South Africa Outfitters and rifle rental

[Hogpatrol]

Ha! I was thinking off the hood of a truck! LOL

That requires moa of tennis ball.

 

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

Just last week some young whipper snapper told me the 6.5 can outshoot the Geratric .30's
I just turned 50 and my tolerance for nonsense has not improved.

Usually the same guy that has less range/field time than half my sock drawer.

 

[CoElkHunter]

The trick is hitting that volleyball off of sticks.

I wasn’t going to show this to anyone, but until a little over a month ago, I had never shot off sticks. So, I went to the range and shot a few rounds off my Bog bipod sticks standing at 100 yards with my Browning .338WM and some old Remington 225gr Core Lokts. I did OK at 100. Then, a guy at the 200 yard range shooting his Ruger #3 .22 Hornet from the bench and invited me over as he saw me shooting from sticks. I shot three rounds from the bench off his adjustable bench gizmo, but it was too low. The orange is 8” round and middle is 4”. I then shot two from my bipod using my scope at 8x. He had a spotting scope and told me my first round was just left of the diamond. I thought he was joking at first. But, my next shot was high and to the right a few inches from the diamond, but still in the orange. He got real excited and showed me the shots through his scope. He and I couldn’t believe it, cause you all know with the wobble of the crosshairs, when they’re centered on the target you squeeze the trigger and hope for the best? I hadn’t shot at 200 yards for some time as most of my elk were taken at less than 100 yards, so I’d never practiced much past that. I hope I can duplicate it off the sticks again in the near future when the weather cooperates.

 

[KAROO WILD Safaris]

Hello,
Are Outfitters who offer rifle rental uncommon?
I do not want to bring my rifle with me.
In looking at a large number of websites not many mention rifle rental.
Are they simply not advertising that option?

Most outfitters offer rifle hire. We offer it for free included in all our safaris. It’s definitely in the outfitters best interest that he loan you an accurate and dependable rifle. Just check with him though, people sometimes have different ideas of what constitutes a good rifle and scope.

 

[C.W. Richter]

idt there's a PH in Africa without rifle(s) for you to use.

 

[YancyW]

I wasn’t going to show this to anyone, but until a little over a month ago, I had never shot off sticks. So, I went to the range and shot a few rounds off my Bog bipod sticks standing at 100 yards with my Browning .338WM and some old Remington 225gr Core Lokts. I did OK at 100. Then, a guy at the 200 yard range shooting his Ruger #3 .22 Hornet from the bench and invited me over as he saw me shooting from sticks. I shot three rounds from the bench off his adjustable bench gizmo, but it was too low. The orange is 8” round and middle is 4”. I then shot two from my bipod using my scope at 8x. He had a spotting scope and told me my first round was just left of the diamond. I thought he was joking at first. But, my next shot was high and to the right a few inches from the diamond, but still in the orange. He got real excited and showed me the shots through his scope. He and I couldn’t believe it, cause you all know with the wobble of the crosshairs, when they’re centered on the target you squeeze the trigger and hope for the best? I hadn’t shot at 200 yards for some time as most of my elk were taken at less than 100 yards, so I’d never practiced much past that. I hope I can duplicate it off the sticks again in the near future when the weather cooperates.

View attachment 454167

Something I do getting before a trip is shoot a .22lr and a 223 some before I move over to shooting my hunting rifles off the sticks. It it a good warmup and helps get me focused faster. Saves on ammo costs also.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Something I do getting before a trip is shoot a .22lr and a 223 some before I move over to shooting my hunting rifles off the sticks. It it a good warmup and helps get me focused faster. Saves on ammo costs also.

Great idea! I just wanted to try the "full Monty" with my .338 and the sticks first time out? I have a LOT of practicing to do, weather permitting. LOL

 

[YancyW]

Great idea! I just wanted to try the "full Monty" with my .338 and the sticks first time out? I have a LOT of practicing to do, weather permitting. LOL

Also, practice on using the sling to help you steady on the sticks. Once you get that down, you will see some big improvements. You wont always have time to use it, but when you do, it helps.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Also, practice on using the sling to help you steady on the sticks. Once you get that down, you will some big improvements. You wont always have time to use it, but when you do, it helps.

Another GREAT idea! I've only ever used a sling when hunting, but using it WITH the sticks is brilliant. Especially on my bipod. Thanks!

 

[John Telford]

Ph should have a rifle to hire although it may not be in the caliber that you usually hunt with.

 

[Ryan]

I simply look at what I’ve invested in my rifles. Having them bounce around the world earning frequent flier miles doesn’t do much for me, especially considering who’s going to have access to it and handle it.
I’d rather spend a couple hundred bucks and leave mine stateside safe & sound.
Now, I get some of you have never had issues and I can appreciate that. I just know my luck.

Actually you'll probably save a couple hundred bucks. One less piece of baggage both ways and no license fees. At worst you draw even if an outfitter had a fee, but most are reasonable or don't even charge. I've done both and each has its advantages and disadvantages. If it's not advertised on their fees, just ask. Heck, they may have something you've wanted to try. I had never used a rifle with a suppressor until my 2018 hunt where I used a rental. All the animals I shot with it never cared it wasn't actually my rifle and died just as fast as if I used my own rifle.

 

[JimP]

I did some math and using the outfitters rifles and ammo for a 10 day hunt vs hiring Rifle Permits. Com or another company to do the pre approved permits is so close to being the same that I'll use my own rifle.

Now if you are going to do any touring and don't have a secure place for your rifle then use the outfitters rifles.

 

[buckshot85]

Yeah, my rifle isn’t leaving NA.

 

[Neil Molendyk]

On two occasions the Outfitter PH provided to me the use of their rifles for plains game, on both trips the rifle was a Ruger 77 Mk2, crf, chambered in 300 Win Mag, topped with Zeiss optics and synthetic stocks. Both were zero'd at 100 meters as proven when sighting in (hint here, the PH knew that the rifles were zero'd, they were checking for the clients competency in the use of the firearm). in both cases they only charged me for the ammunition used. In both cases the rifles provided were more than adequate, I was quite impressed. On one other trip I took my own rifle because I was hunting DG and I wanted intimate knowledge of my rifle because of possible implications should things go sideways

 

[Hunt anything]

Other than the PH looking to see how accurate you and your rifle areI think they are really checking to see how SAFE you are with a rifle.

 

[Eduard_Venter]

Most/all outfitters or even PHs will have a rifle you'll be able to use on safari. Some will charge rent, some just ammo and some will provide it for free. Just arrange beforehand, a plan will definitely be made.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I did some math and using the outfitters rifles and ammo for a 10 day hunt vs hiring Rifle Permits. Com or another company to do the pre approved permits is so close to being the same that I'll use my own rifle.

Now if you are going to do any touring and don't have a secure place for your rifle then use the outfitters rifles.

Not knowledgeable about other countries but in RSA, I've left my rifles at Joburg with a storage company while I went on couple fishing trips. When I got back to the airport, Bruce met me with my rifles and got me checked in for my next flight, a seamless operation.

 

[JimP]

Not knowledgeable about other countries but in RSA, I've left my rifles at Joburg with a storage company while I went on couple fishing trips. When I got back to the airport, Bruce met me with my rifles and got me checked in for my next flight, a seamless operation.

I know on my first trip in 2015 we left our rifles with one of the PH's in Port Elizabeth while we did a week + of touring. He met us at our hotel the morning that we were to fly out. He was a great guy, he even cleaned them for us.

 

[MarkB]

All my safaris I have taken my own rifles, rented or borrowed have always been available. We spent a day bird hunting in Namibia with borrowed shotguns, and last summers trip I did use borrowed rifles in specific calibers (223) for small stuff/night critters.

Costs and hassle are almost same for 7-10 or even 14 days safaris but I do longer so rental expenses are quoted at more than a new gun. I have never used any permit company, fill in blanks properly and never had an issue. Twice now SAP's in Joburg has stored my guns free, 2005 for SA strike 12 days and last year 21 days due to Covid positives at Joburg. Last summer we toured after safari for 20 days, guns stayed with us. Followed all SA protocols IAW SAPs discussions and directions. Even in Addo and Kruger (followed directions on website) checked guns at front gates, secure with their locks and leave in locked rooms, or car trunk, on exit ranger verified and took locks. Easy no hassle.

Lastly I get a satisfaction and enjoyment using my own firearms with my own handloads all the while knowing I handled import/export challenge with my guns. Adds overall to safariing for me.

MB

 

[Ragman]

For my first trip to Namibia I took my own rifle. However it did not get there when we arrived so I had to use my PH's .30-06 the first day. Shot a Steenbok and Gemsbok with it. Was a little disappointed that my first African game weren't taken with my rifle, however after the first day I had it for the remainder of the trip. When we arrived back home it took an additional 3 days for my rifle to arrive. So for my second safari to the Eastern Cape I used my PH's Ruger 77 in .300 WM. Took the worry out of it and I didn't miss mine too much.