Zambia, this doesn’t sit well with me about renting guns or Zambia

[FlyGuy]

Must confess am still waiting for op to give the info on ph...area etc....starting to think after being asked a few times he doesn't know......if doesn't know am not impressed at him starting this thread on hearsay......if am wrong will admit...but need some backup from his side.....

@ Spike

On the podcast that the OP is referring to, they didn't mention who the outfitter was, so wouldn't know.
Here is the link to the podcast.

 

[375Fox]

On the podcast that the OP is referring to, they didn't mention who the outfitter was, so wouldn't know.
Here is the link to the podcast.

I’ll watch, too bad that’s the one episode missing from Spotify. If this is what the OP was referring to, saying he listened to a podcast and here’s where would have made a big difference in how his questions were received. It sounded like he knew the hunters and has refused to provide details.

 

[375Fox]

Well this thread just got dumber. I also just listened to two hunters talk about the one hunters recent Zambia hunt ON A PODCAST. Sounds like their group chose to rent guns to simplify travel not because Outfitter advised it was difficult. The rifle situation both sighting in and using multiple rifles is definitely odd. They had some discussion about import tax that no longer occurs and shortage of ammo some PHs have at times. They did not say never Zambia again. His advice was to travel somewhere easier to reach on a first African hunt like Limpopo. The podcast wasn’t anti-Zambia at all. It was a very inexperienced African hunter talking about his first trip to Africa.
If anyone wants to figure out where he went you can type in Ron Spomer Zambia on Google and you’ll figure it out quickly. It’s fenced reserve in far NW Zambia. I’m sure the travel to reach was significant.

 

[Kalahari Safari NAMIBIA]

Totally agree with you!

Asking questions directly to PH or outfitter would make more sense. I’ve booked many hunts through an agent. They always put me in contact with outfitter. If an agent wants all contact to go through them I’d avoid that agent. Not all agents are actually experienced.

 

[spike.t]

@ Spike

On the podcast that the OP is referring to, they didn't mention who the outfitter was, so wouldn't know.
Here is the link to the podcast.

OK thanks for putting it on.....

 

[dogcat1]

Zambia is not my preferred location due to several issues. Importing guns and ammo is more expensive than Zim or some other places. The worst for me was Cameroon - gun permit fees, bribes, "extra fees", etc.
Zambia charges a "tax" on ammo on a per round basis. Not sure what it is currently. It was $2 per round a few years ago.

Best to -
1. Use a reputable outfitter in Zambia. There are only a few. There are scams there.

2. Lose the attraction to shooting your own gun. Hard to do as you have a lot of time invested in your guns. If shooting your own gun means that much, hunt somewhere else. I have done both. I shot a lion in Namibia with a Parker and Hale 9.3x62 with a bent Bushnell scope. The bullets landed where they were supposed to. I use rented guns when necessary. It is not the "tool" that is important but the "user".
I have never seen a picture of new house with the carpenter holding his favorite hammer.... just saying.

3. If you chose to shoot a rented gun, be sure you get to shoot it a bit on arrival. I have done that - 2 to 4 rounds is plenty. In Zambia, ammo imports are controlled by a shadowy group in Lusaka composed of Indian nationals and Zambians that have a strangle hold on the hunting industry. They are basically crooked and skim cash off the imports.

4. Use a reputable outfitter. They will guide you.

 

[dchum]

I’ll watch, too bad that’s the one episode missing from Spotify. If this is what the OP was referring to, saying he listened to a podcast and here’s where would have made a big difference in how his questions were received. It sounded like he knew the hunters and has refused to provide details.

Well this thread just got dumber. I also just listened to two hunters talk about the one hunters recent Zambia hunt ON A PODCAST. Sounds like their group chose to rent guns to simplify travel not because Outfitter advised it was difficult. The rifle situation both sighting in and using multiple rifles is definitely odd. They had some discussion about import tax that no longer occurs and shortage of ammo some PHs have at times. They did not say never Zambia again. His advice was to travel somewhere easier to reach on a first African hunt like Limpopo. The podcast wasn’t anti-Zambia at all. It was a very inexperienced African hunter talking about his first trip to Africa.
If anyone wants to figure out where he went you can type in Ron Spomer Zambia on Google and you’ll figure it out quickly. It’s fenced reserve in far NW Zambia. I’m sure the travel to reach was significant.

Ha! He totally tried to pass it as if he was talking to friends or people he knew

Guys a straight bullshitter, not sorry. Same guy that fought off 14 ms-13 gang member with a pocket knife lol. He’s full of story’s

This fourm has gone downhilll the last 2 years. It used to be full of wonderful hunting reports and just talk about rifles and gear. Now when I check the front page for recent threads…. It’s practically just Facebook. So many non African hunters now just posting bullshit.

And it’s a shame because there are some of the most experienced and knowledgeable hunters that are active on here, and I love the chance to learn from them - but they get drowned out by the all nonsense.

Ugh

 

[dogcat1]

Don't know that this has gone downhill, try the "other" Africa hunting website to see what downhill looks like.
This one is pretty good. Just have to turn on your BS filter....

 

[spike.t]

Zambia is not my preferred location due to several issues. Importing guns and ammo is more expensive than Zim or some other places. The worst for me was Cameroon - gun permit fees, bribes, "extra fees", etc.
Zambia charges a "tax" on ammo on a per round basis. Not sure what it is currently. It was $2 per round a few years ago.

Best to -
1. Use a reputable outfitter in Zambia. There are only a few. There are scams there.

2. Lose the attraction to shooting your own gun. Hard to do as you have a lot of time invested in your guns. If shooting your own gun means that much, hunt somewhere else. I have done both. I shot a lion in Namibia with a Parker and Hale 9.3x62 with a bent Bushnell scope. The bullets landed where they were supposed to. I use rented guns when necessary. It is not the "tool" that is important but the "user".
I have never seen a picture of new house with the carpenter holding his favorite hammer.... just saying.

3. If you chose to shoot a rented gun, be sure you get to shoot it a bit on arrival. I have done that - 2 to 4 rounds is plenty. In Zambia, ammo imports are controlled by a shadowy group in Lusaka composed of Indian nationals and Zambians that have a strangle hold on the hunting industry. They are basically crooked and skim cash off the imports.

4. Use a reputable outfitter. They will guide you.

You obviously can't read....I have as well as others stated there is no duty on ammunition brought into zambia by a hunter....as for ammo imports controlled by a shadowy group ...that's my opinion....also one of those shadowy people whose gunshop i use pretty much exclusively will also try and bring in a specific make and model of firearm if i ask him....we can buy as i stated in one of my posts on ammo prices....basically a huge selection of different calibres from 600NE down to .17.....the selection would make most of you over there having hard time finding certain calibres very jealous....same with firearms...there is a pretty big selection of different hand gun makes..shotgun makes and rifle makes...from rigby...heym.... mauser..blaser...tikka..sako...ruger...Winchester...taurus...sig..glock...beretta...cz...benelli...hatsan..akkar....canuk...etc etc etc....ammo is norma..sako..Federal.. hornady....WR...cci...etc etc ...various different makes of shotgun shells.....so yeah yet again someone else who hasn't a clue what they are talking about....but as seem from previous threads on Zambia you are very anti the country......so not surprised you popped up to slag it off in general....

 

[wesheltonj]

@ Spike

On the podcast that the OP is referring to, they didn't mention who the outfitter was, so wouldn't know.
Here is the link to the podcast.

(1) Great commercial for Gracy Travel

(2) Wow, you have to fly into JNB before you fly into Lusaka as no flight from the USA to Lusaka. I guess Emirates, Qatar, Turkish, Ethiopian, Kenya don't count. Only Delta and United flights to Africa count.

(3) I just learned that I will not listen to any more Ron podcasts.

 

[Nyati]

Ha! He totally tried to pass it as if he was talking to friends or people he knew

Guys a straight bullshitter, not sorry. Same guy that fought off 14 ms-13 gang member with a pocket knife lol. He’s full of story’s

This fourm has gone downhilll the last 2 years. It used to be full of wonderful hunting reports and just talk about rifles and gear. Now when I check the front page for recent threads…. It’s practically just Facebook. So many non African hunters now just posting bullshit.

And it’s a shame because there are some of the most experienced and knowledgeable hunters that are active on here, and I love the chance to learn from them - but they get drowned out by the all nonsense.

Ugh

We do have an ignore button, which I use liberally

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

I only hunted in Zambia one time, and I never had a problem taking two rifles. In 2016, when I went, there was a $2.00 per round ammo tax. I'm glad to hear it's gone, as I'd like to go back (with a different outfitter).

The two-fishermen story about their Zambian outfitter strikes me as improbable. I've never heard of a guide or outfitter who didn't want, even insist, that the client take test shots before hunting. The last thing they want is a wounded animal that escapes or requires extensive and possibly dangerous recovery efforts.

I imagine it's also not their favorite thing to present the client a bill for a wounded animal that got away.

 

[Foxi]

OK here are some ammo prices ...have done at exchange rate at moment...so per round
375 h&h usd 7.50
7x57..30-06 and similar...usd 3.00
500 Jeffery..usd 13.00

As I said what the guy said to whoever was bullshit regarding them being usd 30 to 40 a round.....

".375 @$15-00 per round and .458 (soft) @ $ 20-00 each."

You're well stocked in Zambia, much better than in Zimbabwe.
Above is some information from last October from National Cartridge/Harare.
A good address that I got from @KevinPeacoke (thank you), as I sponsored some ammunition for one of my PHs.
It's not easy to find other DG calibers there. He only had soft .416 Rigby available.
Sorry for going off topic, but maybe someone will find this interesting.
I had no problems in Zambia, not even traveling there with my own weapon.

Wait, that's not quite true—I lost my heart there; it's somewhere in the wilderness of the Luangwa Valley .

 

[leslie hetrick]

last two shots from my african friends CZ 550 in .375 H&H at 100 yards, one from my friend and one from myself. i used that rifle on six hunting trips to africa 90 % of the time and fired it every time before the hunts along with the few other rifles i used.

 

[Tanks]

...I've never heard of a guide or outfitter who didn't want, even insist, that the client take test shots before hunting. The last thing they want is a wounded animal that escapes or requires extensive and possibly dangerous recovery efforts.
...

On my last elephant hunt with CMS my PH was Dean Kendall. I suggested firing test shots. His response; "Let's not, I have seen you shoot, I don't want to possibly spook the big tuskers hearing gunshots and have them not show up for a week".

 

[375Fox]

This thread should be let die. It should have been called “Listen to this podcast” instead of making up a story about overhearing on a fishing trip and not even repeating the podcast correctly.

 

[PARA45]

On my last elephant hunt with CMS my PH was Dean Kendall. I suggested firing test shots. His response; "Let's not, I have seen you shoot, I don't want to possibly spook the big tuskers hearing gunshots and have them not show up for a week".

But, what happens if your scope or red dot is off from all the traveling? I can see the PH saying this if you are shooting open sights, which I'm sure you were.

 

[Tanks]

But, what happens if your scope or red dot is off from all the traveling? I can see the PH saying this if you are shooting open sights, which I'm sure you were.

I was shooting a Trijicon red dot. I had verified it before the trip and was fairly confident that it had not lost zero. It was in a Pelican case with custom cut foam and could not think of a scenario that would cause it to lose zero without damaging the barrel as well.

 

[eswan68587]

I have been to Zambia twice (recently), each time with guns and ammo, and each in unfenced areas. I disagree with much of what he said.

 

[analog_peninsula]

(3) I just learned that I will not listen to any more Ron podcasts.

He's another Internet expert with a couple of video cameras trying to avoid a real job.

Dennis Ritchie and Steve Jobs died about the same time. The world was agog with Jobs' achievements, and without wanting to take anything away from the man, I'll just say he was more of a marketing genius than a true technologist. There was barely a peep about Ritchie's death in the press, and that man's achievements were essentially the foundation of modern computing as we know it. Looking good on video just means you look good on video; nothing more. If you don't know who Dennis Ritchie is, you've missed one of the giants of the modern world. Norman Borlaug also falls into that category.

Dennis Ritchie - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Norman Borlaug - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org