Dear Cal:
You have been kind enough to help me for reloading my .470 NE. I hope you don't mind if I ask you another question (I do enjoy reading your articles in the African Hunter.)
I have attached a picture of a .470 NE lead cast bullet with 4 wax gas checks. Do you use bullets with gas checks in your doubles? I am shooting a Chapius. Will gas checks, and in particular several gas checks, result in excessive pressure?
Thanks
Roger F.
USA
Roger:
It is always good to hear from you.
The gas checks your refer to are lube grooves. Correctly, you have filled them with wax to help the bullets pass through the bore and leaving as little lead as possible in the bore. They will not have any affect of pressure and I use them on all of my cast bullets.
A gas check is a metal cup that is pressed on the bullet’s base to keep the lead from melting with the hot burning gas from the gunpowder. This will cause lead deposits in the bore. You have a plain-base bullet for your .470 therefore a gas check can’t be fitted.
Good shooting,
Cal
Dear Cal:
What is an acceptable deviation between the regulated bullet weight and a different bullet weight of choice?
J.D. E.
USA
J.D.
There is no “set in stone” deviation for double rifle bullet weight and regulation. Some doubles will only shoot one weight to one velocity and that is that. Others will shoot a large variety of bullets styles, weights, and velocities and group fairly well. It does seem the larger the bore size the more forgiving the rifle is as to changes from the regulated load. Shooters are finding that many lighter bullets will regulate with the “75% rule.” This can be a bullet weight of 75% and a full charge of powder or a 75% powder charge and a full bullet weight. I’ve seen both shoot well and others not shoot accurately at all.
With the newfound popularity of double rifles, shooters are experimenting more and finding more things what will work.
Good shooting,
Cal
Dear Cal:
What is your opinion on the best caliber for elephant and buffalo in double
rifles? It seems the .450 calibers with their 480- to 500-grain bullets are very
close in performance. The .500 NE with its 570 grain bullets seems a step up, but
in performance but I don't know. Your thoughts, please.
Tom V.
USA
Tom:
You are right--there is little to choose between any of the offerings between .450 and .476. If the British bureaucrats did not outlaw the .450 caliber in India and the Sudan in the early years of the last century the big-game hunting world would had been content with the three .450s: the .450 3 1/4, the .500-450, and the .450 no2.
The .500 is indeed a step up but only by approximately 10%--not that much.
As to my opinion as to the best is this: any caliber over .400 that the shooter can shoot well and not be afraid of the recoil. With the correct bullets, all will drop any elephant or buffalo, with correct placement, of course. Choice of rifles is also to be considered--bolt or double--and that may determine what cartridge one uses.
Good shooting,
Cal
Dear Cal:
I am starting the loading project with the Holland and Holland .500 3 1/4 BPE I showed you. I have read Graeme Wright's 3rd edition for insight, and am about to slug the bore to assess for taper and check the neck dimension. HDS is selling a Woodleigh 440-grain jacketed bullet of .510”, but I'm not sure this is intended for the Holland bore, since the original bullets were lead grooved and lubed, not paper patched. I would assume that this is a thinly jacketed bullet that is intended to resist the problems with black powder fowling, however, if the H&H bore is .500 to .502”, I'm not sure I could use these due to limited chamber diameter at the neck and potentially pressure problems. I'm inclined to start with a soft lubed bullet first, sized to the bore and see what it does. If you have any insights, I would appreciate any help.
Dave P.
USA
Dave:
Good to hear from you. Why don’t you come up this weekend and reload and shoot a bit?
The Woodleighs may be too hard for an old black powder steel--especially so if that is all you shoot. Your rifle was made for lead, so I feel it is best to stick with lead. Also, the tapered bore of your rifle may be too small for a standard diameter bullet--most so at the small end of the taper.
The tapered bore you write of must have been a headache to produce. The fine rifling--only .001-.002” deep will, indeed, prevent not only much black powder residue but also lead deposits. First of all, I would use a soft lead bullet--much as muzzle loaders use--so the bullet will bump-up to fill the bore. Then, I would size the bullet to the largest diameter of the bore. Size and trim the brass and use a powder charge to approximate the original load--let’s say 130-135 grains of FFg GOEX. Place a wax wad between the powder and the bullet. I doubt you will need a spacer wad. The bullet should weigh in the neighborhood of 440 grains.
Good shooting and let me know how how the accuracy is!
Cal
Dear Cal:
I have question regarding the impact points for a double rifle; if a double rifle is regulated at 50 Yards, does this mean (assuming perfect conditions in all respects) that both barrels are shooting to exactly the same spot over 50 yards and then at 100 yards the two bullet holes (one from each barrel) should have a distance between them which is equal to the distance between the two barrels with another doubling at 150 yards and so on?
The question is prompted by my having fitted a telescope (Swarovski 1 - 1.5) to my Krieghoff .375 H&H mag. The gun is regulated at 50 yards for Norma 350gr ammo.
Regards,
Chuck in SA
Chuck:
Good question, a bit complex for my knowledge, but I will give it a go.
A double shoots to a point of regulation due to convergence of the barrels. This convergence is combined with a constant velocity and bullet weight. Things can change and keep accuracy but it is best to keep with what the rifle was regulated for.
Because the right barrel moves up, back, and to the right upon ignition and the left barrel moves up, back, and to the left the bullets will print at the regulated velocity. Move the target farther out and the bullets may cross. They will also cross at the regulated distance if the velocity is increased. Move the distance closer than the regulated distance and the bullets may print apart. Remember, as he bullet is moving down the bore the barrel is moving to the (right or left).
When you change the characteristics of the rifle, including adding weight to the rifle such as a scope, the recoil characteristics will change as so will the bullet’s path. When I had a scope added to my .450-400 to aid my old eyes I had a gunsmith find a midpoint regulation for both scope and open sights--but regulating for either would have seen a tighter group. If I had to do it all over again, I would keep a fine regulation with open sights and sight in the scope for one barrel only (I fire the left barrel first) to pinpoint accuracy to 200 yards. I don’t think there is a mathematical formula for this. If there was, then fine doubles would be regulated by machine rather than by hand.
I hope this helps.
Good shooting,
Cal
Dear Cal:
I am waiting for Butch Searcy to give me a bit of feedback with regard
to the double rifle he agreed to make in trade for my Harley.
I elected to request the 470 NE, but must admit that since I received a
couple of sample bullets, that caliber may be over the top for me. I am
already having second thoughts that the 450-400-3" may have been a
better choice, since I am not likely to ever get to Africa to hunt
dangerous game.
I am lacking a bit more information and think your expertise would help.
As I look at the myriad of double rifles that come up for sale, I am
unable to discern whether the rifles command greater prices when
accompanied by a custom case. Can you comment on this. (i.e. Do you
recognize a substantial benefit in value and desirability related to
resale when a custom case accompanies a DR.) I ask this because Mr.
Searcy offers a custom case for $1500. Believe me when I say that a case
in that price range exceeds the value of most other rifles I own, even
some of my pre-64 Winchesters, and as such I don't want to make a
foolish purchase. If a Searcy custom case will add somewhere in the
neighborhood of $1000 of after market value should I elect to sell the
rifle, I think I would make the investment.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Bob N.
USA
Bob:
As a Harley (one of my unrealized dreams) man you will understand my reply.
You will add all the accessories to a Harley to make it truly yours--chrome, saddle bags, etc. You will never get your money out of all the add-ons when you sell it.
The same is true with a double rifle case. They go with the rifle when it is sold. I have never seen a rifle priced to sell with a second price for the case. This is true for new doubles as well as vintage rifles and shotguns.
While the caliber may be a bit too much if you are not hunting elephant or buffalo the rifle will be worth more upon resale than a smaller caliber.
I don't know what a custom case is in this situation. A good English style oak and leather case has value. Huey makes them and will cost up to 4,000$ with accessories and tools added and fitted. If the custom case is a plastic or aluminum case and made to fit a wide spectrum of guns, I'd pass. But, no matter what you do, think of the Harley accessories thought above.
Cheers,
Cal
Cal :
What can you tell me about the 500 nitro? What kind of range does it have and can it be hand loaded? Im thinking of getting one to go to Africa to hunt with. Is it a good round for dangerous game?
Alex D. USA
Alex:
Thanks for your email.
The .500 is an outstanding African cartridge--far less recoil than the .577 or .600 and more punch than the .450-class of cartridges. That being said, I do feel the .500 has been a bit overstated in literature.
The .500 is about 10% more in muzzle energy, recoil is 15-20% more, and rifles are much more expensive (for vintage English doubles) than in the .450-.470 class or cartridges.
Hand loading is no problem but you must keep to safe pressures and to also to obtain the correct regulation of the bullets. Brass and bullets are obtainable at Huntingtons and the dies and shell holders from both Huntingtons and CH Tool.
The range of most doubles is 100 yards (approximately) but many shoot accurately much farther than that. Dangerous game is usually shot at much less than 100 yards, however.
Are you looking at a modern production rifle or an older one? If you get a single shot you can play with the velocity and bullet weight much more than with a double.
I hope this helps and good shooting.
Cal
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Q&A for the log--August 2010
Good day:
Here are a few Q&A that may be of interest to you.
Cheers,
Cal
Hi
Dear Cal:
I have a William Douglass double in .470NE and like it a lot but I am after a trade label. Do you know where I could get one? Thanks.
Cheers
Steve M.
USA
Steve:
Good day. Galazan (Connecticut Shotgun) has a good supply of labels as does Mike Messina who does gun case work for Griffin and Howe. Either of these should find you the label you need.
Good shooting,
Cal
Dear Cal:
I am in discussions with Butch Searcy about acquiring one of his Classic DRs.
His web site says price is $18K.
My questions:
#1 If I get his Classic, what is the best caliber if I expect to sell the rifle within 5 years.
#2 If I keep the rifle in as new condition, what should I expect to see as a reasonable price if I sell it within 5 years?
Thanks,
Bob N.
USA
Bob:
Good to hear from you.
Butch makes an excellent double rifle and has a loyal following the world over. While my interests lie in vintage English doubles, I would purchase on of Butch's rifles in a New York minute for any time of hunting should I want a modern rifle. To answer your questions:
1. The bigger the caliber the more desirable it will be for resale. Nothing smaller than .450-400. That and the .450, .470, and .500 have commercial ammunition readily available and that is a plus. The .577 and .600 are there, too, but most folks would rather stay away from the added recoil and cost.
2. For a new rifle you will be doing good to recoup your cost. I doubt it will appreciate in value and, depending on what is being made when you are ready to sell, you could see a small loss.
For additional thought is this. If you have 18K to spend, why not look for a vintage English double? You should find one in a mid-sized caliber and it will have history, lines and balance that any modern rifle can't match, and should climb in value as the years pass.
Good luck in your choice and good shooting.
Cal
Dear Cal:
I live in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and have done a fair amount of hunting myself. Spent my boyhood years in the south-east, in Chiredzi where I did a lot of plains game hunting. As the years marched on, I looked for bigger challenges, namely buffalo and elephant, using a friend's .416 Rigby.
Many years ago, about 1998, I shot a rifle which gave me quite the boot. I think that it was a .450 Ackley; is there such a weapon of this calibre? If so, could you provide me with some information on it, plus something on it's ballistics?
Regards,
Andy B.
Andy:
Good to hear from a fella in my favorite country!
The .450 Ackley is the original .450 Watts case with the taper removed and the smallest of shoulder. In the world of cartridge oneupmanship is was supposed to add a grain or two of powder but I doubt any big game animal felt the difference. Ballistics are the same as the Watts round or the .458 Lott what followed the Watts 22 years later. I will mail you a scan of the cartridge and its ballistics for your information.
Good shooting,
Cal
Dear Cal:
I am so glad I found your site! I, too, love double rifles! I have a question...I need an 8-bore and a 4-bore cartridge for my collection. Could you please shed some light as to where I can find one? Inert will be OK! Any help would certainly be appreciated!
Bill B.
SC, USA
Bill:
4s and 8s are found via cartridge collecting organizations and they can be Googles as I don't have any personal experience with any of them. If you will accept new brass then Google Rocky Mountain Cartirdge and talk to the owner, Dave Casey. I doubt he will run one case but when he makes a run for a bore rifle owner perhaps he can make an additional one or two for you.
Cheers and good shooting,
Cal
Dear Cal:
I am still looking for a double.
Do you have any experience with Rigby`s "B" class? (Their "A" class and "Best" rifles are way beyond my reach.) They seem to be very nice rifles, at a reasonable price.
Will English "B" class rifles usually be of the same quality as their more expensive relatives? I will use the rifle for practical hunting in the African bush.
Best regards
Anders M.
Anders:
It has been awhile. Nice to hear from you!
The English grading of best quality and A-B-C grades are for embellishment only. The quality of materials is the same as is the construction and craftsmanship. You can't go wrong with ANY double made in the UK. I do not have any personal experience with Rigby's B grade. However, if it is a London Rigby, it has to be good!
Good shooting,
Cal
Dear Cal:
I purchased a Holland double in .450 BPE. It's on Monte Whitley's website if you care to look. It is breathtaking! I will follow with Larry at Superior on the ammo.
I looked at Keith's Patstone in .577. Monte Whitley also had a Rigby in what he calls .577/500 magnum. Are those the same cartridges. I assume that is a serious stopping rifle for buff and elephant? I like the Rigby name but it's about twice the price of the Patstone and it too is in excellent condition. Thoughts? Do you think Superior would also be a source for ammo for the .577?
Thanks!!!
Stewart McD.
USA
Stewart:
Good to hear from you. I looked at both of the rifles, the .450 and .577-500. Very nice!
The two cartridges are quite different.
Keith's is the .577 3" which was most likely made for 6 drams and a bullet between 570 and 650 grains.
The .577-500 magnum is a case 3 1/8" long and a .577 necked to .500. The .577-500 no2 is the same configuration but with a case about 2 3/4" long. The magnum is much preferred but more rare.
The Rigby would be my choice as it is a Rigby. I've not heard of Pastone before.
Superior can make the ammo no problem--and so can you. Just get .577 cases, trim them to length, and run them through a sizing die and you should have it. See Cartridges of the World for info on the calibers.
If you are interested in big bore shotguns, I have a 4 and 8 bore single shots on my site.
Contact me if I can be of any service and good shooing,
Cal
Here are a few Q&A that may be of interest to you.
Cheers,
Cal
Hi
Dear Cal:
I have a William Douglass double in .470NE and like it a lot but I am after a trade label. Do you know where I could get one? Thanks.
Cheers
Steve M.
USA
Steve:
Good day. Galazan (Connecticut Shotgun) has a good supply of labels as does Mike Messina who does gun case work for Griffin and Howe. Either of these should find you the label you need.
Good shooting,
Cal
Dear Cal:
I am in discussions with Butch Searcy about acquiring one of his Classic DRs.
His web site says price is $18K.
My questions:
#1 If I get his Classic, what is the best caliber if I expect to sell the rifle within 5 years.
#2 If I keep the rifle in as new condition, what should I expect to see as a reasonable price if I sell it within 5 years?
Thanks,
Bob N.
USA
Bob:
Good to hear from you.
Butch makes an excellent double rifle and has a loyal following the world over. While my interests lie in vintage English doubles, I would purchase on of Butch's rifles in a New York minute for any time of hunting should I want a modern rifle. To answer your questions:
1. The bigger the caliber the more desirable it will be for resale. Nothing smaller than .450-400. That and the .450, .470, and .500 have commercial ammunition readily available and that is a plus. The .577 and .600 are there, too, but most folks would rather stay away from the added recoil and cost.
2. For a new rifle you will be doing good to recoup your cost. I doubt it will appreciate in value and, depending on what is being made when you are ready to sell, you could see a small loss.
For additional thought is this. If you have 18K to spend, why not look for a vintage English double? You should find one in a mid-sized caliber and it will have history, lines and balance that any modern rifle can't match, and should climb in value as the years pass.
Good luck in your choice and good shooting.
Cal
Dear Cal:
I live in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and have done a fair amount of hunting myself. Spent my boyhood years in the south-east, in Chiredzi where I did a lot of plains game hunting. As the years marched on, I looked for bigger challenges, namely buffalo and elephant, using a friend's .416 Rigby.
Many years ago, about 1998, I shot a rifle which gave me quite the boot. I think that it was a .450 Ackley; is there such a weapon of this calibre? If so, could you provide me with some information on it, plus something on it's ballistics?
Regards,
Andy B.
Andy:
Good to hear from a fella in my favorite country!
The .450 Ackley is the original .450 Watts case with the taper removed and the smallest of shoulder. In the world of cartridge oneupmanship is was supposed to add a grain or two of powder but I doubt any big game animal felt the difference. Ballistics are the same as the Watts round or the .458 Lott what followed the Watts 22 years later. I will mail you a scan of the cartridge and its ballistics for your information.
Good shooting,
Cal
Dear Cal:
I am so glad I found your site! I, too, love double rifles! I have a question...I need an 8-bore and a 4-bore cartridge for my collection. Could you please shed some light as to where I can find one? Inert will be OK! Any help would certainly be appreciated!
Bill B.
SC, USA
Bill:
4s and 8s are found via cartridge collecting organizations and they can be Googles as I don't have any personal experience with any of them. If you will accept new brass then Google Rocky Mountain Cartirdge and talk to the owner, Dave Casey. I doubt he will run one case but when he makes a run for a bore rifle owner perhaps he can make an additional one or two for you.
Cheers and good shooting,
Cal
Dear Cal:
I am still looking for a double.
Do you have any experience with Rigby`s "B" class? (Their "A" class and "Best" rifles are way beyond my reach.) They seem to be very nice rifles, at a reasonable price.
Will English "B" class rifles usually be of the same quality as their more expensive relatives? I will use the rifle for practical hunting in the African bush.
Best regards
Anders M.
Anders:
It has been awhile. Nice to hear from you!
The English grading of best quality and A-B-C grades are for embellishment only. The quality of materials is the same as is the construction and craftsmanship. You can't go wrong with ANY double made in the UK. I do not have any personal experience with Rigby's B grade. However, if it is a London Rigby, it has to be good!
Good shooting,
Cal
Dear Cal:
I purchased a Holland double in .450 BPE. It's on Monte Whitley's website if you care to look. It is breathtaking! I will follow with Larry at Superior on the ammo.
I looked at Keith's Patstone in .577. Monte Whitley also had a Rigby in what he calls .577/500 magnum. Are those the same cartridges. I assume that is a serious stopping rifle for buff and elephant? I like the Rigby name but it's about twice the price of the Patstone and it too is in excellent condition. Thoughts? Do you think Superior would also be a source for ammo for the .577?
Thanks!!!
Stewart McD.
USA
Stewart:
Good to hear from you. I looked at both of the rifles, the .450 and .577-500. Very nice!
The two cartridges are quite different.
Keith's is the .577 3" which was most likely made for 6 drams and a bullet between 570 and 650 grains.
The .577-500 magnum is a case 3 1/8" long and a .577 necked to .500. The .577-500 no2 is the same configuration but with a case about 2 3/4" long. The magnum is much preferred but more rare.
The Rigby would be my choice as it is a Rigby. I've not heard of Pastone before.
Superior can make the ammo no problem--and so can you. Just get .577 cases, trim them to length, and run them through a sizing die and you should have it. See Cartridges of the World for info on the calibers.
If you are interested in big bore shotguns, I have a 4 and 8 bore single shots on my site.
Contact me if I can be of any service and good shooing,
Cal
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Rich Sanfilippo has this beautiful 12-bore double rifle flintlock. This is the first flintlock to be added to the site. I believe the barrels are 25 1/2 inches and the weight is about 11 pounds. It should be interesting getting a double flintlock to regulate. I know nothing about regulating a muzzle loading rifle and look forward to Rich educating me! You can see two photos of this rifle on the website.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Where Have All the Hunters Gone? by Cal Pappas
Where Have All the Hunters Gone?
by Cal Pappas
Where have all the hunters gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the hunters gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the hunters gone?
Behind high fences every one.
When will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?
The year was 2002. I booked a plains game hunt to South Africa after four trips to my beloved Zimbabwe. After a pleasant (but rather long) flight to Johannesburg and a greeting from my PH we drove to a ranch north of Pietersburg. The next day we were up bright and early and, as I stepped into the Land Rover, my PH said to me, “Cal, today I’ll drive you up to a nice waterbuck for you to shoot.” My reply was, “No. Let’s drive out a bit, find some tracks and follow the spoor on foot and then, if I see a good representative animal, I will shoot.”
.
My hunter looked at me as if gut-shot with surprise. Then he offered his hand and said, “You are the first American I have guided who wants to actually hunt.” His reply was an eye opener. Upon returning home I began a long look into all aspects of our sport (or activity) and what folks do to hunt less and kill more.
“It’s not the fault of the hunting industry over here,” my PH went on to say. “We only do what the clients want. If they are not happy they will go home and say so and we take a loss of revenue.” What he said was probably true. I remember on my second hunt in the Save Conservancy (1997) and hearing a doctor say how he shot his kudu at night as it was transfixed on the vehicle’s headlights. The PH confided in me he didn’t like it but what could he do? In the early 1990s when I was breaking into the hunting world a booking agent offered me, “All four North American sheep in two days--if you have the money.” As time goes by the list gets longer.
After thirteen trips to Africa and one to Australia I don’t have the last word in experience but I do have a bit more than armchair memories. My Zimbabwe PH tells me the majority of his bow hunters shoot with a rifle and pose with a bow. The same was echoed by several South African PHs I spoke with--many allow the bow hunter to use their rifle. Add this to the number of bow “hunters” who just sit at a water hole or feed stand and wait for thirsty or hungry game to appear in front of the blind, or hide. This takes the excitement and high skill out of bow hunting. In fact, when I go to Anchorage and stay at a friend’s condo and watch the Outdoor Channel I have never seen a true bow hunt in the wild. Everything is from tree stands or ground blinds. They can shoot a bow very well--but they can’t track and they can’t hunt. Many ranches have one waterhole in each high fence enclosure. The animals must go there to drink.
It’s not just the bow hunters. More and more rifle hunters shoot from blinds, from a vehicle, use a spotlight, or drive through the hunting area looking for game to shoot-sometimes not even stepping out of the vehicle. Craig Boddington said in his excellent dvd, Boddington on Elephant, “Of course no one would ever shoot an elephant over a water hole.” It would be great if Craig’s words were followed by hunters. In the Tsholotsho area of Zimbabwe, boardering Wanke Park to the south, I know of elephants only being taken at the water hole and at night with a spotlight. I really don’t see many honest tracking hunts anymore. Fair chase includes chasing in a vehicle, it seems. I like and appreciate John Sharp’s advertisements in the African Hunter magazine: “Track down your game on foot--the real way.” And that is the way it is meant to be. But isn’t so much anymore. A video of a pronghorn hunt in the western US showed the shooter with a bench and a mechanical rifle rest on a hilltop. He made his kill at several hundred yards but didn’t hunt and didn’t track.
Look at all of the gadgets that are sold to increase one’s success but keep those from truly experiencing what actual hunting is. Scent blocking shoes, clothes, and even chewing gum(!), muzzle loaders that don’t look like muzzle loaders, bows that don’t look like bows, recoil reducers, muzzle brakes, barrel vibration reducers, telescope reticles that look if they belong in a submarine periscope, hearing amplifiers, motion sensors, game cameras, feeding stations (some that play music so the game equates the music with food), tree stands, blinds, vehicles with shooting stands mounted on them, electronic calls, ghillie suits, more camo patterns than one can count, super whiz-bang magnums (some with ridiculous names) that shoot farther, faster, and flatter that any hunter could possibly shoot, devices to hold the rifle in place (like bench rest shooting in the field), and the list goes on. Guaranteed hunts, pre-measured animals, game farming, and, if all of the above fails, some buy taxidermy for their walls. I’ve seen a photo of a “hunter” in a hot tub on top of the shooting platform in Texas that overlooked the feed station.
I have to wonder how did our forefathers manage to kill a turkey for the first Thanksgiving? How did the buffalo hunters wipe out the herds of bison? How did early wing shooters, wild fowlers, and deer hunters manage success? They didn’t have any of the above stuff when they hunted. A well-known deer ranch invited me to hunt there in 2010. 3000 deer on 3000 acres (surrounded by a high fence, of course). The first hunters pay the most (about $20,000), the second batch a bit less (after the top trophies are gone), the third less than that, and so it goes through the season. 100% guaranteed kill with so many deer the quality of the trophy is also guaranteed. Since the first group of shooters selects the top scoring bucks the next group takes a decrease in size, and so it goes. Fishing in a barrel? Lots of tall tales about the business man’s shoulder mount but I doubt details of the one-day hunt are told with 100% accuracy.
As I write this (April, 2010) South African lion hunting is the topic of discussion on many forums on the internet. Canned lion hunting is the rage now as sportsmen (mostly from America) take hundreds of well-maned lions to show their friends. I doubt they tell of the lions being separated by size and mane color in paddocks, of the lions being fed meat by the land owners, of the short duration of the hunt (as compared to a true lion hunt in Tanzania or Zambia taking three weeks). And, I bet, the lion charged.
In a South African hunting magazine, Jag-Hunt, there are as many fence companies advertising as there are game farms. The price listings are for standard trophies and the price tag increases as does the horn length (“For nyala over 24 inches, price on request”). And, it is possible to have one’s trophies pre-measured to guarantee quality. One fella I know did just that. He had his pre-measured white rhino waiting for him. The “hunt” was on video for all his friends and relatives to enjoy and he knew his name would be well-up in the record books. His field experience of the “hunt” was a few hours. A ranch in Montana is saving their top bison in a separate pasture for the “hunter” willing to pay $10,000 for their top trophy.
In the vintage years of the Victorian and Edwardian eras rarely did a sportsman (or woman) keep a list of horn length or trophy size. Only ivory was weighed with the magic 100-pound mark being the holy grail. I don’t read much of Selous having to shoot a kudu with horns 1/2 an inch longer than that of Teddy Roosevelt.
Today 57-inch kudu are commonly taken as trophies. In Hemingway’s Green Hills of Africa he writes of a 57-inch kudu as having the “...most unbelievable pair of kudu horns in the world” (page 291, 1953 edition). Hemingway did an experiment in writing Green Hills. He wanted to see if a book that recorded the actual experience of a hunt could be as successful as a fictional story. It was, and today Hemingway’s African stories are read with interest and awe even in the anti gun and anti hunting liberal college campus classrooms across this great country.
Look at today’s trophy record books. In fact since Hemingway wrote of seeing the magnificent 57-inch kudu, Roland Ward has recorded 536 greater kudu (southern species) having a horn length of 57 inches or greater (26th edition). Of those, 381 have been taken in South Africa-AND only one of the entries dates before the mid-1930s when Ernest went on his safari (69 1/4 inches from 1916). Either evolution is making the greater kudu even greater (and doing it rather quickly) or they are being raised on game farms to be shot after attaining a specific horn length. Look at how many entries come from South Africa compared to Zimbabwe or Tanzania. (I know there is a difference between the southern and the East Africa species of greater kudu but I am trying to make a point).
On my second Zimbabwe hunt in 1997 I shot an old, blue eland with a .500 black powder express double rifle (Mortimer and Son # 5280). My over-zealous young PH far estimated the length of the horns at mid-30 inches (through inexperience or perhaps the desire for the trophy fee). When the animal measured about 27 inches I was disappointed. Then, I thought, “This was the best stalk of my life, shooting at less than 30 yards and taking over an hour to get that close, and using a beautiful double from 1890 of which I had the history of the first two owners.” After that I vowed to myself my emotions would never again be ruled by the tape measure.
In 2008 (I believe) a record book elk was shot in Canada but reported as being a fair chase animal taken in the States. I guess even the high-fencers do not want to admit to a canned hunt. I was offered a shot at a record book elk in America’s west in the late 1990s. I was to arrive and take a late morning walk to pick out my elk. After the shot I was to have a nice lunch while the animal was skinned, the skull and horns prepared, and I would be ready for an early afternoon departure. The ranch was 10 1/2 acres! A Canadian outfitter who hunts in open land admits to me that if he could do it all over he would change his operation to a high fence enclosure. “That’s where the money is,” he says.
The antis have lots of time and money. The entertainment elite like to pick a cause to rant over. I honestly believe when canned and guaranteed hunts are publicized our situation will worsen. In the liberal education field anti gun and anti hunting attitudes prevail. In my teaching career many parents have asked me to remove hunting photos so as not to traumatize their delicate child (they must think their burgers and steaks come from the meat tree). However, the majority of parents who, after hearing my rationalization of fair chase hunting, with the meat being used at home or in Africa, don’t have a disagreement with what I do. Imagine if I told them about shooting deer in a fenced enclosure?
My trophies are not the biggest, the best, nor the most numerous. However, I have never shot from a vehicle, or with a spot light. The soles on my Courteney boots wear out from walking “miles and miles of bloody Africa.” I don’t list my animals in trophy books--my reward comes from my memories, not from what others see or think. My choice of rifles for the past several years have been open sighted doubles and, as my eyes have grown older, I now use a 1-4x scope on my .450-400. I wear cotton in the heat of Africa and wool in the cold of Alaska. An ash bottle tells me of the wind. And, I don’t carry a tape measure. I hope Teddy would be pleased.
by Cal Pappas
Where have all the hunters gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the hunters gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the hunters gone?
Behind high fences every one.
When will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?
The year was 2002. I booked a plains game hunt to South Africa after four trips to my beloved Zimbabwe. After a pleasant (but rather long) flight to Johannesburg and a greeting from my PH we drove to a ranch north of Pietersburg. The next day we were up bright and early and, as I stepped into the Land Rover, my PH said to me, “Cal, today I’ll drive you up to a nice waterbuck for you to shoot.” My reply was, “No. Let’s drive out a bit, find some tracks and follow the spoor on foot and then, if I see a good representative animal, I will shoot.”
.
My hunter looked at me as if gut-shot with surprise. Then he offered his hand and said, “You are the first American I have guided who wants to actually hunt.” His reply was an eye opener. Upon returning home I began a long look into all aspects of our sport (or activity) and what folks do to hunt less and kill more.
“It’s not the fault of the hunting industry over here,” my PH went on to say. “We only do what the clients want. If they are not happy they will go home and say so and we take a loss of revenue.” What he said was probably true. I remember on my second hunt in the Save Conservancy (1997) and hearing a doctor say how he shot his kudu at night as it was transfixed on the vehicle’s headlights. The PH confided in me he didn’t like it but what could he do? In the early 1990s when I was breaking into the hunting world a booking agent offered me, “All four North American sheep in two days--if you have the money.” As time goes by the list gets longer.
After thirteen trips to Africa and one to Australia I don’t have the last word in experience but I do have a bit more than armchair memories. My Zimbabwe PH tells me the majority of his bow hunters shoot with a rifle and pose with a bow. The same was echoed by several South African PHs I spoke with--many allow the bow hunter to use their rifle. Add this to the number of bow “hunters” who just sit at a water hole or feed stand and wait for thirsty or hungry game to appear in front of the blind, or hide. This takes the excitement and high skill out of bow hunting. In fact, when I go to Anchorage and stay at a friend’s condo and watch the Outdoor Channel I have never seen a true bow hunt in the wild. Everything is from tree stands or ground blinds. They can shoot a bow very well--but they can’t track and they can’t hunt. Many ranches have one waterhole in each high fence enclosure. The animals must go there to drink.
It’s not just the bow hunters. More and more rifle hunters shoot from blinds, from a vehicle, use a spotlight, or drive through the hunting area looking for game to shoot-sometimes not even stepping out of the vehicle. Craig Boddington said in his excellent dvd, Boddington on Elephant, “Of course no one would ever shoot an elephant over a water hole.” It would be great if Craig’s words were followed by hunters. In the Tsholotsho area of Zimbabwe, boardering Wanke Park to the south, I know of elephants only being taken at the water hole and at night with a spotlight. I really don’t see many honest tracking hunts anymore. Fair chase includes chasing in a vehicle, it seems. I like and appreciate John Sharp’s advertisements in the African Hunter magazine: “Track down your game on foot--the real way.” And that is the way it is meant to be. But isn’t so much anymore. A video of a pronghorn hunt in the western US showed the shooter with a bench and a mechanical rifle rest on a hilltop. He made his kill at several hundred yards but didn’t hunt and didn’t track.
Look at all of the gadgets that are sold to increase one’s success but keep those from truly experiencing what actual hunting is. Scent blocking shoes, clothes, and even chewing gum(!), muzzle loaders that don’t look like muzzle loaders, bows that don’t look like bows, recoil reducers, muzzle brakes, barrel vibration reducers, telescope reticles that look if they belong in a submarine periscope, hearing amplifiers, motion sensors, game cameras, feeding stations (some that play music so the game equates the music with food), tree stands, blinds, vehicles with shooting stands mounted on them, electronic calls, ghillie suits, more camo patterns than one can count, super whiz-bang magnums (some with ridiculous names) that shoot farther, faster, and flatter that any hunter could possibly shoot, devices to hold the rifle in place (like bench rest shooting in the field), and the list goes on. Guaranteed hunts, pre-measured animals, game farming, and, if all of the above fails, some buy taxidermy for their walls. I’ve seen a photo of a “hunter” in a hot tub on top of the shooting platform in Texas that overlooked the feed station.
I have to wonder how did our forefathers manage to kill a turkey for the first Thanksgiving? How did the buffalo hunters wipe out the herds of bison? How did early wing shooters, wild fowlers, and deer hunters manage success? They didn’t have any of the above stuff when they hunted. A well-known deer ranch invited me to hunt there in 2010. 3000 deer on 3000 acres (surrounded by a high fence, of course). The first hunters pay the most (about $20,000), the second batch a bit less (after the top trophies are gone), the third less than that, and so it goes through the season. 100% guaranteed kill with so many deer the quality of the trophy is also guaranteed. Since the first group of shooters selects the top scoring bucks the next group takes a decrease in size, and so it goes. Fishing in a barrel? Lots of tall tales about the business man’s shoulder mount but I doubt details of the one-day hunt are told with 100% accuracy.
As I write this (April, 2010) South African lion hunting is the topic of discussion on many forums on the internet. Canned lion hunting is the rage now as sportsmen (mostly from America) take hundreds of well-maned lions to show their friends. I doubt they tell of the lions being separated by size and mane color in paddocks, of the lions being fed meat by the land owners, of the short duration of the hunt (as compared to a true lion hunt in Tanzania or Zambia taking three weeks). And, I bet, the lion charged.
In a South African hunting magazine, Jag-Hunt, there are as many fence companies advertising as there are game farms. The price listings are for standard trophies and the price tag increases as does the horn length (“For nyala over 24 inches, price on request”). And, it is possible to have one’s trophies pre-measured to guarantee quality. One fella I know did just that. He had his pre-measured white rhino waiting for him. The “hunt” was on video for all his friends and relatives to enjoy and he knew his name would be well-up in the record books. His field experience of the “hunt” was a few hours. A ranch in Montana is saving their top bison in a separate pasture for the “hunter” willing to pay $10,000 for their top trophy.
In the vintage years of the Victorian and Edwardian eras rarely did a sportsman (or woman) keep a list of horn length or trophy size. Only ivory was weighed with the magic 100-pound mark being the holy grail. I don’t read much of Selous having to shoot a kudu with horns 1/2 an inch longer than that of Teddy Roosevelt.
Today 57-inch kudu are commonly taken as trophies. In Hemingway’s Green Hills of Africa he writes of a 57-inch kudu as having the “...most unbelievable pair of kudu horns in the world” (page 291, 1953 edition). Hemingway did an experiment in writing Green Hills. He wanted to see if a book that recorded the actual experience of a hunt could be as successful as a fictional story. It was, and today Hemingway’s African stories are read with interest and awe even in the anti gun and anti hunting liberal college campus classrooms across this great country.
Look at today’s trophy record books. In fact since Hemingway wrote of seeing the magnificent 57-inch kudu, Roland Ward has recorded 536 greater kudu (southern species) having a horn length of 57 inches or greater (26th edition). Of those, 381 have been taken in South Africa-AND only one of the entries dates before the mid-1930s when Ernest went on his safari (69 1/4 inches from 1916). Either evolution is making the greater kudu even greater (and doing it rather quickly) or they are being raised on game farms to be shot after attaining a specific horn length. Look at how many entries come from South Africa compared to Zimbabwe or Tanzania. (I know there is a difference between the southern and the East Africa species of greater kudu but I am trying to make a point).
On my second Zimbabwe hunt in 1997 I shot an old, blue eland with a .500 black powder express double rifle (Mortimer and Son # 5280). My over-zealous young PH far estimated the length of the horns at mid-30 inches (through inexperience or perhaps the desire for the trophy fee). When the animal measured about 27 inches I was disappointed. Then, I thought, “This was the best stalk of my life, shooting at less than 30 yards and taking over an hour to get that close, and using a beautiful double from 1890 of which I had the history of the first two owners.” After that I vowed to myself my emotions would never again be ruled by the tape measure.
In 2008 (I believe) a record book elk was shot in Canada but reported as being a fair chase animal taken in the States. I guess even the high-fencers do not want to admit to a canned hunt. I was offered a shot at a record book elk in America’s west in the late 1990s. I was to arrive and take a late morning walk to pick out my elk. After the shot I was to have a nice lunch while the animal was skinned, the skull and horns prepared, and I would be ready for an early afternoon departure. The ranch was 10 1/2 acres! A Canadian outfitter who hunts in open land admits to me that if he could do it all over he would change his operation to a high fence enclosure. “That’s where the money is,” he says.
The antis have lots of time and money. The entertainment elite like to pick a cause to rant over. I honestly believe when canned and guaranteed hunts are publicized our situation will worsen. In the liberal education field anti gun and anti hunting attitudes prevail. In my teaching career many parents have asked me to remove hunting photos so as not to traumatize their delicate child (they must think their burgers and steaks come from the meat tree). However, the majority of parents who, after hearing my rationalization of fair chase hunting, with the meat being used at home or in Africa, don’t have a disagreement with what I do. Imagine if I told them about shooting deer in a fenced enclosure?
My trophies are not the biggest, the best, nor the most numerous. However, I have never shot from a vehicle, or with a spot light. The soles on my Courteney boots wear out from walking “miles and miles of bloody Africa.” I don’t list my animals in trophy books--my reward comes from my memories, not from what others see or think. My choice of rifles for the past several years have been open sighted doubles and, as my eyes have grown older, I now use a 1-4x scope on my .450-400. I wear cotton in the heat of Africa and wool in the cold of Alaska. An ash bottle tells me of the wind. And, I don’t carry a tape measure. I hope Teddy would be pleased.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Recoil and double rifles
Here is one more question regarding recoil in the big bore double rifles.
Dear Cal:
Tell me, do these big doubles you write of really kick as bad as some writers say they do?
Richard McCracken, UK
Richard:
I'm glad to answer this question as the topic has been biting the back of my brain for quite some time.
I guess the final straw came when I was taking a rare look at one of the many forums on firearm topics on the net. What caught my eye was some discussion on the .600 nitro express. It was interesting to read of folks who wanted to own and/or shoot a .600. I am one of the lucky ones in that I own a vintage .600--a John Wilkes double rifle from 1914, best quality, with 26 inch barrels and a weight of 15 1/3 pounds. It is truly an honor to have one of these rare and powerful vintage rifles in my collection. Anyway, whilst reading the opinions, wants, and desires of the many writers I was taken back by something one writer had to say. You know the type. He knew it all, had done it all, and was the last word on the (any) subject. He had an absolutely stupid moniker--perhaps to keep his identity private. He said, "The recoil would spin the shooter I saw 1/2 to 3/4 around." How stupid and unknowing can one be? In fact, he goes on to state that the hunters in the vintage years who shot the .600 were "when men were men and men were stupid." The heaviest recoil will push one back a step or two--it has happened to me shooting a 4-bore--but shooters are not mounted on a turntable. We don't spin when we shoot. And so began a brief look into what folks write as to recoil perceptions and misperceptions.
I remember reading an old story about Ernest Hemingway bringing a friend to Griffin and Howe's New York showroom and shooting range to test fire a .577 double rifle. The story is that the recoil broke the man's shoulder. The same result was common when Hoffman Arms was producing the .505 Gibbs in its custom bolt action rifles in the years before WWII. In the current Cartridges of the World is one of the many rounds that only duplicate the ballistics of an already produced cartridge. The .510 nitro express is basically the 3 1/4 inch Sharps cartridge loaded with smokeless powder to match the ballistics of the .500 nitro express--a common British round. The write up reports the recoil was so severe that it "tore the forearm off." (Either the rifle was poorly made or all the English .500 nitro doubles suffered the same fate.) Another report of shooting the .600 nitro express caused the shooter's ears to bleed. Others needed a few days of rest to end the headache. Another he-man wrote the recoil loosened the fillings in his teeth. A fellow named Williamson wrote of shooting a raccoon out of a tree with a tiny .45-90 Winchester. The recoil was not mentioned by the rifle was so powerful that "there was not a body to fall out of the tree." I guess the rifle completely destroyed the animal.
The writers also go to the other end of the spectrum. Many shooters of the old days mentioned the .600's recoil not even being noticed when shooting at a game animal. The same when shooting the big 8 and 4 bores at game. Craig Boddington writes of shooting an 8 bore that the recoil is a 'healthy shove rather than a violent kick." (To see what a healthy shove is, click on calpappas.com and "Shooting the 4 Bore" in the double rifles section).
Anyway, forgive my rant, but the fact is the rifles do kick. If one is a shooter who's biggest shooting experience is a .30-06 they will kick a lot! But, if you are an experienced shooter who can comfortably shoot a .375 and .458 off the bench when sighting in a new scope you will be able to handle a .577 or .600 with no problem. The error I feel many make is to hold a big rifle in the manner a smaller caliber rifle or a shotgun is held. If the firearm just rests in your hand the recoil will be difficult to manage. Do this--grip the barrels very tight with the splinter fore end just resting on the palm of your hand. As you grip the barrels tightly to keep the barrels from leaving your hand upon ignition, also use the same hand to pull the rifle back to your shoulder as tight as you can. With the other hand, keep the trigger finger loose but grip the pistol grip very tight as well as use this hand to also pull the rifle tight against the shoulder. Your aim will be very steady and the barrels won't rise more than a few inches.
One exception, heavy black powder loads under heavy lead bullets in the larger bore rifles will kick hard no matter what you do. But, If you follow the above suggestions, at least the expensive rifle will not fly out of your hands! Last of all, make sure the pull of the stock fits. Too short and you will get a bloody nose. Too long and the rifle will be difficult to shoulder.
Good shooting
Cal
Dear Cal:
Tell me, do these big doubles you write of really kick as bad as some writers say they do?
Richard McCracken, UK
Richard:
I'm glad to answer this question as the topic has been biting the back of my brain for quite some time.
I guess the final straw came when I was taking a rare look at one of the many forums on firearm topics on the net. What caught my eye was some discussion on the .600 nitro express. It was interesting to read of folks who wanted to own and/or shoot a .600. I am one of the lucky ones in that I own a vintage .600--a John Wilkes double rifle from 1914, best quality, with 26 inch barrels and a weight of 15 1/3 pounds. It is truly an honor to have one of these rare and powerful vintage rifles in my collection. Anyway, whilst reading the opinions, wants, and desires of the many writers I was taken back by something one writer had to say. You know the type. He knew it all, had done it all, and was the last word on the (any) subject. He had an absolutely stupid moniker--perhaps to keep his identity private. He said, "The recoil would spin the shooter I saw 1/2 to 3/4 around." How stupid and unknowing can one be? In fact, he goes on to state that the hunters in the vintage years who shot the .600 were "when men were men and men were stupid." The heaviest recoil will push one back a step or two--it has happened to me shooting a 4-bore--but shooters are not mounted on a turntable. We don't spin when we shoot. And so began a brief look into what folks write as to recoil perceptions and misperceptions.
I remember reading an old story about Ernest Hemingway bringing a friend to Griffin and Howe's New York showroom and shooting range to test fire a .577 double rifle. The story is that the recoil broke the man's shoulder. The same result was common when Hoffman Arms was producing the .505 Gibbs in its custom bolt action rifles in the years before WWII. In the current Cartridges of the World is one of the many rounds that only duplicate the ballistics of an already produced cartridge. The .510 nitro express is basically the 3 1/4 inch Sharps cartridge loaded with smokeless powder to match the ballistics of the .500 nitro express--a common British round. The write up reports the recoil was so severe that it "tore the forearm off." (Either the rifle was poorly made or all the English .500 nitro doubles suffered the same fate.) Another report of shooting the .600 nitro express caused the shooter's ears to bleed. Others needed a few days of rest to end the headache. Another he-man wrote the recoil loosened the fillings in his teeth. A fellow named Williamson wrote of shooting a raccoon out of a tree with a tiny .45-90 Winchester. The recoil was not mentioned by the rifle was so powerful that "there was not a body to fall out of the tree." I guess the rifle completely destroyed the animal.
The writers also go to the other end of the spectrum. Many shooters of the old days mentioned the .600's recoil not even being noticed when shooting at a game animal. The same when shooting the big 8 and 4 bores at game. Craig Boddington writes of shooting an 8 bore that the recoil is a 'healthy shove rather than a violent kick." (To see what a healthy shove is, click on calpappas.com and "Shooting the 4 Bore" in the double rifles section).
Anyway, forgive my rant, but the fact is the rifles do kick. If one is a shooter who's biggest shooting experience is a .30-06 they will kick a lot! But, if you are an experienced shooter who can comfortably shoot a .375 and .458 off the bench when sighting in a new scope you will be able to handle a .577 or .600 with no problem. The error I feel many make is to hold a big rifle in the manner a smaller caliber rifle or a shotgun is held. If the firearm just rests in your hand the recoil will be difficult to manage. Do this--grip the barrels very tight with the splinter fore end just resting on the palm of your hand. As you grip the barrels tightly to keep the barrels from leaving your hand upon ignition, also use the same hand to pull the rifle back to your shoulder as tight as you can. With the other hand, keep the trigger finger loose but grip the pistol grip very tight as well as use this hand to also pull the rifle tight against the shoulder. Your aim will be very steady and the barrels won't rise more than a few inches.
One exception, heavy black powder loads under heavy lead bullets in the larger bore rifles will kick hard no matter what you do. But, If you follow the above suggestions, at least the expensive rifle will not fly out of your hands! Last of all, make sure the pull of the stock fits. Too short and you will get a bloody nose. Too long and the rifle will be difficult to shoulder.
Good shooting
Cal
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Double vs. Single Shot
Dear Cal:
Why were double rifles so popular in the old days when single shot and early bolt rifles were so much less expensive?
Ed Graves, USA
Ed:
You are thinking on this one, Ed. I believe the reason is four-fold. First, is the instant second shot that could save one’s life. The hunters of old did not take their first shot at 300 yards. They waited until the critter was close, too close maybe, by today’s standards. The second shot would be taken when the enraged animal was at one’s feet. A quick, 100% reliable, second shot was needed and there usually was no time for a third.
Second, with two separate locks the double rifle is actually two single shot rifles joined together. If one failed to operate through wear or accident the other was ready to go. Single barrels rifles (and single trigger doubles) don’t have this advantage.
Third, is the balance and quick pointing nature of a fine double rifle. They shoulder and point quicker than any single barreled weapon. Try it sometime with a double that fits you. Close your eyes and shoulder the rifle. When you open your eyes you will be on sight and ready to shoot. When you need a quick snap shot, there is nothing like a double--then or now.
Last of all, it was double rifles (and some singles, too) that were made for big game cartridges. The early repeaters and many single shots were mostly made for smaller, military-style cartridges. Many single shots were also target rifles. And, these too, shot cartridges that were not elephant stoppers. The largest of the Winchester repeating lever actions were the 50 express calibers. At best they were 1/2 to 2/3 of the .500x3 inch black powder express in energy, lead, and gun powder. If you wanted to hunt big game--you bought a double. And so it should be!
Good shooting,
Cal
Saturday, May 8, 2010
What is a good double rifle?
Hi Cal:
I too am very keen on purchasing a quality sensibly priced double. I cannot afford the English doubles but have had a good look at Krieghoff, Chapuis, Merkel and Blaser mainly in 470 caliber.
I currently use 9.3X62 scoped and 416 Rem with open sights as my two rifles and hunt primarily Southern Africa's plains game and every 5 years or so a good buffalo.
What are your thoughts on a really good double? I must say that the Blaser and Chapuis do not really appeal to me.
Kind Regards
Alex B.
Alex:
Greetings from Alaska:
The rifles you mention are all good, working, utility rifles (including the Chapuis and Blaser) and may be upgraded with engraving and figured wood for a personal treasure. One maker you failed to list was Verney-Caron of France. They make a good rifle with a unique locking system that won’t shoot loose. If you are looking for a big caliber the V-C may be the best choice. Their .577 and .600 were priced less than 23K (USD) at the SCI show in January of 2010. Ken Buch imports the V-C. Heym is another fine rifle and Chris Sells will help you select the rifle that is right for you.
The Merkel is a fine rifle, also. I believe the company has gone to just ejector doubles so the prices of used extractor rifles has fallen to very reasonable levels. As to Chapuis and Blaser I don’t have any experience but what I hear is positive.
Remember, if you shop around, you can find a used English double for a very good price. Look for a caliber that will do what you want but is not popular--such as a .475 or .476. I have personally seen several English doubles in such calibers for less than 15K USD. While I favor the lines and history of English doubles, the new European rifles (and the American Searcy, too), all work fine.
Good shooting,
Cal
Friday, May 7, 2010
What kind of double rifle did I inherit?
Dear Cal:
Trying to find out who made 450 express. Got from grandpa. After taking off the barrel there looks like and egg with crown on top has p pv & fig inside design.
Gary W. USA
Gary:
If you send photos of the writing and proof marks I can help a bit and can date the rifle to an approximate time and location. From the information given here, I can’t be of much help.
Good shooting,
Cal
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Limpopo Province Hunt
Good afternoon, Cal
Thank you for the email address for G.R. I have been in communication with
him related to hunting with him in August. He thought 10 days for a hunt. We would be in the Limpopo Province close to Zimbabwe. I told him that I did not know how many animals I would want--he said I could shoot a "full bag" or animals of my choice.
At any rate, the plot thickens as they say and I have questions:
1. What are your thoughts on mounted heads? I am more partial to European mounts
rather than the typical wall mount with a cape. Is there a difference in the
taxidermists cost? What have you done?
2. I am inclined to take my .30-06 with 180-grain controlled expansion bullets.
Does this sound right for plains animals to you?
3. Clothing for an August hunt? Gert says it can get up to 90 degrees---sounds
like shorts and cotton clothing. What about boots? I normally wear Lowa ankle
high hiking boots---will they be too much for SA?
4. Tipping? Who do you tip on this type of hunt? How much should I budget for
each person on the hunt?
These are only brain spasms of the moment---I haven't even booked this yet.
Thanks for putting up with my ramblings.
Rob P. Anchorage
Rob:
It’s great you are making the trip to Africa for a hunt. I promise that it will not be your only trip there. While this column is for double rifles I will do my best to reply in the column as many readers may be thinking about their first hunt as are you. To answer:
1.European mounts are an excellent choice and some skulls are a wonder to behold and that wonderment can’t be seen in a shoulder mount--such as a hippo or warthog. The cost is far less: less to pepare, less to dip and pack, less as the shipping box is smaller to make and lighter and smaller to ship, less to tan, and less work to mount. I have stopped shoulder mounts all together and now do my own skull mounts.
2. The .30-06 is an excellent choice and willl drop any animal you shoot with a well-placed bullet far better than a magnum caliber where bullet placement is less than perfect. Well-constructed soft points will work fine for what you are doing.
3. It will get warm there--especially so for us Alaska hunters. Light, neutral color cotton or synthetics are best and boots that are well broken in with sock protectors.
4. I tip 10%( if I’m pleased with the hunt) for the PH and about 200$ for the camp staff if they did their jobs well. A few gifts for them like visor caps, lighters, and gloves are welcome. You can ask the PH if he needs anything from the states, too, for your tip.
Let me know how it all turns out. I have hunted with your PH three times and he is a skookum guide who can track with the best black trackers.
Good shooting and hunting,
Cal
Thank you for the email address for G.R. I have been in communication with
him related to hunting with him in August. He thought 10 days for a hunt. We would be in the Limpopo Province close to Zimbabwe. I told him that I did not know how many animals I would want--he said I could shoot a "full bag" or animals of my choice.
At any rate, the plot thickens as they say and I have questions:
1. What are your thoughts on mounted heads? I am more partial to European mounts
rather than the typical wall mount with a cape. Is there a difference in the
taxidermists cost? What have you done?
2. I am inclined to take my .30-06 with 180-grain controlled expansion bullets.
Does this sound right for plains animals to you?
3. Clothing for an August hunt? Gert says it can get up to 90 degrees---sounds
like shorts and cotton clothing. What about boots? I normally wear Lowa ankle
high hiking boots---will they be too much for SA?
4. Tipping? Who do you tip on this type of hunt? How much should I budget for
each person on the hunt?
These are only brain spasms of the moment---I haven't even booked this yet.
Thanks for putting up with my ramblings.
Rob P. Anchorage
Rob:
It’s great you are making the trip to Africa for a hunt. I promise that it will not be your only trip there. While this column is for double rifles I will do my best to reply in the column as many readers may be thinking about their first hunt as are you. To answer:
1.European mounts are an excellent choice and some skulls are a wonder to behold and that wonderment can’t be seen in a shoulder mount--such as a hippo or warthog. The cost is far less: less to pepare, less to dip and pack, less as the shipping box is smaller to make and lighter and smaller to ship, less to tan, and less work to mount. I have stopped shoulder mounts all together and now do my own skull mounts.
2. The .30-06 is an excellent choice and willl drop any animal you shoot with a well-placed bullet far better than a magnum caliber where bullet placement is less than perfect. Well-constructed soft points will work fine for what you are doing.
3. It will get warm there--especially so for us Alaska hunters. Light, neutral color cotton or synthetics are best and boots that are well broken in with sock protectors.
4. I tip 10%( if I’m pleased with the hunt) for the PH and about 200$ for the camp staff if they did their jobs well. A few gifts for them like visor caps, lighters, and gloves are welcome. You can ask the PH if he needs anything from the states, too, for your tip.
Let me know how it all turns out. I have hunted with your PH three times and he is a skookum guide who can track with the best black trackers.
Good shooting and hunting,
Cal
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