It broke freezing here today and yesterday and was nice and sunny for a while so I availed myself of some range time with 64 days to Africa. After spending an hour and a half getting my very stuck land rover out of the snow (notice african realism) I ran through 40 rounds of 300 mag and 20 or so of 35 Whelen. Offhand, offhand against a post, Sitting with ching sling(which I love, can hold under 2 moa), kneeling, kneeling supported by an old broom against the bench, and standing off a padded seat on top of the bench to simulate PH's shoulder. All rounds from the magazine starting with safety on and cycling immediately after each shot. I'm happy to report all rounds stayed in about a 6 inch group ranges from 80 to 120 yards.
I think I'm ready.
Came home, drank a Glenlivet and read the last chapter of Green Hills of Africa.

Now I just need to convince my wife to let me practice shooting off her shoulder, she's 5'10' in heels.

You're doing well! Keep at it, and by the time you get to Africa, you'll be ready. Of course, you'll get there and find out that all your shots are at running animals in either thick cover at 20yds. or open plains at 300yds.

If you do manage to convince your wife to let you shoot off her shoulder, make sure she wears double hearing protection.
That's not to protect her hearing so much as to keep her from flinching while you're trying to shoot.

George
P.S. Stilleto heels?

George
P.S. Stilleto heels?

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She'll be leaving the 3 1/2" heels home for this trip, but she did buy a camo bikini for poolside. You'll have to wait for May for photos.

Kevin,

I sure hope it's warm enough to use the pool. Every time I went to RSA and Zim, it got so cold at night there is no way you could use an unheated pool the next day.

George

That's purty good shootin'. It took me a long time to even get that close. Most of my offhand groups still wanders up in size every now and then.

Only advice I can give is a few more round of Glenlivet.
Your wife in heels will not do in Africa!

On your way out of the country stop at the duty free shop and buy a bottle of Longmorn Single Malt. A great Speyside whisky! LONGMORN
Take a bottle for each week you will be in the bush!

Good hunting!

Kevin,
It sounds like your practice is going great!
One thing I wished someone would have impressed on me (or that I would have listened to) was to practice getting shots off faster. Although it depends on where, when and what you are hunting, I was really surprised how quickly opportunities evaporate on game that is that "keyed up". My first safari in the thick stuff in Zim. didn't test my distance practice or my low light experience from N. American game. But I was really surprised at how few seconds you get to peak at those animals down some of those thick, leafy tunnels before they disappear.
I also was surprised at how often there was no time to adjust the height of the sticks or get to a comfortable shooting position.
Since I got back from the first trip I've been practicing faster shots without taking time to get "comfortable".
(I leave to go again in 57 days, but who's counting ).
Best of luck,
Kyler

Everyone is obligated to practice shooting off hand and fast IMO.....as to the fast part, one can shoot better off hand if he will pull the trigger before muscle fatigue sets in, so snap shooting goes hand and hand with good off hand shooting style...Sticks are a poor substitute for good shooting, I seldom use them and when I do I normally miss.

Just for point of conversation, Ray or others, have you found any correlation with bird hunters (snap shooting)doing well crossing over to safari hunting in the bush? Does having to get "right on" a bird (clay or otherwise) and firing within a couple of seconds transfer shooting skills to the rifle on spooky game?

I have a good background of competitive High Power as a base, this is to get my hunting gun to the same 2nd nature level. A friend who has hunted with the same PH impressed upon my learning to shoot in a variety of and sometimes uncomfortable positions and to get the shot off fast. His impression was that when the PH said shoot, the bullet better be on the way in under 3 seconds.

This is how to be ready for Africa...Become fluent with your rifle..Don't think react make the shot...Shooting from hunting positions will get the body ready for the hunt of a lifetime... Aim small miss small..

Mike