UPDATE: IT'S A GO! 24 AUGUST 2024
After talking to quite a few of you we have decided to make this a safari/stopping rifle/guide gun shoot. If it's a big nasty lever action for big bears, a bolt for cape buffalo & lions, a single for bison, or a "Nitro Express" or metric double bring it on out! With the cost of ammunition for these we're going to keep the round count down, the plan is 20 rounds at a range of under 100 yards.
If you've never seen one of these large bores being shot come on out and check it out, we have a .505 Gibbs Rimless Nitro Express confirmed as well as a .416 Rigby.
I am gauging interest in having a safari rifle shoot at some point in the summer/fall. Calibres? Divisions? Just bring out anything .375 and bigger and have a fun afternoon of blasting milk jugs?
Let me know what you think and if you're interested
email is daubjm at telus dot net
text is 780 625 5527
Thanks!
I managed to get this still from one of the videos. I knew there was a fireball, but it doesn't look that big when you're firing it!
I was trying to think of things. Sand would be hard to tell actual depth but good for bullet capture. How much osb would we need though? If a 22 can go through 3 inches… what is it going to take to stop the Gibbs? I do have a lot of 2” thick poplar slabs but I’m waiting on chain saw parts so I can’t cut them into 1ft chunks then just tape them together. I’ll see what all I can get done here this next week. I will send you a text in the next couple of days and send some pictures but would love some ideas!
458wm, Winchester model 70 350gr solid coppers at 2750fps. I’ll bring a 45-70 and some ammo also. What is the entrance fee of the shoot?
525 grain Woodleigh Weldcore with 140 grains of RL25, velocity is 2280 fps. I think at that recoil level that limiting the shoot to ten fast shots is more than enough!
35 rounds of .505 Gibbs ready to go! That's enough to practice and shoot the course with ammunition to spare.
If anyone has been interested in a bigger bore for a bush gun, Intersurplus has twenty or so Husqvarna 96 and 98 Mausers under $500, and Budget Shooter Supply has Privi ammunition for $56/box. It would also work wonders here!
In looking at ballistic tables and books like "Safari Rifles" and "African Rifles and Cartridges" and a few discussions we have come up with an answer for where "Big Bore" is starting. If you have anything 9.3mm/.366 in calibre making about 3500 ft-lbf or more, you're good to go! So a heavy loaded 45-70 is good!
Yes, we know that 9.3mm/.366/.375 is actually a medium bore. We'd like more than two people to show up though.
I have been in touch with one of the organizers of the big Safari Rifle Classic in the U.S. and he gave me some great ideas for events. One that looked fun is named "Save the Tourist" start with rifle loaded with 1 round, safety on. Fire at 70yd Lion (steel plate in kill zone), move to next position, reload 1 round and fire at second lion target to save the tourist. Open action, show clear, muzzle up when done.
It was complete with a tourist in safari clothes in a camp chair and the pair of lions.
So, you're saying 6.5 Creedmoor doesn't cut it?