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Edelweiss. I was stirrung a bit with my choice of words and was intending to stop.

BUT I DO get annoyed by the ide of the great grand PH doing stuff for the client. I have had a PH saying, "You do not need that knife, that bonoculars ... etc" " all you need is a rifle". I felt like replying to this immature arrogant prick "Why don't I just sit in camp and let you do the shooting as well?"

The facts are:

Yes we might not know how to judge trophy quality as quickly, not being familar with the country;
Yes we certainly don't know the country, it being new terrirotry to us;
Yes we probably don't speak more than a few words of the local black laguages - I like to disturb the rude PH with a question about what they were talking about in eg Sindebele "How big was the leopard?" - when they were talking about a chui in Sindebele. He wondered what rude things they had also been talking about.

;

BUT many of us here on NE in particular have probably shot our big bores easily more than the average PH. Big bores are expensive to shoot. A reason these guys often have leftover ammo of various makes in their belts;

AND some of us, have shot a LOT MORE dangerous game than many PHs. Sp,e guys here have shot hundreds of buffalo. Some guys here have shot a fair number of elephant.

Would I hunt cape buffalo without a PH, No problem with that at all.

Would I hunt llion and leopard without a PH. Absolutely. Rhino the same.

Would I hunt elephant without a PH. Yes.

Would I get killed? Possibly.

Lots of newchums did it before it became a industry of hughly paid hand holding. Most of the big name hunters were newchums and ignorant and did stipid things when they statred out. Maybe those we never heard about, either couldn't write, or ended up mincemeat or cat chow.

I understand why govts want to wrap safari hunters in cotton wool. And also want to make a lot of money our of each client. Aussies used to also do DIY plains game hunts, buying game at whoelsale prices from farmers, hiring a 'truck' and selling the venison to reduce the costs. Hiring a worker or two to help. Hunting solo. So much better.

I like some PHs, they are good company. If they aren't too arrogant. Yep they also do a lot of work. Hells bells, they and their staff do the butchering, skinning, hide prep, all the supplies, driving, most of the tracking being far far better than us, carrying etc.

BUT I can do the shooting.

I am not that arrogant and yes if necessary they can help shooting if it needs to be and also to save lives. I think they assess the client during the "sight in". Is the client familiar with his rifle? Is the client doing a Ruark and never shot the rifle before? How does th client hand the rifle? Is he used to it? The trackers absolutely assess the client and if they know how to shoot.

On my first safari I had some problems with my bullets and they were a "bad batch". The front end was exploding shallow wounds and the rear acted as a FMJ, drilling small holes through. Unbelievably 180 gr Nsoler Partitions. By chance I had some other heavier versions of the same bullet, 200 grs semi pointed. Judea the tracker said to the PH, "That is a much better rifle." He replied "No different bullets." I also had been subconciously trying to save meat damage and shooting behind the shoulder through the lungs. FFFF that through the shoulder, break bone, damage heart and lungs as well, forget about the meat, it is not going in my freezer but I am paying for it anyway.

Way off topic!

I would love a M-H .577 LNE. No problem using it on water buff. Solo, with mates, with a PH, whatever. Just would practice reloading it fast and during BGRC matches. Become familiar with it. No useless bloody bench shooting with hunting rifles other than sighting in and load development.

Afrca? Possibly. But one can only take one or at least two firearms and they are expensive and rare hunts, so probably would choose a reliable "old stand by".

And again a double in .577 is 10 times the rifle a single shot is.

Edelweiss, ha ha, I was using storring language a bit, but yes I also believe strongly and passionately. I am glad you are a man, and can talk like a man.

(ie some members get upset and sulk off. A man can have a non isulting heated debate and then shrug it off and shake hands, and have a beer together.

Waiting to see your mM-H .577, probably before ne. Good topic. Opened my eyes to possibilities.

I have photos of double rifles in .577. I really would have liked one of those. I will post those images on the .577 vs .600 thread.

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John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"