Hello.
I should first say that I'm a great fan of Col.Craig Boddington, and read everything he writes for the magazines.
But last night I read a article called "A powerful good deal" in the latest issue of Guns&Ammo.
I understod this to be a guideline to get a inexpensive buff -stopper, or somthing like that.
But when I read the article I start to wonder if Mr. Boddington not have heard about the CZ 550, magnum?? (or the new Zastava Arms??)
I belive that must be one of the better options, and the cheapest to. And one of the actions that have been used a lot when it comes to custom Big Bores.

Arild,

What was Boddington's choice of rifle/caliber.

Mike

I find Boddington's articles to be vacuous and non-informative. He uses a lot of words to say not much of anything.

500 Grains I agree with you totally, he is like the energizer bunny.......going on and on, a rehash of what has been printed before.

Boddington is far more of a hunter than a gun technician. He has considerable experience in hunting African Species and I've found him spot on in this area. He pimps for the major gun manufacturers most of the time and may or may not really have an intimate knowledge of the pro's and Cons of building custom DGR's. As far as his other articles on long range shooting etc. I find him far less knowledgeable.-Rob

500 Grains I agree with you totally, he is like the energizer bunny.......going on and on, a rehash of what has been printed before.

Arild,
I scanned that article at the book store and noted the conspicuous absence of the CZ in Boddington's piece. After all, the topic was about good deals on good big bore rifles, eh?
I dropped the rag and went on my merry way. It is nice not to read that trash that I have read umpteen times before. I don't subscribe to any gun rags anymore. _American Hunter_(NRA Life member benefit), _African Hunter_, Hatari Times_, and the SCI pubs are it for me for now.

Gotta say I am not impressed with Boddington. Ditto 500grains. Craig is "the little guy with the Napoleon complex," General Boddington.

I found his book "Safari Rifles" also too elementary and boring to keep me awake for long at a stretch, though I did suffer through it years ago.

Accuratereloading.com sure has a lot more to offer than The General.

Ok, time to trash the General some more.

It seems his idea of a "custom" rifle is a Rem 700 factory barreled action dropped into a new stock - no creativity or originality whatsoever.

Although I have not read all of his stuff (couldn't stand to), I must say I have not read of him going on a self-guided hunt. Frankly, it is pathetic when an "expert" such as him must have a 1 x 1 guided pronghorn antelope or mule deer hunt. Can't he scout the area and find a pronghorn or a mulie without someone to hold his hand?

[ 05-31-2002, 10:02: Message edited by: 500grains ]

Well said 500grainsofbullshit!

When you consider that Boddington probably doesn't pay for any of the hunts, He'd be stupid not to take advantage of using guides.
As for his writting,it isn't any worse then the shit being written by other writters and in most cases a lot better. About the only writter I've read lately that wasn't pure propaganda is John Barsness. Anybody that can read and believe half the fairy tales Elmer Keith wrote,shouldn't have any problems reading Boddington.

You know as to the "too basic" in his writings - everyone is not an expert and there are young readers that have no one to guide them and only gain knowledge thru writers like Col B etc. Not everyone posting on this forum are experts, eh. I know I am not and learn every day even after 50+ years of hunting and shooting.

The Old Hunter has a very good point.

At the monet I am rekindling a childhood interest in model aeroplane and model aero engines.

So I have been buying their magazines and I do need their equivalent of "how the 244 Reminginton with its 1 in 12 twist went on to be the 6mm Remington with 1 in 10 twist etc. etc."

Mike

Mike,

The model airplaine magazines have also gone down hill. They are mostly adds, with product reviews. There used to be a plan included for a rubber powered model in each issue, but now you just get scaled down prints of plans.

I must say the model engines available today are pretty amazing, they were pretty neat 20 years ago when I was using them a fair deal.

You guys are a little rough on Boddington, all the gun writers ran out of anything to write about 20 years ago...Were due for another 270 vs.30-06, probably from Barsness.

Boddington is a decent fellow and does know a lot about hunting as he has a world of experience, He has shot a hell of a lot of game all over the world.

I just wish to hell some arms company would pay my way....more power to him. I don't see that as something to condem him for, wouldn't you like to be sent to Africa to hunt, but I'm sure some of you would turn it down, WRONG!

He is as good as the rest of the writers out there and a hell of a lot better than some.

I thought his book Safari Rifles was as good as any African Rifle book that I have ever read and it certainly is a great book for the begining African hunter or big bore fan...

Paul,

Many many years ago one of our leading gunsmiths was making a large plane and used a chainsaw engine. Unfortunately he died before completing.

But looking at the model aero magazines today, he would not need a chainsaw motor. What about those little radial engines

Mike

I read Craig's stuff, but I do make an effort to read between the lines and factor in the obvious, like who is paying for what. Given the dynamics of the US magazine industry, you must do that.

I think Craig's biggest problem is over exposure, he could be a bit more selective about who he writes for -- assuming he wants to forego the income. The only writer to get rich that I know of is J.K. Rowling.

My wife is a left-hand shooter, and Craig always has time to talk to her about her rifles whenever we run into him. He is also very approachable.

jim dodd

So the general is the one to stomp on today

I have changed my mind about Craig. Before I had a hard time to read his articles. But, I must say that I think he's a smart guy who can hunt global and leave the tab for the manufacturers etc.

I wrote a letter to Craig and he were very friendly. Craig, Seyfried and Barnsness are among the top of my favorite writers at this moment. I wish I had the same luck as they do, grab the rifle and a bag and hit for anything you like to and have somone else to pay for it? Good free lunch is never bad. There are gunwriters putting them self on a pedestal and act like divas, none mentioned... I have meet a few.

/ JOHAN

I can't wait to read Craigs new book about North American hunting.

I don't read many of Mr. Boddington's magazine articles because I don't read many mags anymore, just Hatari Times and American Rifleman. Looking back in my old issues of G & A, Hunting, etc. it is obvious that I've changed, not the mags. I do read his books and find them enjoyable.

I will also say this about Mr. Boddington; I wrote him several years ago and he responded with a very nice two-page letter.

Kurt

I read his stuff and try my best to seperate the meat from the tatters. I have a couple of his books and what gets me are his comments on taxidermy. He has stated that he doesn't get much mounted because it would take funds away from future hunts. Who is he trying to kid? He most likely gets his hunts for free then wrights about them and praises the outfitter. If I could do it I surley would.