8 Bore Safari

Hey just to let everyone know I wasn't trying to be a ####..... comment wasn't related to the actual baisis for harvesting an animal, I understand the economic and social benefits of a big game hunt are huge for a region and that population control is necessary. The question I had was more based around the desire to put one of the biggest most beautiful animals on the planet in your sights and pulling the trigger. I'm actually curious to understand how a big game hunter feels about the kill? Mixed emotions? Or is the view that taking an animal is taking an animal... no matter the size or species?
thanks for your input
p.s I grew up in a small town where hunting is a way of life and have been a part of the sport since childhood (in no way anti-hunting)
 
Great photos btw. Was the hippo on land or in water when taken? Where was the bullet placement on the elephant as I'm curious of the 8bores penetration on the tusker. And lastly if you wouldn't mind what does the tag cost as well as the other costs involved in taking a buffalo. I prolly won't ever hunt a elephant but buffalo is most certainly on my list
 
In answer to a few more questions:

Ellie are on Quota so permits must be organised beforehand.
The Hippo was in the water, as it was very hot (115 +) they did not come out until about 7 pm and it was too dark to shoot then. I sat on the bank and waited for a perfect shot to present itself, a side brain, at 35 m, the brain is about the size of a grapefruit.
The Ellie was hit through the ribs, the bullet was recovered inside the skin on the other side. My last shot at approx 5 yds was a side brain (he was trying to sit up)and that smacked him down hard. The skull was buried before I had a chance to examine it in detail but I think we got penetration to the brain. The skull is buried so that after 4-5 days the tusks can be pulled out. I would not attempt a frontal brain on a bull Ellie with an 8 Bore, this shot is difficult under the best circumstances, unless it was a life or death (mine) situation.
Buff hunts start at approx $9,000.00
 
Awesome. I've been reading bout$10000 to start. I missed the african safari show in toronto this year but hopefully next year I can book in an african hunt. I really want a black and blue wildebeast and a couple warthogs and I nice sweeping long cape buff skull would be awesome in the man cave. Thanks for the reply
 
brybenn said:
Awesome. I've been reading bout$10000 to start. I missed the african safari show in toronto this year but hopefully next year I can book in an african hunt. I really want a black and blue wildebeast and a couple warthogs and I nice sweeping long cape buff skull would be awesome in the man cave. Thanks for the reply
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I would be pleased to quote you for a Safari when the time is right. We (Hunt Africa Safaris) are an agent for Great Kudu Land Safaris, I visited them last week and their facilities are excellent.
 
Check out Zimbabwe Ben, best value and huge spaces. You can get a big bull, in wide open conservancies, for $7,000 with some plains game included. Check out Touch Africa Safaris. When I was over I was culling, so it's shoot what they say and less cushy than a lot of safari operations, but for a young guy like me absolutely perfect. Took this old bull out of a herd, he was keeping the fresh blood out, and an old blue wildebeest, and truckload of impala (literally) among other game. In all I spent less than most South Africa ranch plains game 1 week hunts, even with airfare figured in. Zim's got bigger spaces, great big game, and a truly wild flavour.

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Ardent said:
Check out Zimbabwe Ben, best value and huge spaces. You can get a big bull, in wide open conservancies, for $7,000 with some plains game included. Check out Touch Africa Safaris. When I was over I was culling, so it's shoot what they say and less cushy than a lot of safari operations, but for a young guy like me absolutely perfect. Took this old bull out of a herd, he was keeping the fresh blood out, and an old blue wildebeest, and truckload of impala (literally) among other game. In all I spent less than most South Africa ranch plains game 1 week hunts, even with airfare figured in. Zim's got bigger spaces, great big game, and a truly wild flavour.

DSCF2400.jpg

2ac5e5ac.jpg
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Did you shoot that with a mini-14 ardent?;) Nice btw
 
Nice wildebeest ardent. And to mr wolverine I will most certainly keep you in mind. It might not be next year but the year after that may be the one for sure as I've started a savings fund already and am currently shopping for the gun so ill have a lot of time to shoot it and get a perfect feel for it. Thanks for the info
 
brybenn said:
Nice wildebeest ardent. And to mr wolverine I will most certainly keep you in mind. It might not be next year but the year after that may be the one for sure as I've started a savings fund already and am currently shopping for the gun so ill have a lot of time to shoot it and get a perfect feel for it. Thanks for the info
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I'd recommend a good, controlled round feed .375 H&H; you'll never need another rifle, worldwide. Though you'll certainly want them, just as Mr. Hipwell has shown very nicely with the gorgeous golden era 8 bores. Early on (this is still me, as well) spend your money on your hunts not your rifles, the Winchester M70 would only set you back $1,100 used and is a top notch tool.

If you get a nice Winchester M70 CRF/Classic, Magnum Mauser, or Ruger RSM/Magnum .375 you certainly won't be disappointed. They're easy to shoot, shoot flat enough to be an excellent plains game rifle, can load heavy enough to be an excellent dangerous game rifle, and you can get ammunition anywhere from Northern Canada to Southern Zimbabwe. Plus, they have a nice habit of shooting to the same point of aim with multiple bullet weights and loads. I'll end my tangent there. :)
 
I'm looking at a 375hh actually. As I don't intend to take elephant. I've been looking at cz 550s and I'm going this weekend to check out a mauser action 375. All my rifles are short barrelled 22" at most so if I settle on the cz I mite cut the barrel back as the ones I've handled would feel better slightly shorter. What bullet type did you use?
 
I used three bullets in Africa, as I had a lot of shooting opportunity as I went to engage in culling, and those were the 270gr TSX, the 300gr TSX, and a single Federal 270gr soft point as a comparison to the TSXs. The 300gr TSX did the important work, the others were used in the aforementioned cull hunting, and it performed flawlessly. My PH was pleased to see I'd loaded TSXs, and said he prefers seeing them show up in camp over any other buffalo bullet. And he kills a lot of buffalo!

CZ550 would serve you very well indeed, and don't feel a .375 limits you on elephant- I'm still wrangling to set up my elephant hunt and feel no qualms about my choice, my 'trusty' RSM. .375 H&H has likely taken more elephant than any other cartridge too (likely challenged by 9.3x62, which is less powerful) so I wouldn't be too concerned.
 
Ardent said:
CZ550 would serve you very well indeed, and don't feel a .375 limits you on elephant- I'm still wrangling to set up my elephant hunt and feel no qualms about my choice, my 'trusty' RSM. .375 H&H has likely taken more elephant than any other cartridge too (likely challenged by 9.3x62, which is less powerful) so I wouldn't be too concerned.
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I recall reading somewhere that the venerable old .303 Brit is the caliber that killed the most elephants. I can't recall who the author was, but he was one of the early 20th century ivory hunters. They used FMJ .303. Don't know if it's true or not.
 
John, I am very curious how you manage the recoil from such a monster. (Mind you, I am sensitive to recoil -- I once bruised my shoulder with a .22. Really! It was a bad fit.) How does it compare to a typical hunting rifle like a .303 or .308, or a 12 gauge?

As you can guess, I seldom shoot and have never hunted. I do support hunting in theory, just don't do it myself.
 
.303

Papaclaude said:
I recall reading somewhere that the venerable old .303 Brit is the caliber that killed the most elephants. I can't recall who the author was, but he was one of the early 20th century ivory hunters. They used FMJ .303. Don't know if it's true or not.
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You might have been thinking of Alexander Lake, the author of the book "Killers in Africa, the Truth about Animals Lying in Wait and Hunters Lying in Print". He mostly used a .303 on everything.

In his book "African Rifles and Cartridges" John "Pondoro" Taylor credits the old ivory hunter Bell with 1,011 elephants - mostly taken with a 7MM Mauser.
Taylor says about the .303 that it has wounded and lost a lot of game in Africa.
Taylor himself was fond of the 450/.400.
 
Wow. Guess wolverine is doing well. That doesn't look like a cheap hunt! Memories to last a lifetime, no doubt.
 
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