Those with high value firearms, do you bring them to Africa to hunt with?

[Northern Shooter]

Yes I know it’s what these firearms were designed for. But I’m still curious because that first scratch must hurt.

Those who paid $20,000, $50,000, $100,000+ for a quality bespoke firearm, do you hunt with it in Africa? Does it come along with you in the land cruiser and get beat up when in the bushveld.

I’m particularly thinking of the likes of Rigby, Jeffery, Holland and Holland, Westley Richard’s etc.

 

[PARA45]

I do not own any of them and probably will never will. However, a $2,000-$3000 rifle to me is expensive, and I do hunt them. If I was rich enough to own such a fine firearm, I would definitely take them with me. What's the point for them to sit in the same and shot only at the range.

 

[K-man]

If you purchased the rifle as an investment, leave it UNFIRED and in its case in the safe, otherwise, take it, enjoy it, get the scratches on it as proof it is a part of you, and let it tell a story.

 

[JimP]

I've taken my most expensive rifle with me to Africa twice.

But what's $3000 to me might be be 10x more expensive than what others have. And it might be 10x less than others.

But I buy rifles to use, not to just look at. And if I could afford one of those real expensive ones I'd use it.

 

[Rare Breed]

Yes I know it’s what these firearms were designed for. But I’m still curious because that first scratch must hurt.

Those who paid $20,000, $50,000, $100,000+ for a quality bespoke firearm, do you hunt with it in Africa? Does it come along with you in the land cruiser and get beat up when in the bushveld.

I’m particularly thinking of the likes of Rigby, Jeffery, Holland and Holland, Westley Richard’s etc.

Without question!!! All my rifles, yes some cost as much as a small car, are taken to Africa and hunted with. Yes all of them will have some scratches. When you hunt buff and elephant as I do in thick jess and thorns that will happen. While I respect non hunters who just view their nice guns as nothing more than heirlooms that is simply not me. I hunt with all my rifles yes the very expensive ones with the big names. The pleasure in doing so more than makes up for just holding one in just my office never Africa. Just me

 

[Beck]

The most expensive rifle I have is basic Krieghoff big five double - but yes I take it to Africa - Guns are tools to me - I try to avoid letting them get scratched up unnecessarily, but I don't think about nicks/scratches at all when I am tracking something

 

[spike.t]

Back in the day when I had them yes....those thoughts never entered my mind...bought them to use.....think most expensive one I have now which is in the bigger picture not that expensive is my m98 7x57...and that is what I use here just about all the time....its in the cruiser when I am out.....

 

[Northern Shooter]

I think my greater fear beyond scratching it up would be for it to be lost or damaged during shipping.

Has anyone ever had a rifle lost on their trip, or confiscated by overzealous officials ?

 

[gizmo]

So I do not own Rigby’s or H&H’s. I have taken some of my custom guns to Africa. I haven’t taken my double rifle as of yet but given the opportunity to use it on a hunt where it would be appropriate I would. The two DG hunts I have done I used my 416 but it’s not a particularly expensive gun. That being said, in the realm of doubles mine is comparatively inexpensive.
If I ever could afford a 30K + firearm it would be a tough decision but at the end of the day if I had it I would have bought it to actually use. Even if I had that type of money I could never see me buying a rifle in the 50k + realm.

 

[BryceM]

It seems to me that many people save the nice China and beautiful rifles for some future time that never arrives. By the time most people can afford 5-figure rifles, their hunting career is probably in its last decade or two. Use the fine China. Drive the classic Corvette. Take the rifle out and let it fulfill the reason for its creation.

Now, if you bought it purely as an investment, that’s different.

 

[VertigoBE]

In short, Yes I take them to Africa to hunt.
Does it hurt when they get damaged? Oh yeah.
Will I continue taking nice rifles on hunting trips? Absolutely

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Where’s the fun in leaving them in the safe ?

It’s absolutely criminal to leave those poor firearms at home while you go on safari. They want to be in the field too…

If any of you own any expensive firearms (particularly a .600 Nitro Express or .505 Gibbs) which doesn’t leave your house, you should rather send them to me. I’ll show them a good time !

 

[WAB]

Yes, I see no point in owning a firearm I won’t use.

 

[sgt_zim]

Rifles are meant to have years of palm oil and sweat darkening the walnut stock, to be scratched, to have faded bluing.

Character rifles are favored for the same reason character buff bulls are favored.

 

[Hyena]

I do not own any of them and probably will never will. However, a $2,000-$3000 rifle to me is expensive, and I do hunt them. If I was rich enough to own such a fine firearm, I would definitely take them with me. What's the point for them to sit in the same and shot only at the range.

100% agree with you! AND, if it gets scratches or dings while hunting, I am happy. Those are memory marks. No sense having a closet queen.

I shoot a Blaser R93, not high end as in dollars, but it is to me. Can’t afford a double and still hunt.

 

[Vashper]

What a lovely theme! Just today, we were arguing about Swarovski scopes (I've been shooting moose with a sight for 50 bucks for five years now, having significantly more expensive ones).

"Everyone's life is busy with tomorrow. You're going to ask what's wrong with that. A lot! After all, people don't live, they're just going to live, and they're putting everything off. No matter how hard we try, life runs faster than us, and if we delay any longer, it passes by as if it were not ours, and although it ends on the last day, it leaves us every day."
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

 

[chashardy]

Yes. My 416 Rigby Big Game has been to Africa 3 times and to Australia once. I bought it to hunt, and the nicks and scratches are part of the deal. Also, nothing that couldn't be easily repaired.

 

[skydiver386]

I have a large bore rifle nearing completion that will go well over 10k. For me this is a massive investment, but if I'm going to Africa, it's going with me.

 

[Beck]

Where’s the fun in leaving them in the safe ?

It’s absolutely criminal to leave those poor firearms at home while you go on safari. They want to be in the field too…

If any of you own any expensive firearms (particularly a .600 Nitro Express or .505 Gibbs) which doesn’t leave your house, you should rather send them to me. I’ll show them a good time !

I swear to god every time I leave for Safari without my .450 Rigby it spites me when I return

 

[roverandbrew]

The Rigby Highland Stalker has done Africa x 3, Texas x 2, Colorado Elk Hunting x 2, Colorado Pronghorn x 1, Tennessee deer and hog x 3, and North Carolina deer x 1, all in the last couple years. Rain, snow, and dry desert all covered. I have flown to most of those from Virginia. Last night I was looking the rifle over and saw I had worn a large bit of blueing of the floor plate and barrel and quite a few dings in the stock. It made me incredibly happy to see its use and wonder what it will look like thirty years from now when my kids get it after my passing. Lots of memories. It also made me realize I had not used another rifle for deer the last few years should should probably sell them off to fund more worn bluing and scratches.