The Gaur Which Ended A Shikar Career

[Major Khan]

Not a "pleasant" story, certainly. But one definitely worth telling.
There's no knowing how any individual will react in a dangerous situation, until something dangerous does happen. Knowing about how others have reacted may help people when the time comes.

This is very true , perttime . Being disoriented in a situation where you are hunting something which can potentially hunt you back is flat out terrifying.

 

[Major Khan]

Poton , l cannot imagine how hard it must have been on you to actually have been there and seen it happen . I was downright scared when Amira and l received the news and visited Tobin in the hospital later . They had those tubes running out of his stomach and l still remember Tobin's screaming when the anaesthetic was not working . It was like being in Hell itself .
I have a genuine question about your opinion on the .458 Winchester magnum . Loaded with modern ammunition and propellants , would you feel comfortable guiding a client today for a Gaur shikar who came armed with a .458 Winchester Magnum ?
When l went to visit my elder son in Australia , l noticed that one of his friends uses a .458 Winchester magnum to hunt Water Buffalo there . It is a clone of the Winchester Model 70 , made by the Eastern European company , Zatsava.

When would local Indian anaesthetic ever work in those days , Kareem ? The worst part of it was watching Tobin spend the rest of his life eating such a restrictive diet. Remember how he used to finish an entire rack of barbecued pork baby back ribs by himself in the good old days ?
Regarding the .458 Winchester magnum calibre , my view is this : I can never act authoritarian and flat out state that it is a bad calibre . Saying that will make it look as if l am stating it for a hard fact which is wrong .
However , l can state as a matter of personal opinion that l do not like the .458 Winchester magnum calibre at all.
I find it conceptually wrong . A brass case firing a bullet which weighs 200 grains more than a .375 Holland & Holland magnum calibre case , but has 0.5 inches less powder space is conceptually wrong in my view . I read a book named " Ballistics in Perspective " written by an African game department officer who culled elephants in the thousands . In his book , he details the same problem which l had observed. He stated in his book that the only suitable factory ammunition for the .458 Winchester magnum calibre during his time of writing was ammunition loaded by the American company , A Square who used 500 grain Hornady solid metal covered bullets and loaded them to correct velocities .

 

[Major Khan]

Dear @Major Khan
This is sad and touching story. Thank you for sharing with us.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read it , mark hunter.

 

[Major Khan]

The failures and poor performance of the early 458 Win. Mag. ammo has been well documented. Even though those problems have been corrected, many hunters prefer the 458 Lott over this caliber. It is too bad that guys like Tobin paid the price of the 458 Win. Mag. not living up to the hype.

It is very unfortunate , Shootist43. Blinded , deafened and finally run through by these horns backed by 2000 pounds of raw rage.

By the way , do you own a .458 Winchester magnum calibre weapon ?

 

[Shootist43]

Poton, I do not own a 458 Win. Mag. The most powerful rifle in my battery is a Ruger No. 1 in 416 Rigby. I own two rifles in 404 Jeffery, one a CZ the other a Winchester Mod 70 that has been worked over by a gunsmith and rebarreled.

 

[Dr Ray]

Tobin was extremely lucky. I’m surprised he wasn’t killed.

 

[Major Khan]

Tobin was extremely lucky. I’m surprised he wasn’t killed.

To be very honest , Doctor. I fully expected that he would not survive the night. In my career as a professional shikaree , l only know of 3 people who have survived getting hit by a gaur.

 

[Adam From Africa]

Major, the accounts of your hunting experiences are most enjoyable - in fact enthralling and spellbinding. You provide a unique and refreshing perspective on Asian hunting of yesteryear. Thank you for sharing with us.

 

[gesch]

Thank you Major Kahn for relating what is such a sad and personal nightmare. Knowing from your writing what a true friend Tobin was it must be a very difficult anniversary. I do agree with the sentiment expressed that by thinking through these situations we may be better hunters should something like this occur. Hunters have responsibility to use adequate firearms and ammunition. I am so glad he survived it and was a huge blessing in your life for many years. Thanks again for your writings.

 

[Major Khan]

Major, the accounts of your hunting experiences are most enjoyable - in fact enthralling and spellbinding. You provide a unique and refreshing perspective on Asian hunting of yesteryear. Thank you for sharing with us.

I am glad that l have found an enthusiastic and appreciative reader in you , Adam. Please always continue to be so.

 

[Major Khan]

Thank you Major Kahn for relating what is such a sad and personal nightmare. Knowing from your writing what a true friend Tobin was it must be a very difficult anniversary. I do agree with the sentiment expressed that by thinking through these situations we may be better hunters should something like this occur. Hunters have responsibility to use adequate firearms and ammunition. I am so glad he survived it and was a huge blessing in your life for many years. Thanks again for your writings.

You understand me and the blow l felt that day very well , Gesch. I was waiting until the 11th of January to write this story on these forums . The disturbing thing about fate is what on good days , everything goes well. However , on bad days , it seems that everything goes wrong at the same time.

 

[DieJager]

Thank you for another great adventure. Glad your friend survived.

 

[jeff]

Thanks for sharing that tragic story, amazing he survived!

 

[Major Khan]

Thank you for another great adventure. Glad your friend survived.

I am really glad that you enjoyed it , Die Jager. Tobin's survival was a miracle.

 

[Major Khan]

Thanks for sharing that tragic story, amazing he survived!

It is indeed miraculous that he survived , Jeff. Among Indian dangerous game , a royal Bengal tiger attack or a gaur attack is fatal 9 times out of 10.

 

[TOBY458]

Great story! What a thrill it must've been to hunt during that time in history. I'm glad your friend made it to tell the tale.

 

[Kawshik Rahman]

Poton
This story sent Christmas chills down my spine . It was like re-living that nightmare from 1969 , when we had received the news. I will personally disagree with you about you not being a good human being . I have seen the coolies employed by Allwyn Cooper Limited . They were a most unscrupulous sort. If l had the misfortune to work with them , then l am certain that l would have been abandoned by them long ago , as well , during a crucial moment . The coolies of Sundar Raj Shikar Limited were more like our brothers , than our coolies and therefore we had developed a bond . They were not the kind to ever abandon me or Karim . Since l had to make do with that loathsome Ishapore Arms Factory 12 bore side by side shot-gun loaded with SG cartridges throughout the entirety of my career as a Professional Shikari , it goes without saying that my brave coolies saved my life on more than one occasion.
You , however , had to contend with all those beasts practically alone , with no assistance whatsoever . That speaks volumes of your fearlessness.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Wow! What a disgraceful embarrassment that clown was to my country! What a terrible thing to do! I’m very glad your friend recovered to the extent that he did. It seems you outlined another of the infamous failings of the early .458WM ammunition, too.

Friend Ponton
I heartily agree with BenKK it is a blight on our country to see such disgusting behavior. We were taught when the shit hits the fan you don't run off you stay and help even if it means you may get hurt.
Like yourself I have never liked the 458 despite what's written about its virtues. I personally would not have sent the horns but sent the hospital bill. If that person had done a similar thing here he to would probably end up in hospital for being such a coward. Every one would have given him a such a flogging he would never hunt again.

I am glad your friend survived but am saddened that there was a part of hunting taken that he could never do again.
Your stories may be graphic but you should not have to apologise for portraying historical events in an honest and first hand way.
As always I enjoy your writings and look forward to each installment. Keep writing my friend and never apologise for the truth.
Cheers friend Ponton
Bob Nelson.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Poton, I do not own a 458 Win. Mag. The most powerful rifle in my battery is a Ruger No. 1 in 416 Rigby. I own two rifles in 404 Jeffery, one a CZ the other a Winchester Mod 70 that has been worked over by a gunsmith and rebarreled.

Shootist43
I applaud you choices, real side cases for the job and better penetration from both over the 458
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Major Khan]

Friend Ponton
I heartily agree with BenKK it is a blight on our country to see such disgusting behavior. We were taught when the shit hits the fan you don't run off you stay and help even if it means you may get hurt.
Like yourself I have never liked the 458 despite what's written about its virtues. I personally would not have sent the horns but sent the hospital bill. If that person had done a similar thing here he to would probably end up in hospital for being such a coward. Every one would have given him a such a flogging he would never hunt again.

I am glad your friend survived but am saddened that there was a part of hunting taken that he could never do again.
Your stories may be graphic but you should not have to apologise for portraying historical events in an honest and first hand way.
As always I enjoy your writings and look forward to each installment. Keep writing my friend and never apologise for the truth.
Cheers friend Ponton
Bob Nelson.

Thank you so much for your appreciative words , Bob . I had countless fearless Australian clients as well ; Gentlemen quite similar to you , who would willingly put themselves in harm's way , just to protect another member of our shikar party . I believe that there are no bad countries in this world , but only bad people. I do not hold any grudges against the client for abandoning us when the gaur had charged . He was a client and he is not expected to stand his ground when a dangerous 2000 pound brute charged towards him. What l do hold a grudge against him for , is stealing our jeep and escaping the entire area itself . That sort of behavior is bizzarre , to say the least .
I do not think that anyone would ever see this sort of behavior coming . It never once crossed my mind that he might do something like this.
Unfortunately , back in the old days of India , the customer was always right . Or , as was the slogan in Kawshik's outfitters " Client Is King " . The lives of professional hunters were sadly given much less value than they are nowadays.
With regards to the .458 Winchester magnum calibre , l am certain that it has been used with great success by many .
However to me , a cartridge case with 0.5 inches less powder space than a .375 Holland & Holland magnum cartridge case , which propels a 200 grain heavier bullet than the .375 Holland & Holland magnum cartridge case , is conceptually wrong .
I could never have been so brutally honest or upfront about my experiences in the shikar field during my career , had it not been for the endless support that all of you gentlemen have shown me. The best thing about African Hunting forums is that the forum members here are very non judgemental and understanding . If l could not tell the whole story the way it really happened , then I would rather not write it at all.
I see that you have so kindly also commented on my latest ongoing article , Bob . I shall reply to all the comments on that page after the article is completed ( as always . )