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Post by bearskinner on Apr 22, 2021 17:47:23 GMT -5
Just got back from the Kalahari desert region of SA. Hunted with Madubula Safaris, an extremely professional team to hunt with. Did the whole hunt with a FA83 in 454, and G2 Contender in .375. Both scoped. Very rewarding, and tons of fun. Ranges were out a bit farther than I like, but added to the challenge. Very hot over there. 98 during the day, 68 at night. That’s a far cry from my 30-65 weather at home. Except covid travel, I throughly enjoyed all parts of the experience.
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Post by markhampton on Apr 22, 2021 18:03:35 GMT -5
Congrats on your success!
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Post by foxtrapper on Apr 22, 2021 18:14:54 GMT -5
Just got back from the Kalahari desert region of SA. Hunted with Madubula Safaris, an extremely professional team to hunt with. Did the whole hunt with a FA83 in 454, and G2 Contender in .375. Both scoped. Very rewarding, and tons of fun. Ranges were out a bit farther than I like, but added to the challenge. Very hot over there. 98 during the day, 68 at night. That’s a far cry from my 30-65 weather at home. Except covid travel, I throughly enjoyed all parts of the experience. Let’s see some pics!! Heard that FA 454 was doing double duty! Congrats!
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Post by Encore64 on Apr 22, 2021 18:18:22 GMT -5
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Post by bearskinner on Apr 22, 2021 18:42:19 GMT -5
Yes, the FA worked well for two of us. I rolled a Blue Wildebeest, and it was used on a Buffalo also. That was the only shot under 100 yards. With the average shot of 180-200 yards, I needed the reach of the .378GNR. 12” plus brake, with a 2.5x8 Leupold. Gemsbok and Kudu were just under 200, the Zebra and Steinbok were a good 240 yards.
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KRal
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,029
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Post by KRal on Apr 22, 2021 20:25:13 GMT -5
Mike, congrats! Those are some great looking critters - and some awesome shooting on your part!
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Post by taffin on Apr 22, 2021 22:33:29 GMT -5
Just got back from the Kalahari desert region of SA. Hunted with Madubula Safaris, an extremely professional team to hunt with. Did the whole hunt with a FA83 in 454, and G2 Contender in .375. Both scoped. Very rewarding, and tons of fun. Ranges were out a bit farther than I like, but added to the challenge. Very hot over there. 98 during the day, 68 at night. That’s a far cry from my 30-65 weather at home. Except covid travel, I throughly enjoyed all parts of the experience. When I went I took .454 Model 83, and two contenders, the .375 JDJ and the 6.5 JDJ. Everything works fine and I would've gone back numerous times if it wasn't for the plane ride.
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Post by bearskinner on Apr 22, 2021 23:17:22 GMT -5
Yes, the only part of the trip I would like to forget is the plane rides. No simple flights between here and SA. 2.5 days there, 4 days back. 4 flights and 3 customs checks in different country’s, each way. At least I had the opportunity to share the seat next to a young man that watched MTV in a regional language of the area, and joyfully sang and danced to each song, on the 9 hour flight between Doha, Qatar, and JoBurg S.A. An experience I shall cherish, every time I think of flying!
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Post by 45MAN on Apr 23, 2021 6:16:57 GMT -5
I MADE SEVERAL FLIGHTS OVER TO AFRICA IN COACH CLASS, UGH! THEN I WENT BUSINESS CLASS AND THERE WAS NO GOING BACK, AFTER THAT I ALWAYS FLEW BUSINESS CLASS TO AFRICA. BUT AS NICE AS BUSINESS CLASS WAS IT WAS FROM PREFERRED BOARDING, SHORTER LINES, BETTER BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE, etc. IT WAS STILL A BIG PIA TO FLY INTERNATIONAL WITH FIREARMS. THE HASSLE OF FLYING INTERNATIONAL WITH FIREARMS, AND THE DAYS OVER AND DAYS BACK TRAVEL, ARE A BIG PART OF WHY MY 11th AND LAST AFRICAN SAFARI WAS IN 2009.
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Post by drdougrx on Apr 23, 2021 6:19:23 GMT -5
Wonder if the boss is going to get his guns and luggage back.... glad you guys had a good trip.
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Post by 45MAN on Apr 24, 2021 6:19:43 GMT -5
MICHAEL: WTG AND CONGRAGULATIONS, VERY NICE ANIMALS. I HAVE NO PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE 378 GNR BUT HAVE THOUGHT IT TO PROBABLY BE AN EXCELLENT BIG GAME OPTION IN A CONTENDER. WITH THE SHOTS YOU HAD AVAILABLE GOOD THING YOU HAD THE 378 AVAILABLE. WHAT LOADS/BULLETS WERE YOU USING IN THE FA AND THE 378 GNR, AND HOW DID THEY PERFORM?
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Post by bearskinner on Apr 24, 2021 8:07:53 GMT -5
The 378GNR is similar to 375JDJ, but a bit more power. It’s built on a 405 Winchester case, necked to .375. In the JDJ, I use 48.0 of H4895. In the GNR its 52.0 H4895 with a 260 grain accubond. I’ve also used the 270 Hornady bullets. The shortness of the barrel, lowers the performance from a 26” rifle, obviously. I have not chrono’ed them for speed, I just load 1/2 grain of powder changes, to check group tightness. These two work great in my guns ( don’t try these loads in yours, start way lower, and work up) although neither are off the charts. Both can go hotter with proper testing. I always seem to take a FA83 in .454 with me where ever I go. It’s just my go to gun. Plus I just love revolver hunting, and it swings effortlessly in one hand. I used a 300 grain Sierra ( they say soft point, but it busts every large animal and holds together) with 25.5 of 2400. Again, the most accurate load in my gun. I had visions of shooting everything with the FA, but the open ness of the country side, changed my mind. I did recover one, 454 Bullet. It had the tip smeared, and half the front part of the jacket ( front of the cannelure) laid over and back. This was after centering on a Blue Wildebeests shoulder,( slightly from the front, angling back, as he was trotting) right thru the first side, and glancing off the second, coursing rearward. It was 280+ retained weight. He did a forward summersault at the shot. On a similar shot on a Cape buffalo, this .454 was used on, one Bullet was recovered, after smashing thru the first shoulder, it was lodged in the off side. That Bullet could have been reloaded, and used again. It lightly flattened the nose, but held its full weight. I have used those Sierra bullets, as well as the .44 and .41 silhouette bullets on more than half my hunts. They are stout bullets and don’t readily open up, which I really like as I always try to break the critter down, going for the point of the shoulder. On a rib shot, these act like a drill. Unfortunately, none of the accupoints were recovered, although they seemed to be very successful.
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Post by bradshaw on Apr 24, 2021 11:31:17 GMT -5
The 378GNR is similar to 375JDJ, but a bit more power. It’s built on a 405 Winchester case, necked to .375. In the JDJ, I use 48.0 of H4895. In the GNR its 52.0 H4895 with a 260 grain accubond. I’ve also used the 270 Hornady bullets. The shortness of the barrel, lowers the performance from a 26” rifle, obviously. I have not chrono’ed them for speed, I just load 1/2 grain of powder changes, to check group tightness. These two work great in my guns ( don’t try these loads in yours, start way lower, and work up) although neither are off the charts. Both can go hotter with proper testing. I always seem to take a FA83 in .454 with me where ever I go. It’s just my go to gun. Plus I just love revolver hunting, and it swings effortlessly in one hand. I used a 300 grain Sierra ( they say soft point, but it busts every large animal and holds together) with 25.5 of 2400. Again, the most accurate load in my gun. I had visions of shooting everything with the FA, but the open ness of the country side, changed my mind. I did recover one, 454 Bullet. It had the tip smeared, and half the front part of the jacket (front of the cannelure) laid over and back. This was after centering on a Blue Wildebeests shoulder,( slightly from the front, angling back, as he was trotting) right thru the first side, and glancing off the second, coursing rearward. It was 280+ retained weight. He did a forward summersault at the shot. On a similar shot on a Cape buffalo, this .454 was used on, one Bullet was recovered, after smashing thru the first shoulder, it was lodged in the off side. That Bullet could have been reloaded, and used again. It lightly flattened the nose, but held its full weight. I have used those Sierra bullets, as well as the .44 and .41 silhouette bullets on more than half my hunts. They are stout bullets and don’t readily open up, which I really like as I always try to break the critter down, going for the point of the shoulder. On a rib shot, these act like a drill. Unfortunately, none of the accupoints were recovered, although they seemed to be very successful. ***** Bearskinner.... thank you for supplying detail. Dope on one’s loads gives credence to content. In the field of guns & ammunition, folk appreciate and RESPECT detail. Enjoy reading your results with the Sierra .45 300 JSP. I never shot a deer with it and would put it low on my list for moose, also, for the very performance you document. My impression, the Sierra .45 (.4515”) 300 grain “Jacketed Soft Point” is misnamed. As I recall, Sierra uses a 6% antimony core. Penetration is its game----to the exclusion of expansion. Sierra should rename the bullet. “300 JHP” could accurately stand for “jacketed HARD point,” but everyone would read “jacketed hollow point.” The bullet should be called a JFP (Jacketed Flat Point), or similar. Sierra silhouette bullets----FPJ (Full Profile Jacket) bear no resemblance. Different jacket, less antimony, the FPJ is intended for shooting steel, not meat, as it also doesn’t know much about expansion. Ed Verge dropped a whitetail with the .44 220 FPJ from his 6-1/2” M-29, a clean hole lung shot. Verge left his experiment there, switched back to JHP’s for whitetail. David Bradshaw
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Post by jfs on Apr 24, 2021 11:47:49 GMT -5
....................
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Post by bearskinner on Apr 24, 2021 16:39:44 GMT -5
On Light critters, I would definitely go for something like an XTP in the 250 grain range. If I’m using a 45 or 454, I’m probably going after larger heavier animals, and I prefer to get close. With The 300 sierras I have shot thru moose, breaking shoulders, and blowing on thru.( Alaska Yukon Moose, not half sized Shiraz moose) I agree they are not soft points. For some reason, they are the most accurate bullets I’ve tried. I was at a public range with a friend when I first made this FA83 Africa legal. I bore sighted the scope, with the new brake installed. From a sandbag rest, at 40 yards, 5 shots in one hole. Better than I can shoot.
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