Guide Gun at the range

[CAustin]

PeteG you are correct. PH has told me that the 416 will be the rifle of choice. Truth be know I am comfortable with either rifle to take the cat. Spots is soft skinned and I have some 180 grain SST ammo that would do the trick.
When I got my lioness the 416 was in use. The first shot at the instruction of the PH was to be directly on the shoulder blade. When the shot struck at 60 yards the lioness flipped tail over head landing on her back. She rolled over onto her stomach and stayed right where she was as I put two follow up shots into her. We didn't know it until skinning that the Hornady DGX round had shattered both shoulder blades like glass.
The anatomy of the leopard is different from the lion in terms of where the heart is but in my mind shattered shoulder blades anchor the cat.
A Boddington video that I have says to hit the leopard behind the shoulders. Ill wait to see what the PH says do.

 

[Custom]

Custom you may have said in another post but where are you hunting for Leopard and who is the outfitter!

I am hunting with Somerby Safaris, who I hunted with last summer. Their Zim PH is Lloyd Yeatman who hunts the Naivaisha concession near the Gonarezhou Park. Jim Guist hunted with Lloyd a few years ago and took one his leopards there. I think Pro Hunting Safaris here on AH also works with LLoyd.

 

[CAustin]

I have considered Somerby in the past. I've met them twice at the KC SCI show. Drom and his wife are very nice people. On of the lodges they use is one I've stayed in before and found it very comfortable.

 

[Custom]

Our experience last year was great, and I am nothing if not loyal, so I am headed back with them. Which lodge have you stayed in, Charlie, Tilodi?

 

[Art Lambart II]

Nice shooting Charlie, sorry I couldn't make t to the range on Saturday but I did have a good time with the kids at the Zoo

 

[CTDolan]

@CAustin , what was the issue with the stock on your 416 Guide Gun? I ask because I just purchased a Guide Gun in 416 myself.

By the way, that is some damn fine shooting!

 

[CAustin]

CT I don't know if I did something during the trip or if there was a weak spot in the laminated stock but right where the top portion of the tang fits into the stock a little chip started to form. I suppose I could have fixed it myself as it was such a minor flake in the wood but I wanted someone who knew what they were doing to fix it. After all I plan to hand this rifle down to generations to come as the rifle that took four of the big five! So I guess I was just being a little fussy!

 

[CAustin]

By the way have you taken yours to the range yet? What optics are you planning to mount?

 

[CAustin]

Plan to go back to the range a couple of times before I hunt spots!

 

[CTDolan]

The rifle arrives on Tuesday. I plan on taking it to the range this next weekend. I've got 40 rounds and will probably shoot around 20 (solids and softs). I've also got 50 Partition bullets and 50 DGS. Still need a set of dies, though...

As for scopes, if ever I mount one, it'll be the same as you use as it's been very well-received, by many.

 

[CAustin]

Well I look forward to hearing your Range Report. I simply love my Guide Gun. It's not too heavy and it shoots damn straight! I'm actually going to remove the ported tip for the leopard hunt as I can't imagine letting that beast sound off in an enclosed blind. I've shot it that way and the kick is very manageable.

 

[CTDolan]

I'll post some pictures here.

It's exactly what I was looking for in a heavy rifle, something capable of standing up to nearly anything and which I can take on a long, northern expedition without worry. It's obviously plenty powerful (more than I'll ever need, that's for sure), and not too long nor heavy. Basically, I've always seen it as a modern 450/400, in a 20 barrel (400 grains at 2,200-2,250 fps). What could be better!?

 

[CAustin]

Our experience last year was great, and I am nothing if not loyal, so I am headed back with them. Which lodge have you stayed in, Charlie, Tilodi?

Custom sorry but I just saw your question! I stayed at the Lodge on the Elands river near Rust de Winter Dam. It's run by a man named Nico Erasmus. I've stayed there on two safaris and would not hesitate to go back!

 

[CAustin]

I'll post some pictures here.

It's exactly what I was looking for in a heavy rifle, something capable of standing up to nearly anything and which I can take on a long, northern expedition without worry. It's obviously plenty powerful (more than I'll ever need, that's for sure), and not too long nor heavy. Basically, I've always seen it as a modern 450/400, in a 20 barrel (400 grains at 2,200-2,250 fps). What could be better!?

I agree fully! It's proven that it can take down the biggest thickest skinned animals. I hope to use it on a Brown Bear hunt someday!

 

[CAustin]

Custom this is the lodge on the Elands river I referred to. Somersby uses it and so does African Sky! Comfortable, good cook and great view from the porch!

 

[Royal27]

CT I don't know if I did something during the trip or if there was a weak spot in the laminated stock but right where the top portion of the tang fits into the stock a little chip started to form. I suppose I could have fixed it myself as it was such a minor flake in the wood but I wanted someone who knew what they were doing to fix it. After all I plan to hand this rifle down to generations to come as the rifle that took four of the big five! So I guess I was just being a little fussy!

Hey @CAustin ,

Do you have a FAT wrench? Sometimes a crack like that can be caused by the action screws being loose, especially on the heavy hitters. Checking the torque regularly isn't a bad idea. Those screws come loose more than you might think. And if nothing else, it is piece of mind.

When I finally got a wrench myself, I had a couple of screws loose.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/71...m-accurizing-torque-torque-wrench-screwdriver

 

[CAustin]

Interesting. The gun shop in Tulsa where I took the rifle told me that they made sure the screws were tight! Maybe one wasn't and I just didn't know! Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Royal27]

Youre welcome.

Even if they were they can always work loose. The instructor at SAAM told me he took the wrench with him on hunts and checked again after he got there, even though he also checked right before he left.

Now that's a little too anal for me, but the idea of regular service sure makes sense.

 

[CTDolan]

I agree fully! It's proven that it can take down the biggest thickest skinned animals. I hope to use it on a Brown Bear hunt someday!

My life-long dream is a fly-in hunt in Alaska, and while I realize that in the Guide Gun platform a 375 would have been the more logical choice, I've always wanted a 416. I figure that for lesser game the 350 grain Swift A-frame would be an excellent option.

 

[CTDolan]

Hey @CAustin ,

Do you have a FAT wrench? Sometimes a crack like that can be caused by the action screws being loose, especially on the heavy hitters. Checking the torque regularly isn't a bad idea. Those screws come loose more than you might think. And if nothing else, it is piece of mind.

When I finally got a wrench myself, I had a couple of screws loose.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/71...m-accurizing-torque-torque-wrench-screwdriver

Are torque values published for the various action screws? Just curious. Thank you.