The Law of Diminishing Return

[Flbt]

Quality camera. I was surprised later when I saw the photo. Around was much more darker

Year 2024 (I need to make that report yet), I went for Buffalo hunt. When buffalo was in the salt, I had few more days left.
There was a leopard around, and we knew it comes to the local waterhole.
I was waiting for that leopard (having nothing better to do. .)

Entire day we spent in the blind.
I denied myself smoking all day long, and was pissing in a coca cola bottle, to prevent smell around the blind.
The sun fell down.
We were about to move to car in a few minutes. My guide suggested we can go.
Before going from blind, I told myself I can reward myself now with a cigarette.

The dark was coming soon.
I lit the cigarette.
When cigarette is finished, I told my guide, we can go, as I considered the light conditions as non shootable by the that moment, as well.

Now, a minute or two later, when I was at the half of cigarette, he kicked me in the ribs, and whispered: "Leopard!"
Where?
There, on the left on the waterhole!
First, i took Leica geovid bino, and I could see the cat. (with naked eyes, forget about that)
From previous observations I knew it was 147 meters distance.
I took the rifle up, safety off, put on power 6x, and aimed in that direction.
The cat I saw, was there drinking water!
I couldnt beleive my luck!

I aimed at the shoulder, but visibility was running out fast, and as the first moments of aiming passed, I was not able to recognize the spots, just a shilouette, in its entire size, and legs, light colored against the much darker bush.

I still could shoot. But I was waiting for confirmation.
Seconds pass.
I asked: "Shoot, or not shoot?"
silence.
"shoot, or not shoot?"

"Not shoot. Female".
Safety on. I still look through the scope, first time seeing leopard in the wild, and grasping every moment of it.
Less then minute later, it was so dark, I was not able to see anything, neither through swarovski on the rifle, nor Leica bino.

If that was a tom cat, this story would be different.
With lower quality glass, the story would probably be the same. Of this I am 100 percent certain.

Man those cigs can be a mess.

 

[CJNJ]

I've gone through these internal arguments with watches. At one time I had to have a Rolex. Had two. Eventually traded one for an Omega Planet Ocean which was objectively a superior watch, discounting the snob factor. Gave the other to my son. Now I mostly wear a quartz Elliott Brown. Tells the time better than a mechanical and is actually tested in the ocean. Everyone has their own point of diminishing returns.

 

[pc3]

While I'd love a pair of NL Pure Bino's, my Meopta Meostar 10x42 B+ or whatever they are have allowed me to find/see all game I am capable of finding.

They are apparently way more rugged to boot.

I do however long for a Rigby big game in .416 or .450.....even though my CZ550 .416 is fine.

 

[steve white]

While I'd love a pair of NL Pure Bino's, my Meopta Meostar 10x42 B+ or whatever they are have allowed me to find/see all game I am capable of finding.

They are apparently way more rugged to boot.

I do however long for a Rigby big game in .416 or .450.....even though my CZ550 .416 is fine.

You could always restock it to the exact measurements of the Rigby Big Game and come out WAY cheaper to boot.