quote:

Originally posted by fritz454:
Charles, I'll be down with most of my big bores so if you want to try to get this together I'm all for it.

I'll be in the Houston area but will be driving to Yuma and then onto Montana. That should get me close to Dallas. It would be late on a Sunday, I think the 12 or there abouts.

John

If it turns out to be close to your route I will see if I can find a range that would let us shoot off-hand. I think MacD37 recommends one called Alpine Shooting Range. My usual haunts (i.e. those close to my house or office) either don't let you off the bench or are indoors and would freak out at the possibility their bullet trap would be overwhelmed!

Don't go out of your way, but if it works out it would be interesting.

No big double?
You need a new rifle.

I'm voting with ForrestB. Take the .340 and the .416. While the shots you are likely to take will probably be 200 yards or less, the .340 can easily handle the plains game and the .416 can handle everything else. You could also take a scoped .375, which could be carried by staff and one of your bigger rifles. You are not going to want to shoot a leopard with open sights.

Wombat, I plan on trying my hand at building my own from bar stock in the next year or so. I've got some of the drawings for the monoblock thanks to another poster and will need to get some drawn up for the action and trigger sets. I don't see the difficulity in getting it all to work but the devil is in the details. I think I'll start with a 470NE and then a 500 NE.

I've kind of built all the bolt rifles I want and this will lead to some new things.

Mufasa, If I wasn't going to be so heavy on the DG that is exactly what I would do. That said I really want to see what the 600 does to buff and ele. I figured my 378 Wby with scope for old mr. spots.

John

quote:

Originally posted by fritz454:
Wombat, I plan on trying my hand at building my own from bar stock in the next year or so. I've got some of the drawings for the monoblock thanks to another poster and will need to get some drawn up for the action and trigger sets. I don't see the difficulity in getting it all to work but the devil is in the details. I think I'll start with a 470NE and then a 500 NE.

I've kind of built all the bolt rifles I want and this will lead to some new things.

Mufasa, If I wasn't going to be so heavy on the DG that is exactly what I would do. That said I really want to see what the 600 does to buff and ele. I figured my 378 Wby with scope for old mr. spots.

John

damn that sounds like fun!

please post pics of all the stages please

My vote is for the 375 H&H and 470 Mbogo. (like you wouldn't have guessed that already!).

Your proposed 416 Rigby switchbarrel option with the 470 Mbogo, plus a dozen rounds for the 600 OK would be pretty cool too.

How many buffalo on your menu? 3?

Cheers,
Canuck

Fritz,
Tanzania allows three rifles so I would definitely take three, especially for a 24 day hunt. I am assuming the Selous will be the prime location. Three buff, lion-if you are not extremely fussy, leopard, hippo,croc and plains game. Notice, I did not mention ele as this would be an opportunity animal unless you hunted in the southern portion of the Selous. We saw plenty of elephant but no shooters based on the high imposed limits. The plains game are an add on in the Selous IMHO, sure there are zebra, wildebeeest, hardebeest, some sable,etc. but not all great trophies.
So I would select the .375 H & H for the croc-shots at 100-150 yds, leopard, maybe lion, and plains game. 470 Mbogo,458 Lott,470 Cap (depending on the best performing rifle) for lion, buff, hippo,etc. And last but not least, the GMA 600 OK for possible ele, 2-3 buff, hippo. From your weight limit trade offs, you have enough ammo.
Lucky dog, what a great trip.

Dak

quote:

Originally posted by fritz454:
Here is another twist, I just finished up "fixing" two CZs. One in 404 Jeff and the other in 505 Gibbs. This gets worse everyting I think about it.

It just sounds like you need a few of your AR friends to go with you and help with the other rifles...

Dak, The 600 is a definate. I'm leaning towards the 550 mag and a barrel in 378 Wby. Although I won't rule out a 470 Capstick and 375 H&H.

The hunt will envolve one transfer to another area. I hope to really do this right. Probably 14 days in the Selous and 10 more in which ever area Pierre recomends.

Unless I can't shoot worth a dam I should be fine on ammo whichever way I go.

John


Chris, You and Dave are a broken record. but I can see why. You couldn't go wrong with those choices

CaneCorso, There are 3 other AR formites going. Well 2 for sure but I think the third will join in as well. I also have a buddy here in MT who is comming along. Should be a great trip.

Knowing the crew I feel sorry for Pierre but he did put up with Walter two years straight and we can't be that bad

This is off topic but what would you guys think about a double rifle kit. I would supply the action, mono-block, barrels, sights, wedges, stock blank and instructions. You would need to assemble, fit finish, and regulate.

I've been thinking about this for some time but am concerned about liability. I do have a manufacturer’s license so I'm all set with the BATFE. Best guess on sale price would be around 3500-4000 and it would be all top notch components.

Anyway, it’s a lot to think about. Don't know if there is a market for this kind of thing. Since mechanically I will make sure the parts lock up properly I don't see too much of an issue with the action coming apart.

Needless to say I'll build myself a few before I start this project

Let me know what you think.

John

Chris, yea 3 buffalo unless I can finagle a way for a few more? I want to take two hippo, one in water for baits and the other on ground for the fun of it all. After that lion and leopard are top of the list. I would also like a croc and greater and lesser Kudu and of course elephant. The elephant is a hit and miss kind of thing. I will certainly take one (it would be great to use the 600) but I don't want to burn up a bunch of days tracking ele when there are so many other critters I would like to get. I personally like the long thinner tusks of TZ tusks but the Zimbabwe style tusks are not bad either. I will be going over again for elephant only in a year or two. If Zimbabwe is still on the map I will give some serious consideration to hunting with Paul Zorn. Lots of good things said about him.

I think I'll need to make this a 28 day hunt instead of 24. At this point what’s a few more grand. If I can figure a way to post like Saeed is doing I will do the same and maybe the others in camp will as well. It should be a lot of fun. I already have my digital and lots and lots of memory cards. I'll be taking my laptop and can download each evening.

Chris, if you're up for it maybe you can act as the go between. I know you've got the new job so your time is a premium but if you would do it that would be great. We'll talk about it later if you're game.

Can anyone tell I’m really pumped up about this hunt. It’s my first real African Safari. The three days on a ranch in RSA was like being at the Hilton and visiting the Bronx zoo with rifle in hand. Besides I didn’t take any of the animals home.

quote:

Originally posted by fritz454:
This is off topic but what would you guys think about a double rifle kit. I would supply the action, mono-block, barrels, sights, wedges, stock blank and instructions. You would need to assemble, fit finish, and regulate.

I've been thinking about this for some time but am concerned about liability. I do have a manufacturer’s license so I'm all set with the BATFE. Best guess on sale price would be around 3500-4000 and it would be all top notch components.

Anyway, it’s a lot to think about. Don't know if there is a market for this kind of thing. Since mechanically I will make sure the parts lock up properly I don't see too much of an issue with the action coming apart.

Needless to say I'll build myself a few before I start this project

Let me know what you think.

John

Based on what I've read here, a number of people would be interested. I have ten thumbs so I would be out, but those more comfortable with tools might be excited about it.

quote:

Chris, You and Dave are a broken record. but I can see why. You couldn't go wrong with those choices

I will relay a short anecdote that may shed some light on my predictability, if you don't mind...

I was packing for a 16 day backpacking trip about 6 years ago. I was responsible for putting together the menu and packaging the food up into daily units. I came up with a great menu with lots of diversity and passed it on to my hunting partner for review. About half of the menu was pre-packaged freeze-dried food, and I had selected about 4 different "flavours" from the many that were available. Anyway, my buddy gets back to me and says "Make mine all 'Sweet and Sour Pork'". To which I replied, "Won't you get sick of having the same thing everyday?". His response was, "That's my favorite, why would I eat something else that I don't like as much?".

So, while variety may be the spice of life, if you already know your favorite....

Cheers,
Canuck

quote:

Chris, if you're up for it maybe you can act as the go between. I know you've got the new job so your time is a premium but if you would do it that would be great. We'll talk about it later if you're game.

Sounds great to me. Shouldn't be a problem. We could do it like Saeed and I did last year. He called me on his Sat phone every other day or so and I would type up a report.

Cheers,
Canuck

You know Chris if you hit the lottery you can just come along as well. We'll get Dave to post for us

That's a plan!

Actually, if I hit the lottery and left Dave home to post for us, I doubt he'd answer the phone!

So here's the plan...I hit the lottery and bring Dave and Don_G, and I'll train a non-hunting friend how to post updates at AR!!!

You can increase the versatility of the 375 H&H by taking the Federal High Energy ammo in 270 and 300 grains. Bullets are the best premium available in that caliber and you will get an honest 2800 and 2700 fps respectively in a 24 inch bbl.

I would be tempted to partially handload your stopper by charging the cases and plugging them with corks...then you can take the heavy bullets as regular luggage and seat them there with a Lee hand press and seater die. This way you could also increase the flexibility of the stopper by taking 2 Lee dippers to reduce charge weight to meet your needs. For example, the 460 could be charged for 2250 and 2400 fps with 500 grainers or just seat 350 or 400 grainers on your 500 gr charges.

Heck, this would mean some time working up loads at the range, and increase your enjoyment of the event by some magnitude! Given you very enviable battery, it could take weeks!

My guess is that the easiest round to work with in this regard is the 416 Weatherby. The case capacity is nearly identical to the 416 Rigby, so the load data is already published and waiting for you. For example, the belted round uses 110 grs H4350 to make 2687 fps with a 400 grainer and the Rigby uses 96 grs to make 2392 fps. The 110 gr charge will take the 300 gr barnes X to 2750 fps in the Weatherby and the 350 to 2700...that's a very good selection of weights and velocities for the game and conditions you may encounter.

A real sleeper in the 460 is IMR 3031 which pushes the 500 grainer 2434 fps with 95 grs and the 400 grainer at 2473 fps with the same charge weight. The 350 grainer will make 2550 at this charge weight, very close to the starting charge of 97 grs at 2616 fps All from Hodgdon's NO. 26 manual page 488).

Finally, if you love recoil, the dream load for this exercise is 115 grs of H4831 behind a 600 grain bulet at 2457 fps. The 500, 400 and 350 grainers will clock 2366, 2380 and 2400 fps respectively at low but consistent pressures and greatly reduced recoil.

sabot...you are a genious...great ideas. glad we have you here.

Boom Stick -

Thanks for the kudos!

And to think i thought your handle was broom stick the first time I replied to one of your posts. My humble apologies...

I hope someone actually tries this approach to traveling with ammo to make sure there are no last minute legal fiascos.At any rate, corked loads are safer than factory ammo in transit as there is no way to build up enough pressure in the case to burn the powder.

Here is the PERFECT AFRICAN THREE GUN BATTERY!
1..600 OK, 15 RDS- For BIG STUFF That is pissed OFF!
2.CZ 589 double rifle re-chambered to 458 Lott-20 rds For n on-Pissed -off big stuff! 8.1 lbs ( think about it!)
3. 12ga X 30-06 DRILLING(Sauer) for birds and small stuff up to 400lbs.-4 boxes of 12 ga No. 7 and 20 rds of 30-06.
This Batterty would set you up for everything from wing shooting Guinea fowl to a real pissed ELE or Nyati.
If only I knew this earlier!-Rob