For the past couple of years it's bugged me to no end watching Marc 'Bwana Moja' Watts' safari videos. You know the ones, where Moja sees a Cape Buffalo in a neighboring country and nails it with one shot? Phenomenally precise shooting (ergo the moniker 'One Shot').

But I had to ask myself: What is the secret to his success? Yea, yea, I know all about hours at the range, loading your own rounds, controlling your breathing, clearing your mind, and all that zen crap. But I figured, there has to be something else; some secret that could give me his edge. And I found it!

Remember in the military how we always drilled into ourselves: Train like you fight; fight like you train? Well, therein lies part of the secret of ol' Bwana One Shot. I just got a hold of Bwana Moja's One Shot Cape Buffalo Target. Now, I've only met Moja in passing, and he's sure not paying me to write this, but I'm here to tell you this full-size Cape Buffalo target is awesome and it has changed the way I prepare for a safari.


Here's the secret to Bwana Moja's success with Cape Buffalo: A life-size model to practice on!

First, don't let the $100 price tag fool you. This isn't just some big-ass flimsy paper target that arrives in an envelope. Nope. When this badboy arrives at your home you'd think Sears was delivering a small door for your bathroom. It's immense - and it has to be inasmuch as it contains a massive full-color target printed on some vinyl-like material and glued onto hi-tech plastic sandwich board. This stuff is neat in that it is self-sealing, so you can put lots of rounds through it with no problem at all.


Everything in the huge box is first-rate quality, including bungee cords and very cool supporting rods


The hi-speed low-drag plastic sandwich core construction will obviously last a long time

It also comes with two metal stands, eight large plastic clips to reinforce the folded target when opened, bungee cords for making it windproof, and get this, additional self-adhesive matching full-color panels that attach over the oft-shot vitals! This target will last a long time and of course, there are also instructions that make the set-up a breeze.


The target folds up for storage and when opened has plastic retaining clips to ensure rigidity


In the back you can see the bungee cords that hold the target upright even in windy conditions

I really love a couple of things about this target: First, it adds a sense of realism to your practice on the range, especially in hitting the vital triangle instead of a 'bullseye'; and second, I'm now convinced that with all the great practice I'm getting, I'll soon be able to unseat Moja and start my own series of great 'one shot' videos by Bwana Kimbo! Hmmm, I like that!

You can order your own One Shot Buffalo Target from Marc's website: www.sabletrailproductions.com

Marc, it was a mistake for you to reveal your secret ...

Damn Kim, if your not in the marketing business, you should be!

Now get it copied in steel and you have a target for your range that will last a generation.

Kim- Thanks for the report. I had heard of moja's life size target and dismissed it as novelty until I saw your pictures and read yor description. After reading your post it looks like I am going to be about a hundred bucks lighter and about one target heavier tomorrow. You oughta talk with moja about getting your cut because you definitely sold me on it.

Thanks,
Jason

He needs to bring some to the Harrisburg Sports show next year.

He had it at THE SCI Show!! Looked great and we are having our local Shooting Shop start stocking some. Looking forward to giving it a go. Thanks Marc for showing us the ins and outs of this at SCI.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

I saw the ad for these in the last issue of Safari and was curious as to if it was just a piece of paper with a buff pic. I was sorely wrong. It looks like the PERFECT target to practice on with my double for this year's buff hunt. Thanks for the head's up, Kim.. I'll be ordering one of these ASAP. They look great.

Now if only he'll bring one out with Mbogo facing you. Both of mine knew full well I was there and I had to shoot them through the brisket. I really want to practice hitting the spine that way . . .

quote:

Originally posted by Oldsarge:
Now if only he'll bring one out with Mbogo facing you. Both of mine knew full well I was there and I had to shoot them through the brisket. I really want to practice hitting the spine that way . . .

Not pulling your pudding but down on one knee, vegetation/ground permitting, is a good one.

I'm going to guess that seeing impact holes in this kind of target from 100 yards might be difficult. I might just stick a Shoot-N-See on it. Is there such a thing as an all black Shoot-N-See?

quote:

Originally posted by Oldsarge:
Now if only he'll bring one out with Mbogo facing you. Both of mine knew full well I was there and I had to shoot them through the brisket. I really want to practice hitting the spine that way . . .

Just turn the board 90 degrees, silly. OK, no more drink for me tonight, er, today.

+1 My thoughts exactly!!

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Kamo Gari:

quote:

Originally posted by Oldsarge:
Now if only he'll bring one out with Mbogo facing you. Both of mine knew full well I was there and I had to shoot them through the brisket. I really want to practice hitting the spine that way . . .

Just turn the board 90 degrees, silly. OK, no more drink for me tonight, er, today.

Do they make one of these of an elephant?

check out FTW web site and you can see the elephant targets as well as a range setup

KPete,

Wow that looks like a swanky Palm Beach shooting range you have there. Mine in Tallahassee isn't nearly that nice.

Seriously, thanks for the report on the target. I ran out of time at SCI Reno and did not get to actually see it.

Kim,

I have one also, they are pretty cool. When we were in Reno, my wife bought one from Marc while I was getting my free T-shirt for knowing the secret AR handshake.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike70560:
Kim,

I have one also, they are pretty cool. When we were in Reno, my wife bought one from Marc while I was getting my free T-shirt for knowing the secret AR handshake.

The secret AR handshake? Is this like slipping a Grant or Benjamin in your palm when shaking hands? I'll bet Don doesn't even know the secret handshake. I know I don't. And for that matter, how did Watts come to know it?

Before I ever set off to hunt buff, I thought I should get a look at a live one. To my astonishment, my NYC Bronx Zoo (world famous) didn't have a live buff. The nearest I heard was in Florida. So I practiced on standard black bull targets. It was fortunate that circumstances of the moment gave me a shot with a 300 gr. solid right smack on the point of a shoulder of my buff. ( I am rather disappointed that none of the posters mention what my PH told me when I asked the night before about "aiming points". He said two words: "Break bones". (Some months afterwards, I wrote him that I had read an article in a barbershop gun magazine that the 375 was inadequate for buff and that only the 416 Rigby should be considered as a "minimum caliber" for buff. He wrote back that he had just come back from a hunt where the client had hit the buff 4 times with a 416 -but all in soft areas -and that the same trackers who had been with us had to go into the "vlei" and locate the buff. I guess that the poster of a buff might have been useful before I ever saw Africa - but I do think that experienced North American hunters would know how to aim at a game animal -and, yes, you old Africa hands, I do want to yield to your expertise -but shooting at big animals does have certain similarities around the world -and breaking the shoulder of a four legged critter always helps to slow him down, doesn't it?

quote:

Originally posted by Milo Shanghai:
Now get it copied in steel and you have a target for your range that will last a generation.

MS,

Here's one I used to practice on in Namibia last year...

Regards, Tim

quote:

- but I do think that experienced North American hunters would know how to aim at a game animal -and, yes, you old Africa hands, I do want to yield to your expertise -but shooting at big animals does have certain similarities around the world -and breaking the shoulder of a four legged critter always helps to slow him down, doesn't it?

True story sir- I would prefer an experienced hunting client everytime - but I cannot begin to number the amount of very experienced USA and other hunters who are constantly surprised by how low the vitals are in most African animals, and most particularly Buffalo. You must choose a good PH and listen to what he says about shot placement on these animals, it is way different to North American game.

BTW I forgot to say how impressed I am with Marc's buff target - bound to make our lives easier and all the more fun preparing for your safari - best $100 anyone on coming on a real safari could spend...

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Carney:

quote:

Originally posted by Milo Shanghai:
Now get it copied in steel and you have a target for your range that will last a generation.

MS,

Here's one I used to practice on in Namibia last year...

Regards, Tim

Very cool.

Looks like a right handed rifle. Did you have the stock bent to take the cast off out of it or have you adapted and overcome?

Don't forget the "old military mantra" as I rember it;
BRASS:
Breath
Relax
Aim
Slack (relax)
Squeeze

Also think of the angle to get to your target (center of body mass, in the animals body, side to side, I don't want to get into geometry here, but you get my drift).
IMO

quote:

Originally posted by 375fan:
Do they make one of these of an elephant?

Maybe just paint your garage gray?

---------------------------------------

QUOTE From MS:
Very cool.

Looks like a right handed rifle. Did you have the stock bent to take the cast off out of it or have you adapted and overcome?[/QUOTE]
--------------------
MS,

Usually, rifles with a cheekpiece have little cast and are easier for us lefties to use. Did have to drift the back sight to the left, 'tho, so point of impact would center around a 100 yard bull.

Note: Am practicing with a double in .303, not one of the big bores. It still put a soft nose right through the 3/4 inch steel the buff was made from. The target vitals are a wood and cloth rectangle and replaceable.

Regards, Tim

Not a bad price when you consider that it's only the cost of about 5 Federal Cape Shock .470 NE shells!

Bwana

After ALOT of rounds put through your target this summer in preparation for an upcoming buff hunt, I got to thinking.. "I wonder if Marc would consider making a full frontal facing lifesize buffalo target?" It certainly seems that more often than not, the old bugger gets the drop on you and your PH just as you are just getting set up and he turns to face you head-on, head up and on full alarm. A lifesize target depicting such would complient you broadsize target perfectly. Set up and have the facing bull target up as your 1st shot, and then have the broadside target out there offline and at a further distance and use that one to practice your follow-ups, pretending it to be the bull departing after the 1st initial volley head-on.

Just thinking outloud... Certainly an idea though. I'd certainly line up and buy the 1st one should it come to fruition!
What do the rest of you gents think?

Having a blast with the product, bud. Great practice and it holds up very well.

I have one of those...



Mike

This was at the Southern side by side shoot in N.C.

Very cool, Mike. Exactly what I am looking for! Any idea on where one can purchase that target?

For some reason I cant get onto Marc's website.
If/when you shoot out the kill zone on the target, can you just replace the actual target/board?
Or does one need to re-buy the whole set-up?

Does anyone know?

In Zim we shoot a Safari type shoot at our local gun club using pics and backing almost identical to the one Kim "isnt" advertising in his post. I have pics of buffalo, elephant, kudu, eland, impala, springbok etc......mmmmmm maybe I should market them to PHs for the camp shooting ranges

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:
Very cool, Mike. Exactly what I am looking for! Any idea on where one can purchase that target?

Safari Press has them in either frontal or broadside.They are 2' x3'

ScottyBoy: I'm working on a frontal target for buffalo and lifesize leopard target as well.

Rod: The target can be shot as many times as you want. 3 Replacement patches available in box...and additional patches can be purchased. Webmaster says site is fine. Check out FAQ's on buff target.

www.bwanamoja.com

Regards,
Marc

Rod: Please scroll back up to the top post and you'll see the replacement patches. They're in the foreground of the image.

Thanks Marc
I couldnt open your site due to connection issues on my end.

I couldnt see the pics yesterday, but now I can....looks good & I will be placing an order soon.

Why would you want to shoot a buffalo at 100+ yards?

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Why would you want to shoot a buffalo at 100+ yards?

Who said that? I have taken some confidence builder shots at 70 with the double just for the sake of practice at varying distances, but 90% of my practice drills have been 40yrds or closer.
I am hoping for 10yrds if the situation is right! To me, that is what makes it fun.

quote:

Who said that? I have taken some confidence builder shots at 70 with the double just for the sake of practice at varying distances, but 90% of my practice drills have been 40yrds or closer.
I am hoping for 10yrds if the situation is right! To me, that is what makes it fun.

+ + + + + + 100

Steve

Got my target today. It is in the dining room and fills the room.

Great job Marc ! Was concerned as UPS beat the hell out of the pkg , but everything just fine on the inside. Will be looking for the leopard target when available. I can't wait to take this to our local gun club. Way Cool !!!