SOUTH AFRICA: TANZANIA: Safari 2023 Spiral Slam, Black Death, & Mr. Spots

[Beck]

This sounds like an amazing trip! Send photos, travel safe, and have a good time!

 

[AZDAVE]

Have a great trip! Will be following.

 

[PARA45]

Good luck and safe travels. Oh boy the stocks on those rifles are beautiful! Wow!!!!

 

[HankBuck]

Not sure yet as we want to keep our options open as to what was the “hot area” at the time we showed up. I believe it will be either M1 or R1 in the Selous.
On a side note…here is the first layout of 2 rifles, 3 barrels, and 3 scopes for the case.
View attachment 545617
HH

Very interesting (to me) thumbhole stock and have not seen one with the “hole that large”. Is that stock wood or a laminate, or composite? I’m wondering how they kept it strong enough to withstand the recoil and not crack? Both rifles are very nice looking and especially with the traditional red recoil pad

 

[gillettehunter]

Looking forward to your hunt report. Shoot straight and be safe.
Bruce

 

[Firebird]

What is the weight limit for your gun case per your airline?

 

[Hunting Hitman]

Very interesting (to me) thumbhole stock and have not seen one with the “hole that large”. Is that stock wood or a laminate, or composite? I’m wondering how they kept it strong enough to withstand the recoil and not crack? Both rifles are very nice looking and especially with the traditional red recoil pad

Both R8’s are grade 8 wood stocks and I was assured the thumbhole stock on the success model could handle up to a 458 Lott with no problems. I will be using the Success for the 300 Win Mag and 375 H&H configurations and keep my Selous for the 458 Lott.

HH

 

[Hunting Hitman]

What is the weight limit for your gun case per your airline?

British Airways allows 3 bags at 32KG each (per person)and will still charge 250 Dollars/Pounds(Can’t Remember) for the privilege of taking a rifle on their plane.

HH

 

[Hunting Hitman]

Looking forward to your hunt report. Shoot straight and be safe.
Bruce

Hey @gillettehunter will I be running into you again at SAPS this year?

HH

 

[gillettehunter]

Hey @gillettehunter will I be running into you again at SAPS this year?

HH

I wish!! I had a hunt scheduled for the Congo for a Bongo and Forest Sitatunga. Was supposed to leave yesterday. My PH, Christophe Morieo asked if I could postpone the hunt for a while. He cited elephant poachers as causing them some problems. I'm rescheduled to depart on Sept 16 I think it is. His last message indicated the weather had not been favorable for the Bongo hunting for the last bit. They want rain and apparently it has been dry. So I'm on hold for right now.
I'm excited to read your report. Sounds like you're liable to have an exceptional hunt. Love your rifles! That wood looks exceptional!
Bruce

 

[BOSSGobbler]

Good Luck and Safe Travels.

I did the British Flight from Houston to London and then to Johannesburg back in May. Keep your initial check-in form, or I think as they call it a "Surrender of Firearms Form". Coming back they tried to say I wasn't approved for Firearms and having this helped expedite everything. If you haven't already gotten approval, you'll need to keep calling British Airways. You need to do it at least 72 hours in advance but they won't let you do it more than 4 or 5 days out. Each customer service rep on the phone seems to have a different understanding. One customer service rep told me I needed to do it at exactly 72 hours, not before or after. I asked how that would work since they were closed then? Called back 2 hours later, got someone else and it was submitted and approved.

We are doing a safari in 2024. While we have been 2 other times never thru London. Flights look promising via LHR (London) but I am concerned about difficulities. Did you use a travel agent or book this yourself? Can you say you would recommend this flight option to others? I am not familiar with the firearms process via British Airlines.
Thank you.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

We are doing a safari in 2024. While we have been 2 other times never thru London. Flights look promising via LHR (London) but I am concerned about difficulities. Did you use a travel agent or book this yourself? Can you say you would recommend this flight option to others? I am not familiar with the firearms process via British Airlines.
Thank you.

I have found that the problems are on the way home from Johannesburg. The gate agents are contacted and not BA employees. The difficulty, if it happens, will be the firearms don’t show being approved for the flight or the gate agent is unable to charge the firearm fee. The later held me up 3 hours at the business class desk last year.

HH

 

[Hunting Hitman]

We are doing a safari in 2024. While we have been 2 other times never thru London. Flights look promising via LHR (London) but I am concerned about difficulities. Did you use a travel agent or book this yourself? Can you say you would recommend this flight option to others? I am not familiar with the firearms process via British Airlines.
Thank you.

Sorry I forgot to add that I use Pat with PWP Travel and have for years with complete satisfaction with his performance.

 

[DLSJR]

Not sure yet as we want to keep our options open as to what was the “hot area” at the time we showed up. I believe it will be either M1 or R1 in the Selous.
On a side note…here is the first layout of 2 rifles, 3 barrels, and 3 scopes for the case.
View attachment 545617
HH

HH, for your sake I hope it’s neither M1 or R1, since both of those units were included in the new Nyerere National Park. Based on the maps I’ve seen, everything north of the Rufiji is now in the park. M1 & R1 are/were along the very northern edge of the Selous, well north of the river, which is rapidly becoming a very large lake.

 

[DLSJR]

I have found that the problems are on the way home from Johannesburg. The gate agents are contacted and not BA employees. The difficulty, if it happens, will be the firearms don’t show being approved for the flight or the gate agent is unable to charge the firearm fee. The later held me up 3 hours at the business class desk last year.

HH

LHR is the last international airport I want to transit on my way to Africa. I’ve flown through London twice with guns, had significant problems both times. There are too many other airports you can transit easily with guns to ever deal with LHR.

 

[DLSJR]

I wish!! I had a hunt scheduled for the Congo for a Bongo and Forest Sitatunga. Was supposed to leave yesterday. My PH, Christophe Morieo asked if I could postpone the hunt for a while. He cited elephant poachers as causing them some problems. I'm rescheduled to depart on Sept 16 I think it is. His last message indicated the weather had not been favorable for the Bongo hunting for the last bit. They want rain and apparently it has been dry. So I'm on hold for right now.
I'm excited to read your report. Sounds like you're liable to have an exceptional hunt. Love your rifles! That wood looks exceptional!
Bruce

Please keep me apprised as to how your hunt goes with Christophe. I’m booked to hunt there with him in May of ‘25. I’ll be keenly interested in chatting with you after you return.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

Bullet soft solid breakdown

I’ve been going back-and-forth with what I think the proper breakdown of softs to solids is for this hunt. I have decided on the following:
300 win mag - 50 200 grn Hornady eldx
375 H&H - 15 300 grn Swift a-frames
5 300 grn Swift Break a way solid
458 Lott - 25 500 grn Trophy bonded bear claw
5 500 grn Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer Solid

Thoughts?

HH

 

[cpr0312]

Safe travels, look forward to the reports!

 

[Philip Glass]

I have found that the problems are on the way home from Johannesburg. The gate agents are contacted and not BA employees. The difficulty, if it happens, will be the firearms don’t show being approved for the flight or the gate agent is unable to charge the firearm fee. The later held me up 3 hours at the business class desk last year.

HH

JNB! What a joy

 

[sestoppelman]

Sorry I forgot to add that I use Pat with PWP Travel and have for years with complete satisfaction with his performance.

Was that formerly TWG?