Large Bore For Africa Hunt

[chriskletke]

y,

Thinking of going to Africa and hunting leopard and Cape Buffalo. I want to do it with a roundball flint rifle. My question is I have a good rifle for the Leopard, but not sure what caliber would be good to go after Cape Buffalo. Second I'm thinking if I go after Cape Buffalo it's going to have to be a HUGE caliber where can one buy a LARGE CALIBER BARREL bigger than .62 to make my flinter? Any advice would be great.


Chris

 

[bioprof]

The Gunworks Muzzleloading Emporium sells rifled barrels up to 69 caliber. A 4 bore might be in order for Cape Buffalo though.

 

[1eyemountainmen]

A 4 bore??? Holy S#$%T that's a big ball. How, many grains of powder would something like that burn?

 

[bioprof]

The Oregon Barrel Company sold by the Muzzleloading Emporium will make a 4 bore, but they aren't cheap. Don't know what the powder charge would be because I haven't shot one. I believe they measure the powder in drams though.

The Rifle Shoppe sells a kit to make a wall gun with a 1" bore, but I don't think you'd want to carry it around in the bush.

 

[Hunter66]

If this will be your first trip to the dark continent you might want to rethink the leopard part. They can eat up a tremendous amount of your hunting time. You would have to discuss it with the PH.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

October Country offers an 8 bore dangerous game rifle and might sell you a barrel. Ed Rayl or John Getz could make you a barrel if they have the time. An 8 bore is about as light as I would want to go on Cape buffs. I know a guy who went after them many years ago with a .460 Weatherby. He told me that that was the only time he carried the Weatherby afield and felt undergunned!

 

[Mulebrain]

Here is a 4 bore compared to a .50!

 

[Semisane]

Ouch!!!

 

[pab1]

WOW!!!

 

[ravenousfishing]

Betcha that looks cool watching SOMEBODY ELSE shooting it. Wouln't want to be on either end of that SOB.

 

[paulvallandigham]

A 4 bore( or gauge ) is 1.052" in diameter, nominally, and in theory, at least, shoots a ball that will weight 1/4 pound. (4 balls to the pound. At 7000 grains to the pound, you do the math.)

You will need to check with the PH and outfitter in the country you wish to hunt to find out if its even legal to hunt those animals with such a gun anymore.

 

[FPDoc]

Oh, I don't know, just start out brutal and work up in easy steps as you lose feeling in the involved extremities. :grin:

 

[MercerLake]

:v The Gunworks Emporium in Springfield Or has a 4 bore rfiled barrel setting on the shelf as of a few weeks ago. Their Oregon Barrelworks regularly makes 8 bore rifled barrels. :v

 

[sundog]

I just gotta get me one of those.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Mule Brain!
Just what kind of patch would you use with that .50 ball, and that 4 bore....a blanket?
When people made those kind of guns, that's "When Men Were Men, and Sheep were Nervous"
Best Regards
Old Ford

 

[F.G. Ford]

If you are interested a chap up the road has a like new 8, I think he is asking about 2k for it if you wish, I will get his email and get you guys together.
It is very well made,but percussion
Old Ford

 

[Mike Brooks]

You better check with the outfitter. They are pretty particular about bore size. I'd get their recommendation then go from there.

 

[Christiaan]

Very few outfitters in Africa know anything about muzzleloaders. Very few will be able to give you advise. I hope it is not your outfitter that phoned me to ask "what is a Flintlock?"

If you take a percussion double you'll do alright with a .58 or .72 and good shot placement. But as this is a flintlock question I will only use a custom gun in at least .69 cal or bigger. The lock must be custom tuned. The 6 bore to 2 bore will be nice but who will carry it? African's have absolutely no respect for someone that don't carry their own gear.

I agree a leopard might take up a lot of hunting time.

Enjoy the experience!! :thumbsup:

 

[SCATTERSHOT]

Check with Jim Gefroh in Colorado. He specializes in large bore rifles, percussion and flint, and has hunted in Africa. He could probably fix you up, but he ain't cheap!

 

[kansas_volunteer]

I'd suggest you study the writings of Sir Samuel White Baker, to help you make an informed choice. I recall reading he used a two-bore on elephant loaded with 12 drams of powder. You can probably find references to buffalo in his books, too. I know there is a bit on giraffe hunting.