Recent content by Safari Dave

When it come to Africa, there is no need for stainless/synthetic (plastic) rifles. I use stainless/plastic only when I hunt in the RAIN in NA. My most powerful stainless/plastic is a .340 Weatherby Mag. I'm about to put my son in an "Atomic Choke-out" for his advocation of these stupid...

That's a beautiful rifle!

In the US, I would have better luck finding unicorn teeth than 9.3x57 cartridges...

I've had pretty good luck with Ruger, except for a Model 77 RSI in .243 Winchester many year's ago, that I had to send back due to extractor issues. I've never had a problem with a Winchester Model 70. (Even the post-64 "push-feed models) Personally, I would avoid the Ruger, because I don't...

I use Ziess 10x40's almost all the time. When I want to save weight, I take a pair of Leica 8x20 Ultravid's. (The Leica's may be what I would take on a DG hunt, where my PH does most of the "serious" binocular work)

I love Capstick. (1980's) I would read all of his books, then read Boddington's books for an update on Africa. If you have time, read some of the "classics," just for amusement.

In Africa, I've taken 6 animals with a .300 Win Mag., 2 with a .375 H&H, and 5 with a .416 Rigby. If limited to 2, it would be the .375 and the .416. I wish I could have gotten close enough to use my .470, but it just didn't happen. I'm glad I had my scoped .416 Rigby for my last hunt. The...

I know I've said this before, but, on my first hunt to RSA there was a "cull hunt" going on while we were hunting. Someone killed a Blue Wildebeest with a rifle that had 7 broadheads in it! Great for the landowner! Too bad for the "archers." I guess they were rewarded with the trophy fees.

With the time restraints when one is on safari, and the "one drop of blood = kill" rules, I think it may be a little "foolhardy" to use lighter cartridges. I really like my 7x57, but would not take it to Africa. IMO, you are better served with more power and deeper penetration.

In the U.S., there has been a "push" to legalize cartridges that, ethically, make no sense to hunt big game. For example, in Georgia, it is perfectly legal to hunt a 800 pound bear with a .25 ACP derringer. (64 ft/lbs. of energy at the muzzle. But, it is illegal to hunt a 30 pound yearling...

I've never lost an animal when shooting Remington Core-Lokt's. (150, 165 (my favorite) or 180g) And, I've probably taken over 100 BG animals with them. At the distances I hunt (100-200 yards, mainly with a .30/06,) there is no reason to spend over $30/box for factory ammo. My problems come...

I hunt with several older rifles with low twists rates, and they don't do a good job of stabilizing monolithic copper bullets. I think Barnes makes great bullets, but, IME, they have difficulty stabilizing in older rifles. Just ME...

The most accurate bullets I've ever fired were Sierra Matchkings, from my most accurate rifle. However, I don't think they preform well as hunting bullets. Nosler Partitions have never failed me.

4 - .375's 1- .416 2- 458's 1 - .470 Too much info is never a good thing.

IMO - nothing replaces personal interaction..... Talk to him over the phone, if he is too far away to meet face to face. Ask questions, talk about experiences, etc. A phony will not, usually, be able to explain much about the JNB airport. A hunter will.