quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
I have found that Europeans, in general, are very prudent about what they post on the internet when it comes to firearms and hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
I have found that Europeans, in general, are very prudent about what they post on the internet when it comes to firearms and hunting.

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Originally posted by TwoZero:
You'd think with all the "Name" British gunmakers there that the place would be full of African hunting enthusiasts.

It could be possible that firms like WR, H&H, Purdey, etc. Cater to more of a collector market than they might be willing to admit?

Also guys with the money to buy those things generally have their own social circle, and may rarely if ever post on the internet, or even bother to search to find forums like this.


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quote:

Originally posted by LR3:
It's a little of sad question but why is it that the home of some of the greatest double makers, many large bore rifles, adventures, hunters, and writers, rarely produces posts on the Africa page, large bore, hunting reports, or DR? Is this the future for other countries if we are not alert to pressures the energy / enthusiasm dies?

quote:

It's a little of sad question but why is it that the home of some of the greatest double makers, many large bore rifles, adventures, hunters, and writers, rarely produces posts on the Africa page, large bore, hunting reports, or DR?

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Originally posted by Beretta682E:
When empires go so do famous big game hunters, doubles and other vestigages of empire.

Mike

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Originally posted by drongo:
There was a Brit college student in volunteering as a 'Appy' during my leopard hunt in Zim in 2013. A few days after I got my cat he hitchhiked to Zambia to spend a few weeks before returning to the UK. I'd say he had a bit of the old Brit explorer gene in him! A nice guy and very helpful on the hunt.

His description of Brit gun regulations was frightening. Need preapproval from the police for the type and caliber based on the use you intend for it and the guns you already have. Then they inspect your home to check if you can safely store it. Spot checks can occur. God save the NRA!

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Originally posted by Saeed:
Moshe Dayan said only God complicates things more than the Brits

quote:

Originally posted by Milo Shanghai:

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
When empires go so do famous big game hunters, doubles and other vestigages of empire.

Mike

There's some truth in that, Mike. What is often overlooked, however, is that British families still own large swathes of former colonial lands. When we hunt on private land in Africa which is not open to public/commercial hunting we certainly don't publicise it. This is not in fear of antis but out of respect for the privacy of the owners. Generally, my rifle of choice is an open sighted .458 WinMag but I also use a London double which hasn't left Africa since it was first shipped there in the 1920s.

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Originally posted by Bwana1:
My brother in law, a retired Major General in the British Army, was visiting for a few days. I showed him a few of my hunting firearms, and he could not believe that I was allowed to own so many. He says he is lucky to own one or two hunting firearms, so I guess unuaual and expensive firearms are not important.

quote:

Originally posted by R.Jolly:
I'm a Brit who has posted several African hunting reports, but there certainly aren't many of us.
To my view there are several reasons why few hunt Africa.
Rifle ownership was never a strong tradition in the U.K. because the hunting of our native deer species was mostly confined to private land and the strict firearm ownership regulations don't encourage ownership just for paper target shooting.
In my experience hunting Africa comes as a natural progression from hunting lesser species, but is also restricted to those who can afford it. The number of African hunters is therefore few.
When it comes to famous English gun makes I think that historic romantic notions confuse reality.
Unlike rifle ownership we do have a tradition of being enthusiastic shotgun users and the UK undoubtably has the best variety of wing shooting in the world. You would therefore think that the majority of shooters would use English shotguns, but sadly not.
There is no doubt that the expensive hand made products look and handle beautifully, but sadly it has been proven many times that the foreign makes originating from a modern CNC machine are far mor reliable.
I don't have much experience of English made rifles, but I have been in the presence of English shotguns breaking down during a shoot day many times.
If I'm stood in front of an ele bull or following up on a buff I know which rifle I want to be holding.


Ok. Which rifle?
Sent from my iPad

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
Europeans also remember their history, to a greater extent than Americans anyway. France did not have restrictive gun legislation until it was occupied by the Nazis and the Vichy government voted restrictive gun laws at their behest. Disarming the average Frenchman was important to the Nazis. When the Nazis were driven out, somehow the gun laws stayed on the books.

There are no legal safeguards for firearm ownership in most European countries, nothing like the 2nd Amendment anyway. The authorization to possess firearms today could be gone tomorrow, such as in the UK. Why plaster all over the internet that you've got guns? You'll be the first to give the antis great examples of your American influenced deviant and possibly illegal behavior and the first visited by the authorities that want to recover them when the laws go the wrong way.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:

In more recent time I'll get an inquiry from a Brit about a buffalo hunt occasionally. So far in my experience they are always looking for something incredibly cheap and when I tell them the hunt is in Zimbabwe they loose interest immediately. Sorry! Zim generally is where the least expensive hunting is. I know Mugabe is universally hated in the UK but by not hunting there the only ones getting hurt are the safari operators. Seems a bit silly to me and I do realize that all Brits do not maintain the same view.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Milo Shanghai:

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:

In more recent time I'll get an inquiry from a Brit about a buffalo hunt occasionally. So far in my experience they are always looking for something incredibly cheap and when I tell them the hunt is in Zimbabwe they loose interest immediately. Sorry! Zim generally is where the least expensive hunting is. I know Mugabe is universally hated in the UK but by not hunting there the only ones getting hurt are the safari operators. Seems a bit silly to me and I do realize that all Brits do not maintain the same view.

Mark

Our hunting culture is largely based on a long history of conducting it on our own personal land and that of our friends. A fortunate position few of us take for granted. I am aware that some people employ sporting agents, particularly for corporate hospitality, but most of us have no need.