens of elk, more deer, javelinas and varmints with it. Add to that 9 black bears and finishing off two grizzlies in the Bob while working as assistant guide in the early 70s. That and my 500 Jeffery I'll never part with.

My 500 Jeffery

 

[steve white]

My 500 Jeffery

If you don't mind, what are the recoil foot-pounds with that little beauty?