Cinghiale
.333 member
Reged: 15/04/08
Posts: 406
Loc: Northern Territory
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I was out fishing in central Arhnemland with a few mates on the last of the run off. I had been meat shooting the night before and knocked off a few good sized Buff for the community. Due to my extrememly late night I ended up waking well past dawn but on an excellent tide to do a spot of fishing at a snag I know holds Barra most of the year.
After seeing a few little Buff in the edges of the paperbark we drive on not even thinking about hunting. We set up and got stuck into the barra who were going off! We landed about 20 keepers in a half hour between four of us so we were all very happy indeed. During this time I could hear Buffalo crashing into the water and swimming across the river further upstream.
I could not take it any longer and left the boys to go and check it out. I had quietly poked my way upstream about 200-300m when I saw this old fellow staring at me. He would have been about 150m from me so I closed the distance as best I could down to about 75 metres. At that range I let loose with a soft point into the boiler room from a quartering towards angle. The old boy took it hard and then ran off into a thick grove of trees by the river. I ran across a small clearing and took up the blood trail.
By this time my mates had caught up with me and we were able to help with the tracking. We moved through some thick undergrowth and he was standing there waiting for us. A quick second and third shot ended him not 3 metres from the rivers edge!
I understand ground shrinkage and on goats and other buff I have had it big time. This old boy just kept getting bigger and bigger!!! I was amazed at how long and symetrical his horns were and the thickness of his horns too was very impressive.
The 404 did a great job as ever and the Woodliegh's held up very well indeed. The first shot had smashed his heart and exited his left shoulded breaking it. Below you can see how close he got to the river although it was a two metre drop to it.
Overall it was an unexpected and great hunt that I will remember for a long time yet!
[image] [/image]
Here is an image of the river valley fom where I pulled this bloke out of. There are a few like him around if you can find them or stalk successfully over a half sodden flood plain for 800m!
 Finally cleaned up and at home. The round is a 404Jeffery dummy round for comparison.

Hopefully going out again next week for a week lets see how that goes!!
Regards,
MOG
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Ben
.400 member
Reged: 22/08/08
Posts: 1917
Loc: Northern Territory, Australia
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Fantastic! Well-done! Many happy returns of the day to you.
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Paul
.400 member
Reged: 28/08/07
Posts: 1031
Loc: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Nice trophy, Cinghiale, I wouldn't mind getting one of those critters some day, if there are any left by the time I get there. - Paul
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4seventy
Sponsor
Reged: 07/05/03
Posts: 2210
Loc: Queensland Australia
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Ripper bull, great story and photos! Thanks for posting them and be sure to let us know how the next trip out that way goes.
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40651
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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What no fish?!
Only joking, nice trophy and thanks for the story and photos.
-------------------- John aka NitroX
...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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Marrakai
.416 member
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3712
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
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That's a lovely trophy, Moggie. Perfect tips, amazing! Didn't end up going to the range this arvo as it turns out, but I'll see them another day. Nice mounting job too.
-------------------- Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
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www.marrakai-adventure.com.au
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Cinghiale
.333 member
Reged: 15/04/08
Posts: 406
Loc: Northern Territory
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Cheers guys,
This one went 119 1/2. He will be remesured shortly by Marrakai to verify the size.
I will post some more photos of some barra on the fishing forum just for you NITROX!!!
As a side note, we took the rear quarters, backstraps and fillets out and rolled him into the river he only lasted three minutes before the handbags got what was left! 
Regards,
MOG
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JabaliHunter
.400 member
Reged: 16/05/07
Posts: 1958
Loc: England
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Beautiful bull and some beautiful country too...
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DDouble
.300 member
Reged: 17/02/06
Posts: 131
Loc: Brazil
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Fantastic bull. Here in Brazil we have some buffalo of the same breed, but very rearely this big. Congratulations.
-------------------- Ddouble
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lapua
.333 member
Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 445
Loc: Australia
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cinghiale m8 oustanding effort lovely horns and great tips 119 not bad @ all your smile says it all !
all the best .
-------------------- Cheers
lapua
ADF VETERAN ARMY
Lest We Forget
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wmunro
.224 member
Reged: 19/07/07
Posts: 6
Loc: australia
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Cinghiale, Nice bull, what rifle is the 404.
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Cinghiale
.333 member
Reged: 15/04/08
Posts: 406
Loc: Northern Territory
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wmunro,
the rifle is a Win mod 70 classic. It originally started life as a 270Win, I bought it as a 404. The barrel work was done here in the NT but I am not sure who by. The barrel is cut at 24 inches and is fairly light for a 404 barrel with the diametre only about 0.75 of an inch at the muzzle as a guesstimate. I have had the rifle bedded and cross bolted as well as had the magazine follower and springs modified to hold three down. I have a 375H&H box inside it and the bottom of the action has been reworked a little to help it feed smoothely. I have also put on a Pachmayer decelerator pad.
Regards,
MOG
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lapua
.333 member
Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 445
Loc: Australia
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m8 what did you use to clean those horns up with ?? Look nice and dark.
-------------------- Cheers
lapua
ADF VETERAN ARMY
Lest We Forget
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Cinghiale
.333 member
Reged: 15/04/08
Posts: 406
Loc: Northern Territory
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Lapua,
not sure but I can find out. I think it is a wood stain that seals them fairly well. I will PM you with the exact combo.
Regards,
MOG
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Marrakai
.416 member
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3712
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
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In the good ol' days we used black boot-polish, but it went mouldy during the wet season..!
-------------------- Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
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www.marrakai-adventure.com.au
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CHAPUISARMES
.416 member
Reged: 16/01/08
Posts: 2908
Loc: DUBBO, NSW, AUSTRALIA
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Hi Cinghiale,
Is there any chance of the formula as well as Lapua, He and I hunted together in September 2007 and we both share the same problem. I have a set of horns in desperate need of a finish and I think that when the shoulder mount arrives in 4 weeks it will also need some finishing.
Cheers,
Jeff Gray
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"Travel Light, Travel Fast and carry a Big Bore"
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