Post by James on May 29, 2014 17:40:13 GMT -5
Took this old buff with Freedom Arms 500 WE using Grizzly Ammo`s 420gr Punch load at around 40yds about two weeks ago....
Gentleman, I hav`ent had this many nice words said about me in a long time. Thanks.... I retired last Dec. after 41 years and had gone to Africa about 10 years ago and never thought I`ed see it again. The hell with, this is my retirement present to myself. My money only allowed for a 5 day hunt package for Cape buffalo and red hartebeest, two beautiful animals I`ve wanted to handgun for a long time. On the first day we ran into a buff at 70 or so yards and by the time I removed my scoped Freedom Arms 475 from its cross holster he was gone. Also had a Bog-Pod tripod with the pistol rest attachment (PSR) that was a highly valued piece of handgun hunting equipment. Day 2 had me shooting a old bushbuck at 102yds and after a walk along a hillside I took a most beautiful critter called a nyala with an uphill shot at 72yds, also with my scoped FA`s 475 shooting Hornady`s factory 400gr XTP. The XTP`s have to be the most consistent non-premium bullet out there. Recovered bullets were not pretty but they worked. Day 3 was a wash out as it rained all day. Day 4 had us out early tracking buffalo when we spot the horns of 2 big bulls sticking out of the thorn bushes. Keeping this short I`ll tell you that a tracker radioed the PH to say they were heading our way. I also carried a six inch FA`s 500 WE with open sights and the idea was to use my scoped 10" FA`s 475, with a handload of a 380gr Punch over 25.6grs of 296, from 50 to 100 yards and the
open sight 500WE from 50 or less. The 500 carried Grizzly Ammo`s 420gr Punch load. The PH spotted a trail that he was sure they would take so we set up our shooting sticks about 35 yards to the side. My mouth was dry as a bone as my thoughts of alining the sights, squeeze the trigger and keep shooting until empty kept going over in my mind. All of a sudden the first buff appeared in the open, as big and bad as a Sherman tank and all hell broke loose. My first shot, that was high and to the back of the lungs and close to the spine, buckeled his back legs with my second shot making a good heart lung hit. I remember pulling the fourth shot as I watched it hit the dirt about 5 feet from the buff (funny how you remember the misses) and hit him with the 5th. Reloaded as I watched him watching me as he tried to get to his feet and put two more in him to finally hear his death bellow , the famous sound Cape buffalo make when they are finished. Was I happy?? I was so happy and relieved that I kissed my PH on the cheek..... This was the high point in my life of handgun hunting.... That night while looking for the tiny duiker I shot a decent warthog with my 475. Day 5 had us make a long stalk on a red hartebeest making a low leg breaking hit at 112yds and after a chase with the tracking dog I was able to finish him off. A most beautiful and unique creature.... That night at the last minute of the hunt I took a decent duiker. For someone who never thought they would ever hunt Africa again I can say with honesty that I can thank God I went......
PS- let me add I found the sling attachment on my 10 inch, scoped FA`s 475LB to be another most useful piece of equipment. After trying to remove that gun from its holster on the first day I connected the sling and carried it the same way one would carry a rifle. It was very quick to bring the big gun into action and no bother at all to carry.... Forgot to say that I hunted the eastern Cape with Blaauwkrantz Safaries.