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Zabardast, my W.J. Jeffery .450 No.2 Nitro Express. Zabardast is Urdu for awesome. It's my bovine hunting rifle, elephant, as well as other game. Fires a 480 gr projectile at approximately 2,150 fps.

So far two tuskless cow elephant, a number of water buffalo bulls and other water buffalo. A nice banteng bull. Some scrub bulls. Donkeys, pigs, other game. Must use it more on other game if only for fun. Must one-day try some 350 gr projectiles in it and see how they can be regulated. Luckily I have some Woodleigh 350 gr RNSP Weldcore boxes on hand. My one only Cape Buffalo was taken earlier with my .375 Mauser 98. A .375 bolt action, makes a good second hunting rifle for more precise shooting.

As Bailey Bradshaw described it - "this rifle is a distinguished Gentleman in nature, yet has the lean, sinewy exterior appearance of a hardened veteran that knew how to manage himself." Spot on.

It's earlier life would have been in India. Indian Bison, Gaur, are plainly engraved on it. Perhaps suggesting it's use? One wonders what it has seen and been used on during its life? Rode on a howdah on an elephant's back? Used on tiger, leopard, Indian elephant, gaur, buffalo, Sambar deer, among other game? One imagines. Perhaps part of a Maharajah's armoury as a loaner? Or a civil servants prized hunting tool? Wouldn't it be great to know.

It's weight is awesome. A hefty 13 1/4 lbs, making it manageable to shoot. And strong muscles to carry all day needed. Lighter might be better, but it is what it is.

I remember hunting a herd of Cape Buffalo during my elephant hunt. We shadowed parallel the herd of buffalo in the Omay concession of the Zambezi Valley. Two elephant bulls fed through the trees just in front of us. The wind in our favour meant they never knew we were there only yards behind them.. Every now and again we had to wait to avoid bumping into the two elephant bulls rear ends! As the Cape Buffalo needed a shot from inside a herd, the PH swapped his scoped .416 Rem bolt action with me. If a shot had to be taken allowed a better shot to avoid other herd buffalo. However after maybe five viewings of the herd, a number of sizable horned buffalo bulls had been identified. Long trophy horns but none had the old mature solid bosses I demanded. So the buffalo herd was allowed to continue in peace. However a great hunt and experience.

I'm very comfortable shooting this rifle. And confident using it. Confidence is handy when facing an elephant waiting clearly behind a tree to ambush me as I rounded the tree. At a few yards. :~ However to my loss and luck, it changed its mind and fled instead.

Hopefully Zabardast will see action again one day in Africa. And no doubt hopefully a handfull more water buffalo, pigs, donkeys, pigs and what not.

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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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