Allen, I took a look at your trophys on the NickKudu files, and noticed that two rifles had iron sights, which two are these? and one had a wood stock. Wonderfull trophies, by the way.
Posts: 2045 | Location: West most midwestern town. | Registered: 13 June 2001
Wonderful. I love seeing the "tools" that were part of the hunt included in the pictures.
Even though it goes against everything I stand for, I have covetous feelings towards that "black" rifle with the open sights. I do, however, sleep better at night knowing that I truly can't covet that rifle as long as the bolt handle remains on the "off" side.
Posts: 2659 | Location: Southwestern Alberta | Registered: 08 March 2003
Smallfry, the wood-stocked rifle with the open sights is a reworked Model 70 Super Express .458 Win. Mag., and I'm hoping Nick can post a seperate photo of that rifle, starting a new thread for me, because it's an interesting gun with an interesting story behind it. I used it on one of the buffalo, as well as the hippo.
That hippo was indeed a very big, old bull that we took in Tanzania's Mlele North game control area, near Katavi national park. This particular setting was absolutely beautiful, and full of game. We walked up to this bull on dry land. I shot him twice in the right shoulder area, and once through the neck in rapid succession. He stumbled after the first hit and almost went down, but needed more convincing. Bullet was 500 gr. Trophy Bonded solid at about 2100 fps., and all three went clear through.
It came out a bit dark, but you can see the exit wound on from one of these TB solids in the near-dusk buffalo photo. This bullet entered the front of the bull's chest, and went clear through, exiting next to the tail. I was astounded that our head tracker found that exited bullet in the ground, and except for rifling marks and some scratches, the bullet was not distorted in the least. Some bullet!
The other open-sighted rifle you asked about is a .375 H&H, built on a Model 70 Classic action by D'Arcy Echols. This is one of the absolute best rifles I've ever had. I don't know it there's such a thing as a perfect firearm, but this one comes as close as anything I've ever owned. I had it down at D'Arcy's shop recently because he wanted some photos of it, and Chuck just happened to be down visiting with D'Arcy at the time. I'm pleased to say that Chuck had the chance to take it to the range and shoot it while he was there, which is why he makes mention of it as he does in this thread.
Steve, I'll have to look in my journal about the measurements of that waterbuck and post another response. This bull was also taken in Mlele North, Tanzania. The other waterbuck was another buster, and taken in Namibia.
Allen- You got alot of nice animals. It still amazes me how big Elands are! How much did your leopard weigh and what caliber rifle and bullet did you use? Thanks for sharing your hunt with us.
