Chris

Col Dave Grossman addresses this phenomenon extensively in "On Combat". I hunt without hearing protection on my dangerous game hunts... gotta hear my PH's instruction... and I've never heard any of my shots. That being said, I fired a 12 gauge in a hunting blind w/o ear pro... I heard that son of a *&%$! Felt like I got punched in the head. Oh, and auditory exclusion does not protect your hearing... as the high pitched squeal in my left ear constantly attests.

I can honestly say I've never had to shoot anything with a .45-70 more than once.    The eye relief on this guy may not be long enough, but I've had good luck with this scope:  http://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Banner-Multi-X-Reticle-Riflescope/dp/B00J65GCYI/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1422192683&sr=1-5&keywords=long+eye+relief

Best. Forum. Evah. Thanks, David.

I thought so. It's a really nice ram. I'm very jealous. The black wildebeest looked good, but I have 't taken one yet, so I didn't have a basis for comparison. Congratulations on both of those, that's a hard hunt regardless and exponentially harder with a bow. Even if you don't enter them in the books, it's nice to know that they scored that well.

Want! If this works at all it'll be a great piece of kit for traveling.

And of course, Roland and Ward as the official "Book".   Records: https://www.rowlandward.co.za/content/default.aspx?pid=21&MainPage=2&SubPage=2   Methods of Measurement: https://www.rowlandward.co.za/content/default.aspx?pid=24&MainPage=2&SubPage=4

Here's the listing for what rates as bronze, silver and gold. http://www.scirecordbook.org/springbok/

Nice thick bases with a really good curl... I bet he makes the books.   http://www.scirecordbook.org/docs/methods/Method_1.pdf

Really nice springbuck Rob. What did that score?

I've gone solo as well as with a group of six. Plenty of room for everyone.

+1 on Savannah. Great town. St. Augustine has some cool bits, but you'll have to dig. The fort is cool, several lighthouses in the area are fun, also check out the National Guard Armory. It's just down from the fort and is the oldest armory in the country. They also have the distinction of being the first place a militia was raised in what would become the U.S. and parts of the current structure date back to that first muster. It doesn't take long to see it, but I thought it was a neat bit of history. 

I got my Benelli at Outpost Armory... don't know if they stock the parts you want, but it'd probably be worth a call.

correct link: http://www.shopbushnell.com/detail/BSN+AR91424I

Swarovski Z6i - to my mind the greatest dangerous game scope ever designed... it has ruined me for all other optics. It is, however, stupid expensive. I've also had good luck with a more affordable scope in 1-4x... http://www.shopbushnell.com/detail/BSN+711432 It's not nearly as durable as the Swarovski and it's not illuminated but: a. it's a fraction of the cost b. it gives a true one x so I can shoot w/ both eyes open c. has sufficient optic quality to let me reach out a couple hundred yards. d. as advertised, works well in low light I ran one of those on a lever action .45-70 for hunting hogs and it was great until it took a tumble and died. I've also thought, but never tried it, that some of the 1-4x optics aimed at the AR market would work pretty well in this role... something along this line: http://www.shopbushnell.com/detail/BSN+AR91424I 

Kudos to Metro PD. That was an amazing show of restraint and self control.

Fair chase boar you say? Here in TN you say? Hmmmm.

I'm in for 2-4.

+1 on the Ruger Gunsite... it is a little rough at first, but it smooths out nicely. I've got two and I've hunted with them here and in Africa. It has quickly become one of my go to bolt guns. I was extolling their virtue for spot and stalk earlier, but I used it in the stand this year and was impressed by how well suited it is for the task. The smaller size and light weight make it easy to manipulate up in a tree and it's plenty accurate... we were making 300 yard kills off the sticks in Africa, no problem. I usually top them off with a 1-6x illuminated scope. That's plenty to reach out and touch big game and I can dial it down to one and use it as a red dot sight if things get up close and personal. Love this gun.

+1 on Loshbough. Good folks, excellent guides and dogs, nice big area to hunt in and some big ole hogs back in there as well. I've also hunted Caryonah in Cookeville... good operation, excellent lodge but their hunting area is a bit smaller than Loshbough.

Happy New Year!

They can occasionally be helpful, but like others pointed out, it's just one factor to consider.

I've been seeing quite a bit of movement between first light and 0730a... absolutely nothing in the evening.

I've been pleasantly surprised by every CZ I've fired. The make really nice guns. That thing is a beast... I love it!

For those of you who might be interested, Craig Boddington has penned an article on how affordable Safari's are. http://www.fieldandstream.com/node/1005010822 He's right on target, for less than most sheep hunts you can hunt in a place where you'll see more game before breakfast than you'll see all year in the U.S. Let me know if anyone is interested, I've been on six safaris to date and have developed some pretty good contacts in the industry. I can help you avoid some potential pitfalls. If you are a hunter, you owe it to yourself to go at least once before you die.

Congrats! Grandbabies are the best!