mark-hunter
AH legend
NAMIBIA: FROM THE SMALLEST TO THE GREATEST
NAMIBIA: Von den Kleinsten bis zu den Größten
There was no time to set up the sticks! I was shooting from the hand. The distance was about 40 meters and my hands were hard to steady.
I wanted the stick or any kind of rest badly, but that was not an option. The crosshairs came up at perfect position, but still, the crosshairs were moving too much. Holding the breath in sweat after entire morning in the bush was hard.
Slowly, I squeezed the trigger, to the best of my ability.
The rifle went “Click” instead of “Bang”, followed by the moment of silence that lasted for ever!
There and then, totally frozen, I thought the world will stop!
Then I cycled the bolt….
The preliminary idea of this hunt was born in 2018. After previous two plains game hunts were I have collected most common Namibian plains game species. This time I wanted to hunt eland, and waterbuck.
In January 2020, I made commitment for this trip, signed the contract and paid deposit for this hunt.
Then, the global pandemic started, and the hunt had to be postponed. I left the deposit untouched to agent and outfitter, and had the agent withdraw the funds for plane tickets, and let him keep the funds for next opportunity.
The long months of global epidemics accompanied with various national lock downs followed.
But the time was not spent in vein. I was not at rest.
The second thought in parallel with waterbuck and eland hunt in Namibia, was buffalo hunt in ZIm, or RSA. And for this I needed a rifle.
The choice of rifle was mauser type, CRF, and in range of 3 possible calibers from 375 H&H, 404 Jeffery, and 416 Rigby. 416 Rigby, although very appealing, was not optional for European hunts, as it would be overkill in my homeland hunting grounds.
404 Jeffery, was problematic with local purchase of factory ammo, and standing high in local over kill department.
Thus the caliber of choice, for buffalo, for one gun safari PG and DG, and occasional European hunt came down to one and most obvious.
375 H&H!
Magnum length action, of m98 type, is no longer common merchandise. Neither is mass produced. Nor it is available in local gun shops. So, being old fashioned dinosaur, and mindful of my own budget, I went the route of second hand market. I came to following picks, depending of availability: ZKK 602, CZ 550, or in the worst case scenario, Winchester m 70, or Zastava M70 (With all upgrades and debugging to go later, as necessary). With all due respect, of riflemans rifle Winchester, or robust zastava, Czech rifles were the first choice for their magnum length action, and dove tail on double square bridge design, for strong fitting the scope mounts, while the later two are only drilled and tapped, and on medium action, with smaller magazine capacity, but in the lack of any better, I decided I will take them if need be.
And the search for my buffalo gun was on!
In September, 2020, during all covid lock downs, a chance appeared!
With great luck, I stumbled upon a ZKK 602, vintage 1985, 375 H&H on internet, which was on the market for reasonable price.
Immediately, I reserved the rifle, by international satellite phone call from my job at the time in UAE, and on first chance on getting home, I went to collect it. The previous owner, did not want to take any down payment (although offered from my side), but promised to keep the rifle for me, when I get home.
My purchase permit was valid, and ready.
On arrival home, the drive of 300 km in one direction went with great expectations, and was followed by 300 km drive to get back home with rifle in the trunk. Next day the 375 was registered in my name, in local police station.
Now the upgrades had to be done. Next step was to visit my friend and gunsmith in his workshop, locally known amongst the gun owners as “The Cat”.
For first level of rifle upgrades the job done was floating the barrel, smoothing the trigger, Czech safety (safety on – forward) to be reworked to safety off forward, glass bedding, removing the fixed mount with large scope 8x56, to detachable German swing mounts and fitting more elegant scope Swarovski 1.7-10x42. Steel scope rings of magnum type, with 6 crews on front ring.
This was the list of basic jobs to be done, for Africa, having in mind first, and foremost – the Buffalo!
As it was done, in a way of hurry, just to start shooting at range, the second level of upgrades will be done later, but this was satisfactory as a first step for practical field use. For second level of upgrades in mind, I will dedicate some time and efforts later in more convenient time. New rifle and me with it, needed some quality range time asap!
Ammo, depending very much on local availability was at first, for basic zeroing and training PPU 300 grain, RNSP, and in time I managed to get Norma Swift A Frame, 300 grain, for next African trip. Swift A, will be kept in safe, till that opportunity.
Two months later, the rifle was tested, zeroed for PPU, and upgraded, and resting in my locker. Several times taken to the local range. It was all done before the end of 2020.
NAMIBIA: Von den Kleinsten bis zu den Größten
There was no time to set up the sticks! I was shooting from the hand. The distance was about 40 meters and my hands were hard to steady.
I wanted the stick or any kind of rest badly, but that was not an option. The crosshairs came up at perfect position, but still, the crosshairs were moving too much. Holding the breath in sweat after entire morning in the bush was hard.
Slowly, I squeezed the trigger, to the best of my ability.
The rifle went “Click” instead of “Bang”, followed by the moment of silence that lasted for ever!
There and then, totally frozen, I thought the world will stop!
Then I cycled the bolt….
The preliminary idea of this hunt was born in 2018. After previous two plains game hunts were I have collected most common Namibian plains game species. This time I wanted to hunt eland, and waterbuck.
In January 2020, I made commitment for this trip, signed the contract and paid deposit for this hunt.
Then, the global pandemic started, and the hunt had to be postponed. I left the deposit untouched to agent and outfitter, and had the agent withdraw the funds for plane tickets, and let him keep the funds for next opportunity.
The long months of global epidemics accompanied with various national lock downs followed.
But the time was not spent in vein. I was not at rest.
The second thought in parallel with waterbuck and eland hunt in Namibia, was buffalo hunt in ZIm, or RSA. And for this I needed a rifle.
The choice of rifle was mauser type, CRF, and in range of 3 possible calibers from 375 H&H, 404 Jeffery, and 416 Rigby. 416 Rigby, although very appealing, was not optional for European hunts, as it would be overkill in my homeland hunting grounds.
404 Jeffery, was problematic with local purchase of factory ammo, and standing high in local over kill department.
Thus the caliber of choice, for buffalo, for one gun safari PG and DG, and occasional European hunt came down to one and most obvious.
375 H&H!
Magnum length action, of m98 type, is no longer common merchandise. Neither is mass produced. Nor it is available in local gun shops. So, being old fashioned dinosaur, and mindful of my own budget, I went the route of second hand market. I came to following picks, depending of availability: ZKK 602, CZ 550, or in the worst case scenario, Winchester m 70, or Zastava M70 (With all upgrades and debugging to go later, as necessary). With all due respect, of riflemans rifle Winchester, or robust zastava, Czech rifles were the first choice for their magnum length action, and dove tail on double square bridge design, for strong fitting the scope mounts, while the later two are only drilled and tapped, and on medium action, with smaller magazine capacity, but in the lack of any better, I decided I will take them if need be.
And the search for my buffalo gun was on!
In September, 2020, during all covid lock downs, a chance appeared!
With great luck, I stumbled upon a ZKK 602, vintage 1985, 375 H&H on internet, which was on the market for reasonable price.
Immediately, I reserved the rifle, by international satellite phone call from my job at the time in UAE, and on first chance on getting home, I went to collect it. The previous owner, did not want to take any down payment (although offered from my side), but promised to keep the rifle for me, when I get home.
My purchase permit was valid, and ready.
On arrival home, the drive of 300 km in one direction went with great expectations, and was followed by 300 km drive to get back home with rifle in the trunk. Next day the 375 was registered in my name, in local police station.
Now the upgrades had to be done. Next step was to visit my friend and gunsmith in his workshop, locally known amongst the gun owners as “The Cat”.
For first level of rifle upgrades the job done was floating the barrel, smoothing the trigger, Czech safety (safety on – forward) to be reworked to safety off forward, glass bedding, removing the fixed mount with large scope 8x56, to detachable German swing mounts and fitting more elegant scope Swarovski 1.7-10x42. Steel scope rings of magnum type, with 6 crews on front ring.
This was the list of basic jobs to be done, for Africa, having in mind first, and foremost – the Buffalo!
As it was done, in a way of hurry, just to start shooting at range, the second level of upgrades will be done later, but this was satisfactory as a first step for practical field use. For second level of upgrades in mind, I will dedicate some time and efforts later in more convenient time. New rifle and me with it, needed some quality range time asap!
Ammo, depending very much on local availability was at first, for basic zeroing and training PPU 300 grain, RNSP, and in time I managed to get Norma Swift A Frame, 300 grain, for next African trip. Swift A, will be kept in safe, till that opportunity.
Two months later, the rifle was tested, zeroed for PPU, and upgraded, and resting in my locker. Several times taken to the local range. It was all done before the end of 2020.
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an excellent waterbuck by the way.
