gary reeder
that thought went thru my mind yesterday while I was doing
Monday, December 30, 2019, 20:45

some reloading. I loaded some 366 GNR, then some 429 GNR and some 338 GNR. Each one gave me some thought about Africa. I thought Thursday one of my African hunters, Josh Brooks, and I are going down to Phoenix to register our guns for Africa. I thought maybe I should take a 366 GNR Encore barrel rather than something I have used before. Then I thought maybe my old favorite 429 GNR would be a good revolver to take. I surely could whip up an 8" barrel in time (the law says a revolver has to be a single action, with at least an 8" barrel with a scope). Then the 338 GNR kinda warped my head too. I have used the 338 GNR on a safari back in '95 and took Gemsbok, Blue Wildebeest and several other like size critters, most with one shot and I had already got my 310 GNR ready for Africa so I could switch calibers and change my customs form. No big deal. And I already have my 429 GNR revolver. All I would need to do is rush out an 8" barrel and drill & tap the top strap and mount a scope, and sight it in and...crap...
Finally I got my head out of that dark smelly place and settled down. My 3 guns are the 450 GNR and 416 GNR, both encores. And the 310 GNR in the G-2. All 3 have worked for me in Africa before and I was comfortable with all 3. Actually as comfortable with the 450 GNR and 416 GNR as I can be with wrist breaking top end loads. A 500 grain soft point at 2000 fps in a 4 lb pistol isn't the proverbial walk in the park. but it works on Cape Buffalo....so buckle up butter cup.

So Pondoro Taylor was right. Stick with what you are best with. I am best with my 41 GNR but that is a bit light in the ass end for African game. True, I have taken dozens of animals the size of Bison bulls, bull elk, water buffalo and such but in those cases I was able to get within 50 yards or so, actually about 65 yards on the bull elk, and put the bullet in the right spot. I won't mention the Nilgai I had to drown. In Africa there is no such guarantee. That special spot may not be available and I for sure don't want to wound an animal and lose him.

So it just as Pondoro said...stick with what you are best with and do your best to make it work.