I begin this with the caveat that I'm the most mechanically challenged human in the world. I can't even get toys from McDonald's to work.

Anyway..... I'm on my way to Tanzania on Tuesday and as usual I have kept fiddling with ammo until the last minute. I'm taking my Searcy Classic .450/.400 3" and it has been perfect with Woodleigh solids and softs at close to 2200 fps, using Butch's recommended loads. It's packed and I'm not screwing with it!

I also put down on the gun import forms (at $200 a pop!) my Merkel 141 (e) in 9.3x74. It was factory regulated with Norma 232 grain Vulcan ammo. I, at first, decided not to fool with it and use it for plains game, but as you know, a buffalo might show up when you least expect it (and I have two on my ticket). (Aside from being technically illegal for buff in Tanzania), I decided that I'd better be ready if a mean ol' dagga boy decided that I was encroaching on his turf, so... I chose to shoot TSX's (250 grain, S.D. of almost .270 and velocity right at 2400 fps in my gun within published load data).

I took my regulation instructions to the range and began to bang. First right and left were 7" apart at fifty yards. Oh, crap! I immediately ran out of "twist" on my first adjustment.... so I turned both adjustment bolts all the way to the right, counted all the way to the left, and returned the adjustments to center and began again.

Dang if about 8 sets later if I didn't get the right barrel hitting 2" high at 110 yards with the left an inch below it. I fired four more rounds into a 2.5 " cluster, all 6 holes pretty much on centerline and not a flyer in the bunch. I measured the outside of the .366" holes to the outside and got less than 3". I actually think I could have adjusted some more and got both barrels to group within the same 1.5", but I need some ammo left if I'm going to take the gun to Africa. I reluctantly quit with 25 rounds still loaded.

I wonder what the game scout will say if I'm .009" to little. It must have mattered to my ex-wife, so I'll make sure before I fire.

Anyway, once you figure out the German... the darn screw-a-ma-jiggy regulation thing works!

As an aside, I shot some of Tony Black's loads, 286 grain Woodleighs with IMR-4831. Neither barrel hit the 8.5"x11" target.... but now I know, if elephants are on the ticket, I can get 'em to print to p.o.a.

better take a whole bunch of money. have you seen the trophy fee increases in tanganyka ? check it out at sci

the new comrades in charge seem committed to ending huntin there.... or really make you pay through the teeth, as if they weren't overcharging already.

If you check out the increases, buffalo didn't get the huge increase that lion, elephant and leopard got. Even with the increased concession fees my daily rate won't be but $100@day more. I decided to grin and bear it... one last time.

If I take a second buffalo, a wildebeest, zebra and a warthog, the total difference will be about $2000. I'm not happy about it, but I'm still......

who are you booked with?

Rich
DRSS

Just got back last night with a mere 2 buff ,but at least TGTS did not charge me a cent more for anything...But,I agree with above,they are going to price it out of reach to most!..I am headed for Bison later this winter,alot closer with less hassle with Customs,and other idiots at ALL the airports! I love America,Great to be home!