Fantastic trip and story Darrell - thanks for "taking us along"!

Congratulations on some great trophies...so, when are you going back? Sounds like a zebra rug and warthog skull are needed for the trophy room

And a nyala, and an eland, and a ....

Hopefully one day soon. Interested?

Thanks Darrel, awesome hunt. Makes getting up doing the daily grind kind of hard when compared to that. Unless of course you see it as an avenue for another adventure on the dark continent.

Andrew Renton is the man and Kei River is a fantastic place to hunt. I was there in May for my second trip with him. Got the possible world record steenbok, #5 Kalahari springbok, vaal rhebok, duiker, monster baboon (at 420 yards0, and 12 1/2 ' croc.
This man, his family, lodging, and places to hunt are the best I've seen in seven trips to Africa. I'm going back. Guess with who?

Darrel, I am so darn happy for you and the wonderful African game you handgunned in great style. I know the members will agree on how proud we are of you and your latest hunt and will see many more pictures and stories from your future hunts. My sincere congratulations.....James

Bushbuck are one of my favorites to hunt. I've taken two and with time and any luck at all I'm going to take another one very shortly.

Congrads Darrel,
Now, you do realize that once you go to Africa, you can't get enough of it. Let the obsession begin!!!
Better start planning the addition to the trophy room now, Lol..

Darrell, I am flabbergasted! Congrats! That was a hunt of a lifetime, for sure. You did show off just a bit, but hey.....some's just got it!

glad you had a safe and wonderful time.

Yep.

Bearbait, I would guess that Andrew has hosted about as many handgun hunters as any PH in South Africa. He hosted a couple of guys from S&W who hunted with the 500 S&W and the .460 S&W and they made some incredible shots. Their story was featured in Amercian Hunter a few years ago. I would love to read that article again, Whitworth can you help me out?

Dr. Larry Rogers (aka the WVHitman on this board) has also hunted with him and a couple of guys on the Specialty Pistols site, (7stdubberu and dodgydoug58 whom I believe are members here as well) hunted with Andrew a few years back. He hosts many bow hunters using spot and stalk methods so he knows how to get close. Thanks for the congrats, I appreciate it!


Thanks Ernie! NOTHING will be safe AT ANY DISTANCE when you arrive!



Yikes reflex! Sorry to hear that but I'm glad you're still with us! Hopefully you'll have a chance to return one day soon! Thanks for all of your kind words, I appreciate it.


Thank you James! There is no way that I would have attempted a hunt like this without the tips that I have received on hunting, shooting revolvers, and traveling to Africa from you and the other members of this board. This is an awesome site with a great group of guys. Thank you!


Gary, I wish you and Mark the best of luck on your upcoming adventure. I simply cannot wait to hear your report!



Linebaugh, you are correct...this could get addicting in a hurry!


Huh? I couldn't have killed a fly on this trip without Andrew and Sutu! The only part that I played was yanking the trigger a few times. I thought that I was a decent hunter but hunting with Andrew and Sutu was a humbling experience to say the least.

Thanks again for all of the kind words guys, I really appreciate all of the members of this site!

Darrell, I'll try to track the article down for you.

Thank you sir!

Wow. What a great story. Thanks for taking us along!!

Awsome story, thanks for sharing with us!

Dear Darrell,
Awesome experience in pair with your writing skills! When I published couple of articles about my hunting trips in Africa I “warned” hunters who are planning similar adventure that it is much more difficult NOT to go again in Africa but to go there for the first time – obviously you got infected too

Can you pls share with us if you managed to get exit wound(s) on buff? Also I wonder if you had full penetration with .454 Swifts in G. Kudu and Zebra (especially zebra)? I could just partially see your holster for .475 at pictures but I liked what I saw – can you tell me brand/model you used?

Thanks again guys, glad you enjoyed my story!



Igor, I shot the buff a total of 5 times and the best that I could tell I had one exit. I think that it was the spine shot since the exit was between the front legs at the bottom of the chest. Most of the shots were through the lungs although one shot grazed the heart. We recovered one bullet without the gas check in the lung tissue with a badly distorted nose. I assume that this one was the first shot which broke the shoulder (and distorted the nose). I can only assume that the other three bullets were found in the front shoulder muscles since we left the buff with the skinning/cleaning crew after he was caped.



I had exits with the 325 A-frame on the female impala, kudu, and bushbuck. Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to take a zebra or warthog on this trip since I simply ran out of time. This makes for a good excuse to make a return trip one of these days.

This is a Pistol Packaging Bandito Rig. I had this one custom made for a Ruger Super Redhawk equipped with an Ultradot but it fits several of my other ultradot equipped revolvers well enough. Here is a little better photo of it with my S&W 629:


I carried the 454 Casull in a Freedom Arms strong side holster made for reflex style red-dot sights.

Thanks again for your comments and questions.

Thanks for prompt and very detailed response! And yes, you always can find good reason to go back in Africa

I use similar way to carry mine .454 with red dot. A friend of mine made very nice side holster as per my inputs. I hope you like it

http://maddogleatherart.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=171493415
http://maddogleatherart.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=171493417
http://maddogleatherart.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=171493416

I just looked at your SA 2013 photos. Beautiful Kudu and a great Buff. Fantastic revolver trophies! Thanks again for the measurements on the Ruger.

Darrell.
That was an awesome experience.....thanks for sharing it with us. I was glued to my chair and there was no way anyone could have pried me out of it until it was finished. That was really some good shooting on your part. I am hoping to do this one day....and not too far in the distant future. Thanks again.
Mike