The Accurate Reloading Forums
First handgun hunt, South Africa - April 2014
10 May 2014, 02:10
Maximus BrutusFirst handgun hunt, South Africa - April 2014
I wanted to post this here informally because I really just wanted to summarise what can be achieved with a modern handgun and a steady aim.
The handgun I used was a Smith & Wesson .460 S&W Magnum revolver with a 14" barrel and a Leupold 2.5-8x32 scope. Shooting technique was developed "on the fly" and I settled on a down on two knees crouch over low shooting sticks. Even this relatively stable position it was quite difficult to get a steady aim. Nevertheless here are the results.
Cape buffalo, 33 yards
Sable, 44 yards
Roan, 111 yards
Lechwe, 65 yards
My PH, Dewald, with the hand cannon.
I really cannot recommend handgun hunting enough. To my great surprise all the animals hunted were wild as hell and certainly not what I expected from a South African hunt. Then again the reserve was some 13,500 acres with an open border so this is hardly surprising. The challenge of successful handgun hunting is taking a steady shot, and this is what makes it so exciting.
A big thank you to
Heritage Safaris in Bloemfontein for a great hunt.
I hope you enjoy the pics

Congratulations... great trophies and beautiful pistol
mario
10 May 2014, 02:20
impala#03Nice report. Great job with the handgun!
10 May 2014, 02:35
TrophyShotPrintsCongratulations..That's a hand cannon alright!!!

Superb!!!
Frank
"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953
NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite
10 May 2014, 03:47
Use Enough GunNice pics!

10 May 2014, 04:55
Safari JamesMB: Great animals and what a frigg'n hand cannon that is. Interesting in that is more like a short barreled rifle with a pistol grip sans stock! Can you elaborate a bit on the loads used and the recoil?
Safari James
USMC
DRSS
10 May 2014, 05:04
r_p_narramoreCongrats.
Congrats on your handgun safari. Well done!
Best of Hunting,
Mark Hampton
10 May 2014, 05:45
hunteratheartCongrats on what looks like a great hunt. Some very fine trophies taken.
DRSS
Sabatti 450\400 NE
Merkel 140-2 500 NE
10 May 2014, 05:50
pagosawingnutYes, please elaborate on the bullets and loads you used. I have one just like it and am getting ready to load for it.
Congratulations.
10 May 2014, 12:21
Maximus BrutusThanks for the nice comments guys

I used handloads of 47.5gr Hodgdon H110 in Starline .460 S&W case, Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers and a Magtech 260gr solid bullet.
I worked these loads up gradually in my gun and they may not be safe in yours so please do not use them without starting with a 10% lower powder charge and working up looking for signs of excessive pressure signs.
I was obliged to use a non-expanding bullet because here is Switzerland expanding handgun ammunition is illegal!
Recoil is just fine but noise as a result of the muzzle brake is substantial and I wore electronic moulded earplugs for every shot.
Muzzle flash in low light is something else too.
Overall it's a very manageable package but getting a steady aim is a real challenge. I will definitely do it again.
10 May 2014, 13:31
Jan DumonDid you run the load through a chronograph ?
_______________________
10 May 2014, 16:41
BoxheadCurious on the holster you used?
That is one impressive pistol! And nice work you've done with it also!
Now, off to find one like it - that is very tempting!
Master of Boats,
Slayer of Beasts,
Charmer of the fair sex, ......
and sometimes changer of the diaper.....
10 May 2014, 17:40
Maximus Brutusquote:
Originally posted by Jan Dumon:
Did you run the load through a chronograph ?
Not this specific load, but I believe it is pushing over 2,000fps.
10 May 2014, 17:41
Maximus Brutusquote:
Originally posted by Boxhead:
Curious on the holster you used?
This is the funny part. No holster! Carried it over my shoulder gripping the barrel, like a rifle

10 May 2014, 17:48
Maximus BrutusHere is a link to the Smith & Wesson revolver I used :-
http://www.smith-wesson.com/we...ctDisplayErrorView_Y10 May 2014, 18:25
nobody2Impressive!
10 May 2014, 19:46
Larry SellersCongrats Max - Nice trophies, great pics and a impressive handgun to say the least. You mentioned "muzzle flash". Would really like to see a pic of the "flash" if you have one, should be a real sight. Again great job.
Larry Sellers
SCI(International)Life Member
Sabatti 'trash' Double Shooter
R8 Blaser
DRSS
10 May 2014, 20:29
tradmarknice buff, those are some other nice trophies as well. we used the 460 and 454 in Africa on dangerous game to great effect this last summer. congrats on your trip.
That Sable Antelope is one beautiful animal. Obviously the solid works !
When shooting at dusk the flash becomes obvious and at full dark it's enough to light up the whole neighborhood !
That gun is twice the weight of my M29 .All he needs is a good bipod or tripod !
Well done !!
Dirty Harry would be proud and congrats on some excellent trophies!
13 May 2014, 00:06
bwanajayThanks for posting.

14 May 2014, 12:53
umzingeleBeautiful Trophies. Do you use the traditional "African Carry" method of resting the firearm on your shoulder and holding onto the barrel, or did you use a "Gunbearer"?
Joke aside, I assume some kind of shoulder holster?
trophies of a lifetime, good shooting! thanks for sharing.
Relax and light a Cuban.
15 May 2014, 15:53
Maximus Brutusquote:
Originally posted by umzingele:
Beautiful Trophies. Do you use the traditional "African Carry" method of resting the firearm on your shoulder and holding onto the barrel, or did you use a "Gunbearer"?
Joke aside, I assume some kind of shoulder holster?
Actually you were right first time. The African carry worked well!
17 May 2014, 10:34
georgeldGreat trophies, am happy for you.
Just my nasty comment here: That buff looks like he's three ton's the way that picture is posed. Can't possibly be as big as it looks here.
No wonder you get lots of flash, with that much powder half of it has to be burned outside the barrel. I get a lot of flash with a .45 Colt
7 1/2" with ONLY 20gr of H110 with 250 up to 330gr. The heavy slug is about all I can handle for the recoil. I'm not a brake user or believer. That light a bullet do you really need that brake? With such a long barrel I wouldn't think so.
That's great shooting with a handgun of any kind and I do congratulate you on the success of your hunt. Thanks for sharing,
George
"Gun Control is NOT about Guns'
"It's about Control!!"
Join the NRA today!"
LM: NRA, DAV,
George L. Dwight
Awesome hunt. How many shoots to take out the cape buff? I have a sw .500 with leupold scope and would like to do the same thing in Africa. nice shooting.
29 May 2014, 16:08
retreeverMark a well placed shot can and will do it job. Fine shooting. Photos are great. I am not into the noise from the handguns.
Mike

Michael Podwika... DRSS bigbores and hunting
www.pvt.co.za " MAKE THE SHOT " 450#2 Famars
29 May 2014, 16:12
CaracalNice report. Thanks for sharing Mark

04 June 2014, 22:07
juanpozziCONGRATULATIONS I LOVE HUNTING WITH PISTOLS AND REVOLVERS

Since i quit IPSC and IDPA competition i hunt a lot with my handguns but never in africa ,your report demostrated that i can be done .
www.huntinginargentina.com.ar FULL PROFESSIONAL MEMBER OF IPHA INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL HUNTERS ASOCIATION .
DSC PROFESSIONAL MEMBER
DRSS--SCI
NRA
IDPA
IPSC-FAT -argentine shooting federation cred number2-