Those with high value firearms, do you bring them to Africa to hunt with?

[rookhawk]

Yes. One of the prettiest rifles I own is an old vintage FN Browning Medallion Grade rifle in 308 topped with a vintage Balvar optic. That rifle has been labelled by me more than once as being too pretty to hunt with. But, I did take it on Safari last year and it performed very well, scoring five 1-shot kills without failure. While it may have acquired one or two small dings while bouncing around in the back of the Land Cruiser, it is also true that most of my rifles are more likely to be damaged while being moved around in the safe despite my best efforts to avoid such. To not take them and use them would be to waste their potential and intended purpose.

I will not be taking it to Alaska since there are better tools for that environment and will not take it back to Africa this year only because I need a different tool for that hunt. I will however, be taking what is likely the most beautiful rifle I own with me to Africa this year. It is an ER Shaw custom P14 Enfield in 375HH. While not a Rigby, or other exclusive grade bespoke rifle, it is very close in overall fit, finish and performance. Easily one of the three or four most accurate and precise rifles that I own. It was acquired for this purpose and I trust it will serve me well. Unlike a PH who uses his favorite rifle every day for decades, I will never hunt with it so much that I wear the bluing from the barrel or beat and bang the stock until it has a wonderful patina of much love and hard use. But when I hunt in Africa and similar climates, it will be one of my tool of choice. If I was hunting Elk, Moose, or other NA game in snow or rain, it would likely not be my tool of choice. There are better options out there. My 2 cents.

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I'd say use it up, it's a reliable, functional working tool. Sure, you can spend 3x more on something of 1/10th the quality to "save it from peril" but life is too short to shoot ugly guns. Your gun is better than alternatives that cost more.

An FN, Springfield Sporter, safari grade browning, or a pre-64 winchester is a lot more reliable and a lot higher quality than anything you'd touch at those pricepoints new. None of them are collectible if they have been touched by human hands, lack their box and hang tags, and have never had an optic mounted. They're just classy guns for reasonable money meant to be enjoyed.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I had a lot of people look at me sideways when they saw me using original Colts and Winchesters to shoot SASS matches. To me, using the originals was what made the matches more fun. Carrying the Chapuis DR hunting elk in the mountains was one of the reasons I bought it. While I do have a few collectibles that only get looked at, most were bought with the intent to use. As it says in every post I make, Life's too short to hunt with an ugly gun!

@Woodcarver
Life may be to short to hunt with ugly guns but what about beautiful guns hunting with ugly people. I know I fall into that category.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

To put it another way, how many of you own a $60k or $80K pickup? do you leave it in the garage, or drive it? Maybe there are times and places you don't, but it doesn't stay in all the time. same with a fine gun.

@K-man
In Australia the average pick up is 60-80K and that for a ford ranger, Isuzu, Mazda etc.
An F150, Silverado or Ram 2500 will set you back up to 200,000 out here.
Bob

 

[CZDiesel]

@K-man
In Australia the average pick up is 60-80K and that for a ford ranger, Isuzu, Mazda etc.
An F150, Silverado or Ram 2500 will set you back up to 200,000 out here.
Bob

Ouch!

 

[CZDiesel]

@Woodcarver
Life may be to short to hunt with ugly guns but what about beautiful guns hunting with ugly people. I know I fall into that category.
Bob

I resemble that remark! lol

 

[Surgeon1]

Yes. I love my doubles, next will be the doubles my mom and dad hunted with in it 50,60 & early 70s

 

[Tom Leoni]

Heck yes! What's the point of acquiring valuable or rare guns if they are not used for their intended purpose? It's like having a prize racehorse and keeping it in the stall, or marrying a supermodel and keeping her untouched in separate bedroom.

I've never understood the concept of safe-queens. Going on safari is a joy; going on safari with a great rifle is priceless.

 

[ActionBob]

I am just in the $10-$18k range in what I have but they go and they do get beat around. Like you I am curious as to others answers on the true high end guns. I might buy something up to $50k and hunt with it I suppose but beyond that I don't know.

Philip you're still young, give yourself some room for inflation

 

[ftrovato]

Heck yes! What's the point of acquiring valuable or rare guns if they are not used for their intended purpose? It's like having a prize racehorse and keeping it in the stall, or marrying a supermodel and keeping her untouched in separate bedroom.

I've never understood the concept of safe-queens. Going on safari is a joy; going on safari with a great rifle is priceless.

AGREED!
If I can afford to own it and then I intend to shoot it, it's going hunting!!!!!

 

[deewayne2003]

Philip you're still young, give yourself some room for inflation

@Philip Glass … Don’t do it! Don’t fall for Bob’s enablement; he’s just trying to get you to take that trip to London.

@ActionBob - The Marcel Thys is stunning