Greeting from Virginia (U.S.) - NEW here..just joined

[HankBuck]

Hi again HankBuck,

Man the buffalo story is a heart breaker.
But at least you are honest about it, especially to yourself.
Many people in the world today are not.
It is good that you stayed in the game and are now a member of the world’s greatest forum.

What type of recoil suppressor is installed in your .470 double ?
One of my friends put two mercury tubes in the buttstock of his Ruger #1 which has been rechambered from .458 Winchester to .450 No2 NE.
It still kicks like an ox but, last time we went to the range together, he was shooting some “warm” hand loads …….. I declined to shoot it.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

Velo, the recoil suppressor was “mercury type” but I don’t recall the brand and it was installed in the butt stock - it made a noticeable reduction and would guess 15-20%. I wish I’d had it installed before my hunt as it might of made a difference ....but based on my practice sessions I saw no need for it. I think the reason I could shoot the gun well in practice was because it was a very controlled environment and I was very confident with it out to 100 yrds. On a Hunt, was another story and even though I was not overly excited (nothing like when a big Buck comes into bow range) it obviously was just enough for me to “flinch” and make a poor shot. My .375 H&H has always worked well for me when hunting or target shooting and the recoil not bad....I guess my “manhood” stops at .375 !! I will say that I passed up several very close (35 yrds) easy shots at standing Buffalo that were “decent” quality but Not what I wanted....I think “hope” I would’ve made those shots. If I ever go back to Africa, I’d bring my .470NE again but also my .375 H&H - I’d figure out a way to kill a Buff with one of them

 

[Velo Dog]

I understand.
We all muff a shot now and then.
The first eland I ever took was only somewhat recently (2017).
And having hunted with center fire rifles since age 15 or 16, you’d think that, at my advanced age (I just turned 70), I’d be able to center punch a huge bull eland at under 50 paces ………. evidently not.

When I fired at the junction of the bull’s throat and brisket, obviously I spazzed out and lurched to my right, just enough to instead hit his left shoulder.
The 300 gr RNSP, .375 H&H bullet broke that shoulder but exited just behind same, without hitting anything vital.

The shot knocked him off his hooves but he was up in a flash and running amazingly well on 3 good legs, through the most horrid and thick, cats claw thorns.
Perhaps hawks bill thorns, I’ve never known the difference.
All I know is that they were the ones with millions of little hook shaped thorns that claw the clothes and skin off of us humans, if we try to run through their domain after wounded eland.
When it was over myself, the PH and the Tracker looked as if we had lost a street fight against a couple dozen caracals.

I was thankful of my several months of pre-safari physical training, because even if there had been no thorns (ha!), it was a tough run for an old man, Kalahari heat included.
That all said, we finally caught up and I shot him down but wow, was I ever embarrassed (still am).

Anyway, nobody can boast having 100% never missed what they were aiming at.

 

[IronRanger]

Welcome to the group, looks like you will have alot to provide as well!

 

[TheGrayRider]

Welcome from Indiana. Happy hunting, TheGrayRider.

 

[jpr9954]

Welcome to AH.

 

[Sue Tidwell]

I am still looking forward to my first cougar, they are around but difficult to hunt well.

Good luck! Your chance will come.

 

[fin003]

Welcome to AH! It is a great site, glad to have you here.

 

[TNDave]

Welcome from TN.