Question for JJ or any other PH out there.

[dave hall]

I was wondering what the most common name in double rifles you guys see,and in what cal's.What is the most common big bore rifle cartridge you see,Dave.

[JJHACK]

Doubles are in the area of 15-20K and up. They travel the exact same way as a walmart special with all the other luggage. Few people bring a double with the cost of the gun, and the generic luggage system which does not handle a 20K rifle any differently.

In the 15 years I've been doing this now and the 300+ hunters I have seen only a handful of doubles. None were the same make to my knowlege. Most were not even used, the hunters used the bolt rifles that were scoped most of the time. I got the feeling that the hunters with the doubles brought them along for some type of "christening" of the gun in Africa, and actually killing something with it there.

Doubles have far less flexibilty then a scoped bolt rifle so very few are used today. I know a hunter in Botswana gave his to the PH when his hunt was over years ago. The PH was very proud of the rifle, but it was worth twice the value of his home in town. The rifle was so expensive that nobody he knew would buy it from him in Africa. So here he sat with this 20K rifle he cannot affort to shoot, and cannot sell!

He eventually sold it and got married. But it's use for even a DG PH was not worth him keeping it! From what I have seen I would probably choose a searcy double because they looked very well made and basic, just my style!

[dave hall]

Thanks JJ for taking the time to answer my question.Is there any one bolt cartridge that seem more common than another,and is single shot rifles rearly used like the doubles,Dave.

[JJHACK]

For plains game 300 magnums of one cartridge design  or another are more common then all other cartridges combined!

For Dangerous game the 375HH is by far the most popular with the 416REM being seen more frequently now then 10 years ago. A guy with a 30/06 or 300 mag and a 375HH or a 416 Rem is set for the whole world

[dave hall]

The 416 Rem. is a shocker.Almost all rifle companys have drop it from there lines in a DGR.Most have replaced it with one of my favorites the 458 Lott.I guess its what selling at the time.What you were saying about Searcy I agree.You don't need $2,000 worth of engraving on a rifle to look good.If I had a chance I would get one in a Lott.Thanks for the Info,Dave.

[JJHACK]

I don't think a 458 lott in a double is practical. It's a rimless case. You really need a rimmed case to work effectively for a double. I think it would be the 470NE which is what the 458Lott equals in a double rifle.  Expensive to shoot but then if I spent 20K on the gun I doubt the ammo would be a problem for me!

[dave hall]

JJ I was looking on your web site how much do you charge for a cape buffalo hunt.Is it in a package deal or a hunt by itself.Thanks,Dave.

[JJHACK]

Buffalo area an all inclusive 10 package for the going rate. The range from 9500 -12000 bucks depending upon my clast at the time and the exchaneg rate. When a fella wants to book the hunt the 50% deposit is paid on the price at that time, the balance is then due at the end of the hunt.

It may sound like a lot of money when shopping but remember that there is nothing else involved for cost except airfare.

In Zim for example, you have a 2000 to 4000 trophy fee, 600 to 800 bucks a day daily fee with 10-14 minimum and the extra flights. It's the same everyplace for buffalo. There are lots of seperate costs you must add up. For me it's just this one price and done.

For less then half that much you can hunt 10 days of plains game and shoot 5-6 spectacular animals. I do both kinds of hunts. There is no contest where the value for the dollar is concenred. 75% of the bufflao hunts in all of Africa are just like shooting a bison in the USA. You sneak in and pop him and the hunt is over. All that time and anticipation and effort and it's done in one pull of the trigger. With a plains game hunt the next day you start again. The 25% of the difficult buffalo hunts involve a whole lot of walking and some difficult stalking. But that is not the norm. The fraction of a percent that are dangerous can be one or two difficult situations in a lifetime for a PH. There is a lot of "romance" and history with buffalo charges. I know a whole lot of PH's in my business and the animals like bushbuck, waterbuck Nyala and gemsbok are far more frequent problems when wounded!