Gentlemen

I am looking for advice here as I have only hunted Africa once previously and it was with a bow in Namibia for plainsgame.I just purchased my first DGR which was described as follows:

Stainless Steel Winchester Model 70 .375 H&H. Custom stocked by McMillan, complete blue print of action by Mcmillan. N.E.C.G. barrel band front sight, Talley barrel band swivel base, P.M.E. African sight, Sunny-Hill 1-pc bottom metal, trigger was custom contoured with right hand curve. All metal was Black "T" finish by Birdsong, also the rifle scope rings are Talley 30mm Q.D.,s with Talley bases and they are Black "T" by Birdsong also. Has a Pachmayer Decelerator 1" recoil pad. 13 1/2" L.O.P. This is an awesome rifle for Alaska and Africa, hate to let it go.

The rifle looks brand new and supposedly has less than 300 rounds through it. The seller claims that it will group at or under an inch with 300 grain A-Frames or Barnes-X manufactured by Superior Ammo. I am now really excited as my upcoming hunt is starting to become a reality with the purchase of this weapon. The bottom metal and Black T finish is really nice. The Mcmillan stock has a good feel to it. I can hardly wait to shoot this weekend if the weather cooperates.

I had him switch the rings from 30mm to 1 inch as I already own a Leupold 1.5X5-20mm scope sitting on the shelf not being used.

What else might I need to do to get this gun and myself ready for a Zimbabwe buffalo/leopard hunt in Sept of 2002?

The Talley rings can be mounted in a standard fashion or as quick-detachable. Which do you suggest? My PH does not recomend quick-detachable but is not real familiar with Talley as most of his hunters are from Spain. He claims to have had a bad experience previously with detachable rings.

Is mounting scope on a DGR different from my other lighter rifles? What all should I locktite on the bases or rings?

The rear iron sights (PME African) is a very shallow V with a verticle white band on the center line. The front sight (NECG barrel band) is dark with a small center white dot.
I have no idea if this is a good combination for iron sights. I have seen postings previously about a flip-up night sight which I assummed to be some sort of a tritium front bead for low light conditions.

Should I purchase a second rifle scope for this gun or use the iron sights as my backup? The PH tells me that I will typically be shooting at 75 yards or less on this hunt. He does not feel that a second scope will be necessary.

What sling would you recomend?

What other bullets would you recomend that I try in this gun for buffalo/leopard/plainsgame? The PH recomends that I keep it simple using a A-Frame or Barnes-X and a solid.

I want to thank you gentlemen for all the advice that I have been privileged to read on this site over the last year. This really is the best website on African Hunting that I have found. Thanks you Saeed for maintaing the server and for your great videos.

Everything sounds as though it is ready to pack and go at a moment's notice. My experience with the Talley QD rings is nothing but fantastic. Don't be dissuaded from using them. I wouldn't worry about a flip-up nightsight. Scopes are better for low-light conditions and its not likely you'll be leading the charge for a wounded leopard after dark. If the rifle has had anything close to 300 rounds through it, likely anything that is going to go wrong would have already let loose. Loctite on the bases and screws is a good idea, but I wouldn't use it on the scope rings. A-frames or Barnes-X are great bullets and if the rifle shoots them well there's no reason to experiment.

FWIW-
Forrest

I think your well set up...go with QD Talleys,thats my favorite...sight in the irons and get after it...take an extra scope in Talleys thats been sighted in, thats good insurance.

Try some 350 gr. Woodlighs for Buff in herds and GS FN solids for everything else. The GS FN solid is all I use for serious Buffalo hunting in a 375 unless I'm experimenting with a bullet..

Man, that gun would look nice with a Turkish Walnut stock done up like a Holland and Holland or Westley Richards, or at least a laminate. Thats Africa, but I hate plastic on anything except golf clubs.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com