Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Experience with a 404/375 Ruger in Mozambique and Zimbabwe (Pic heavy)

For those following the development of the 404/375 Ruger cartridge on the 'Bib Bores Only' forum, I thought you might enjoy seeing some pics and a brief description of the particulars on the use of the 404 on African game. The hunts took place between August 1 and 21 this year. All Moz hunting took place in Coutada 10 from Gert Saaiman's camp and we used the fly camp formerly used by Harry Manners as the Argo launch site when we hunted the swamp.

As the hunts were principally intended to be for Cape buffalo (Mozambique) and elephant (Zimbabwe), the rifle carried continuously was the 404 Ruger African and therefore, used for most shots.

Although no elephant was shot, we saw over 350, mostly cows, calves, and younger bulls. We had several very close encounters in the mopane and riverine growth, including a purposeful massed charge by a herd of ~100+ animals that we narrowly avoided through a running tactical retreat to higher ground. Learned much about elephant hunting strategy, for the next trip.

First buff was wounded by my hunting partner (broken leg at about 80 yds). As the bull tried to rejoin the herd, there were unsuccessful shots at ~100 yds and 150 yds by the hunter and the PH. With permission from the hunter and PH, the 404 spined the buff going away with 1 shot at ~200 yds. It required holding a sliver of light over the tail, as the Swift 400 AFs are zeroed at 125 yds. He dropped to the shot and was shortly finished off. The rifle in this photo is a Rem M700 in 416RM.


My buff, shot frontally at ~65 yds. First shot was a midline heart shot, with buff spinning twice in place and standing facing me again at slight angle. Second shot entered at the junction of neck & chest, slightly to the right and coursed through the liver. Couldn't find the bullets in the abdomen, but buff dropped immediately on impact of the second bullet. Many hours of following this small herd's trail through forest and swamp produced the shots at last light. The rifle is the Ruger Hawkeye 404/375 Ruger with a Rimrock stock.


Reedbuck taken with the 404. Extent of damage was quite unexpected for me, given the AF's use on such light game, but it worked.


This waterbuck was taken in Moz with a 300 WSM rather than the 404.


Landing strip and a few fly camp scenes in Coutada 10 showing Senna trackers and camp staff.


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Kudu taken in southern Zimbabwe at 260 yds with the 404 and Barnes Solids. When opportunity arises while elephant hunting, it's tough to turn it down. The shot was a bit far back, but excellent tracking by the scouts and trackers brought this one to the bag.
[img]http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp77/wildcatter264/AfricaAug2009121.jpg[/img]


Hope you enjoy the photos and brief report. Happy days!

Welcome back. Glad the trip went safely and that the wildcatting project seems to have met your goals.

Outstanding! I am just plain tickled that you carried this through and took it to Africa. Great story and great pictures.

And does this ever bring back memories from my trip to Moz in 2006. My PH and I stayed at Gert's camp and worked out of the same fly camp on the same -- I am sure -- Argoes into the same swamp.

I'm thinking your bull might be a little bigger than the one I shot with my .404 Jeffery... .

Dennis

Great pictures and story. It must be very satisfying to dream up a wildcat, build it and then use it successfully in Africa. Congratulations!!

Wildcatter: Fabulous post and very interesting.Looks like that wildcat has the muscle to do the job! Congrats on a great trip.

What bullets did you use in the 300WSM? Were you happy with the performance of those 400 gr Swift AFrames?

Great photos, nice trophies, but the rifle in the top photo is a M-70 Win., not a Rem. 700...:):)

Love that 404 Ruger..My latest that I am building this time is a 416 Rem. why not another 416 Ruger? Well,I have about 2000 rounds of loaded 416 Rem ammo and almost that much brass..dammit!

You sure about that Ray? I squinted long and hard at it and couldn't see the M70 safety or the extractor (assuming it's a blued extractor). I could also swear that I can see the Remington safety slipped to the rear (safe) position but that could be my eyes - and my 17" CRT monitor.

Back to the rifle, did you recover any bullets?

Outstanding photos and great caliber! How big was that kudu? He looks big! Congratulations on ALL your fine trophies. jorge

The kudu is an estimated 55", but haven't measured it. I'm happy with him and that counts the most with me. Thanks, Jorge.

Ray, the rifle in the 1st photo is indeed a Rem M700, although the photo may not have been clear enough to show it.

The bullets used in the 300WSM were my usual in this cartridge, the Nosler 180 gn Protected Point Partitions. Very accurate in this rifle and usually do the job. I was very impressed with the performance of the AFs - I'm convinced that they are the right expanding bullet in .423" for DG. No bullets recovered but dead critters in all cases. The proof is in the pudding, although I contributed little to the bullet designers in the way of recovered projectiles, other than confirming that the bullets did the job they were intended for.

Thank you all for the encouragement you provided in the development phases of the project. In particular, Ray for allowing me to draw on his experience with the 404 Jeffery and to Dennis (muledeer) for originating the concept. Cheers!

That is an EXCELLENT Kudu! I would have shot him too!

What camps and PH's in Zim?

Hunted out of Nengasha Safaris' Beitbridge West camp with PH Roadie Tourle.

One of the area's that I wanted to hunt in Zim but thus far have not. The one time that I had that area on my agenda the rains had washed out a Road and bridge into the concession area and Zim being Zim the road had not yet been repaired. I have sent Clients in there and they all had a terrific time seeing lots of game. It seemed as though the poaching problems that had so disrupted things in area's further North and West was not nearly as bad down there. Did you see much evidence of Poaching such as snares etc? See a lot of Game in general in the region? Man, I miss Zimbabwe.....

In the Maramani communal area there was some evidence of poaching, with a few snares removed by the scouts. There was game present and we saw PG species every day. Many impala, including some really outstanding rams. Very good kudu, some eland, and other smaller species. The new concession holders in Beitbridge West are working with the rural council to control poaching. In addition, this area has been included in the transfrontier conservation area (Botswana, Zimbabwe, RSA), with a plan to relocate the people and their livestock. Should improve the hunting significantly.

VERY glad to hear the good report. Thanks.

Great stuff. And all along I've been told that a Remington 700 just isn't fit for that sort of stuff. Must be the same reason the 700 action is found on hundreds of sniper rifles spread around the world. Just doesn't work, doncha know!

One could argue that, in this case, that the M700 didn't work. He'd likely have drifted the buff with a M70 or Ruger.