I am most likely taking my VC 450-400 to Zim when I am hunting in the Save (sometime in May) with the Admiral/SubSailor74.

I have barley shot the gun since I got in 2 years back - just wrong I know. I am going to practice in March and April.

How much ammo do I need to get proficient - assume I suck as a marksman?

Is the Hornady ammo good ?

Does the double rifle crowd use sticks or shoot offhand ?

Anyone have and use a sling on their double rifle?

I will taking a ruger 375R as a back up.

Mike

You picked the right DR cartridge to be able to shoot it a lot in a short time. Hornady ammo is good for practice but some don't like the bullet performance; I will let others with strong opinions chime in here. (I use only Hornady bullets, reloaded, but I will never go for DG).
The part that I don't get is that you say you"suck as a marksman". If that is really true, and I doubt it really is, then you need a lot of basic marksmanship instruction before you tackle a DR off cross sticks. I use slings for carrying only; never for shooting.
I will let you beat yourself up for waiting until the last minute to prepare; I won't mention it.

To reply, from my limited experience:

I shoot my double rifle 4-6 times a day for a month or 6 weeks before I go on an international hunt. Personally I find this better than going to the range every week or two and shooting 50 rounds. However I understand this is not practical for everyone. I have a shooting range in my front yard.

Hornady is good. Reloading to your rifle is better.

Sticks or a tree or anything to steady the aim is better than off hand. But, practice with both sticks and off hand as you will use both in the field.

I always use a sling when walking but remove it when the time gets close for a stalk or a shot.

Cheers, good luck, and keep us posted.
Cal

Mike - practice at 25 yards and 50 yards off sticks and offhand. The key is to get comfortable with your rifle, in using both triggers, and reloading. You have plenty of time to practice between now and when we leave for Zim. I shoot my doubles mostly offhand as I have never had the need or time to get up on the sticks when hunting buffalo. Hornady ammo is fine for practice. If you do not reload, please save the brass, and I will will load it for you. Your rifle was most likely regulated with Hornady ammo. Hornady solids are ok for hunting as well, but I would personally not use their soft point ammo for hunting dangerous game. If you need soft point ammo loaded with Woodleigh bullets or solids loaded with Woodleighs or CEBs, let me know. I have a lot of ammo loaded, and it is easy enough for me to ship you a few boxes.

quote:

How much ammo do I need to get proficient - assume I suck as a marksman?

Everybody is a little different in this regard. I believe some people are naturals. I am definitely not one of those people. Cal's practice regiment is great. It involves shooting 150 rounds, which for me is bare minimum. If your range allows, shoot one barrel run up 5 or 6 yards and shoot the second barrel. It is surprising how quick one can pull the front trigger twice. Practice reloading quickly at the range also. A couple of sets of snap caps and lots of dry firing and reloading helped.

quote:

Is the Hornady ammo good ?

I am not a fan but certainly appreciate the fact that Hornady loads for lots of big bores for reasonable prices. I prefer North Fork, CEB, or Swift. All that being said the Hornady bullet will be fine.

quote:

Does the double rifle crowd use sticks or shoot offhand ?

Anyone have and use a sling on their double rifle?

Those are personal preferences, whatever you are comfortable with. I shoot mostly offhand or leaning against a tree. I also use a sling to carry at times.

Hope this helps.

I am no expert but am happy to share my own experience with this cartridge.

I shoot a Merkel in 450-400 and have been practicing with it for about three years now. I generally shoot 20 or 40 rounds each time I go to the range in the months leading up to a hunt with it. I try to go every week for about 3 months but sometimes I miss a week.

I like shooting at the photo targets of DG. It's a little more interesting than a bullseye. I also enjoy shooting at clay pigeons (sitting on the backstop).

I generally practice from the sticks at 50 yards. In my experience, my first shots are nearly always from the sticks and my follow up shots are probably 50/50 sticks/offhand. I always practice some at 25 yards offhand, too, but confess most of my practice is from the sticks.

I attended the SAAM Safari School in Texas and highly recommend it. Getting practice on moving targets and doing drills with your rifle is really valuable. Drills reloading and shooting again are particularly valuable, especially on the moving targets they have there.

I reload my ammo and have used the Hornady bullets (both DGX and DGS) with success. I don't really have a strong opinion about them - they're available and they work OK for me. Others have reported issues with the softs, but I'm not sure what those issues are. On my most recent trip I shot North Fork Cup Point Solids and was very impressed with them - I'll definitely use them for my solids going forward.

Sticks! Reload if you can. Use RL-15 or Norma 203B. Use a tuft of polifill or foam plug.