How many carry own heavy rifle

12 August 2010, 22:25

Just curious how many carry their own heavy rifle when hunting dangerous game versus having the tracker do it?

I always took my scoped 375 when we left the truck and the tracker would carry the double or heavier bolt gun. I always had the time to exchange rifles when close to buff or ele.

My idea was I had a scoped rifle along with me in case something appeared that you needed a scope for. Could be that big serval or whatever shows up when least expected.

BigB

12 August 2010, 22:40

PSmith

Only two hunts so far, but nobody ever carried my rifle but me.

Paul Smith
SCI Life Member
NRA Life Member
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Life Member of the "I Can't Wait to Get Back to Africa" Club
DRSS
I had the privilege to fire E. Hemingway's WR .577NE, E. Keith's WR .470NE, & F. Jamieson's WJJ .500 Jeffery
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12 August 2010, 22:42

David Culpepper

The only time I had someone else carry my rifle was when I was very sick during the hunt. The PH and trackers were taking everything they could off me to keep me going. The thing was when we finally did come upon the game in a hurried situation I was going "Where's my rifle?" Everyone was laughing but we got our animal.

12 August 2010, 22:42

sharpsguy

I carry my own rifle. Period.

12 August 2010, 22:43

Use Enough Gun

Me too.

12 August 2010, 22:53

Die Ou Jagter

Of course.

12 August 2010, 22:55

MJines

Not me. Here is a picture from one of my prior safaris:

12 August 2010, 22:57

Biebs

I think you start to consider having a rifle carried for you when you start to use a double. When tracking Cape Buffalo or Elephant, who knows what you'll run across, a once-in-a-lifetime Kudu, a 17" Warthog...something you're not after but is available to shoot and a rare opportunity. In that way, you can capitalize on the unplanned situation, but still have your double available for the planned game you're hunting.

12 August 2010, 23:03

Dave Fulson

Mike, that was priceless !!! Seriously though, you should carry your own gun, if one of your guys look his hands off the pole to hand you your rifle he might drop you out of your hammock !!!!!
Best laugh I have had today.

12 August 2010, 23:04

butchloc

the only time i haven't carried my own was my last trip in zambia when i had come out of spinal surgery a few weeks before and was on a 5# weight limit. could only walk about an hour or so then too.

12 August 2010, 23:48

buffybr

quote:
I carry my own rifle. Period.

Me too

12 August 2010, 23:51

JBrown

At least one member here on AR has his heavy rifle carried in its case(broken down) until the action is close at hand. He carries a medium bore.

Seems like a lot of trouble.

Jason

"You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core."
_______________________

Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt.

Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry
Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure.

-Jason Brown

13 August 2010, 00:19

eyedoc

Me thinks you guys have your heads and your egos firmly up your arses!

BigB was not asking if he should carry his own rifle.He was asking should he carry the big bore or the scoped rifle when he was bringing both along on a walk through Dangerous Game territory.

My answer would be that I would carry the big gun and let the help carry the smaller scoped rifle.I would rather swap guns to take advantage of a chance for an exceptional kudu than to swap guns to try to stop a charging cow elephant that you accidently stumbled into in heavy cover. Just playing the odds so that the worse that can happen is that you will be unprepared for a great trophy opportunity instead of being unprepared to deal with a life or death issue.

13 August 2010, 00:37

Saeed

I never, ever, let anyone carry, clean or even touch my hunting rifle.

13 August 2010, 00:43

MopaneMike

Me personaly, if I'm hunting buff.. Then I carry my heavy (458Lott) & one of the trackers carry my light gun (375H&H) If I'm hunting thin skin game, I carry the light (375H&H) Tracker carries the heavy(458Lott)..

Only time I wouldn't carry my own was if I was injured, sick or mortaly wounded..

13 August 2010, 00:44

Will

quote:
Originally posted by Saeed:
I never, ever, let anyone carry, clean or even touch my hunting rifle.

You mean the gunbearer would be too embarrassed about carrying too little gun?

-------------------------------
Will / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun.
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13 August 2010, 00:46

Gerrypeters375

BigB

I should think that the 375 was a "first line of defense" when you got out of the truck!

(I'm something of a hypocrite in posting because if I ever had to face a buff again - I would like a recoilless rifle! (And yet the 375 did its job perfectly - It's just that the buff scared me at 35 yards (afterwards in thinking about it -no time to be afraid as he looked at me) so that I never would argue with the double in as big a caliber as can be handled as can be handled. {I shot about a dozen rounds from my PH's 470,N.E. at a makeshift target and liked it enormously -same kind of hard "push" and not a "kick" as the 375) Don't let me hear you downgrading the 375 to a "second gun" again! (I speak from my vast experience of one trip)

13 August 2010, 00:51

SteveGl

quote:
Originally posted by eyedoc:
Me thinks you guys have your heads and your egos firmly up your arses! BigB was not asking if he should carry his own rifle.He was asking should he carry the big bore or the scoped rifle when he was bringing both along on a walk through Dangerous Game territory.

My answer would be that I would carry the big gun and let the help carry the smaller scoped rifle.I would rather swap guns to take advantage of a chance for an exceptional kudu than to swap guns to try to stop a charging cow elephant that you accidently stumbled into in heavy cover. Just playing the odds so that the worse that can happen is that you will be unprepared for a great trophy opportunity instead of being unprepared to deal with a life or death issue.

It's always a pleasure to read a post written by someone who can actually read and comprehend.

Plus I agree with your reply.

:::

13 August 2010, 00:58

Saeed

quote:
Originally posted by Will:
quote:
Originally posted by Saeed:
I never, ever, let anyone carry, clean or even touch my hunting rifle.

You mean the gunbearer would be too embarrassed about carrying too little gun?

Bill,

On a number of occasions, after I have dropped 2,3 or 4 buffalo within a few yards of each other, at least one of the trackers asks about the rifle I am using.

It gets interesting when I show them my ammo, some in 404 brass and some in 416 Dakota brass. They start scratching their heads when they find I have a rifle that shoots both 404 and 416.

Last year one actually asked Alan, on our first day after I shot two bulls. "How big is the gun Bwana is shooting?"

13 August 2010, 01:12

butchloc

quote:
Posted 12 August 2010 23:37 Hide Post
I never, ever, let anyone carry, clean or even touch my hunting rifle.

with some of the pranks you have played on walter I would imagine that you would have to keep your rifle under lock and key when he is around

13 August 2010, 01:32

Will

quote:
Originally posted by Saeed:
quote:
Originally posted by Will:
quote:
Originally posted by Saeed:
I never, ever, let anyone carry, clean or even touch my hunting rifle.

You mean the gunbearer would be too embarrassed about carrying too little gun?

Bill,

On a number of occasions, after I have dropped 2,3 or 4 buffalo within a few yards of each other, at least one of the trackers asks about the rifle I am using.

It gets interesting when I show them my ammo, some in 404 brass and some in 416 Dakota brass. They start scratching their heads when they find I have a rifle that shoots both 404 and 416.

Last year one actually asked Alan, on our first day after I shot two bulls. "How big is the gun Bwana is shooting?"

It is not how big but how much muti it has.

13 August 2010, 01:33

Will

P.S.

Yeah, I know you can shoot. Damn well actually!

13 August 2010, 01:49

Brain1

I have carried mine each time. If I can't carry my rifle I probably don't need to be walking around out there.

13 August 2010, 02:55

CCMDoc

quote:
Originally posted by BigB:
Just curious how many carry their own heavy rifle when hunting dangerous game versus having the tracker do it?

I always took my scoped 375 when we left the truck and the tracker would carry the double or heavier bolt gun. I always had the time to exchange rifles when close to buff or ele.

My idea was I had a scoped rifle along with me in case something appeared that you needed a scope for. Could be that big serval or whatever shows up when least expected.

BigB

BigB,

I did just the opposite.

On my Cape buffalo/PG safari I carried my AHR-built 600 Overkill and the tracker carried my scoped 416 Weatherby. The way I looked at it, anything close enough to be dangerous would be good fodder for the 600. If farther away, there would be more than enough time to swap to the "light" 416.

13 August 2010, 03:01

MJines

Bill, wipe your nose.

13 August 2010, 03:09

Will

quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
Bill, wipe your nose.

Hey, I have to say something nice about somebody every six months or so. Just never expect me to say anything nice about you, ever!

13 August 2010, 03:17

MJines

Does this mean I have been dropped from the Christmas card list?

13 August 2010, 03:20

Peter

eyedoc has it right. The question was if I have two guns, a heavy double and a scoped light(er) rifle which do I carry and which does the gun bearer carry? I tend to agree that during the "walk" looking for sign etc. the scoped rifle would be with me. Once the ele or buff had been spotted and the stalk started, then I would take the double.
Just MHO, Peter.

Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;

13 August 2010, 03:25

loud-n-boomer

I carried my .458 Lott and used it for my buffalo as well as almost all of my plains game. The longest shot I took with it was 235 yards according to the PH's range finder. If you take the time to figure out the trajectory of your heavy rifle and practice with it, you don't need to carry another one unless there is a lot of very open country.

However, if I hunted with an open sighted double or some place like the deserts of Namibia, I might carry a scoped medium bore and have someone else carry the heavy.

13 August 2010, 03:26

MacD37

I always carry the heavy, and let a tracker carry my light rifle! Just makes sense to me!

....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1
DRSS Charter member
"If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982

Hands of Old Elmer Keith

13 August 2010, 04:19

Mad Dog

Take one rifle, and ya don't have to worry about it!

Mad Dog

13 August 2010, 04:29

Michael Robinson

Like nearly everyone else who has posted on this thread so far, I always carry my own rifle.

But I think we must be in the minority.

I have found that our trackers generally can't believe that I'm not going to give them my rifle, and I have to tell them no repeatedly!

13 August 2010, 04:35

375LVR

A real man would train his significant other to carry his beloved firearms

Ann, please don't tell Jayne I just posted that

13 August 2010, 04:47

Tim Herald

This last hunt, I carried my .458 and one of the trackers carried my .300. I would much rather have the big gun in my hand in DG country, and if the opportunity for something comes up, then switch out for the light gun. No snap shots at long distance that way, but anything at 100-150 yards hopefully won't be hauling the mail immediately. As things turned out, the tracker carried my .300 a lot for nothing. No targets of opportunity were shot with the light gun while hunting buff or ele.

13 August 2010, 04:51

Ed Scarboro

I have only been on one DG hunt and I carried the double and a tracker carried the scoped 375. In the area we were in, the bush was so thick that I could have shot anything we saw with the double.

13 August 2010, 05:18

Tom In Tennessee

Since my eyes decided they could not line up a shoulder, bead and "V" about 20 years ago, I only use scoped rifles. Thus only one needs to go with me,,,my .416Rigby on DG trail or follow up...if the trek is long...I have no problem letting a tracker close to me carry if he stays close to me and the game has not yet been spotted...when tracks get fresh, the rifle is mine! The tracker is always encouraged to carry it back when a stalk has been unsuccesful! No 2nd gun along...if we turn the corner and there stands a world record Kudu , I shall whack it with my DG rifle. The .375RUM or 7mmMag can sleep quitely in the bakkie

13 August 2010, 05:43

Peter

Geez 375LVR, what did you do to your knee?
Peter.

Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;

13 August 2010, 09:05

Antlers

quote:
Originally posted by Will:
quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
Bill, wipe your nose.

Hey, I have to say something nice about somebody every six months or so. Just never expect me to say anything nice about you, ever!

C'mon! Y'all made me spew my tea....

13 August 2010, 09:34

vandyboy

I have always carried my own rifle. Only time I let someone else carry it was when I carried my Leopard back to the truck over my shoulders. It always rubs me the wrong way when you watch a hunting show on tv and see the tracker carrying the hunters rifle and he is walking unarmed. Get in shape and carry your own damn rifle.

13 August 2010, 14:27

cameronaussie

I always carry my own rifle.

Also any gear I wish to have on the hunt.

The fairly level grounds of africa, is much easy compared to the hills. Where you have no one to carry it for you.

You also need to be ready for any thing that comes along.

I am rich enough to worry about the 2nd rifle any way.