HappyGVM
Well-Known Member
Hi Everyone, got back a few days ago from a 2nd trip to South Africa. This time I took my daughter. She was using a TC Compass 2 Compact in 308 with a muzzle brake (she just couldn't get decent groups with my AAC can on it) and I was shooting my Gunwerks LR-1000 in 7mm RM with 168 gr Berger VLDs and 175 gr Accubond LRs. She was shooting 150 gr Barnes TTSX handloaded over 45 gr of Varget & Federal GM primers at an avg of 2678 fps. We hunted with Frontier Safaris who books through WTA--the food and accommodations were top notch. We had a great time, other than two (unexpected days) of round-the-clock rain and harvested 8 out of the 9 animals we were after. The one that "got away" was a Bushbuck and they hunt it much like whitetails "sitting on stand" (but not actually in a stand). They rarely come out of the "bush" except for 1st light and last light, and we did see a few does but the one buck that came out never gave her a shot at his vitals. We sat 5 times but it wasn't meant to be.
Anyway she harvested her top trophy that was a "symmetrical" Gemsbok/Oryx at 202 yards and three cull Impalas at ranges from 100 to 160 yards. All her shots were one shot kills and we never recovered any of the bullets even after the TTSX broke both legs on that Oryx.
I was super lucky to take a huge Eland on Day 1 with a 304 yard poke (off sticks) with the AB LR. It ran maybe 50 yards, tipped over, got back up and ran another 50-60 yards before expiring. The front half of the bullet punched through the far side, so we had 2 streams of blood to follow, but the shank got caught under the hide. Sorry I didn't get a chance to weigh it yet. The best part was that the rest of his bachelor group walked passed us at about 40 yards and with the wind in our faces, they gave us a great photo op. The other shots were with the Bergers. It exited/shredded the far side of the Impala ram at 340 yards but didn't exit a Blesbuck cull at 326 yds or a big Waterbuck at 310 yds, in both later cases the lungs were just shredded; everything was shredded in the Impala's chest cavity. All told, including the increased airfare the whole trip cost us just over $10K. I know that's not chump change, and it's not for everyone, but I think it's a tremendous value for 8 days of hunting, 3 hots/day, beer & wine in the evenings, and a lot more than a cot. Would be glad to answer any questions you. Cheers!
PS
Not sure why the last 3 pix are upside down and sideways, I tried loading them multiple times. If you double-click on them they are good.
Anyway she harvested her top trophy that was a "symmetrical" Gemsbok/Oryx at 202 yards and three cull Impalas at ranges from 100 to 160 yards. All her shots were one shot kills and we never recovered any of the bullets even after the TTSX broke both legs on that Oryx.
I was super lucky to take a huge Eland on Day 1 with a 304 yard poke (off sticks) with the AB LR. It ran maybe 50 yards, tipped over, got back up and ran another 50-60 yards before expiring. The front half of the bullet punched through the far side, so we had 2 streams of blood to follow, but the shank got caught under the hide. Sorry I didn't get a chance to weigh it yet. The best part was that the rest of his bachelor group walked passed us at about 40 yards and with the wind in our faces, they gave us a great photo op. The other shots were with the Bergers. It exited/shredded the far side of the Impala ram at 340 yards but didn't exit a Blesbuck cull at 326 yds or a big Waterbuck at 310 yds, in both later cases the lungs were just shredded; everything was shredded in the Impala's chest cavity. All told, including the increased airfare the whole trip cost us just over $10K. I know that's not chump change, and it's not for everyone, but I think it's a tremendous value for 8 days of hunting, 3 hots/day, beer & wine in the evenings, and a lot more than a cot. Would be glad to answer any questions you. Cheers!
PS
Not sure why the last 3 pix are upside down and sideways, I tried loading them multiple times. If you double-click on them they are good.