What time is that? We had our first snowfall Wednesday, November 10. About 10 centimeters of wet heavy stuff, with NE wind at +30 Km and -6 C. (+18 mph and 22*F). Not a major storm, but a reminder of what’s coming. So winterizing everything that needs it must be checked. New wheels and tires for my compact Ford SUV, and repairs for a leaky exhaust. Less than a thousand $$ complete – not bad at all! It drives like a new Ford SUV! Hey, it’s a 2010 with 260,000 km = 161,200 miles! I bought it 4 and a half years ago with 91,000 miles and new Michelins on it. That’s 70,000 miles in 4.5 years or 15, 555 miles per year (113,000 klms/4.5 =25,110 km per annum.). Plus, I’m mostly the driver of my wife’s Cruze, as she has a bad knee and foot – so that’s probably another 3000 km/1860 miles per annum.
< My “escape wagon”
So, I’m on the road a lot – much more than most non-commercial drivers, and my Ford Escape is one of the best I’ve owned and driven over the past seventy-five years. No kidding! And the service center manager that certified my 2010 Ford Escape, said that the 2010 – 2012 models had the best motor that Ford had ever put in their Escapes to the current edition of 2020. The motor and transmission appears to be as good today as when purchased in 2020.
Why do I mention all that? To give God thanks and praise because He led me to it through a Christian brother and friend! Sure, some parts have had to be replaced, but nothing major. The other fact is that my Christian friend could own and drive the most expensive vehicle available, but today he drives a new Nissan KICKS! That’s the smallest Nissan SUV, and it’s the basic model.
Winterizing my rifles: A patch down the bore with RemOil, and a light wipe of all exterior parts with the same – both metal and wood/synthetics. Then locked away until spring.
I’m not expecting to hunt this winter, though I have a wolf tag that’s good til the end of 2025. I may still stretch my legs for that, depending on weather conditions. In the meanwhile I’ll make preparations for trips to the range and a spring hunt, God willing.
I’ve just learned that the 404 Stone Hammer bullets in .458 are now available in Toronto. I may ask son Phil for a Christmas present! Not that I need them, but for scientia.
The older I get, the more I appreciate older rifle cartridges and the rifles created for them.
<An 1895 Marlin in .45-70
The brief but significant visit I made to Africa in the winter of 1997 helped immensely in developing an awareness and appreciation for the firearms I’d choose for a safari there. That, along with watching about thirty recent safari videos over the past winter, on an average of at least 1 hour each, has sealed my convictions on that subject.
As well, the fact that few, if any new “African rifle cartridges” have come along in recent years to replace those considered ideal from past history, ought to be a revelation of what it takes to be ideally pepared for any encounter with Dangerous Game, large Plains Game, and lesser species. One doesn’t need volumes from Encyclopedia Britannica to search that out. All it takes is to watch twenty or so recent 1 hr videos that doesn’t edit out faults and mistakes, plus listening/reading the experiences of those who’ve been there/done that for forty years or more. We need to hear the views of those with a great variety of experiences, without biases and who can teach – not just “preach”.
That sounds idealistic, but it’s possible. In other words get as much education as possible before going. And that includes both mental and physical preparation. The best informants might be PH’s as well as good books from the past, and recent podcasts involving hunters who make their living in Africa, like Boddington. He’s shot and killed over 100 buffalo, so he probably knows a thing or two about all issues involved.
As to this side of the pond, my experiences have been from the mid to eastern side of Canada, which would not be unlike northern USA and much of Europe. Then my African experience in thick bush reminded me of most of the places I’ve hunted, so anything in rifle ballistics here could be useful there – and visa versa. The majority of safari goers are American, then Europeans followed by a few Mexicans and Canadians who have the the “wear-with-alls”. So, that welcomes the notion (temptation) of a new rifle suited to the occasion.
So what’s suitable?
A nice Christmas gift to self of a 505 Gibbs, maybe? Well, on its own merrit it certainly would be more than adequate, no question about that! But there might be a question or two about the jerk who jerks the trigger! No, methinks a more reasoned approach is the best modus operandi.
What would I take if I were less than 80 again? Probably something I already have, since financing a .505 Gibbs would steal a chunk needed for going! And I wouldn’t go just for PG, as one or more of the DG would be my main purpose in being there, so that would exclude my .35 Whelen. Then I’d be left with two prime candidates, the .375 H&H and the .458 Win Mag. So, which of those two? I’d not take both! Hear my arguments with myself:
The .375 H&H is a left-handed Mauser 98 type bolt-action, with a magazine that holds 3. It has a walnut Bavarian-style stock with a 14.25″ LOP and weighs 8.75 lbs naked. The 3 – 9 x 40 mm Burris scope plus rings adds 1 lb more. All up, ready to hunt, it goes 10 lbs even. Because I’d want a single handload for everything on my list, including Cape Buff, I’d use a load developed for bear on this side of the Earth: the 250gr TTSX at 2850 – 2900 fps. Such a load has taken a handfull of Cape buff from single shots by someone who has killed 19 Cape buff. Recoil: 38.5 ft-lbs from my rifle. During last year’s fall bear hunt, it fit me perfectly and the recoil is a non-starter.
< In a bear blind 2024.
< Compact and powerful. 22″ barrel and 42.75″ in overall length. That was my bear bait setup in Sept – Oct, 2024. The day of this photo, I’d just replenished the bait, walked over to the edge of the ridge, made a short prayer to see the bear – that I knew was dominant, but hadn’t seen it for two years – then he walked out of the woods on the opposite ridge and came toward me. At about 40 yds I raised the .375 H&H, put the crosshairs on him till he was about 20 yds below me and I lowered the rifle, turned and walked away. At over 500 lbs he was too big and glorious, and I’d only asked to see him, not to shoot him. Too big in that wilderness to deal with alone, and I didn’t want or need a so-called “trophy”.
Why then so much power? It’s called P-R-O-T-E-C-T-I-O-N ! I knew he was the dominant bear of the region, but didn’t know his temperment! Yes, bears have attitudes, just like Cape Buffalo, so we go prepared for one that has killed moose and bunnies for a living!!
The Ruger No.1H in .458 Winchester Magnum
There she is in her beauty and brawn! Perhaps I should call her “Boss Bear”, like a female bear protecting her cubs – they are the most dangerous! Yep, every year we have them in our woods where I hunt the boar bears!
<In the bear woods in 2022 where I hunt the boar bears. That’s “The Boss Bear” in my hands!
Some time ago I’d suggested “Grace” as a name, but that’s too gentle and graceful! No, she’s more like a wild beast when unleashed! All other beasts are fearful of her!
But a single-shot in AFRICA for Cape Buffalo?
Why not? It’s a .458 Win, not a .375 of any flavour! One is plenty if I’m a fearless rifleman who can shoot, and not just a billionaire who’s shaking in his boots while trying to aim his 505 Gibbs!
DISCOVERY: A .378 Wby firing a 300gr at 3000 fps has a momentum of 128.57 ft-sec.
A .458 Win Mag shooting a 500gr at 2300 fps has a momentum of 164.285 ft-sec. Even a 400gr at 2550 fps has a 145.71 ft-sec.
And a 450gr at 2450 fps has a momentum of 157.5 ft-sec!
Can you shoot? Are you fearless? Then get yourself a .458 Winchester Magnum!
Even at half-throttel, it can whip a .300 Wby firing a 180 at 3200 fps – in my bear woods!
Yep! You need a .458 Win for anything, anywhere, at any time!
Till the next. . . . .
Shalom
BOB MITCHELL
Lovin' The Big Bang 