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I would like to add to the comments made concerning the Zimbabwe proficiency test. Due to economic constraints and the lack of availability of reliable new or used firearms. Many aspiring learners arrive for the test with rifles that are what many of us would consider junk. The aspiring learner saved hard for the firearm that he owns has had very little chance to ever use it (due to the cost of ammunition, .375 H&H runs about $300.00 a box). Almost all learners will fail the test, some because of their lack of experience or they just do not have what it takes. They may only be able to raise the funds to attempt the test once in their life, maybe more. The piece of junk (it may be a push feed made by ?? or a badly altered Mauser action) that they arrived with will now be sold to someone else. Some of these rifles arrive at the test year after year, but with a different owner!
Some of the rifles require minor repairs screws tightened or a sight replaced. Some are unrepairable! There are Learners who arrive with fully functioning rifles that are fairly new, Ruger, Winchester, CZ, Remington being the most popular. Some of the Rugers and Winchesters are push feed. I will not comment on my favourite, but I have seen push feed post 64 push feed Winchesters that were more reliable than very expensive Mauser based rifles. Remember Zimbabwe has been under arms embargo from the U.S. and U.K.. This means that not only are new rifles very hard to come by so are parts. The arms embargo includes parts even gun stocks. Consider yourself lucky, if you break a Mauser or M70 extractor (yes they can break) you can contact Brownells, ebay, or your gunsmith and bingo your back in business. Here we have two choices maybe a client can bring one over (I had one that was uncomfortable bringing a Mauser magazine spring) and I understand. The other choice find something that may work.
Go with quality, make sure that it feeds 100% reliably with the ammo you plan on using. Make sure every screw is properly tightened, use lock tight where needed. If you use iron sights bring a spare front sight (if you do you can be guaranteed nothing will happen). Bring a screwdriver for every screw, don't rely on a leatherman. A brass drift and hammer also may be needed.
Back to ammo I had a recent experience with a well known custom mfg. controlled feed rifle (Mauser style action). It would feed solid perfectly, but the softs were a 100% failure to feed. Fortunately I have a foredom tool & a dreemel and a little bit of skill the rifle now feeds perfectly soft and solids of various mfg. If a learner would have shown up at the test and had tested their rifle with the solids, but used the softs for the test everyone would have drooled over the beautiful wood and well made rifle until the learner got to the first shooting station and could not cycle the first round!
Money may by quality, but it does not guarantee perfection and a DG rifle must be perfect every time!
Some of the rifles require minor repairs screws tightened or a sight replaced. Some are unrepairable! There are Learners who arrive with fully functioning rifles that are fairly new, Ruger, Winchester, CZ, Remington being the most popular. Some of the Rugers and Winchesters are push feed. I will not comment on my favourite, but I have seen push feed post 64 push feed Winchesters that were more reliable than very expensive Mauser based rifles. Remember Zimbabwe has been under arms embargo from the U.S. and U.K.. This means that not only are new rifles very hard to come by so are parts. The arms embargo includes parts even gun stocks. Consider yourself lucky, if you break a Mauser or M70 extractor (yes they can break) you can contact Brownells, ebay, or your gunsmith and bingo your back in business. Here we have two choices maybe a client can bring one over (I had one that was uncomfortable bringing a Mauser magazine spring) and I understand. The other choice find something that may work.
Go with quality, make sure that it feeds 100% reliably with the ammo you plan on using. Make sure every screw is properly tightened, use lock tight where needed. If you use iron sights bring a spare front sight (if you do you can be guaranteed nothing will happen). Bring a screwdriver for every screw, don't rely on a leatherman. A brass drift and hammer also may be needed.
Back to ammo I had a recent experience with a well known custom mfg. controlled feed rifle (Mauser style action). It would feed solid perfectly, but the softs were a 100% failure to feed. Fortunately I have a foredom tool & a dreemel and a little bit of skill the rifle now feeds perfectly soft and solids of various mfg. If a learner would have shown up at the test and had tested their rifle with the solids, but used the softs for the test everyone would have drooled over the beautiful wood and well made rifle until the learner got to the first shooting station and could not cycle the first round!
Money may by quality, but it does not guarantee perfection and a DG rifle must be perfect every time!