Stopping Power (debate)

Yes... :p

That 9 1/2" Cold Steel Trail Master slipped... :D

Sorry, my post was poorly worded and was not intended to be condescending...I was just curious if you were able to fix it.

Big bears are a tough cape....Very heavy to work with and easy to screw up....I can relate!

I fleshed my first couple of bears way too tight (trying to be thorough) and lost several areas of hair....Not to mention ruining, paws, the odd leg cut, and a most comical looking ear. When I cut my first "ear canal" I accidentally cut and removed a nice v-notch in the ear...Almost severing the ear itself. A most ugly patch was required.:redface:
 
We started to save for Tanzania two years ago....Not sure where we will go now. If the economy comes back we might go next year. I want one cape buff and plains game for 21 days, but my wife wants to travel around more. Do you think 14 days is enough?...This is a one time thing.
Most people say its a one time thing and then they go back.....It is awfully expensive to do twice!

And it is not getting any cheaper. Trophy fees have increased dramatically since our trip on '06. For sure 7 days is not enough, but 10 days is a sensible minimum. You can purchse a 21 day license and choose to hunt for less time, and still have the cool stuff on your license. The best hunting is probably mid to late summer. We went in early July, were the first clients in camp, and the grass conditions proved diffiucult.

Do the hunt first then follow with a photo safari if that is what you have in mind. I didn't like the photo safari much as you are trapped in a vehicle all day long, but we did a tour of many of the northern parks including Arusha, Serengeti, Tarangire, Gorongoro Crater, Gibbs Farm, Manyara, and were able to see Mt Meru and Kilimanjaro.

What I heard from Mark Sullivan was that the great buffalo herds of the Moyawassi had been all but been wiped out by poachers, and I don't know if they have recovered yet, that could leave the Selous as your best bet. I don't know what the conditions are at Rungwa and Masialand, but I've heard good things about them in the past.
 
One of the reasons I was thinking about a 21 day license and camp accommodation is that even if I stop hunting after 14 or so days (shot all my bullets :D) we would still have a week to hike around and take our own personal (albeit small) tour. I would much rather tour around with an expensive guide who's company I enjoy than a bunch of tree huggers that I would rather eat. Much to my wife's chagrin I have no intention of driving around in an expensive sardine can.....For a whole week!

Sad to hear about the buff heard....It is hard to imagine that many buffalo gone? Did you hunt with Sullivan Boomer or how did you run across him?

What did you guys do with all of the capes?
 
Did you hunt with Sullivan Boomer or how did you run across him?

Yup, he was my PH.
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I have messed around with a lot of different knives from 2" - 4" skinners to general use 2" - 7" bladed knives when I am in the bush I am 95% of the time working first so I carry the best all round tool that I have found the 9.5" Trail Master.

I use it as a multi purpose tool from clearing a path thru devils club, clearing an area of smaller trees to get into what I am prospector for, to cutting poles for my camp and prying rocks apart.

Works really good at splitting wood to dig my bullets out as well.

I find that the lighter knives that I used to carry were to light for clearing/cutting branches/trees my right elbow would be burning from swinging the lighter knives at the end of the day whereas the weight of the Trail Master seems to be perfect for me at the end of the day I don't feel like I have tennis elbow anymore.

I had 6 knives from a 2" skinner to the Trail Master when I was skinning/fleshing the bear instead of trying to keep one blade sharp I just switched knives, when I skinned the back legs & chopped off the head I was using the Trail Master.

I have a short video of me chopping the head off with the Trail Master I just won't post it to YouTube you can see the knife cutting/slicing 3" - 4" of meat with each swing.

It's crazy how sharp that Trail Master is and how long it retains it's edge.
 
Ever tired a kukri knife for clearing? I have one form Nepal, it's got about a 12" blade, maybe a bit more, and I've used it on everything from vines and brambles to small trees, no worries.:)

Better than most machetes!:)
 
Ever tired a kukri knife for clearing? I have one form Nepal, it's got about a 12" blade, maybe a bit more, and I've used it on everything from vines and brambles to small trees, no worries.:)

Better than most machetes!:)

10" + bladed knife is getting into the to long/large of a knife for me as well as a Kurki doesn't work well for stabbing straight into something I would also use my Trail Master for defense if I had too.

I usually have the sheath on my holster belt and some days I am also jumping in and out of my truck a lot so going longer just gets to cumbersome.
 
Boomer,
What was Sullivan like to hunt with?
Did you take your buff "Sullivan style"?:eek:

Does he have a safari website?
 
Here is a picture of stopping power/bullet performance for you the picture doesn't show the true size of the bear it was appr 1000 lbs...

.375" 300gr Partition impact velocity was appr 2250fps entrance hole on the other side of the rib cage was appr 3" exit 5" - 6" the bullet also entered/exited the front quarter bear still made it 75 yards before crashing...

I don't need no TSX... ;)

and yes my Cheaspeake Bay Retriever goes everywhere with me... :cool:

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So, comparatively speaking the fellow in this picture must weigh about 500 pounds, 400 fer sure?:D
 
Your comments continue to amaze me, I know they shouldn't because I know who you are but they really do...

I mean I try but I just can't fathom a supposed professional spewing on a public forum like you continue to do isn't it embarrassing? :p
 
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