Omnivorous_Bob
.333 member
Reged: 03/10/05
Posts: 286
Loc: Montana
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My 4-bore finally drew blood, for the first time in my hands at least. 
The bullet was a very hard conical that weighed 1965 grains (127.5 grams stamped on the bottom)in this alloy, over 75 grains of Blue Dot for about 1125fps. I've shot these much faster but this makes a follow up shot reasonable. The first shot was at about 65-70 yards and was under the skin on the far shoulder. The recovered bullet weigh 1953gns.
Bob
Edited by CptCurl (13/05/11 09:08 PM)
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Nakihunter
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Reged: 13/10/07
Posts: 588
Loc: New Zealand
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What make is the gun? I'd like to read more about the hunt. Congratulations.
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Always shoot through the target & not just at it.
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rigbymauser
.400 member
Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 2021
Loc: Denmark
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THanx Omni!
What a great rifle...and what a great way to make it draw blood.....in africa. 
What make is your gun?
When was it made approx?
Was it easy to get it on the airplanes(paperwork)
Please post some pictures of that double 4 bore of yours....please
Jens
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NitroX
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Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40466
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Wow. Impressive!
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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"
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gatsby
.375 member
Reged: 05/09/05
Posts: 862
Loc: inland valley CA USA
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By gobs Rob you did it!! Very impressive. I will be awaiting all the details. I am sure Ray M. was smiling.
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"Recoil is insignificant when there is a tiger on the head of your elephant" The Maharaja of Cooch Behar
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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27509
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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Way to go BOB!!!!
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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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Omnivorous_Bob
.333 member
Reged: 03/10/05
Posts: 286
Loc: Montana
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The rifle is a single shot Thomas Bland from the 1890s. A bunch of details on the gun are in an old post: 4-bore
The hunt was in the Matetsi River area of Zim south of Victoria Falls with Gary Hopkins (ghopkins@mweb.co.zw). I shot the bull about 10pm in the moon light. It was much farther than I'd planned to shoot, but we were in position when some locals spooked them and they were leaving in a hurry. It was dark enough that I couldn't see the sights against him, but lined them up below and raised the gun and shot. Fortunately it fits very well and has a large flat rib filed on the barrel and I did most of my practicing at either 50 or 60 yds. We hit him again in the hip as they departed, then tracked him the next day. I carried two pure lead bullets in case I saw a must have zebra or kudu while carrying the 4, but didn't use them. A VERY fun hunt!
I didn't have any trouble with transporting the rifle or ammo, but was very worried about losing the ammo in the states after hearing some horror stories. I carried copies of every airline and government regulation I could think of and referenced them on the ammo boxes, along with a conspicuous note to the TSA asking them to PLEASE page me if they had any questions. I put offical looking labels on my ammo boxes and shrink wrapped them also, but they still cut each of them open. I don't know if that helped, but it made it there.
I'm still smiling 
Bob
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"If we're not supposed to eat animals, how come they're made out of meat?"
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Marrakai
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Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3674
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
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OmniBob:
I went looking for that thread on your Bland 4-bore, but didn't go back far enough! Time sure flies!
Add my congratulations too. There are many who would own such a gun for the kudos but would never dream of putting it to it's intended use. My hat's off to you, mate!
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Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
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www.marrakai-adventure.com.au
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JabaliHunter
.400 member
Reged: 16/05/07
Posts: 1958
Loc: England
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Fantastic! Just imagining the sights and smell and that thud as the bullet struck home!!
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degoins
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Reged: 28/02/06
Posts: 445
Loc: SC, USA
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WAY TO GO BOB!!!! GREAT STUFF!!!
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mehulkamdar
.416 member
Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 3688
Loc: State of Ill-Annoy USA.
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You must be congratulated not only for the fine trophy but for being brave enough to shoot an animal with that monster rifle!
Fantastic and may you have many more great hunts!
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The Ark was made by amateurs. Experts built the Titanic.
Mehul Kamdar
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Omnivorous_Bob
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Reged: 03/10/05
Posts: 286
Loc: Montana
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Thanks for all of the comments. I've been reading Baker, Selous, and the like for years, which is what originally got me interested in these old guns. I love researching and reading about the men who used and needed such arms. Since those days are gone forever, the next best thing to do in my mind is to go out into the field once in a while and experience them first hand. I consider myself lucky to be able to walk in their shoes for a brief while.
Also, I never cease to be amazed at the skill and ingenuity of the men who made guns like this. This rifle has a 3/4" wide rib painstakingly filed on the barrel (the cross section is like a teardrop with the point filed flat), and when I mounted the gun in the dark it immediately dawned on me that that was exactly the reason for it.
Finally, I sincerely hope that another hundred or two years from now someone else will still be hunting with guns like this and appreciate them as much as I do, and think about the sights they've seen.
Bob
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"If we're not supposed to eat animals, how come they're made out of meat?"
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rigbymauser
.400 member
Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 2021
Loc: Denmark
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Quote:
Thanks for all of the comments. I've been reading Baker, Selous, and the like for years, which is what originally got me interested in these old guns. I love researching and reading about the men who used and needed such arms. Since those days are gone forever, the next best thing to do in my mind is to go out into the field once in a while and experience them first hand. I consider myself lucky to be able to walk in their shoes for a brief while.
Also, I never cease to be amazed at the skill and ingenuity of the men who made guns like this. This rifle has a 3/4" wide rib painstakingly filed on the barrel (the cross section is like a teardrop with the point filed flat), and when I mounted the gun in the dark it immediately dawned on me that that was exactly the reason for it.
Finally, I sincerely hope that another hundred or two years from now someone else will still be hunting with guns like this and appreciate them as much as I do, and think about the sights they've seen.
Bob
I wished that were more of your kind....Second me on everything in the above statement 
Borerifles are really a world by itself...full of history, and lots of power...and still working . I must have my 10Bore Manton to africa one day, hopefully for elephanthunting too, but some "Pumbapopping" could do aswell 
Edited by rigbymauser (05/05/08 11:52 PM)
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Congrats on a nice trophy! How was the weight of the gun to you on Safari?
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gatsby
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Reged: 05/09/05
Posts: 862
Loc: inland valley CA USA
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Rob,
I like your sentiment. These big cannons are truely a wonderment, especially when you are able to use them for their intended purpose, as you did. We are only caretakers of them for a very short while.
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"Recoil is insignificant when there is a tiger on the head of your elephant" The Maharaja of Cooch Behar
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Omnivorous_Bob
.333 member
Reged: 03/10/05
Posts: 286
Loc: Montana
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DB600, the weight wasn't nearly as bad as I'd thought. This gun is a hair under 17lb. We got the elephant on the third day and did a good bit of walking every day, but I'm sure it would be a different story if it was a 21 day hunt! Also, temperatures were a mild 70-80 degrees. I admit to slinging to rifle more often then I should have, but did carry it in my hands in the thick stuff. For practice I filled a 2 foot piece of pvc with gravel and shot to make a weight to carry around without alarming the neighbors but never put in the hours and miles you do on a hunt.
Bob
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"If we're not supposed to eat animals, how come they're made out of meat?"
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billeastern
.275 member
Reged: 28/11/08
Posts: 56
Loc: New York
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Bob:
Is this your gun being shot? I know you are friends with Cal and looks says 4 bore in caption.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly140tZ4-rU&feature=related
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grandveneur
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Reged: 21/09/08
Posts: 1356
Loc: France / Germany
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Waidmannsheil! A rifle for elefant hunter ( deadly at both end, i suppose ?) !
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Omnivorous_Bob
.333 member
Reged: 03/10/05
Posts: 286
Loc: Montana
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Yep, that's the same gun! Cal is shooting a full up 383 grain load of Goex FFg under a 2000 grain conical. The chronos he's shooting over are actually an Oehler with a Chrony nested inside. Only one gave a reading (a bit over 1500fps) but we had our doubts as to accuracy as the smoke cloud extends well beyond them. I think 1300+ is probably closer to reality. The load I used for the elephant was a comparatively sedate 1125fps.
Bob
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"If we're not supposed to eat animals, how come they're made out of meat?"
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billeastern
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Reged: 28/11/08
Posts: 56
Loc: New York
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looks like a great time!
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lancaster
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Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9404
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...
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thanks for showing its possible
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Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
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bringing civilisation to the barbarians
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40466
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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bttt
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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"
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rigbymauser
.400 member
Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 2021
Loc: Denmark
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Quote:
bttt
You could posted the artical by George Hoyem I mailed to you
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Ben
.400 member
Reged: 22/08/08
Posts: 1917
Loc: Northern Territory, Australia
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Wow! Thanks for posting this to the top for those of us who missed it! That is an awesome achievement and adventure, Bob. Well-done.
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FATBOY404
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Reged: 14/11/09
Posts: 1730
Loc: QLD
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That was great.
Check out that bullet it looks like an idler from a dozer track.
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"WHATEVER BLOWS YOUR HAIR BACK"
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