My son Zack and I have just returned from a fabulous 10 day hunt with Helmke von Bach in Kamanjab Namibia, booked for us by Mims Reed. The pictures are at the camera store, so no photos yet,but that'll follow later this week. The setting, hospitality, and food were outstanding, and we had just the kind of 1st Africa trip/father-son adventure we were looking for. We took 6 animals between us, Zack an ancient warthog and gemsbok (teeth worn down past the gum line) and myself, gemsbok, a big ole warthog, a mountain zebra, and a kudu. We hunted hard, spending 10 hours per day in the field. However, roughing it in style, we had gourmet lunches in a blind each day at mid day. We ended up just taking the 375 Whitworth, which pleased Helmke quite a bit as he is an advocate of exit wounds to follow, which we needed on both gemsbok. the 260 gr accubonds worked to perfection, and I'll have pictures of the 3 recovered bullets later.

Jet lag is catching up to us, so I'll follow in a few days with more details and pictures. Bob

Sounds great! I hunted with Helmke in June. Those African animals played hell on my 180 grain 30 caliber Nosler Partitions. The only exits were on Kudu. He said he'd recommend a bigger bullet from now on. I'm glad your 375 did the trick.

I hope Penti, Murielle, and Dagmar are doing well. Murielle hurt her hand the day we left...never heard how bad it was.

Can't wait to see the pics.

Hey Texan, what were you pushing those 180gr nosler partitions with? .308 / .30-06 / .300wm?

I just used one for the first time in my .300 weatherby and it dropped a young pig on the spot. Am curious what you were using and what kind of shots they didn't perform as well on and on which game.

thanks,

Sean

Welcome back Bob!
Glad y'all had a great time!

Post deleted by Rusty

I was shooting a 300 RUM.

One recovered bullet that hit a Zebra in the breastbone at about 75 yards had deflected and been cut in half, lengthwise. It lodged in a rib after penetrating a foot or so.

Another bullet was recovered from a Kudu that was shot at about 250 yards throught the top of the shoulder. It looked like the cup (back end) of a Ballistic Tip.

Two others hit a Gemsbok in the shoulder, broadside, at about 125 yards, and neither exited (that's not unexpected).

I lost a hartebeast that was shot a bit high and back because the entry wound closed after a few yards and there was no exit wound (we knew he was still bleeding because we would find where he laid down every 1/2 mile or so, and it would bleed then). He finally stopped lying down, and we lost him.

All the bullets except one "worked" because the animals died, but an exit wound would sure have been nice. BTW, the Hartebeast was the only animal I shot that bled any, other than the zebra, who started leaking after about 300 yards, despite a hole in the lower front of his chest. Even 2 Kudu and a Gemsbok, all shot in the low chest, never bled.

I had a chance a while ago to weigh the 3 recovered accubonds, which ranged from 150 gr (57%) to 200 gr (77%). Since we had the usual novice Africa nerves affecting our shot precision, I'm glad the 375 gave us good exits, blood trails, and enough horsepower to slow the animals up a bit if the 1st shot wasn't precise. We trailed one gemsbok about 400 yds just before dusk, and I was glad to have a good blood trail on both sides to follow. the mountain zebra accounted for the 57% weight retention. I shot a big mare at about 40 yds in heavy brush on the side of a kopje, and she ran about 40 yds downhill (towards the hunting car, thank God!). I found dislodged rocks, but only 5 drops of blood near where she fell. The accubond went through the near upper front leg, through the lungs and imbedded in the far leg. The bullet, as were all the others, were classic mushrooms with no core slippage. I couldn't have been more pleased. Pics to follow.

Rusty, thanks. I'm sure a fan of the Whitworth, couldn't have picked a more suitable rifle for this hunt.



Mirelle (our host's 5 y/o daughter was fine, no problems with her hand that I could see. When we shot the zebra, she rode up with the skinners and held the flashlight on the truck while we winched up the zebra. Sure looked sturdy to me. She's a cutie.

Trademark, by the way Helmke was still bragging on your shot on the baboon. Seeing those babies scammper up a hillside, I'm very impressed with that shot. Not a big target at that range. Bob

Bob,

It sounds like you and your son had a great trip! You'll have those memories for a long time to come. In a few days, though, you're going to start suffering from PSD. That's Post Safari Depression! The only known cure is another safari! Seriously, I'm looking forward to the photos from your trip. Thanks for posting your trip report.

-Bob F.

Hey Bob,

Congrats on a great hunt......nothing better than taking one of your kids!! We'll look for the photos!

Bob

Bob,

Glad to see you and Zack had a good time. Give me a call when you get your pics and we'll go to lunch so I can get the scoop.

Greg