Category: Fieldcraft
Of course you could not pay me enough to go to South Africa today. What with all the problems that they are having now. Which is a pity as I always wanted to test myself against a Cape Buffalo. But I guess that’s the way God acts. Grumpy
U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- You probably didn’t see these stories covered by the mainstream news media, but again last week, responsible gun owners defended themselves and the people they love. Self-defense instructor Ben Branam joins the Self Defense Gun Stories Podcast to look at four new examples. Were these gun owners lucky, or did they have a plan?
First story- Are you armed as you leave home and drive at night?
It is after midnight when you drop some food off at your home. It is all part of the job since you deliver food for an online food delivery service. You are getting back in your car when three young men run up to you. Two of them have guns in their hands. Your attackers tell you to hand over your money. You say the money is in the car. So they start to search your car.
You have your Pennsylvania license to carry. You’re carrying concealed tonight. You present your concealed firearm from under your coat and shoot your two armed attackers. They drop their guns. The third robber runs away. You call 911.
You holster your firearm and give a statement to the police. Emergency Medical Service transports your two attackers to the hospital. One died and the second remains in critical condition. Police are searching for their accomplice.
Many of the residents in your neighborhood are Chinese immigrants. You are one of the few who carries a gun.You give the police the video from your home’s doorbell camera. You are not charged with a crime.
Second Story- Are you armed at work in the evening?
You’re working behind the counter at a cannabis store. It is 9:30 at night when four or five men rush through the door. They have masks on their face and their heads are concealed by the hood of their sweatshirts. Several of them are also armed with guns. They tell everyone to step back as they grab weed from the cases and cash from the cash register. You step back and grab the gun kept in the store. You shoot at the two attackers who have guns. Now, the attackers run from your store. You and the other store employees call 911. You put the gun away.
Police find your attackers at the hospital. Two of them are arrested and charged with first-degree robbery. Police are searching for the other four robbers.
Third story- Do you have a firearm nearby at night?
You hear a crashing sound and the sound of people in your home. You roll out of bed and grab your gun. You look into your home and see several intruders. At least one of them has a gun. You shoot at them, and they shoot back. Now, they run from your home. You stay inside your home and call 911. The police were already headed to the area because your neighbors reported gunshots.
You put your gun away when the police arrive. They find one of your attackers at the scene. Emergency Medical Services declares him dead. Police arrest the other five robbers as they drive from the neighborhood. One of them is taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound. This attacker was recently convicted of armed assault and was out on bond awaiting sentencing. Your attackers are held on charges of first degree robbery and felony murder.
You’re not charged.
Fourth story- Are you armed as you arrive home late at night?
You are driving up to your home at about 9:15 at night. You notice that your door is open and that things are out of place. You see a stranger in your home. You draw your firearm and tell the young man to put his hands up. You call 911.
Police arrive and convince you to holster your gun. The officers arrest your intruder. He is charged with first-degree burglary. Officers said you did a very good job..for a 74 year old woman.
Tag- No shots fired
A discussion of each story is at the Self Defense Gun Stories podcast webpage.
About Rob Morse
Rob Morse writes about gun rights at Ammoland, Clash Daily, Second Call Defense, and on his SlowFacts blog. He hosts the Self Defense Gun Stories Podcast and co-hosts the Polite Society Podcast. Rob was an NRA pistol instructor and combat handgun competitor.
The .375 Ruger (center) compared to a .416 Rigby (left) and a .30-06 Springfield (right).
The venerable .375 H&H Magnum has been the most popular dangerous game cartridge in the world for more than 100 years. During its long reign, there have been many cartridges developed and marketed as competitors to the legendary .375 that just didn’t quite measure up and eventually fell by the wayside.
The .375 Ruger is the latest contender for the crown and just might succeed where the others have failed. Why is this the case? Though there are many things to like about the .375 Ruger, the major selling point of this fantastic cartridge is that it’s the first cartridge to deliver performance comparable to the .375 H&H from a standard length (instead of a magnum length) case.
Developed in a joint venture between Ruger and Hornady, the .375 Ruger was first introduced to the shooting public in 2007. The idea was to create a cartridge similar in length to the .30-06 Springfield, but with a case capacity comparable to the .375 H&H.
By using a straight, unbelted case with a nonrebated .532″ rim, they were able to accomplish their goal. In fact, they were able to exceed expectations because the fatter and nontapered 65.5mm .375 Ruger case actually has approximately 5 percent more case capacity than the 72.4mm case used by the .375 H&H.
For this reason, the .375 Ruger compares favorably to the .375 H&H, and both cartridges perform at an almost identical level ballistically. Like the .375 H&H, the .375 Ruger is accurate, powerful enough to quickly and ethically kill virtually any species of big game, and has a manageable amount of recoil that most shooters can handle. Considering the reputation of the .375 H&H, this is high praise indeed.
In fact, most .375 Ruger loads actually slightly exceed the velocities delivered by standard .375 H&H loads when shooting the same weight bullet. However, this velocity edge is small enough that it doesn’t make much of a difference in reality.
The .375 H&H is already a capable cartridge at extended range and while the .375 Ruger is a marginal improvement, the difference in trajectory between the cartridges is small. At the same time, the extra velocity doesn’t make it much better at killing game, and I doubt any animal can tell the difference between a bullet fired at 2,700 fps vs. 2,800 fps.
However, this sight velocity advantage can allow rifles chambered in .375 Ruger to use shorter barrels and still have ballistics that are nearly the same as the .375 H&H. When you combine this with the fact that the .375 Ruger fits in a shorter action, it allows hunters to use rifles that are shorter, lighter and handier than comparable rifles chambered in .375 H&H.
The shorter length of the .375 Ruger case is the primary selling point of the cartridge and, since the cartridge basically mirrors the .375 H&H in performance, the shorter case is a significant advantage. Instead of being restricted to using only the larger, more expensive magnum length action rifles, the .375 Ruger opens up a whole line of great quality, commercially successful, standard-length action rifles that may be adapted for the cartridge and repurposed for dangerous game.
The .375 Ruger is the latest contender for the crown and just might succeed where the others have failed. Why is this the case? Though there are many things to like about the .375 Ruger, the major selling point of this fantastic cartridge is that it’s the first cartridge to deliver performance comparable to the .375 H&H from a standard length (instead of a magnum length) case.
Developed in a joint venture between Ruger and Hornady, the .375 Ruger was first introduced to the shooting public in 2007. The idea was to create a cartridge similar in length to the .30-06 Springfield, but with a case capacity comparable to the .375 H&H.
By using a straight, unbelted case with a nonrebated .532″ rim, they were able to accomplish their goal. In fact, they were able to exceed expectations because the fatter and nontapered 65.5mm .375 Ruger case actually has approximately 5 percent more case capacity than the 72.4mm case used by the .375 H&H.
For this reason, the .375 Ruger compares favorably to the .375 H&H, and both cartridges perform at an almost identical level ballistically. Like the .375 H&H, the .375 Ruger is accurate, powerful enough to quickly and ethically kill virtually any species of big game, and has a manageable amount of recoil that most shooters can handle. Considering the reputation of the .375 H&H, this is high praise indeed.
In fact, most .375 Ruger loads actually slightly exceed the velocities delivered by standard .375 H&H loads when shooting the same weight bullet. However, this velocity edge is small enough that it doesn’t make much of a difference in reality.
The .375 H&H is already a capable cartridge at extended range and while the .375 Ruger is a marginal improvement, the difference in trajectory between the cartridges is small. At the same time, the extra velocity doesn’t make it much better at killing game, and I doubt any animal can tell the difference between a bullet fired at 2,700 fps vs. 2,800 fps.
However, this sight velocity advantage can allow rifles chambered in .375 Ruger to use shorter barrels and still have ballistics that are nearly the same as the .375 H&H. When you combine this with the fact that the .375 Ruger fits in a shorter action, it allows hunters to use rifles that are shorter, lighter and handier than comparable rifles chambered in .375 H&H.
The shorter length of the .375 Ruger case is the primary selling point of the cartridge and, since the cartridge basically mirrors the .375 H&H in performance, the shorter case is a significant advantage. Instead of being restricted to using only the larger, more expensive magnum length action rifles, the .375 Ruger opens up a whole line of great quality, commercially successful, standard-length action rifles that may be adapted for the cartridge and repurposed for dangerous game.
Most popular loads
At this time, Hornady and DoubleTap are the only two manufacturers that produce factory-loaded .375 Ruger ammunition.
Hornady loads their 250gr GMX, 270gr SP-RP and 300gr DGX/DGS bullets to advertised velocities of 2,900 fps, 2,840 fps, and 2,660 fps respectively (using a 24″ barrel). DoubleTap currently offers loads with 260gr Nosler Accubond along with 235gr and 270gr Barnes TSX bullets with advertised loads of 2,900 fps, 3,100 fps and 2,825 fps respectively (using a 23″ barrel).
Even though there aren’t many choices out there when it comes to factory ammunition, the good news for hand-loaders is that the .375 Ruger can be reloaded using just about any of the vast number of different .375 bullets on the market originally designed for the .375 H&H. In addition to the previously mentioned bullets, there are lots of other choices like the Swift A-Frame, Nosler Partition, and the Woodleigh Weldcore (just to name a few).
The other good news is that it is possible for hand-loaders to safely duplicate factory ammo performance of the cartridge using commercially available powders.
The .375 Ruger is also a pretty accurate round, particularly when used in a good quality rifle. Even though it was not designed as such, it is still a capable extended-range cartridge in the right hands. Especially when using lightweight bullets, a 250-350-yard shot (perhaps even further) is well within the capabilities of the cartridge.
That being said, most hunters utilize the cartridge in such a way that the majority of their shots are taken at ranges less than 150 and often less than 100 yards. Under these conditions, the .375 Ruger excels, and the fact that the rifles it is typically used in are often shorter and faster pointing really becomes an asset.
The .375 Ruger unquestionably produces more recoil than both the .375 H&H and the 9.3x62mm Mauser. However, the recoil, while stout, is still manageable for most hunters.
Hunting with the .375 Ruger
Like the .375 H&H, the .375 Ruger is an incredibly versatile cartridge. With factory loads that produce well in excess of 4,500 foot-pounds of energy, the cartridge meets the legal requirements to hunt dangerous game in every country in Africa. It is absolutely deadly on a wide range of animals varying in size from whitetail deer all the way up to elephant.
The heavier 270gr and 300gr loads are particularly versatile and are well suited both for larger game like buffalo, brown bear, grizzly bear, moose and eland as well as small/medium sized game like impala, wildebeest, deer, feral hogs and black bear.
The cartridge also shoots flat enough that it is possible to confidently take shots out to 250 yards or so without adjusting the point of aim. As you can see in the videos below, it still packs quite a punch at 200-plus yards.
As the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding, and more and more hunters are starting to realize what a fantastic cartridge the .375 Ruger is. The cartridge, particularly when used in the handy Ruger Guide Gun with its 20″ barrel, is starting to develop quite a following among guides and professional hunters in Africa and Alaska who want a powerful, fast-pointing rifle to use at close range on angry dangerous game, like bear and buffalo.
It cannot hold a candle to the .375 H&H in terms of popularity or availability of ammunition, especially in remote locations, but the .375 Ruger is catching up fast, and ammunition is much more common than it was even a few years ago.
The .375 Ruger is a great cartridge, but I don’t see it supplanting the .375 H&H as the most popular dangerous game cartridge anytime soon. Even though it has a number of advantages over the .375 H&H on paper, performance in the real world is not the same as performance on paper.
The cartridge is certainly coming along and developing a growing following. However, the .375 H&H has been around for more than a century and has a stellar reputation among hunters. It is going to take many years of great performance before people feel the same way about the .375 Ruger (if they ever do).
That being said, if you’re looking for a single cartridge to hunt the widest variety of big game possible, then a good rifle chambered in .375 Ruger just might be the right choice for you.
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Black Bear – HD Hunting
It has been quite a while since I’ve done an African animal profile. However, it’s now the peak of the hunting season in most countries in Africa. In honor of this, I’ll continue to post further profiles of African animals over the next few weeks in the same spirit that I wrote about the impala and warthog this time last year.
Perhaps these reports will inspire some readers to pursue dreams of hunting in Africa. Today, I’m writing about the bread and butter of almost any African plains game safari: the blue wildebeest.
This excellent common blue wildebeest was taken in Namibia and easily made the SCI record book.
A good, quality bullet placed as indicated will result in a quick, ethical kill.
Perhaps these reports will inspire some readers to pursue dreams of hunting in Africa. Today, I’m writing about the bread and butter of almost any African plains game safari: the blue wildebeest.
Description and distribution
Blue wildebeest — also known as brindled gnu or black-bearded wildebeest — are a large, muscular species of antelope with large horns that curve in and upward. Males are slightly larger and darker in coloration than females and can weigh up to 600 pounds and stand 4-5 feet tall. Females are known to weigh as much as 550 pounds.
Most adult blue wildebeest have a deep, silvery gray or brownish coat with manes of long, jet-black fur. Blue wildebeest also have dark brown stripes on their necks and ribs, giving them their nickname of brindled gnu. Both males and females have horns, though males generally have significantly larger horns than females.
Safari Club International recognizes four subspecies of blue wildebeest: the white-bearded wildebeest, the Nyasa wildebeest, the Cookson wildebeest and the common blue wildebeest.
The white-bearded wildebeest is sometimes further broken down into the eastern and western white-bearded wildebeest subspecies, and it is found on the border between Kenya and Tanzania and is common in both countries. Their coats are lighter in color than the other subspecies of blue wildebeest, and they usually have white hair in their mane and on their face. Interestingly, their manes are lank and do not stand up.
The Nyasa wildebeest is the smallest specimen of blue wildebeest, and they live in southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique. They were once present in Malawi (formerly known as Nyasaland, hence the subspecies name), but are now extinct there. Nyasa wildebeest have a more brownish color to their coats than the other subspecies of blue wildebeest. The hairs on their manes are somewhat rigid and stick up in the air.
The Cookson wildebeest is the largest of all the wildebeest and is found only in the Luangwa Valley of Zambia. Their coat is grayer in color than any other subspecies. Like the white-bearded wildebeest, their manes also are lank.
The common blue wildebeest is the most widespread of any species of blue wildebeest and are found in Mozambique, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Angola and Zambia. Of these countries, South Africa offers the best hunting, both in sheer numbers of animals and in trophy quality, for the common blue wildebeest.
Of the top 25 common blue wildebeest in the SCI record book, 23 were taken in South Africa (the other two were taken in Namibia). However, Namibia and Zimbabwe also provide outstanding trophy-quality blue wildebeest. Like the Nyasa wildebeest, the common blue wildebeest manes are rigid and stick up in the air.
This excellent common blue wildebeest was taken in Namibia and easily made the SCI record book.
Blue wildebeest are grazing animals and generally live in herds of 20-50 animals, or more in more open terrain. Their snouts are well adapted for feeding on grass, which is their favorite food. However, the blue wildebeest will also eat shrubs and leaves if grass is in short supply.
Though blue wildebeest are most often found in open terrain, they can also be found in areas with thick vegetation as well. They are resilient animals, but are dependent on water and will drink twice daily when water is available. As a result, they are most often found in moist grasslands and in other areas near water. Blue wildebeest are often found in the company of zebra, springbok, impala and hartebeest on the open plains.
Hunting methods
There are several possible methods available for hunting blue wildebeest. Probably the most commonly-used method is to attempt a stalk on a feeding herd of blue wildebeest during the morning or evening when they are most active. However, this can be challenging due to the difficulty associated with getting inside shooting range while avoiding the watchful eyes of dozens of blue wildebeest (to say nothing of the zebra, or any other animals with them).
Another commonly used hunting method — if it is legal in the area you will be hunting, and you consider it ethical — is to ambush blue wildebeest from a blind overlooking a water hole.
Cartridges
Blue wildebeest have a well-deserved reputation as tough animals and can take a lot of punishment before they go down for good. Indeed, they have the nickname “the poor man’s cape buffalo” for a good reason. For this reason, it is important that hunters be appropriately armed when pursuing them.
Since they are so tough, the. 308 Winchester is the minimum caliber that I recommend for use on a blue wildebeest at short to medium range (out to 200 yards). For some of the longer shots that may present themselves in open areas, cartridges such as the .30-06 Springfield and the .300 and .338 Winchester Magnums are also great choices.
For those that prefer even larger caliber rifles, a hunter pursuing blue wildebeest using a rifle chambered in 9.3x62mm or .375 H&H is not using “too much gun” on one of these tough animals.
Shot placement
A saying among those who have pursued blue wildebeest is that “they are born sick and get stronger and run farther with each lead pill you give them.” Like I stated above, blue wildebeest are tough and must be taken seriously by hunters. While they are not normally aggressive toward humans, it is not uncommon to hear about wounded blue wildebeest charging and injuring hunters.
For this reason, it is essential that hunters use deeply-penetrating bullets and place their shots appropriately. Additionally, no matter what cartridge and bullet they use, hunters should not be afraid to take a rapid follow-up shot, if possible. This can potentially avoid a frustrating and/or dangerous situation further down the road.
A good, quality bullet placed as indicated will result in a quick, ethical kill.
Fortunately, shot placement on blue wildebeest is not complicated. When they are standing broadside, simply aim along the back edge of the front shoulder approximately one-third the way up their body. This will result in a heart/lung shot, and the wildebeest will likely not go far after the shot.
However, I do not recommend that taking frontal shots on blue wildebeest. As you can see in the photo below, there is a small window to the vitals, and it is easy to hit too far to either side, or hit the animal’s snout. In either case, there is a high risk of wounding and losing the blue wildebeest. For the same reasons, I do not recommend head or neck shots, except for experienced marksmen and hunters.
Blue wildebeest are among the most widely-distributed and commonly-pursued species in Africa. They are also nearly as tough and challenging to hunt as a Cape buffalo, but much more affordable. Due to this, the blue wildebeest is considered one of the cornerstones of a “classic” safari almost anywhere you go on the continent.
No safari is complete without a blue wildebeest, and I highly recommend adding one to your list if you’re planning a trip to Africa in the near future.