Recent "Under Wild Skies" Episode

25 September 2011, 21:55

I just watched Tony Makris kill a large bull elephant with three shots from his .375 H&H magnum. On the show prior to that, Jeff Rann killed a big bull with five shots from his .470 Nitro Express. That MUST mean the .375 is a better elephant gun than the .470.

Just kidding folks.
It's good to see the old workhorse will still work, with caution, on the big stuff.

Take care,

jfm

25 September 2011, 22:18

Blank

Did you also pick up on his reloading problem, and hear him say he tried to stuff a 404 into the Blaser? Always check those cartridges people, every time!

26 September 2011, 01:26

Todd Williams

Seems like Tony has quite a few ammo problems. On Johan's "Tuskers" DVD, Tony has a hang fire on his 577! There are several other posts on AR referring to Tony's ammo issues as well.

26 September 2011, 02:20

Upton O. Good

Mr. Makris had a doubling issue with an older sxs that knocked him and his elephant on repective arses. I'm not a big fan of his but I have to say I like that he shows the ugly and the good.

26 September 2011, 02:52

strapman

I like watching Under Wild Skies. Tony does a good job putting a little tradition, a little culture and some exciting shooting into his shows. So many of the other outdoor shows are full of high fives, silly behavior and whacking Texas deer from a high plastic stands near a deer feeder. They put a few bucks into Under Wild Skies and I hope they keep the show on the air. He talks about the rifles and calibers he uses and he makes it enjoyable. I haven't seen the ammo screw-ups but if he has, I guess the guys human like all of us.

26 September 2011, 03:01

BaxterB

Damn I wish they would stream these episodes...

26 September 2011, 04:34

jdollar

quote:
Originally posted by jfm:
I just watched Tony Makris kill a large bull elephant with three shots from his .375 H&H magnum. On the show prior to that, Jeff Rann killed a big bull with five shots from his .470 Nitro Express. That MUST mean the .375 is a better elephant gun than the .470. Just kidding folks.
It's good to see the old workhorse will still work, with caution, on the big stuff.

Take care,

jfm

i thought Jeff used a .500 or .577- i know he has on some previous shows. must be nice to own 2-3 doubles!

26 September 2011, 06:37

h kittle

I agree totally with Strapman. I enjoy Tony's Under Wild Skies. So many of these show are just two high five's etc. If I do not ever see Tam Safaries darting another rhino it will be too soon.

26 September 2011, 06:50

jdollar

quote:
Originally posted by h kittle:
I agree totally with Strapman. I enjoy Tony's Under Wild Skies. So many of these show are just two high five's etc. If I do not ever see Tam Safaries darting another rhino it will be too soon.

or shooting a pen raised lion turned loose for the GWH to pop.

26 September 2011, 08:17

Todd Williams

Didn't mean to rag on Tony. I think Under Wild Skies is one of the better shows as well and I always watch it when I get a chance.

26 September 2011, 08:23

Use Enough Gun

It is one of the better shows on outdoor t.v.

26 September 2011, 08:57

DCS Member

When and where does it air?

26 September 2011, 09:46

AnotherAZWriter

The quality of the show is good, but I don't care to watch the same guy shoot stuff show after show.

26 September 2011, 11:00

jfm

Blank, I did notice he had ammunition problems. I also noticed that the first shot he took on the bull was off as he stated he forgot he was shooting with a scope set 1.5 inches high. That guy does seem to run into a few more problems than the average guy.
I also found it interesting that he got to meet with Harry Selby and they talked at length about African rifles and cartridges. Harry advised the .375 H&H was definitely enough gun for elephant. Come to think of it, Ganyana, Don Heath, Saeed and others with a massive amount of experience say the same thing.
I know I've heard from several people on this forum that claim the .375 H&H is not acceptable as a cartridge for the hunting of elephant. Who to believe, who to believe????

Thanks,

jfm

26 September 2011, 17:22

Die Ou Jagter

What network is UWS now shown on?

26 September 2011, 18:13

Mad Dog

Saw it a week or so ago on the VS channel. I don't watch it all that often, but when I do, I enjoy it.

Mad Dog

26 September 2011, 18:32

505ED

quote:
Originally posted by jdollar:
quote:
Originally posted by jfm:
I just watched Tony Makris kill a large bull elephant with three shots from his .375 H&H magnum. On the show prior to that, Jeff Rann killed a big bull with five shots from his .470 Nitro Express. That MUST mean the .375 is a better elephant gun than the .470. Just kidding folks.
It's good to see the old workhorse will still work, with caution, on the big stuff.

Take care,

jfm

i thought Jeff used a .500 or .577- i know he has on some previous shows. must be nice to own 2-3 doubles!

Jeff has a 500/465 H&H Royal, a 577 Royal, and a William Douglass 470. I think the 500/465 was given to him as a gift. Nice tip I'd say!

Ed

26 September 2011, 22:54

Art S.

I may be mistaken, but I thought Rann was using a new 470 Beretta SxS. They are a sponser of his show, and not too long ago he had a segment where he took his son on an elephant hunt before going to school in the US. I think I remember a discussion along the lines of his giving his son his old double since he had recieved the new Beretta. I also remember him discussing the Beretta a couple of times. I had assumed this was part of the sponsorship arrangement, sort of like all the shows you see where everyone there is carrying a T/C Encore.

26 September 2011, 23:30

bwanamrm

Give me a Beretta double over a TC Encore any day! Hell I would even take a Blaser... with the right ammo of course.

On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.

26 September 2011, 23:40

jfm

The double Jeff Rann was using was a Beretta in .470 Nitro Express. That was a different show that aired prior to the Under Wild Skies episode with Tont Makris. Tony was being guided by Johan Calitz and he was using a Blaser bolt action .375 H&H magnum. It was a custom job from Blaser with a Manlicher stock and 20 inch barrel.

Thanks,

jfm

27 September 2011, 03:25

almostacowboy

quote:
Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
The quality of the show is good, but I don't care to watch the same guy shoot stuff show after show.

You aren't married, are you AZ?

27 September 2011, 17:18

Die Ou Jagter

VS = Versus?

27 September 2011, 17:54

Mad Dog

quote:
Originally posted by Die Ou Jagter:
VS = Versus?

YUP!

Mad Dog

27 September 2011, 19:43

AnotherAZWriter

quote:
Originally posted by almostacowboy:
quote:
Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
The quality of the show is good, but I don't care to watch the same guy shoot stuff show after show.

You aren't married, are you AZ?

Not officially although Ms AZW and I are trustees of each others trusts. The tax implications of being married are ridiculous; why anyone would be married today is baffling, unless someone wants a sense of "security" - but witness all those who have been "serial spouses" to see how stupid that idea is.

IMO the only valid reason to be married is if you are going to have kids. But if you have kids and get divorced, why get married again?

We have two LLCs of which we are both members. She has a regular job in which she is granted RSUs and stock options.

Last year, I gave her enough income on one of her K1s so that she could put 49K in her SEP; I did the same in mine. She also maxed out her 401K; we sheltered over 100K in income right there.

I have our accountant issue K1s so that our tax burden is the minimum. This alone pays for one African safari a year. If we were married, her entire income would be taxed at the highest marginal tax rate. This is the biggest source of savings, but there are others.

Not being married means we can each take a 3K loss on the sale of stock; if you are married, the total is 3k.

Not being married means when it is time to sell her company stock, I short it while she holds it. Suppose it goes up; after one year she pays cap gains on 15% of the profit while i take a loss on my short at my marginal tax rate (big savings here). If the stock falls, the situation is reversed. I can go on and on...

But back to the show: I find TAA a more interesting show because there are always different hunters. Under Wild Skies would be better if it didn't show Makris over and over. But at least we don't have to watch his wife, eh?

27 September 2011, 20:04

BaxterB

Damn, if what you say is true I'm gonna have to talk to the wife about a divorce... Sounds like the best way to survive this economy...

27 September 2011, 20:19

AnotherAZWriter

quote:
Originally posted by Art S.:
I may be mistaken, but I thought Rann was using a new 470 Beretta SxS. They are a sponser of his show, and not too long ago he had a segment where he took his son on an elephant hunt before going to school in the US. I think I remember a discussion along the lines of his giving his son his old double since he had recieved the new Beretta. I also remember him discussing the Beretta a couple of times. I had assumed this was part of the sponsorship arrangement, sort of like all the shows you see where everyone there is carrying a T/C Encore.

Art:

TC is so "smothering" that anyone watching TV these days must assume anyone using one is doing so because they are paid. Those stupid stock decals are so over the top: does anyone not being paid by TC have one on their stock? Anyone? Any volunteers????

Kind of defeats the purpose.

28 September 2011, 18:52

Antlers

UWS is one of my favorite shows, though I wish Tony would break out the doubles and drillings a little more often. I took note in the episode referenced that he was much slower reloading his Blazer than he used to be when using the Sako bolt action (gotta deal with those sponsor changes); I assume this can be attributed to less time with the Blazer.

I like the writing and don't mind the garb that bugs some folks. I also don't mind seeing him do most of the shooting - rather see him than LaPierre (though LaPierre's wife's first buff hunt was a very good episode).

28 September 2011, 21:58

Use Enough Gun

I talked to Tony about his garb once. He wears all of that as protection from the sun, as he has had skin cancer and now tries to avoid it like the plague. In addition, I believe that he was a life guard in his younger years and that didn't help his skin at all either.

29 September 2011, 18:22

zimFrosty

quote:
Originally posted by jfm:

I also found it interesting that he got to meet with Harry Selby and they talked at length about African rifles and cartridges. Harry advised the .375 H&H was definitely enough gun for elephant. Come to think of it, Ganyana, Don Heath, Saeed and others with a massive amount of experience say the same thing.
I know I've heard from several people on this forum that claim the .375 H&H is not acceptable as a cartridge for the hunting of elephant. Who to believe, who to believe????

Thanks,

jfm

Its been enough to kill everyone I ever aimed at!!!!

Seriously though I know a great number of very very experienced PHs who are more than happy with the .375s performance, but most will admit that whilst its fine for a 1st shot calibre, it needs a bit more oomph to be a back up calibre...distinct difference!!

29 September 2011, 21:42

jfm

Its been enough to kill everyone I ever aimed at!!!! Seriously though I know a great number of very very experienced PHs who are more than happy with the .375s performance, but most will admit that whilst its fine for a 1st shot calibre, it needs a bit more oomph to be a back up calibre...distinct difference!!

zim, I agree completely. I believe the .375 to be the best hunting caliber around. For backup, I would prefer something along the lines of the .470 or .500 Nitro Express. That is why I just purchased a Krieghoff double rifle in .470. It will be for big stuff up close and personal.

Thanks,

jfm

07 October 2011, 17:36

almostacowboy

quote:
Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
quote:
Originally posted by almostacowboy:
quote:
Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
The quality of the show is good, but I don't care to watch the same guy shoot stuff show after show.

You aren't married, are you AZ?

Not officially although Ms AZW and I are trustees of each others trusts. The tax implications of being married are ridiculous; why anyone would be married today is baffling, unless someone wants a sense of "security" - but witness all those who have been "serial spouses" to see how stupid that idea is.

IMO the only valid reason to be married is if you are going to have kids. But if you have kids and get divorced, why get married again?

We have two LLCs of which we are both members. She has a regular job in which she is granted RSUs and stock options.

Last year, I gave her enough income on one of her K1s so that she could put 49K in her SEP; I did the same in mine. She also maxed out her 401K; we sheltered over 100K in income right there.

I have our accountant issue K1s so that our tax burden is the minimum. This alone pays for one African safari a year. If we were married, her entire income would be taxed at the highest marginal tax rate. This is the biggest source of savings, but there are others.

Not being married means we can each take a 3K loss on the sale of stock; if you are married, the total is 3k.

Not being married means when it is time to sell her company stock, I short it while she holds it. Suppose it goes up; after one year she pays cap gains on 15% of the profit while i take a loss on my short at my marginal tax rate (big savings here). If the stock falls, the situation is reversed. I can go on and on...

But back to the show: I find TAA a more interesting show because there are always different hunters. Under Wild Skies would be better if it didn't show Makris over and over. But at least we don't have to watch his wife, eh?

TMI! TMI! TMI!

07 October 2011, 23:08

Tom In Tennessee

The show with Rann's son---son had graduated from TX A&M and the new Beretta and the Ele hunt were his grad presents....he "missed" the head on between the eyes shot but made a good follow up and the ele died just now. The big thing about that episode was that Rann was NOT carrying a back-up....the "tracker" had it!!
I like UWS but sometimes Markis drives me a little nuts making me ask "WTF???"...wrong ammo, missed broadsides, both barrels going off and rolling him azz over teakettle....but it damn sure beats the crap of US deer shows!