Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we hunted at 3 different areas, I thought of doing seperate pages for each area.

Here is a link to our hunt at Bayala game Lodge.

I will do the other two in the next day or two and add a link to them here.

http://www.accuratereloading.com/bayala.html

More picture here http://www.accuratereloading.com/bp2002.html
[corrected spelling of title- Don G]

Thanks Don.

Here is the final installment

http://www.accuratereloading.com/lt2.html

[ 07-02-2002, 16:34: Message edited by: Saeed ]

Nice photos . congratulation Saeed looking forward to see the video.

Hamdeni

Saeed,

Great pictures. That picture of Walter with his rifle in his pants gives a new definition to the term "Mexican carry".

Regards,

Terry

Saeed,

How did the Matchkings and Ballistic Tips compare in killing power to the premium bullets?

Mike

Mike,

The Match Kings seem to kill quicker than either the Ballistic Tips or the premiums.

In fact, after this little experiment with them, I will have no hesitation in using them instead of the normal run of the mill soft points.

Of course, if I had a choice, I would use something like the Barnes X, Bear Claws, Swift or Partition. But given a choice between only the normal soft points and Match King, I will pick the Match Kings ever time.

Saeed, the nyala photos have got me pumped. I wanted one last year and it just didn't happen so it is my priority this year. I hope I get one as nice as what you all shot! Great photos!

To heck with the bullet questions, I would like to know where Walter picked up that kick ass camo outfit! You know what they say, chicks dig scars and ugly shirts. With an outfit like that I would get more ladies than The Cool Guy! I would be a mobile chick magnet!!!! Oh please tell, please, please, please................C

Btw. Beautiful trophies, nyala just moved up my list.

Nice pictures Saeed!

Pretty impressive shooting onthe duiker!

Saeed,

Those are great photo's!! Walter has turned into a real fashion plate!! As for his preferred method of carry for his rifle...the Vienna Boy's Choir is always looking for new recruits

"Is that a barrel in your pants, or are you just glad to see me?"

Keep the pics coming.

Thanks,

Bob

Carnivore,

You can buy these in many places in South Africa. It is a jacket that can be worn two ways

Saeed,

It looks like a good time was had by all... except the critters!

Don

Saeed, I am sitting in the Delta Lounge in Atlanta at the present time on the way back from our trip. We did hear of someone from Dubai or lands around there who was in the neighborhood who had taken 12 Nyala and your name came to mind.

We are presently delayed in getting home as our outbound flight from Capetown had some mechanical problems so we will be home late tonight.

We did have a wonderful hunt and met some incredible people. Our party of 7 hunters took 38 animals inlcuding 4 Nyala ( two by Howards brother). I got what I was told was a very big Kudu and immediately suspected guide hype. Being my first Kudu I had no frame of reference until I was told by this particular property owner that it was the biggest one taken on his place since he owned it. It was 56" and definitely beginners luck.

My daughter Autumn got her Zebra the last day and I got my Bushbuck on the same place in the Umkamass Valley. She also got a nice Impala on the third day of the hunt. Most of our animals were shot with a 7X57 and it served me well. I ended up also with an Impala, two blessbok, a Sprinbok and an Nyala, the Kudu.

Howard, who just wandered by, beer in hand, got two Eland (more to follow) a nice 26" Nyala, Gemsbok, Impala.

We were hunting with Gerald Conway (Nomad Safaris). I will get some photos on this week.

My only disappointment was that my daugher and I did not delay our return for two more weeks and drive around in a rental car. I was just thrilled with the country side and the whole experience.

Chic

Chic,

That is one mighty kudu you shot. I have shot quite a few kudu, and I think only one is around that size.

We had two friends with us who came along for the fun, but not to hunt. They had the time of their lives, and have not stopped talking about it since we landed in South Africa.

The thing that seemed to impress them most was how genuine the people are. They would go out of thier way to help in whatever manner they can. This started with the ladies in the police post at the airport, who took all of 5 minutes to sort our paperwork and send us out.

Please show us your photos once you get back home, and the stories that go with them.

We hunted two other areas, which I will add photos from in the next day or two.

Congrats Saeed! Looks like a good time was had by all!

Saeed,

Congrats, I'll be very happy to see the video.

Saeed, Great pics. I notice I didnt see Deon any where. Out with another group or what? CAnt wait for the rest of the photos. Sept is certainly a long way off at this point.

Saeed, on the Matchkings do you think they would have held together better at a lower impact velocity? From your post it looks like impact velocity ranged from 3440 fps on the 15 yard shot to about 2975 fps on the 250 yard shot. My 300 Win Mag is starting the 220 Sierra Matchking at 2850 fps. It being 40 grains heavier and starting out at a lower velocity than what your 180 impacted the animal at 250 yards causes me to wonder how my 220 load would do on an elk at 15 yards. Any thoughts? Thanks, Rufous.

Rufus,

I tried the Match King bullets on my hunt for one purpose only, and that is to see for myself how they would perform on game animals. As we have had such heated discussions on these forums regarding this.

It would appear that they work just as well as other so called hunting bullets - for example, all normal soft points.

If I had a choice, I would still rather use premium bullets like the Barnes X, Swift A-Frame, Bear Claws and Partition.

But, if the choice was only between normal softs and Match Kings, I withink I will pick the MK - for their better accuracy, and they perform just as well on animals as SP.

I think you still have a chance of breaking these bullets if you hit a bone, but if you place your shot behind the shoulders, I would imagine they will penetrate better.

I have seen bits and pieces recovered from animals shot with normal factory ammo, and looked about the same as we recovered from these MK.

Saeed,

How do you think for "behind the shoulder" hits the Matchkings would compare to Swift and Barnes X for killing power?

Mike

You left out the photo of the Soem

Ray,
Soem? Is that the Afrikaans "soen" as in "kiss," kiss of death? Kiss of death by Match King = "soem" maybe? I sure don't want to see any pictures of Walter kissing anything except that warthog. Family reunion.

Saeed,
Thanks for the photos and narration. Great entertainment! Do I detect a red tint in the flutes and muzzle rings of that barrel? Could be back splash from close range Match King hits, or some of Walter's red fingernail polish?

Looks like a grand time could be had in RSA for any Africaholics Anonymous members looking to backslide.

Chic,
Your idea to rent a car and tour for a couple of weeks in RSA besides the hunting is a grand one! The stuff of dreams for next timers. Alf's photo's have whetted my appetite to see RSA. Looking forward to your photo's and more of Saeed and party ...

Great pics from what must have been a great trip!!!
Congratulations and thank you for sharing!!!
Cheers
K9

Gentlemen,

"soem" came about from my bad typing. I use two fingers to type, and sometimes the left one overtakes the right one

More pictures here for those who have missed my edited post above.

http://www.accuratereloading.com/bp2002.html

Saeed,

Seeing those great pics is starting up that darned itch again!!!!
Thanks for posting them.

Saeed,

With the new software the first poster can correct the spelling in the title. That was always a pet peeve of mine...

Those are some great pictures of the mountains. It looks like horseback is the right way to go!

Don

Saeed,
Ray correcting your spelling/typo is definitely a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Great Photos and i think the hunt also was more than just great for u, guys!
Curious for some more details of the hunt
So Saeed, start to tell a little story.....

cheers
konstantin

Congrats Saeed,
Very nice narrative and pictures from all 3 areas.

Looking foward to the videos

Greg

Gentlemen,

I put those photos as quickly as I could.

I am in the process of adding more text to them, and should be able to update at least one article in the morning.

Saeed,

Saeed,
While you were hunting in South Africa I had the pleasure of hunting in Matetsi with the Vincents as our Host. My PH. was Wayne Clark who is good friends with Alan. Due to the government not allowing him to hunt on his own land a month before my arrival arrangements were made to hunt on the Vincents concession. Roy and Rene are exceptional hosts and the staff was excellent as well as the food. We enlisted Phillip to assist as a tracker with Waynes own Tracker Charlie. Rene misses seeing you and your group and I'm sure she looks forward to seeing you again.
In 11 days hunting I took 12 animals including a Buffalo and a tremendous Waterbuck. It was quite a treat to hunt and stay at a camp I had viewed on this site. I hope to post some photos when my brother in-law returns (he's the computer guy not me.)

Ralph A.

Saeed-

Do you think you had as good of a time or better or worse then your Zim hunts?

Based largely on the fact no buff in SA this time around...

Ralph,

Welcome to the forum.

I spoke with Roy this afternoon, and he sends his regards.

He told me they see big lions almost every day! While there is no one there to hunt lion!

Philip is an exceptional tracker, and we will all miss hunting with the Vincents this year.

Buell,

We enjoyed hunting in South Africa very much, but we cannot compare it with hunting in Zimbabwe.

Hunting in each place is a totally different experience. Walter was telling the other day that this year's hunt in South Africa was the best hunt of his life!

When we talked about it in details, he told me he enjoyed it more because he could actually hunt more in South Africa than he could in Zimbabwe.

Walter had a heart operation, so cannot walk for long distances, which we have to do in Zimbabwe.

In South Africa one can drive around and shoot from the back of the truck. In fact, in some places, you really have no choice, as the grass is so long when you are on the ground you cannot see very much.

I did ask him if he thought he would have enjoyed Zimbabwe more if he could accompany us on our long walks, and his answer was a definite YES!

Saeed -

Congratulations on another successful safari!!

I have a question which certainly is not meant in any way to be impertinent. In many of your pictures of the downed animal, with the hunting party assembled behind the critter, it looks like the rifle is aimed AT somebody or the other, with the bolt closed. I've noticed this in many pictures over the years in magazines and such, and I've always thought it violated the #1 rule in firearms safety.

R-WEST

I can understand Walters point. As I was reading your response I thought Walter could shoot more game in SA then in Zim, and then ofcourse thats what you said. A little odd...lol...

Has Walter ever shot a Cape Buff?

And finally, are there any animals that are in SA that you wished there were in Zim?

Thanks,

Buell

R-WEST,

That is a valid quetions, which I have been asked a few times.

I load my rifle as soon as I am out of the hunting car, and unloaded it as soon as I get to it, or after we shoot an animal, and we know it is dead.

To me at least, when I know the bolt is closed on an empty chamber, is better than having the bolt open, and the magazine is full.

We have talked about this with my friends with whom I hunt - including the PH. We have read in many magazines and some books that some PH do not allow you to carry your rifle with a loaded chamber, but you should load it when you get ready to shoot. I think this is being very silly, as one cannot really know what he might encounter around the next bush.

Some of the PH have told me they have had some clients with whom they have not felt safe at all! And have instructed them not to load their rifles until they are ready to shoot. To me, this sort of client has no business going hungting in the first place.

Buell,

Yes, Walter did shoot a buffalo bull one year in Zimbabwe. It was in 1994, and he had to use my 416 Rigby Improved. He was not too impressed about that as he does not like shootign rifles that kick!

If I had a choice, I would rather hunt just buffalo in Zimbabwe - every day