worst Training for the
Are you ready for when the excrement hits the oscillation?
Salvaging the
8x57 Reviving an old warhorse
Black Powder Virus Hunting with your father
UGANDA Exploratory hunt I dreamed of Africa
Hunter Personal Experience Directory Trigger an information outbreak
Make a Plan
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Disclaimer While all precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of advice and information provided, the Proprietor, Publisher, Editor, or Writers cannot accept responsibility for any damages, inconvenience or injury whatsoever that may result from incorrect information. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or its agents. African Expedition Magazine assumes no responsibility to return graphics unsolicited editorial, or other material. All rights in unsolicited editorial, letters, emails, graphics and other material will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and material will be subject to African Expedition Magazine’s unrestricted right to edit and editorial comment. All material and/or editorial in African Expedition is the property of African Expedition and/or the various contributors. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the prior written consent of the Publisher.
contents 4 | AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2010
8 Training for the worst Are you ready for when the excrement hits the oscillation?
22 Black Powder Virus Hunting with your father
32 Salvaging the 8 x 57 Reviving an old warhorse
47 Uganda Exploratory hunt I dreamed of Africa ...
56 News, Reviews, and Press Releases 69 Hunter Personal Experience Directory Trigger an information outbreak
98 Make a Plan
Making a winch from poles
103 True North Do I have what it takes?
6 | AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2010
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Training for the worst
Are you ready for when the excrement hits the oscillation?
8 | AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2010
Cleve Cheney
W
hen the pawpaw hits the fan. This is an expression which implies a crisis situation – a worse case scenario. Professionals are trained to handle “what if “ situations. What if the patient’s heart stops beating? What happens if one of the aircraft’s engines fails? What happens if the boat capsizes? Training for a crisis prepares the individual to handle the situation when it occurs in real life. Repetitive practice eventually instils an instinctive reaction to a sequence of recognized events and it is this instinctive reaction which can mean the difference between life and death in many instances. For field rangers, professional guides who operate on foot and hunters, one of the “paw paw hits the fan” scenarios is being charged by dangerous big game – implying elephant, buffalo, hippo, rhino lion or leopard. Most charges by one of these animals occur over a short distance giving little time to respond.
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Cross sections through skulls of some dangerous game species. The side on cross sections of the brain are painted red. The frontal cross section is shown using a red painted disk
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There may be a lot of folk out there that say this article does not apply to them because they never intend hunting or cannot afford to hunt dangerous big game. However you may not actually be hunting one of these animals but may be operating in an area where they occur and find yourself in the unintended situation of having to deal with a serious charge. Then again you might be hunting one of these animals and could also be following up on one that has been wounded when you are faced with a life threatening confrontation. How does one go about preparing for such an eventuality? Training yourself to handle this type of situation is critically important. If you don’t and the proverbial paw paw does hit the proverbial fan you are likely to panic and that could be the very worst thing you could do.
Be aware If you are participating in any outdoor activity (recreational hiker, leading wilderness trails, on ranger patrol, hunting) in an area where dangerous game is to be found be aware! This is even more important when you are not equipped with the right calibre of rifle to stop a serious charge. Then you must make every effort to avoid confrontation.
ping frequently to listen and smell and moving slowly will all assist in you spotting a dangerous animal before it spots or becomes aware of you. This is what you want because then if you are not hunting the animal it will give you enough time to take avoiding action and get space between you and the animal. If you are hunting you have a big advantage if you see the animal first as you can then carefully plan your final stalk. What we don’t want is to stumble unexpectedly on a dangerous animal – especially at close range – that is when copious amounts of paw paw start flying all over the place!
Learn about animal behaviour and how to interpret it Learning about the habits and behaviour of dangerous game is imperative if you are going to be walking in big game territory. Know what their preferred habitats are, if and when they frequent waterholes, times of peak activity, what they eat, territorial behaviour, protection level of young, predator avoidance strategies in the case of herbivores, hunting strategies of predators, reproductive behaviour, whether they walk singly alone or in pairs and how to identify signs of aggression.
Train yourself to handle unexpected situations in the bushveld
This means keeping a very sharp lookout for dangerous game sign and steering clear of dangerous animals. If dangerous animals are spotted, smelled or heard and you do not have the firepower to stop a charge, keep a safe distance between yourself and potential trouble. Close proximity to dangerous animals is the main cause of serious confrontations. Don’t let curiosity get the better of you – rather stay away and avoid getting close. This would apply in general to bowhunters (even a 100 pound bow will not stop a frontal charge), unarmed individuals, individuals armed with calibres too small to stop a charge and those armed with the right calibres but with the wrong type of ammunition. Even if you are adequately armed, be aware. Know how to identify the tracks, scat, smell, sound and other sign of dangerous game and how to estimate the age of sign. At least then when fresh sign is found you will be forewarned of the imminent presence of animals that are potentially hazardous to your longevity and will be keeping a sharp lookout for them. Walking quietly, with the breeze in your face, stop-
tions
Avoid precipitating situa-
If you are not hunting dangerous game or don’t have the firepower to stop a charge – keep your distance. If you purposely put yourself into a situation which makes an animal feel threatened, get too close to animals with young, or make an animal feel trapped by closing off its escape routes you will have to accept the consequences of which serious injury or death are likely probabilities. Don’t go looking for trouble if you don’t have the wherewithal to deal with it.
Practice for the worst case scenario Assuming that you have the appropriate firearm and correct ammunition to potentially stop a charge by even the biggest animal (i.e. elephant) you must then practise using it. Charges usually occur at ranges of 30m or less so you will be practicing at ranges closer than this because you might not be hunting the animal that charges and wish to give it the opportunity to stop NOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 11
There will be very little time to respond to a charge and you must use a brain shot to drop the animal in its tracks.
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or veer off. You may for example have a license to shoot a lion and are charged by a white rhino. You don’t want to shoot the rhino because it will cost you a heap of money you possibly don’t have and secondly you might find yourself in big trouble with the law. You would have a hard time justifying having shot a white rhino at a distance of 20 – 30m but would have a far stronger case of self preservation if you drop the animal at 5m or less. In this regard many white rhino veer off from a charge at a distance of 10 -15m. Although it is unwise to generalize, dangerous animals have certain behavioural traits when it comes to charges that are peculiar to the species. Some having initiated a charge will follow through with it, others may stop or break away, some give indications of an imminent charge, others charge without pre-warning and so on. For the purposes of training and at the ranges you will be shooting at the assumption is that the charge is serious and close enough to believe it will be carried through.
Use the same firearm you will be carrying in the field Firearms have individual characteristics – they carry, point, and shoot differently. This is true even in exactly the same models firing the same calibre. One thing that must be understood is that in a charge, split seconds count and you should therefore be thoroughly acquainted with how the weapon you are carrying handles. This is no time to discover the quirks of an unfamiliar weapon.
Practice using live ammunition Practice using live ammunition of the same type you will be using in the field. You must get used to and comfortable with the recoil of a high powered rifle and must also be aware of the time taken to re-align a weapon for a second shot after substantial muzzle climb. This can be an expensive undertaking given the cost of big calibre ammunition but can be offset by reloading your own ammo. The question also begs the asking: “How much is your life worth?”
Practice on realistic targets Practice shooting at realistic targets, which should be as close to life size as possible. This is reason-
able with animals of the size of buffalo, hippo, rhino, leopard and lion. In the case of elephant this is not practical and the target will be less than life size. What is important however is that frontal brain sizes of all animals must be life size. Brains should be drawn in initially so that the marksman learns to know its position. Later on the brain can be lightly pencilled in once the marksman has learned to place shots consistently in this area. Targets should also all be facing on and in “charge mode” as this will be the view from the position of the person being charged. Photos can be used and pasted onto hardboard to which steel pegs can be inserted into the ground. An alternative is to knock droppers into the ground and tie the targets to these with wire or cable ties. If photos are not available animals can be painted or sketched onto hardboard.
ANIMAL Elephant Buffalo Rhino (black and white) Lion Leopard Hippo
Frontal cross sectional area of brain 22cm 11cm 11cm 5cm 5cm 11cm
Practice in a natural setting It is important that you practice in a variety of natural settings so that you can get used to shooting from different positions, angles and elevations. Targets should be placed at a range of not more than 10 -12m from the marksman as this is the sort of range at which a charging animal will be shot. Also shoot at different times of the day with the sun in different positions (from behind you, shining into your eyes, from the side and so on) as you can never predict the exact circumstances under which you will have to deal with a charge. Always keep safety in mind when shooting – know where your bullets will land after having gone through the target. Practicing in a dry riverbed with steep banks is a good option or having a mountain as a backstop. NOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 13
Examples of realistic targets using photos mounted on hardboard.
Example of a target drawn onto board.
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CLICK HERE NOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 15
Practice in a natural setting with the targets set up no further than 12m away.
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You should carefully study the anatomy of dangerous animals and know where to place a brain shot from various angles.
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A white rhino dropped at four paces with a brain shot.
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Understand the importance of shot placement When a dangerous animal charges you there will be very little time available to drop it and shot placement is critical. Shots to the heart lung area will not drop an animal in its tracks and it will seriously injure or kill you before it dies from loss of blood. The only target you should therefore aim for is the brain. You have to be thoroughly familiar with the anatomy of dangerous game and know where to place a brain shot from various angles.
Cleve Cheney holds a bachelor of science degree in zoology and a master’s degree in animal physiology. He is a wilderness trail leader, rated field guide instructor and the author of many leading articles on the subjects of tracking, guiding, bowhunting and survival. Cleve has unrivalled experience in wildlife management, game capture and hunting, both with bow and rifle. CLICK HERE to visit his web site NOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 19
CLICK HERE
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NOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 21
Black Powder Virus
Hunting with your father
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Darko Egersdorfer
T
he first hunt in the season is always special. It involves long preparation and planning which usually start a year in advance. But this trip was special because of other reasons too. My father was visiting from overseas so he would join me and my long time hunting partner Mile on our season’s opener. He is 86 years “young” and still keen to hunt. Like a teenager, when asked for his age he always adds one year, probably in a hurry to reach 100. In addition to all this excitement, on this hunt I was going to try my new toy for the first time in the field. I was reading various articles about black powder guns in hunting magazines and thinking how silly grown up old boys must be when they play with 19th century guns. Do they carry gas masks when they shoot their black powder “pieces”? Do they know that nowadays people use computers and not ink and goose-feathers anymore? At that time a friend of mine bought a Pietta’s replica of the 1861 Navy Colt and he invited me to try it out for the first time at a shooting range. I instantly contracted the Black Powder Virus (BPV) – if you go to any shooting range you will see that this virus is spreading faster than swine flu in South Africa.
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Hendrik and author as gun bearer
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d Mile
n father a e – My nt s u o h ck hu the blo essful Inside er succ ft a g n ti celebra
Hendrik
and my
father w
ith his
fallow d
eer sta
g
hunt – HenAfter the driven ther and I y fa drik, Willem, m
NOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 25
The block house
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To make our discussions more interesting (mine is better than yours), I bought a replica of Remington’s 1858 model only a few days after I was exposed to the virus. It took me much longer to explain to my wife how essential this investment was in the upcoming economic crisis. Thanks to the very efficient clerks in the Department of Explosives in Pretoria, I got my black powder permit in 3 days and was ready to shoot my own “piece”. While you can cure swine flu, scientists still haven’t found a reliable medicine for BPV. Very soon you become addicted to the black powder smoke and you want to burn more and more of it. And you need more and more guns. I rejected the idea of shooting any big game with my Remington so I desperately needed a muzzleloader for hunting. Because my birthday was approaching, I announced to my family that they can be relieved and stop searching for (expensive) presents - I’d already found one. Under pressure I had to promise that after this purchase I would not buy anything even resembling a gun anymore (I crossed my fingers behind my back). After some internet research and a visit to the Aim Show I made my choice. Not being a traditionalist I settled on Pedersoli’s rolling block rifle in .50 caliber. This is a modern and very accurate gun whose barrel has a fast 1 in 24” twist that allows you to use cones and round balls. The back and front sights have green and red fiberglass strings respectively, which make them very visible. On the shooting range I’ve managed to put patched round balls with 90gr of Sanadex in the 5cm circle, even from a free standing position. You can mount a scope on it and get better grouping but I decided to use open sights and limit my shooting distance to 50- 80 meters (my eyesight is not good enough for longer shots). Additional pleasure in possessing the BP gun is that you can improvise and make your own equipment. I’ve picked up a few tricks from some helpful people on the shooting range; like using small tablet containers for pre-measured powder charges. The handle for the rod is not included in the standard equipment you get with the rifle – which I immediately noticed on the first outing when I almost pierced my hand while pushing the ball into the barrel. So I made one for myself using a piece of wood and a screw. A match box can be used to store the round balls and small plastic containers with secure lids can be used to carry a few musket caps while hunting. Now equipped with all the essentials we headed to the Eastern Cape. Our destination was the 5500ha farm in the Middleburg area. It is a sheep farm but it has a large population of fallow deer and mountain reedbucks. There are some springboks and blesboks too, but our main difficulty would be to come close enough to a really wild fallow deer stag. They are not indigenous to South Africa, but they have adapted well to our climate and they offer a challenging hunt.
On our arrival we agreed with our hosts to try for the deer the next day and then have a driven hunt for springboks the day after. We unpacked quickly in the cottage used for hunters’ accommodations and then moved to the neighboring building. Another thing I like a lot on this farm is an original Boer War blockhouse which was converted into a braai place. Despite some setbacks it gives enough protection from some very cold Eastern Cape evenings, especially if you drink a whiskey or two to regulate your inner temperature. In the previous year I had hunted on the same farm with the young farmer’s sons as guides, but this time our guides would be Hendrik and Willem, two local farm workers. We decided that I would go alone with Hendrik because my environment friendly father and friend didn’t want to suffocate from the smoke my rifle produces. At 7 o’clock the next morning we were in the hunting field. It is a huge area between the local road and the mountains. Next to the road is a small stream with bushes and trees around it. As you get closer to the mountains there is less and less cover. The deer like feeding at the foot of the mountain and it is possible to glass them from far away, but soon I realized that it will be very tricky to come to the shooting distance I had set for myself. As many other guides, Hendrik was rushing in front of me, thinking that we will see more if we walk faster. I’d managed to slow him down and we stayed close to the stream using patches of trees and bushes as good cover. Soon we found two groups of does and just for fun I tried to come close to them. I stayed upright, using any available trees for cover. I moved only when they were feeding, with the wind in my favor. Sometimes I had to cross open gaps with no cover but I still managed to come pretty close to the two My father and his springbok does. I wanted to shoot a young stag for a pot so we left the does and searched further. At that point we found a group of five fallow deer with one big and one very young stag among them. They were in the open veld but not too far from the last line of trees. When we reached the last tree, only some short grass and a few small bushes were between us and the deer. I left Hendrik and started leopard crawling with the rifle on a sling over my back. After struggling for 20 meters I lifted my head and saw the young deer heading straight towards me. He was suspicious and came to investigate. I had to quickly take the rifle off my back, find the musket cap in my pocket, cock the gun and put the cap on the nipple; all that while clinging to the ground. When I was finally ready the stag was barely 40 paces from me. I shot it straight in the chest and through the smoke I saw it fall instantly to the ground. What a success on the first black powder hunt! Later we found the bullet, which had doubled in diameter but hadn’t lost any weight. The weight of the ball taken from the deer was 175gr – same as the original. On returning to the camp I found out that my smokeless companions didn’t shoot anything. Now it was my turn to tease!
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Author and his young fallow deer
In the afternoon I accompanied my father as a gun carrier. All the stocks on my rifles were too long for him and his eyes don’t serve him as well as they used to. He was keen to find his stag, so I came along as an extra pair of eyes. I didn’t slow down Hendrik on time so we flushed a group of deer while crossing the stream. Soon we were able to see a few other herds at the foot of the mountain, where big stags were showing off their horns. To come close to them with my father would be even more challenging than with my muzzleloader, so we progressed slowly along the stream and Hendrik adjusted his stride. In one long clearing between two lines of trees I saw something big coming straight towards us. The three of us froze and we stood in amazement. It was a relaxed kudu bull that kept on coming closer and closer, and only changed direction when we could count the hairs on his eyelashes. This NEVER happens when you hunt kudu – this guy knew exactly that we were not after him. Our slow pace paid off very soon afterwards. Hendrik saw a deer and tried to point it out to us but neither my father nor I could see it. I thought the animal was far away, so Hendrik almost gave up pointing to the same spot until I finally saw it lying in the tall grass 20 meters from us. Only the horns were visible to me but my father still couldn’t see it. In all that
commotion the stag stood up and moved slightly. Luckily he was not sure what was happening so he didn’t run and my father had enough time to aim. We were standing in the open and there was nothing to use for support, so I put my hand under the rifle to help my father steady it. At the sound of the shot the stag disappeared. We found it in the exact same spot where it was standing a second ago with a perfectly placed neck shot. It seems that some old-timers never forget how to shoot. On our arrival back to the lodge we found out that Mile had shot a doe and a young stag, which gave us more reason to celebrate with a few sundowners. There would be liver for breakfast next morning for sure. In the next two days everyone managed to get a springbok or two and we had a nice walk in the hills where we shot two mountain reedbucks. The driven hunt was a new experience for me and I was very proud that I managed to shoot a springbok at 80 meters with my “smoke” gun, but I still prefer walking than waiting for game to be driven to me. I have no doubt in my mind that this will not be my last hunting adventure with my “old” black powder gun and I hope it’s not the last one that I shared with my “young” father.
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Salvaging the
8x57
Reviving an old warhorse
32 | AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2010
Terry Blauwkamp
R
ecently, I picked up a new Remington Model 700 Classic in 8mm Mauser at a local store in the “clearance” rack. The 8mm Mauser, or 8x57mm as it is also known, has always had a soft spot in my heart, since for years I’ve played with many Model 98 Mausers in this caliber. Remington has made a series of “Classic” calibers over the years, and the 8x57mm was one of the last ones made. It certainly was a surprise to me when Remington chose this European-German popular caliber, as the American market just does not grasp metric designations. The only one that ever really caught on here was the 7mm Remington Magnum. NOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 33
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I mounted a Leupold compact 3x9 power scope on it, and then proceeded to round up some odds and ends of accumulated ammo to zero-in the scope and test some loads. Below is a quick list of results: 170 gr. Peters RN (circa 1960’s) 170 gr. Federal Hi Shoks (new) 170 gr. Winchester Super X (old) 170 gr. Remington RN Core Lokt (new) 160 gr. Norma RN Soft Point (old) 196 gr. Sellier & Bellot (new)
2011 fps. 2303 fps. 2567 fps. 1889 fps. 2446 fps 2480 fps.
As you can see, there is wide disparity in velocities. Obviously, the manufactures are not loading ammo up to full speed, to protect shooters who might put their ammo into old rifles. The fact is, most of the old rifles are Mauser 98 bolt actions, and could easily take full pressure loads. Be sure and check the empty case weights, as they vary a lot by manufacturer. The Federals were very heavy at 180-182 gr. each; with the Sellier & Bellot the lightest at only 160 gr. Winchester and Remington were about the same at 170-175 gr. Loads that might be great in the Sellier & Bellot light cases, but could be too hot in the heavy Federals… so be careful. Of the American manufacturers, only the Winchester ammo was up to par with what it should or could be. However, the one that really got my attention was the European Sellier & Bellot 196 gr. SP load that produced 2480 fps. average. That ought to make a great load for most game shot less than 150 yards. Reloading the 8x57mm is a nice simple process and the RCBS dies I had worked perfectly. The interesting part was trying to find loads that were not “subpressure” like the Remington Factory loads. Hodgdon’s data is loaded to only 36,000 CUP, while the Barnes, Hornady, and Nosler manuals had excellent loads to work with, as did Western Powders. With Western Big Game powder, I easily achieved 2650 fps. with a 185 gr. Barnes TSX, and 2550 fps. with the 195 gr. Hornady Spire Point using Hodgdon’s Varget. That 195 gr. Hornady Spire Point really seems like it would be an ideal bullet for the 8x57mm. I think that it is made to withstand the velocities of the 325 WSM, so it should be plenty tough for larger game at 8x57mm velocities.
As the field-testing continued, I started changing the seating depth. Since this rifle seems to have a long “military” gradual throat, I started seating the bullet way out, just .010 off the lands. This seemed to improve the consistency of the groups, but the point of impact (P.O.I.) was still drastically different with each different load I tried. I then switched from CCI 200 primers to Federal 210 Match primers, which is not a “magnum” primer, but is certainly hotter than the CCI. It must be, as the velocities jumped close to 100 fps., while the groups stayed the same. The next thing was to put a De-Resonator (www. limbsaver.com) on the barrel to help dampen the vibrations. So far, the groups are now more consistent, but I’m not happy yet. Speaking of “happy”, I was appalled at the condition of the barrel and throat of this new rifle. The throat was terribly rough, and if any custom barrel maker had ever sent me a barrel like that, I would have sent it back in heartbeat. Dumb me, I just did not look at this when I purchased the rifle. The trick is now what to do about it. So, I sent it back to Remington explaining the facts of life, and asking for a new barrel. Remington at first declined to send a new barrel, because they said a cleaning bush damaged the throat. After conferring with a supervisor, they agreed that the barrel was not good, but... could not replace it as the 8x57mm was a limited run for their Classic calibers and they had no spares. They did however offer me the option of a new 30-06 or .270 barrel. Darn, another 30-06 or .270 barrel was just what I needed! So, I took the unexpected option, and said, “Just send the rifle back as is”. The next plan is to take the existing barrel off, set it back and rechamber it hoping to cut thru the bad throat and clean it up. While I had the barrel off the action, I took the time to lap-in the recoil lugs just to be sure of even contact. I must say they were not too bad to start with, so scratch up “one” for Remington. Also while apart, I faced off the front of the action, just to be sure of a barrel alignment with the threads. Again, this was not bad, so scratch up another one for Remington. Now, here we are going to take away the points accumulated so far. In removing the firing pin from the bolt, I noticed the spring wrapped around the NOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 35
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pin did not fit at all, and was so bad I could hardly get the spring out of the bolt. So, I ordered a new firing pin assembly, (non-ISS J-Lock) from Brownell’s Inc. (http://www. brownells.com/), part number 767-220-400. Ah, this fit like a glove, and surely is going to help with uniform ignition. My efforts to clean up the throat were mostly in vain, as when I set the barrel back .065 (one rotation) and then rechambered it, only to find it did not clean up very much of the throat. My future plans are to take the 8x57 to Africa on a plains game hunt in the near future, as it should be perfect for a walk and stalk hunt in the bushveldt. Feel free to write anytime with questions to tblauwkamp@ superior-sales.com
Terry Blauwkamp is a lifelong hunter and a veteran of many African safaris. His reloading expertise extends beyond the standard American calibers to metric and classic African calibers. NOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 37
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The BorderLine Walk is in support of antipoaching efforts for Black Rhino in the Savè Valley. Initiated by Hunters for Zimbabwe, the walk will be 3066 kilometers long: 813 kilometers along the Botswana border, 797 km. along Zambia, 225 km. along South Africa, and finally 1231 km. along the Mozambique border. The BorderLine Walk will be widely covered by the media and progress will be published on the African Expedition Magazine and tracked on Google Earth.
The BorderLine walk will support anti-poaching efforts to prevent this from happening again: a young black rhino caught in a poacher’s snare. This baby died a few days after this photograph was taken. 40 | AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2010
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David Hulme is a Zimbabwean writer and professional wanderer who spends most of his time searching for new stories and country, never staying too long in any one place.’
FOLLOW THEIR PROGRESS ON GOOGLE EARTH
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Support Hunters for Zimbabwe by buying David Hulme’s great new book, Shangaan Song. Proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to support the BorderLine Walk – a foot journey of approximately three thousand kilometers along Zimbabwe’s border. The BorderLine Walk is an initiative aimed at raising awareness for Hunters for Zimbabwe, an organization whose primary objective is the advancement of Zimbabwean people and wildlife.
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JimmyJimmy and Anne Whittall on the day I found him 42 | AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2010
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Uganda Exploratory hunt
I dreamed of Africa ...
D.R. Hooker
I
have dreamed of hunting in Africa since I was a small boy. I never expected to be able to experience Africa as it was in the early 1900’s, but that’s what the Karamoja area of Uganda is like right now. I have traveled in East Africa on business and vacation eight times in the past. I was amazed to see this area of Uganda; I was not prepared for the beauty I found there. Kidepo was the first stop just a few miles from the Sudan border. The concession covers 27,000 square kilometers and the scenery is magnificent. We stayed in a camp a few miles from the border of the Kidepo game park. It was on a small hill which gave us a great view of the mountains north towards Sudan. NOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 47
With this being an exploratory hunt, Steve Robinson of Kuduland Safaris and I had discussed that it would not be a five star luxury camp with all the comforts of home, and it would not be a shopping list hunt. We would be traveling in places where no one had hunted in thirty years. The game surveys had been done, and Steve knew where the game was, but we did not know exactly what we would find or what to expect. With weather changes this time of year (April), Steve and I had developed an on-line friend ship while planning this hunt. He knew I was not a ‘cherry’ when it comes to Africa, but I was when it comes to hunting in Africa. I have lived in the bush and knew what to expect in a temporary camp setting. As it worked out, we ended up at a very nice, new, though rustic, tourist camp. There are very few improved roads within a two-day drive from Kampala, and no paved roads in this area. The drive is great and well worth the time spent. You get to see the Nile River at Murchison Falls, and experience lots of the local atmosphere. The locals here are not used to seeing a lot of tourists, so they are not spoiled, standing along the roads begging for money, candy, or whatever. Thank God for digital cameras, I had two cameras with me, one was pocket size and the other a full size DSLR. I gave them both a full work out. Personally, I like almost everything about Uganda, but especially how unspoiled it was. The Kidepo area has a mixture of grass savanna and thorn trees. The first day of the hunt was like nothing I had expected. With no roads, we got to an area we wanted to look at by just pulling off the road and slowly driving through the tall grass. It was like you read about in the old days of hunting East Africa. At about 1:00pm on the first day, we were looking for plains game in an area of thorn trees, when we spotted two nice old dugga boys lying under a tree out of the heat of the day. We stopped the truck and got out. I was leaning through the window with my rifle on the bigger of the two. A nice old bull with worn off horns. I’m from the South; so leaning on the truck was natural to me! Steve was next to me looking at the bull with the sticks. I told him to tell me if he wanted me to shoot. He whispered, “I have the sticks”. I told him, “I have this guy center chest if you want me to shoot”. He whispered “sticks” again. I told him this was a dead buffalo if he wanted me to shoot. He told me “sticks” again!!!!! At this time, we decided that this was the first day of the hunt, and this was not the ‘scrum cap’ I wanted. Steve had found out there were some other scrum 48 | AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2010
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cap bulls in the areas. So, I put the rifle away and got my camera, but by now the bulls where getting nervous and they moved away. They moved a whole 20 yards before they turned and stopped to look at us again. I was amazed at how calm they where. From what I knew of buffalo, I expected them to break and run till they where out of the county. I was to get many more pleasant surprises like this in the days to come. The next day, we were going out looking for a waterbuck where we knew there were some close by the camp. Again, Steve and Philip were dead on, and we were not on the road for thirty minutes before we came upon a very nice waterbuck. I have not had buck fever in years, but that all changed in the blink of an eye. To make a long and embarrassing story short, I missed an easy shot THREE TIMES. Steve was great; he was supportive and understanding, but I still felt like crap. We hunted there the rest of the day without seeing anything. The next day, we went looking of hartebeest, and after some driving through the grass; we spotted a nice male standing broadside at 75 yards. Again, he was very calm as we got out of the truck. I now knew the truck door was not acceptable, so I got ready.
Steve set the sticks for me, but I had trouble getting my footing and the critter moved away slowly. However, luck was with us and he stopped again at about 150 yards. After talking it over with Steve, I chose to move up a little closer by myself. I had a small bush for cover, so I worked my way up to about 75 yards and put him on the grown with a spine shot. Then, I did the ‘ugly dance’. The skinner started to work on him and we got back to camp around time for a cool one or two, and to celebrate and talk about the waterbuck. I now had a score to settle with him, and I was going to collect in blood… his blood!! Next morning we headed to the area we thought he might be. As we were getting close, we were about to stop the truck to stalk him, when the game scout pointed to the right, and there he was looking at us from 180 yards. Once out of the truck, I was on the sticks and had him center chest… if you didn’t count the tree in the center of my sights. We moved a little; he moved a little. We moved again; he moved again. He was beginning to get on my nerves! Then, he laid down. I waited. He got up, then laid down again, and then got up. But, this time he made a fatal mistake, and moved a few inches in front of the tree. One shot through the chest, and he feel like a fat lady diving for a donut.
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As we where moving up on him he tried to stand up again. I gave him a round through the neck and that was that. I had redeemed myself. Over the next two weeks, we hunted oribi, dik-dik and baboons. OHHH YES, and on the seventh day we hunted Buffalo. Steve had a bad case of malaria, so we were going to drive to a hill and glass the area for buffalo. As we were getting close to where we wanted to park, Philip exclaimed F&^k! and looked to the right. At the same time, Steve exclaimed F&^k! Then me, at about four times Steve’s volume, when I saw the buffalo I wanted‌ a large old scrum cap. We had seen some nice buffalo while hunting, but this guy was huge. We got out of the truck, and after setting up, we blasted him into the great unknown. YES, I did the ugly dance!!! Even as sick as he was, Steve was smiling like a drunken monkey, as was Philip. The next day Philip and I went out for oribi, after we convinced Steve to say in camp and rest. We saw over a hundred oribi before 2:00pm. But, the grass was tall and I could just not get a clear shoot. As we were headed back to camp, we found a dumb one, who just stood in the open and watched, as I walked up and shot him. With no hunting pressure, the animals are very calm.
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The next day we headed south to Pien Upe. This is the site of Karamoja Bell’s base camp on the Greek River. It was a tent camp that we set up on arrival. It was as beautiful as the Kidepo area with a wonderful view from our hilltop. We hunted and explored this area for a week, and I got three baboons. The fees for a baboon are twenty dollars each, and there are no limits on the number you can take. The populations are very high and they are causing trouble for the locals, so population control is one of the things the government wants hunters to achieve. If you are interested in hunting like it was in the 1930’s and 40’s, I would suggest you get to Uganda
as soon as possible. This area will become one of the premier hunting destinations in Africa in the very near future. I have never had so much fun at any time in my life as I did hunting in Uganda. Steve is a wonderful person with a wealth of knowledge, useless and otherwise (ha ha), and a wonderful sense of humor. Steve Robinson, Kuduland Safaris, White River, South Africa. Tel: +27 (0) 13 750 1982 Cell Phone: +27 (0) 832777114 Fax: +27 (0) 866858867 Email: shakari@mweb.co.za www.kuduland.com
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News, Reviews, and Press Releases COR BON Introduces Expedition Hunter™ COR®BON, the industry leader in innovative ammunition introduces its professional series; Expedition Hunter™. Expedition Hunter™ was engineered to take down Big and Dangerous Game, HARD! The Expedition Hunter™ is available with COR®BON’s own modern DPX®, lead free X-panding™ Bullet, or the traditional, world renowned, Woodleigh bullets. Both of these proven bullets have the penetration to take down large thick skinned game. If you’re hunting in the Rocky Mountains, barren grounds of Alaska or the Savannah’s of Africa, Expedition Hunter™ is what you can depend on for your next adventure. They also designed the box with two plastic resealable, five round field packs; totaling 10 rounds of knock down power. Plus a handy tear-n-go field ballistic chart is included for your pocket or shooting bag. Designed and engineered for the discriminating hunter who demands nothing but the best; who recognizes distinction and the importance of excellent quality. COR®BON believes that the Expedition Hunter™ is your trusted ammunition for your next Safari. Ammunition available in all popular calibers. Visit our website www.corbon.com for more details
Otis hits the bulls eye by launching redesigned website Lyons Falls, NY: Otis Technology is known for being on the cutting edge of technology when it comes to 56 | AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2010
its automated facility, lean manufacturing processes, and superior quality products. Otis cleaning systems are the most advanced gun care systems in the World. Even so, Otis Technology’s online presence didn’t portray that, until now. Included in the re-design are new website features, instructional videos, an in-depth dealer page, and a “cleaning system selector”. These are just a few of the many improvements made to the site. The System Selector Application will allow users to input the caliber/gauge/ mm of firearm(s) they own to receive a populated list of Otis systems that will clean their variety of firearms. This application will prove very helpful to the user. “Otis Technology needs a website that showcases Otis’ excellence. From the cutting edge technology of our products to our roots within our community and industry involvement,” says Doreen Garrett, President and CEO of Otis. “There is not a better time to launch a new website then during our 25th year in business. It’s the perfect time to reestablish our online identity.” To compliment the re-designed site, Otis is continuously developing its social media presence. A Facebook fan page, tweets via Twitter, and instructional videos on YouTube are just a sampling of how Otis continues to increase its online presence. “The web and social media are important to the con-
tinued growth of any company. In order to have 25 more successful years this step was necessary,” said Denise Miller, President of Sales and Marketing. “It will also be easier for our customers and vendors to stay in touch with Otis. Social Media builds relationships with so many people and is a great asset. We are excited to share it with all of our customers and trade partners.” Visit the new Otis Technology website at www.otistec. com.
Blade-Tech Introduces HYBRID Holster Puyallup, WA -- Blade-Tech Industries, the leading manufacturer of custom thermoplastic and injection molded tactical holsters, knife sheaths and magazine pouches, proudly announces the long-awaited Blade-Tech HYBRID holster. This quality pancake style HYBRID holster provides the best of both worlds by offering a blend of the most practical and popular materials used in modern holster production today. The exterior is constructed in premium cowhide leather while the interior is precision molded Kydex™. The molding and forming process of the inside of the holster keeps with Blade-Tech’s reputation for having a quality fit and excellent retention. The premium cowhide leather and thermal formed plastic are laminated and sewn together to ensure a lasting bond between the two substances. The HYBRID holster uses conventional leather button straps to fit belts 1.25” to 1.75” in width. To increase the holster’s overall versatility, every HYBRID holster comes with an extra set of leather button straps that allows it to convert from a belt holster to an inside the waistband (IWB)
holster. The Blade-Tech HYBRID holster has a full length, built-in sweat guard to protect the firearm from the body and increase the overall comfort and fit of the holster. The holster also comes with a setscrew that allows the user to adjust the amount of tension on their firearm. On this design, Blade-Tech teamed up with Looper Brand Leather to provide a quality holster that is classically styled with the most up-to-date advancements in thermal formed plastics. Introductory priced at only $89.95. The HYBRID Holster is offered in either brown or black leather exteriors and is proudly made in the U.S.A. All Blade-Tech holsters and pouches are light and comfortable while remaining tough and durable. Each design is custom molded to specific weapons giving them excellent retention qualities while providing extremely fast presentation. Blade-Tech utilizes rigorous field-testing on all its products, conducted by firearms instructors, law enforcement and military personnel. Blade-Tech also produces its own line of quality field knives. 253-655-8059 www.blade-tech.com
Pro Tool Industries Honors American’s Freedom Fighters October 29, 2010 - November 11 is the day to remember that the freedoms we enjoy today have been bought with the sacrifices made by men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces. Their blood, their wounds, their mental anguish and their lives have paid the price for our liberty and our opportunities for the pursuit of happiness. Immigrants from around the world have streamed to our shores to partake of the freedoms United States’ veterans have bought for us. Veterans Day is the day to pay tribute to America’s citizen warriors. We owe them a debt that’s impossible to repay. NOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 57
Known by the military as the LC-14-B, this tool was used for self defense and hand-to-hand combat against enemies with bayonets and sabers in every United States war from WWII to Desert Storm. Soldiers also cleared-out paths through jungles and treacherous terrain and created and built blinds and bunkers from which our servicemen could fight with the LC-14-B. As times have changed, this same LC-14-B has been transformed from a wartime tool to a peacetime tool, being used to clear-out brush, build campsites and whack-down weeds and bushes around homes. No other tool better exemplifies the words of the Holy Bible in Isaiah 2:4, “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” To commemorate each individual veteran’s commitment to his country, Pro Tool Industries will engrave for free on the blade of each Veterans Limited Edition LC-14-B purchased: the name of the war in which a veteran served; his or her name; his or her unit’s name; the date of the war; and the words, “I was there.” You’ll also receive a numbered Certificate of Authenticity for your LC-14-B, which also comes with a lifetime guarantee. For every Veterans Limited Edition LC-14-B purchased, Pro Tool Industries will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Wounded Warrior Project. Pro Tool General Manager, Mark G. Scheifley, states, “It is important that we never forget the freedoms we enjoy today have been protected and preserved by thousands of American soldiers- our guardians of freedom and the American way of life. As our way of honoring America’s freedom fighters, Pro Tool Industries has developed a program with the LC-14-B to enable civic organizations, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, to raise money for their organizations or for the Wounded Warrior Project. For more information about Pro Tool Industries, its fundraising programs or its products visit www.protoolindustries.net.
Charter Will Introduce Two New Revolvers at NASGW Shelton, Connecticut - Charter Arms, manufacturer of American made revolvers has added the Off Duty .38 Special and Undercover Lite .38 Special models to its line of personal defense revolvers. Both models are available in a high polish stainless steel finish with a matte black frame. Distributors attending the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers 58 | AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2010
Annual Meeting and Expo in Louisville, KY later this week will have the opportunity to see them up close at Charter Arms booth No.133. Charter Arms President, Nick Ecker said, “What’s unique to both the Off Duty and the Undercover Lite is the high polish finish which offers a traditional look, while the matte black frame creates a futuristic appearance and style. These two new finishes complement the other models in the product line that have grown in popularity. Our customers will appreciate both models are sleek in appearance and were designed for concealable activities.” The five shot, two inch barrel of the Off Duty and Undercover Lite frame are made from 7075 Aircraft Quality Aluminum which assures superior strength. Both models weigh 14 ounces, with serrated front and rear notched sights and come with combat rubber grip panels that can be changed out to a Crimson Trace Grip. The Off Duty has an internal (DAO) double action hammer, allowing the firearm to be shot repeatedly through the pocket without snagging, while the Undercover Lite model has an external standard hammer. Both of these new models are an ideal choice for any concealed carry situation. Founded in 1964, Charter Arms manufactures a full line of revolvers made by professional, skilled American craftsmen in the heart of New England’s firearm valley in Shelton, CT. Steeped rich in tradition with unmatched customer service, Charter Arms revolvers are consistently associated with personal protection because of their strength, reliability and accuracy. All
Charter Arms revolvers are covered with a lifetime warranty. For more information, visit http://CharterArms.com or call customer service, Ph: (203) 9221652.
KEEP COOL WITH NEW NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR/FREEZERS Three new Norcold NRF (Norcold Refrigerator Freezer) Portable Compressor Refrigerator/Freezers are a great and adaptable way to keep food and drink amazingly cold, even on a hot summer day. The NRF30 has a capacity of 1.06 cu. ft. or the equivalent of 4212 oz. cans, while the NRF-45 is sized at 1.59 cu. ft. and can accommodate 64 cans. The largest model, the NRF-60, has 2.12 cu. ft. to hold 86 cans. The NRF models utilize CFC-free foam insulation and refrigerant to work better than traditional coolers, which require ice. A separate freezer-only section helps users freeze select items, while an easy-toclean removable wire basket provides convenience and organization. The stainless steel interior prevents staining and improves cooling. The hermetically-sealed compressor has built-in, low-voltage protection. An Electronic Control Panel displays the internal temperature and allows the user to set the desired temp. An indicator light alerts owners to installation issues, such as improper ventilation or high ambient temperature. To prevent battery drain, the NRFs offer three settable levels of battery protection and automatically turn back on when voltage returns. With a durable and corrosion-proof plastic exterior and heavy-duty, yet removable handles, NRF models are built to last. An easily reversible and removable hinge lid is included, along with a DC cord with cigarette lighter plug for convenience and a two-year limited warranty. An optional adapter allows AC operation and an optional carrying case helps protect the units.
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Thetford Corp. is the world’s leading supplier of sanitation and refrigeration products for the recreational vehicle, marine and heavy-duty truck industries. Thetford is a privately-held company with eight manufacturing facilities in four nations. Thetford subsidiaries nclude Norcold, America’s leading manufacturer of gas-absorption refrigerators and freezers for the RV, marine and truck markets; Tecma, a producer of fine-china toilets and powerful waste-transfer systems based in Italy; and Spinflo, a unit in England that manufactures high-quality cooking and heating appliances as well as accessories. Contact Thetford, 7101 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Toll-free 800-543-1219 or 734-769-6000; Fax: 734-769-2023. info@thetford.com; www.thetford.com
Magnus® Broadheads re-introduces two new broadhead product lines. Great Bend, KS - Magnus Broadheads, specialists of “Cut-on-Contact” broadheads since 1984, and manufacturers of the popular Stinger® Broadhead product line, announces the addition of their Stinger® Buzzcut and Snuffer® SS broadheads. The Stinger Buzzcut version of their popular Stinger Broadhead, incorporates a chiseled serration for more effective cutting inside an animal - and that equals greater blood trails. The Stinger Buzzcut comes in either 2-blade or 4-blades - and from 85 to 150 grain options. The knife-grade stainless steel is shaving sharp, right out of the package, and is reusable because it can be re-sharpened. The Stinger Buzzcut is precision machined and spin-tested for perfect flight every shot - every time. The re-engineered Snuffer SS broadhead is also a precision machined broadhead and is spin tested for perfect flight. The Snuffer SS integrates the strength of a one-piece head with a cut-on-contact tip and low blade angles for the most effective three-blade performance a bowhunter can get. The Snuffer SS can be purchased in either 1-1/16” or 1-1/8” diameters and from 85 to 125 grain and is resharpenable. NOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 59
The MRSP on the Stinger Buzzcut is $29.99 for the 2-blade and $34.99 for the 4-blade. The MRSP on the Snuffer SS is $34.99. Like all Magnus broadheads, it includes a lifetime replacement guarantee. For more information about Magnus Broadheads see your local retailer, contact customer service at 800720-5341, or visit their website at www.magnusbroadheads.com
Revision Introduces the New Sawfly® Military Eyewear System Revision, leading developer of protective eyewear for military and law enforcement forces worldwide, introduces the completely redesigned Sawfly Military Eyewear System. The new Sawfly Eyewear features a redesigned frame, Comms Compatible arms, new Comfort Nosepiece, an extended lens and new retention system. The result is a superior eye protection product that provides optimal comfort, fit and gear compatibility without compromising ballistic performance, optics or durability.
provides greater lateral lens coverage for full sideimpact protection-without compromising airflow and anti-fog performance. Finally, the system’s new Secure-Snap retention band clips firmly into the frame, keeping eyewear in place, even during high activity missions. Like its predecessor, the new Sawfly Military Eyewear System provides the same superior ballistics, exceeding ANSI Z87.1-2010 and military ballistic impact requirements MIL-PRF-31013, clause 3.5.1.1 and MIL-DTL-43511D, clause 3.5.10; the same flawless optics for distortion-free vision; and the same rugged durability to protect and perform through all the rigors of combat. The two-lens Sawfly U.S. Military Eyewear System makes its debut at the 2010 AUSA Annual Meeting with a retail price tag of $89.99 MSRP-the same best-value price as the previous model. The threelens Sawfly Eyewear Deluxe Kit retails for $119.99 MSRP, also with no price increase. Available December 1, 2010. For full product details visit http://www.revisioneyewear.com/perfection.
KodaBow Crossbow KodaBow is a small, Pennsylvania company using all USA made parts and labor. KodaBow crossbows are unique and if you ask anyone that has ever shot one, I believe the term was - SWEET! Their gearing up for the ATA show to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 6-8, 2011. Make sure you visit this American Made Company. A new direction in hunting crossbow design comes from this Pennsylvania Company that uses a 100% solid machined aluminum platform in combination with a distinctive AR-15 styling. The KodaBow crossbow’s solid core of aluminum results in minimal recoil The system’s multiple changes provide significant end-user gains; the Sawfly Eyewear’s redesigned frame not only features an aggressive new look but it facilitates lens changing with the new quick-change lens system. New Comms Compatible arms are leaner and longer for the utmost comfort, equipment compatibility and retention; their overmolded undercarriage provides shock absorption and grip while their thinner profile ensures that hearing protection works as designed. The eyewear’s new Comfort Nosepiece has been reengineered for enhanced comfort, retention and durability; it features a softer durometer nosepad which provides added grip and cushioning. The Sawfly’s new extended lens 60 | AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2010
effects and maximum energy dissipation resulting in a low noise signature. The adjustable stock has benefits during cocking the bow and provides a custom fit when shooting from different positions or for multiple users. The rail is highly functional with multiple attachment points on the underside for accessories ---- grips, varmint lights where permitted, and even bipods, so imagination is truly the limit. A unique patented trigger system with integrated Anti-Dry Fire and Automatic Safety results in crisp let-off at the shot. External parts have durable coatings including a hard coat on barrel, trigger and riser. String changes in the field are simplified with the Stringing Aid that ships with every bow and is specially designed for quick connection to the hybrid dual recurve limbs. A sturdy Kodabow Rope Cocking Aid is also included. Four different limb weights are offered up to 225 lbs, 8.3 lbs total bow weight w/o optics; 34” limb width and 27.5” at the cocked position, 34.75” min. length, 38.5” max. length, Speeds to 355 fps with a 350 gr arrow and up to 303 fps with a 515 gr arrow. Proudly made in the USA. Kodabow,1045 Andrew Drive C-2, West Chester, PA 19380, ATA Show Booth Number: 3008 www.kodabow.com 10-620-4352
The New Bushnell Fusion 1600 ARC Binoculars Overland Park, Kan.- With 15 years of laser rangefinder experience combined with over 60 years of optics ingenuity Bushnell introduces the new Fusion 1600 ARC range finding binoculars. This device combines quality optics with the latest in laser range finding technology into one easy to carry package. The 10x42 binoculars feature BAK-4 roof prisms, built-in battery life indicator, twist-up eye pieces, and fully multi-coated optics with RainGuard® HD coating, fully waterproof and submersible to meet IPX7 waterproof specification. The built in laser rangefinder will measure distances from 10-1600 yards. It features ARC (Angle Range Compensating) technology, which calculates the angle to the target and gives the “hold over” range for the rifle shooter, and true horizontal distance for bow hunters. There is a brush mode for measuring distances in heavy cover and a bullseye mode for ranging in open areas.
An additional key feature in the Fusion 1600 ARC is the Variable Sight-In Distance capability or VSI™. In rifle mode, users can select between 100,150, 200 or 300 yard sight-in distances to accommodate their shooting styles and preferences. They can also choose between Inches and MOA for holdover on longer shots. The range of angle measurement is -90 to +90 degrees. The display employs stateof-the-art Vivid Display Technology™ for improved light transmission and resolution, high contrast, four user adjustable intensity settings resulting in legible distance readings in low light conditions. The Fusion 1600 ARC laser range finding binoculars includes a battery, neck-strap and carrying case for a suggested price of $899 For more information on Bushnell Products visit www.bushnell.com or call 800-423-3537 for consumer inquiries.
New Technology Makes Hunters Smell Invisible Odor control and helping hunters “smell invisible” has been the goal of Hunter’s Specialties® for years. Their line of Scent-A-Way™ products has proven to be one of the most effective on the market for controlling human odors. Now Hunter’s Specialties has entered the scent control clothing market with Scent-A-Way™ TEK 4™ base layer clothing. Scent-A-Way TEK 4 utilizes state-of-the-art silver technology to permanently control odor caused by bacteria. Scent-A-Way TEK 4 uses up to 33% more silver than other available silver- based garments, providing unmatched odor control. Nylon threads that are permanently encapsulated in pure silver are woven into the garment, as opposed to the silver being sprayed on, dyed or dipped, so the odor controlling properties last for the life of the garment. “We have been a leader in odor control technology with our Scent-A-Way products for years” stated Hunter’s Specialties Co-CEO David Forbes. “When NOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 61
we made the decision to enter the scent control clothing market it was with the goal of producing the highest quality, most effective clothing available to
is breathable, extremely comfortable and is comparable to wearing silk. Hunters now have a complete scent control system to help them increase their success in the field. Odor control, moisture management, thermal control, durability and comfort are all available with the addition of TEK 4 clothing to the Scent-A-Way line of products. Base layer pants and tops, head nets, gloves, socks, boxer briefs, baseball caps and fleece caps are available in RealTree®AP™ and Champagne Brown with RealTree® accents. Minimum advertised prices are: Tops - $44.99 to $69.99 Bottoms - $44.99 to $69.99 Gloves - $14.99 to $24.99 Caps - $12.99 to $19.99 Socks - $14.99 to $19.99 Headnets - $14.99 to $19.99 Boxer Briefs - $19.99
hunters. We feel our Scent-A-Way TEK 4 garments offer everything a hunter would want; odor control, moisture management, excellent thermal properties, comfort and durability.” Scent-A-Way TEK 4 garments offer easy care. They are durable and fade resistant and can be washed with other clothing. Unlike carbon-based clothing, which has limits on how much odor it can absorb and requires special treatment to be recharged, Scent-AWay TEK 4 will continue to control odors on the last day of the hunt as well as it did on the first. The garments are also designed and engineered to provide permanent moisture management. They incorporate “catch, move and release” technology, which traps moisture and moves it away from the body where it can be treated by the silver and evaporated away. This keeps the hunter dry and comfortable under a wide range of weather conditions. This treatment is permanent, lasting the life of the garment. Scent-A-Way TEK 4 has unique thermal properties, keeping users warm when it is cold and cool when the temperature rises. Silver is one of the most thermally conductive elements on the planet, helping to optimize body temperature control. The clothing 62 | AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2010
For more information about other Hunter’s Specialties products, log onto the Hunter’s Specialties website at www.hunterspec.com, write to 6000 Huntington Court NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402, or call a Consumer Service Specialist at 319-395-0321.
Veterans Enjoy hunts in Africa and Wyoming Two veterans enjoyed a hunt of a lifetime in South Africa’s Limpopo province. Brandon Johnson, who served in the Marines, and Ryan Tuttle, an Army veteran, connected with half a dozen animals on a hunt donated by outfitter Schalk Van Heerden, who owns Bush Africa Safaris. For both men, it was a dream come true. They took kudu, blue wildebeest, waterbuck, and impala. The hunt was sponsored by HAVA (Honored American Veterans Afield), a shooting/hunting industrywide foundation that arranges and finances hunts for veterans; Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund, a foundation within Paralyzed Veterans of America; and the Outdoor Channel. Soon afterward, four veterans, all Purple Heart recipients, pursued pronghorn antelope in Wyoming. Three of the warriors were double-leg amputees, and one was paralyzed. All the men scored on beautiful
bucks the first day. This was the third annual Purple Heart pronghorn hunt held near Douglas, Wyoming. Residents Gary Stearns and Erick Mares provided logistics and guide service, and many businesses in Douglas made donations to support the hunt, including hotel rooms, meat processing, taxidermy, and fuel.
Current Specifications:
Funding for travel and hunting licenses for the antelope hunt was provided by the Outdoor Channel and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
• Metal finish: Matte/ brushed electroless nickel
Both hunts were filmed by Jim Zumbo’s production company, and orchestrated by volunteer Christina Holden, who arranged the logistics and details. The hunts will air winter of 2011 on Jim Zumbo Outdoors on the Outdoor Channel. “It was a thrill to see these young men on hunts that they never thought possible,” Zumbo said. “I’ll never forget a special moment on the antelope hunt where a Marine, who was a double leg amputee and walking on prosthetic legs, carried his Army comrad in his wheelchair through the sage as he pursued an antelope. This is the kind of thing you see on the battlefield, and I can tell you it was an emotional moment for me to see the camaraderie on the Wyoming prairie. Taking wounded warriors hunting helps them integrate with each other and helps them realize there is still life after their horrific injuries.”
Rhino .357 Magnum revolvers debut The Rhino is an unusual looking ergonomically designed firearm. Thanks to this unique form follows function design, the recoil and muzzle flip is greatly reduced due to the bottom chamber 6:00 firing position. This low barrel design shifts recoil in line with the forearm resulting in very fast and highly-accurate repeat shots. The Rhino’s hexagonal shaped cylinder makes for a flatter profile when carried concealed. Each Rhino comes with a hand-made Italian calf skin molded and stitched leather holster to fit up to 2-inch wide belts and is marked with the Rhino logo to match the revolver.
• Caliber: .357 magnum (and of course .38 Special) • Basic weight: 25-ounces with a 4-inch barrel • Frame Material: Ergal (a highstrength aircraft aluminum alloy)
• Stocks: Composite rubber or wood. One piece, retained by a single screw at the butt. • Capacity: 6-rounds • Barrel lengths and MSRP: 2-inch $799; 4-inch, $899; 5-inch, $925; 6-inch, $980. Marketed by MKS Supply, Inc. 8611-A North Dixie Dr. Dayton, OH 45414, 837-425-4867 or 937-545-0363
Hornady® Introduces Superformance® Match™ Ammunition (Grand Island, Neb.) - Hornady has expanded their ammunition line with the introduction of Superformance® Match™ Ammunition. Competition shooters now have access to ammunition that features the advantages of Superformance® technology - faster muzzle velocities, phenomenal accuracy, increased range and reduced wind drift- all refined specifically for match bullets. Superformance® Match™ is the first ammunition line to incorporate AMP™ Bullet Jackets (Advanced Manufacturing Process). These new jackets represent a technological advancement in design, tooling and manufacturing. Developed by Hornady technicians, AMP™ Bullet Jackets feature near-zero wall thickNOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 63
ness variation, resulting in unprecedented concentricity and uniformity throughout the jacket. Concentricity + uniformity = exceptional bullet accuracy. Coupled with precision swaged cores and manufactured to the tightest standards in the industry, all Hornady Match™ and A-MAX® bullets provide superior consistency, high ballistic coefficients and unprecedented levels of accuracy. The extremely stable propellants used in Superformance® Match™ are custom- blended for each individual load, achieving muzzle velocities of 100 - 200 fps faster than any conventional ammunition. Initial Superformance® Match™ offerings include: •
223 Rem, 75 gr BTHP; Item No. 80264
• 5.56 NATO, 75 gr. BTHP; Item No. 81264 (5.56 NATO ammunition is not for use in rifles chambered in 223 Rem.) •
308 WIN, 168 gr. A-MAX; Item No. 80964
•
308 WIN, 178 gr. BTHP; Item No. 8077
Highpower competitors, as well as law enforcement professionals, military shooters and snipers will all benefit from the advantages of Superformance® Match™. Available in 20-count boxes, Superformance® Match™ can be purchased at sporting goods and outdoor retailers. To see an overview video and complete ballistic information, go to www. hornady.com/store/Superformance-Match.
Hornady® releases 8th Edition Handbook of Cartridge Reloading Grand Island, Neb. - The new 8th Edition Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading is the most comprehensive Hornady Handbook to date. Containing nearly 1100 pages, the handbook features the latest information for all the newest Hornady bullets including: FTX®, GMX®, DGS®, DGX® and favorites like V-MAX™, InterBond®, SST®, InterLock® and XTP®. The handbook also incorporates data for recently released propellant like Hodgdon’s groundbreaking Superformance® and LEVERevolution®, as well as RL 17, 4007SSC, 8208XBR, Hybrid 100V and more. New cartridge additions include the 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creedmoor, 30 TC, 300 RCM, 338 RCM, 308 Marlin Express, 338 Marlin Express, 375 Ruger, 416 Ruger, 450 Nitro Express, 470 Nitro Express, 500 Nitro Express and many more. 64 | AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2010
Hornady also offers interactive resources online, providing external ballistics and H.I.T.S. calculators on www. hornady.com. Click on the “Ballistics Resource” button to get access to in-depth, easy-tounderstand explanations of internal, external and terminal ballistics. Written and formatted to match all skill levels, the Hornady Handbook and www.hornady. com are the definitive resources for every reloader. The Handbook (item no. 99238) ships in December just in time for Christmas. Founded in 1949, Hornady Manufacturing Company is a family owned business headquartered in Grand Island, Nebraska. Proudly manufacturing products that are “Made in the USA” by over 300 employees, Hornady Manufacturing is a world leader in bullet, ammunition, reloading tool and accessory design and manufacture. Visit http://www.hornady.com/
Sypderco, Stag Arms Announce Knives New Britain, CT --Stag Arms is proud to partner with Spyderco Knives to produce a limited edition Manix2 with Stag Arms engraving and custom configuration. The Manix2 is a fully ambidextrous knife which allows the opening, carrying, and closing of the knife either right or left-handed. The Manix2 is made in the USA at Spyderco’s Golden, Colorado factory of USA made steel and components. The Spyderco Stag Arms Manix2 is a great knife to show your Stag pride. The Spyderco Manix2 has enjoyed a welcome reception since its release in early 2010. A new
Manix2, exclusive to Stag Arms, an industry leader in rifle manufacturing, features a black-coated blade, black liners, and a black pocket clip complimented with Stag Arms signature dark green G-10 handle scales. Coated with DLC (diamond-like coating), the nonreflective, plain edge blade is Crucible CPM-S30V steel and is full flat ground with aggressive thumb serrations (jimping) and an oversized 14mm Spyderco Round Hole. Retaining a non-reflective focus, the handle screws, liners, and tip-up, right/left reversible pocket clip are also blackened. The Stag Arms Manix2 features an exceptionally strong lock called the Ball Bearing Lock. It operates with a free-floating ball bearing contained in a custom-engineered high-tech polymer cage. The spherical ball bearing allows the lock to self adjust across a large surface, smoothly and consistently locking up with solid confidence. Nested inside the dark green G-10 handle scales are blackened, skeletonized dual steel liners for increased rigidity and strength without unneeded weight. The liners are scalloped, extending slightly beyond the handle scales creating textured jimping around a large portion of the handle’s perimeter. The Stag Arms Manix2 showcases the commitment to innovation and quality both Spyderco and Stag Arms offer, in an undeniably unique folder collaboration. For more information, see www.stagarms.com or contact Stag Arms at 860-229-9994.
Enginerds Turn Smartphones Into Weapons (WARSAW, Illinois)-The guys in the camo labcoats are at it again. Team Hunt Geek is thrilled to announce the addition of Droid phone apps to their nerd-a-rrific offerings. Their supreme objective? Global domination, of course, by building wicked-smart easy-to-use phone tools that help hunters bring home more venison by hunting smarter, not just harder. A HuntGeek.com point of pride is that the apps are inexpensive and so easy-to-use even technophobes “get it” right away. “It’s time to get on the Geek Train,” says Jeff Hughes, Chief Executive Nerd for HuntGeek.com. “Hunters who own iPhones or Droids will get a real kick out of our apps, which cost next to nothing, while enjoying a real advantage when afield. Kinda like that dweeb with the calculator watch you sat beside in chemistry class.”
Making the Droid side of the dream come true is shiny new team member Dave Barry (who insists on being called “Droid Master”), who brings a galaxy of nerdly awesomeness to Hunt Geek with his supreme command of the smart phone side of the house that does not begin with “i” (known to the Apple loving elite as “The Dark Side”). Barry is a hybrid superdweeb who is computerificially ambidextrous and will save the planet for the legions of freedom-fighter non-iPhone hunters out there who will employ Hunt Geek’s booming assortment of killer outdoor apps in the field. “Shooting Hours” met with great succees and more than two dozen geektacular applications are currently in the development pipeline. HuntGeek.com’s whirlwind of nerd power is taking the hunting world by storm, and now, they are available for Droid smartphones as well as iPhone/iPod Touch. It’s a Hunt Geek world, and the geeks are just getting started. The company that brought you the world’s first North American Hunting Club field-proven app for the iPhone, “Shooting Hours,” have teamed their geek powers with Whitetail Freaks TV and Legends of the Fall TV for their latest hunt-crazy smartphone applications for hardcore savvy hunters. Coming soon: • Whitetail Freaks Property Management: Manage your hunting property from food plots to stand locations with this unprecedented and easy-to-use app. • Legends of The Fall Range Finder: A genius app, if we don’t say so ourselves, that is the ultimate archery shot placement utility for shorter distances; complete with shot drop compensator! You may never strive to become a geek intentionally, but you’d be crazy not to hunt like one. If you haven’t tried Shooting Hours, go to HUNTGEEK.COM and see what it’s all about. Now for Droid and iPhone, this app sends a thrilling vibration or ring to let you know when it’s legal to bang away from the duck marsh to the deer stand. Ah, Neat! Visit http://www. huntgeek.com/ NOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 65
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You have heard it a hundred times: Joe saves up for years for his dream hunt and books years in advance. He checks out the outfitters’ web site which shows a gallery of successful hunts and lists only the good comments from previous clients. He pays the required deposit to RipYou Safaris and looks forward to the adventure of a lifetime. You can see it coming. As soon as he steps onto the plane, it starts. He does not get the right seat and the service is crappy. After many uncomfortable hours, he arrives at the airport and his PH is not there to pick him up. Undaunted, the intrepid hunter presses on. The service he paid for in advance to get his guns through customs is incompetent. His rifles are released after a few hours. He calls the guest house for a ride. They arrive to pick him up after 2 hours’ wait. Also, the guest house looked much better on the internet. In reality, the
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rooms are small and grubby and are next to a noisy railway. The next day, confident that his client will endure what it takes to make sure he does not lose his deposit, the PHs arrives 3 hours late. “Africa!”, he smiles jovially and stuffs Joe into the back seat of a battered Isuzu pickup with 2 other hunters. After 8 cramped, sweaty hours’ drive, they arrive at the PHs home which doubles as a hunting lodge. Jannie the PH tries to make up for the bad dinner with lots of booze and far-fetched hunting stories. Joe is not impressed. Joe finds out he will be sharing a room with Mike, an overweight accountant from Atlanta. He finds out later that night that Mike has a serious snoring problem. He gets very little sleep. The next day, the PH tries to convince his clients to hunt on his overexploited farm. They drive around but the few animals are very skittish from being overhunted and panic at the sound of the pickup
Hunter Personal Experience Directory Trigger an information outbreak
approaching. The PH encourages Joe to shoot a scrawny impala from the truck to make a couple of easy dollars. And so on: very little game on the concessions, poor service, trophies lost or exchanged by the taxidermist, expensive shipping, promises not kept. Joe’s experience is not the norm, but every African hunter has had some good and some bad experiences. Our poor service is legendary. If only Joe had known about hunters who travelled with Sardine Airways, hunted with RipYou Safaris before or used ChanceIt taxidermists, he may have been able to avoid getting ripped off. All this is bad for the professional hunters who are passionate about their profession. They often have to carry the can for other outfitters. We believe the hunting industry is under enough pressure without being sabotaged from the inside. And this is where the new Hunter Personal Experience Directory comes in.
truth told by hunters like you who have the necessary ground zero experience. We are creating a tool to put information into your hands. This is how will work: 1. HunterPX will list all the outfitters, services and products we can find in Africa. 2. You rate your experience with your outfitter, a specific product you used or a service provided to you. 3. Your views and ratings are read by the hunting world and used by other hunters to make informed hunting choices, ensuring a successful hunt and save money in the process. It is time for the truth to come out. Give your input: trigger an information outbreak CLICK HERE to check it out or go to www.hunterpx. com
We want to help hunters like Joe to get the truth about African outfitters, services and products – the NOVEMBER 2010 AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE | 69
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Ashes fly back into the face of him who throws them. Before shooting, one must aim. Confiding a secret to an unworthy person is like carrying grain in a bag with a hole. 86 | AFRICAN EXPEDITION MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2010
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Here in Africa, we Boers are pioneers and survivors - and we always make a plan. We got Wallace to share come of them with you.
Make a Plan
He continues his new series.
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Making a winch from poles Your vehicle is stuck - really stuck. You should have bought that expensive winch but regret is always too late. Even if you had a hilift jack, you would have been able to use that as a windlass. It is a very handy piece of equipment, you can lift up, pull and even compress with it. But now there is not one of the two and there is not another vehicle to help you. All that you have is a long strong rope. • Find two strong wooden poles, as thick as your forearm and a little longer than a human. • Tie the rope firmly on the chassis of the vehicle. Pull the rope till it is nearly tight and tie the other point onto a suitable anchor point like a sturdy tree. • One person must keep one of the poles upright against and in the middle of the rope. The second person hook the other pole into the rope (see sketch) and swing the pole around. • The person holding the upright pole must then trample the rope down and beyond the turn pole. • With the turn pole as lever the rope must now be wind up around the vertical pole. See, a pole and rope winch. NB: Be extremely careful when using this technique – if that pole comes loose you might not have a leg to stand on ..
Hints and advice are given in good faith to be of help in emergencies. The writer as well as the publisher, personnel and agents concerned does not accept any responsibility for any injury, accident or damages that might arise from the use of any of the hints.
Dr Wallace Vosloo is an Engineer and Scientist by profession. His family has lived in Africa since 1696 and he has a deep love for the continent. He is a practical outdoorsman and loves traditional hunting, axe and knife throwing, longbow shooting, black powder rifle- and cannon shooting, salt and fresh water fly fishing and tracking. The art of survival is Wallace’s main field of interest and his passion is to transfer these old forgotten skills to young hunters.
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Your African hunting safari is a unique experience. Now you can document your hunt day by day and revisit those exciting times for years to come. 31 Full days of journaling space with vital information: ●● safari clothing ●● personal item checklists ●● health and first aid ●● mammal identification information with photographs, tracks, dung and SCI and Rowland Ward qualification minimums.
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Know how to administer CPR. Deal with dangerous animals up close. Identify and treat bites from snakes, spiders and scorpions. Know the right emergency numbers to dial in an emergency – it’s all there. A must-have item for every serious hunter. Sturdy PlastiCoil binding for durability and easy opening, 110 pages, 6.0 x 9.0 in. Full color covers and cream interior printed in black and white.
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John Eldredge
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True North Do I have what it takes? Masculine initiation is not a spectator sport. It is something that must be entered into. It is one part instruction and nine parts experience. This is what lies behind the story of David and Goliath. The armies of Israel have drawn up against the armies of the Philistines, but not a single shot has been fired from any bow. The reason, of course, is Goliath, a mercenary of tremendous size and strength, renowned for his skill in combat. He’s killed many men bare-handed, and no one wants to be next. David is barely a teen when he goes to the camp and sees what is going on. He offers to fight the giant, at which point he is brought before the king, who in turn attempts to dissuade the lad. Saul says, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth” (1 Sam. 17:33 niv). Sound advice, the likes of which I wager any of us would offer under the same circumstances. David replies: “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (verses 34-37 niv) Being a shepherd is the Cowboy stage, and David learned lessons here that would carry him the rest of his life. The life of the shepherd was not a sweet little life with lambs around. It was a hard job, out in the field, months camping out in the wild on your own. And it had its effect. There is a settled confidence in the boy-he knows he has what it takes. But it is not an arrogance-he knows that God has been with him. He will charge Goliath, and take his best shot, trusting God will do the rest. That “knowing” is what we are after in the Cowboy Ranger phase, and it only comes through experience. And may I also point out that the experiences David speaks of here were physical in nature, they were dangerous, and they required courage. (Fathered by God , 70-71)