Safari with a double only

[Kevin Peacocke]

Which of you has hunted in Africa exclusively with a double rifle?
this sounds like a real hunt if you can make it work, all the nostalgia as well as the challenge. I recall a hunt report just a short while ago and this was the case, lots of PG animals and a buff I think, but I can't locate it. What make and calibre did you use, and what sighting system? What would you change next time?

 

[Uintaelkhunter]

Other than a elephant hunt a few years back. I have always take both a double and a both rifle with me. I defiantly think it takes the challenge up a notch to do it with a double much like a bow hunt. I think to me atleast it makes it feel more personal and emotionally connected with the game your hunting.
As of now I only have two double both big bores. But I’m looking to add one in a medium bore or something more suited for plains game or longer shots. I have completed the tiny ten and in the back of my mine have always dreamed of trying to go after them all again with a double rifle or bow setup.
Keep a eye to the forms as you may just see my double in action soon. I’m making the jump over the pond this Friday Aug 6 so you just never know what’s in store for my Heym 500 nitro once I arrive.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Other than a elephant hunt a few years back. I have always take both a double and a both rifle with me. I defiantly think it takes the challenge up a notch to do it with a double much like a bow hunt. I think to me atleast it makes it feel more personal and emotionally connected with the game your hunting.
As of now I only have two double both big bores. But I’m looking to add one in a medium bore or something more suited for plains game or longer shots. I have completed the tiny ten and in the back of my mine have always dreamed of trying to go after them all again with a double rifle or bow setup.
Keep a eye to the forms as you may just see my double in action soon. I’m making the jump over the pond this Friday Aug 6 so you just never know what’s in store for my Heym 500 nitro once I arrive.

That is in a few days UH, you must be very excited. I look forward to the report, post lots of pics.

 

[Uintaelkhunter]

That is in a few days UH, you must be very excited. I look forward to the report, post lots of pics.

Getting very excited. Doing my COVID test and hoping all goes well. Then my nerves may settle a bit. Still not looking forward to the travel as it is such a long route from the states to get there. I’m defiantly going with an open mind and will see what i can get in range for the double.
Been mulling over how to do a report or if it should be a live action day to day story. Actually been trying to convince the Outfitter to do kind of a my side his side story line. But that’s for another thread.

 

[Saul]

Getting very excited. Doing my COVID test and hoping all goes well. Then my nerves may settle a bit. Still not looking forward to the travel as it is such a long route from the states to get there. I’m defiantly going with an open mind and will see what i can get in range for the double.
Been mulling over how to do a report or if it should be a live action day to day story. Actually been trying to convince the Outfitter to do kind of a my side his side story line. But that’s for another thread.

If you are going after plains game with the 500, what loads are you using?

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Getting very excited. Doing my COVID test and hoping all goes well. Then my nerves may settle a bit. Still not looking forward to the travel as it is such a long route from the states to get there. I’m defiantly going with an open mind and will see what i can get in range for the double.
Been mulling over how to do a report or if it should be a live action day to day story. Actually been trying to convince the Outfitter to do kind of a my side his side story line. But that’s for another thread.

I like the idea of a day by day installments, it is easier to read the mood and probably easier to write too. Hearing the outfitter's take could be both interesting and amusing.

 

[Uintaelkhunter]

I like the idea of a day by day installments, it is easier to read the mood and probably easier to write too. Hearing the outfitter's take could be both interesting and amusing.

That is what I have often though as we don’t see much from there side and I don’t know if it’s fear of there reputation or fear of offending there clients. I for one would like it the good, bad, and ugly as long as it’s the truth. Let’s see

 

[Uintaelkhunter]

If you are going after plains game with the 500, what loads are you using?

I will be taking factory hornady ammo DGS and DGX in 570 gr I know I have heard the stories on them as Being poor ammo but they have done the job for me. Even though I prefer woodleighs softs when I hand load. I will also be taking a bolt gun in 375 with swift A frames. But let’s see if we can get close enough it will defiantly be the double as my first choice. I have a trijicon on my double and I’m pretty confident with it. I took a giraffe with it a few years ago at about 70 yrds

 

[jasyblood]

@Kevin Peacocke here's the link to the hunt report you couldn't locate. It took me a while to find it too!

ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe 2pipe Elephant Safari In The Save

Where: Humani and ARDA ranches Save Conservancy PH: Butch Coaton Tracker: Ringi Rifles: Heym 89 B 500 Nitro. Barnes solids 570 gr, 95 gr RL 15 // Swift A frame 570 gr, 95 gr RL 15 Pre War Mod 70 .375 H&H. Swift A frames 300 gr, 65 gr RL 15 // CEB solids 300 gr, 65 gr RL 15 I first met Butch...

www.africahunting.com

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

@Kevin Peacocke here's the link to the hunt report you couldn't locate. It took me a while to find it too!

ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe 2pipe Elephant Safari In The Save

Where: Humani and ARDA ranches Save Conservancy PH: Butch Coaton Tracker: Ringi Rifles: Heym 89 B 500 Nitro. Barnes solids 570 gr, 95 gr RL 15 // Swift A frame 570 gr, 95 gr RL 15 Pre War Mod 70 .375 H&H. Swift A frames 300 gr, 65 gr RL 15 // CEB solids 300 gr, 65 gr RL 15 I first met Butch...

www.africahunting.com

Yes, thanks Jasyblood, that is the one! There was another recently too, I'll look tomorrow.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

@PerH ‘s and my childhood hero , Bengt Berg did exactly that during the 1930s . This article from the Double Gun Journal should really interest you .
https://www.germanhuntingguns.com/bengt-bergs-fantastic-set-of-simson-guns/ . Of course , he had nine sets of barrels made for the rifle , which is impractical in today’s day and age .

In modern times , It can definitely be done by a passionate double rifle user with as less as two barrel sets . I knew someone who took an Auguste Francotte Sidelock Ejector with him to Kenya , in 1974 . The rifle had two sets of 26 inch barrels . One scoped set in 9.3x74 mm R ( regulated for RWS 293 Gr TUG soft points ) and one ivory bead open sighted set in .458 Winchester Magnum ( regulated for 500 Gr Hornady bullets and 66 Gr of IMR3031 ) . The guy got a full bag .

I’ve never seen anybody manage to pull it off yet , with only one barrel set . But if I were a guessing man , I’d say that you could probably pull it off with either a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum or a .450/400 NE .

 

[AZDAVE]

@Kevin Peacocke in 2018 I took two doubles, 450NE (Buffalo) and an 9.3x75 (Eland and sable).

@Uintaelkhunter You mentioned that you were flying the 6th. Are you flying with Qatar? We are also flying the 6th.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

@Kevin Peacocke in 2018 I took two doubles, 450NE (Buffalo) and an 9.3x75 (Eland and sable).

@Uintaelkhunter You mentioned that you were flying the 6th. Are you flying with Qatar? We are also flying the 6th.

Thanka AZDave, were those both open sights?

 

[Rare Breed]

Which of you has hunted in Africa exclusively with a double rifle?
this sounds like a real hunt if you can make it work, all the nostalgia as well as the challenge. I recall a hunt report just a short while ago and this was the case, lots of PG animals and a buff I think, but I can't locate it. What make and calibre did you use, and what sighting system? What would you change next time?

I just got back using your exact 450-400 DR. I got Buffalo, Nyala, Warthog, Wildebeest and Impala all with no problem and only took the one gun.

 

[AZDAVE]

Yes both were open sights, In 2013 I took a double and a single shot, shot a zebra and a warthog with a double. In 2018 I took two doubles and my wife threw in my 9.3x62 bolt gun along with her 338. Took a giraffe with a 577 BPE hammer gun, hippo and roan with a 450/400 double.

 

[IvW]

I plan on hunting a lot more with my one "double", 9.3x74R/12ga as well as the 7x65R/12ga...

 

[Uintaelkhunter]

@Kevin Peacocke in 2018 I took two doubles, 450NE (Buffalo) and an 9.3x75 (Eland and sable).

@Uintaelkhunter You mentioned that you were flying the 6th. Are you flying with Qatar? We are also flying the 6th.

Yes Dave I leave out of Chicago on the 6th to Doha then onto Jo-berg arriving early the 8th

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I just got back using your exact 450-400 DR. I got Buffalo, Nyala, Warthog, Wildebeest and Impala all with no problem and only took the one gun.

Wonderful Rare Breed, what a great experience. A Double Safari Club member.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I plan on hunting a lot more with my one "double", 9.3x74R/12ga as well as the 7x65R/12ga...

Sell some stuff IvW and get that 500 we saw, a properly fitted one.

 

[Dewald]

Kevin, even though not on one trip, I’ve successfully hunted Buffalo, Zebra, Nyala, Impala, giraffe, blue wildebeest , Eland and koedoe with my .450-400 3&1/4” with open sights.

A one gun Safari is doable in the right area