WaGuns.org
https://www.waguns.org/

RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa (Update 2024)
https://www.waguns.org/viewtopic.php?f=129&t=61379
Page 1 of 2

Author:  SFCRMSA [ Wed Oct 28, 2015 7:35 pm ]
Post subject:  RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa (Update 2024)

Ruger MK1 30.06, bolt action with tang safety, 22 inch barrel and laminated wood stock, all factory set up with Swift 3X9 x 40 wide angle scope, duplex Reticle.

This was an opportunity not of a lifetime but to experience hunting on another level. having always desiring to hunt in Africa, this opportunity presented itself at a very reasonable rate. Having no experience hunting outside the continental United States of America, other than Hawaii, there were many concerns. These concerns were all addressed, worked through and I took part in a short 5 day hunt/safari in Kimberly South Africa, at a very reasonable price. One main concern was a suitable rifle and caliber.
After a short deliberation and advisement, I was told to bring the rifle I hunt with the best and shoot the best. My choice was a long trusted bolt action rifle, Ruger MK 1 in 30.06. The hunt basically was a 'Plains Game' animal hunt. My 30.06 performed beyond all expectations. Scope on top is a Swift wide angle 3 x 9 x 40 which provided all the needed magnification.

Black Wildebeest taken at 290 Yards verified by rangefinder, Guide/Tracker- Leon :snipersmilie:
Image

Bullet recovered from the Black wildebeest/Remington 165 GR Core-Lokt
Image

Blue Wildebeest taken at 100 YDS, Guide/Tracker-Leon
Image


Blesbok taken at 190 YDS
Image

Springbok taken at 75 YDS
Image

Ammo of choice was the Remington 165 grain Core-Lokts thumbsup
Image

Entire hunt was booked with Mike Birch of Hunt the Sun Safaris, Kimberly South Africa. I will be going back to Africa, May 2016. Looking for anyone interested in going to hunt in Africa . If anyone is interested in information on hunting in South Africa, please contact me. Would be more than happy to discuss a hunt and my experience with Hunt the Sun Safaris, please PM me.
:patriot:

Author:  MadPick [ Wed Oct 28, 2015 7:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa

Nice! Was this your first time in Africa, or in South Africa?

You said you're going back in May 2015 . . . errr, wrong year?

Author:  SFCRMSA [ Wed Oct 28, 2015 7:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa

MadPick wrote:
Nice! Was this your first time in Africa, or in South Africa?

You said you're going back in May 2015 . . . errr, wrong year?


Thanks Mr Madpick :Admin: date corrected. Going back in May 2016. This would be a great opportunity for any hunter, of any age and any skill level with rifle or Bow to hunt.

Author:  leitung [ Wed Oct 28, 2015 11:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa

How hard is it to bring your rifle with you down there? Ton of paperwork? Or is it pretty simple? I always figured with the crime rate down there that gun laws would be strict and complicated.

Any safety issues that you found in relation to that crime rate while you were down there?

Author:  SFCRMSA [ Thu Oct 29, 2015 8:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa

The process for taking a rifle to South Africa is actually very uncomplicated once you know the process. You cannot take semi-auto rifles and pistols to South Africa. Bolt actions, lever actions and single shots only. You have your rifle(s) inspected at the US Customs office and you get a form stamped. Then there are two methods to get your rifle to South Africa. You can do the ‘self-service’ where you send the South African paperwork yourself to the South African Police Department or you, which I did, use a third party person connected with the outfitter, located in South Africa. It is much easier, quicker and less chance for any problems if you get the third party to assist with paperwork for your rifle. Once you arrive in South Africa, the authorities inspect your rifle, which is just basically a serial number check and the paperwork which also verifies that you are the owner. This is important becuase you will be leaving the country with your rifle. There is an option to rent a rifle from the outfitter if you like and also if you are a Bow hunter it is even easier. A bow in South Africa is not considered a 'weapon' so many hunter now use that option. Keep in mind that 50% of all hunters to Africa come from the USA, so this is BIG money to them. The people and authorities are friendly, patient and helpful. English is now the primary language in South Africa. I stayed at an Inn or Bed and Breakfast so to speak, arriving in Johannesburg, being greeted by the safari associates at the airport, stayed one night in J-Berg, and then flew out the next day to Kimberly. You are escorted at all times and driven wherever you need to go so I was never had any concerns of my safety in relation to the crime rates in J-Berg.
If you have interest in hunting in South Africa, you can PM me with any more specific or detail questions. There is a contact here in the USA for Mike Birch Safaris, Hunt the Sun, which walks you through the entire process.

Author:  old11bravo [ Thu Oct 29, 2015 11:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa

Very, very cool! Thanks for sharing this awesome experience.

Author:  SFCRMSA [ Sat Jan 13, 2018 8:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa

Anyone interested in hunting in South Africa?

Author:  Free Boer [ Sat Jan 13, 2018 10:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa

Been there, done that. If you go again, be very aware of your surroundings. The natives are rather restless these days.

Author:  RadioSquatch [ Sat Jan 13, 2018 11:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa

How much was the bill for shipping that game meat home? Or did it have to stay in country?

Author:  SFCRMSA [ Sun Jan 14, 2018 1:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa

Airborne Engineer wrote:
Been there, done that. If you go again, be very aware of your surroundings. The natives are rather restless these days.


Natives are no concern of mine. Not sure where you were at but this outfitter takes care of any of those potiential occurrances.

I was escorted from the J-Burg airport to a hotel/bed an breakfast since we arrived at night. It was a small gated compound not too far from the airport. In the Am of the next day, we were escorted (driven ) back to the airport where we took the smaller plane to Kimberley, then met there by the outfitter at the airport and driven to the hunting compound.

Somebody please tell me where you can get that kind of service from an outfitter here in the USA, Canada or Alaska. You have to do most of the work on your own, just to get there.

Author:  SFCRMSA [ Sun Jan 14, 2018 1:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa

RadioSquatch wrote:
How much was the bill for shipping that game meat home? Or did it have to stay in country?

Cannot ship meat back to the USA that is not FDA approved. Safari hunting is not about bringing meat home. You have the opportunity to have some while in country.

Author:  Pablo [ Sun Jan 14, 2018 5:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa

SFCRMSA wrote:
RadioSquatch wrote:
How much was the bill for shipping that game meat home? Or did it have to stay in country?

Cannot ship meat back to the USA that is not FDA approved. Safari hunting is not about bringing meat home. You have the opportunity to have some while in country.


That would be very cool. Added to bucket list! I must assume even in today's most stupid gun climate, shipping/luggage check rifle international both ways is not a giant hassle(?)

Author:  SFCRMSA [ Sun Jan 14, 2018 2:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa

Pablo wrote:
SFCRMSA wrote:
RadioSquatch wrote:
How much was the bill for shipping that game meat home? Or did it have to stay in country?

Cannot ship meat back to the USA that is not FDA approved. Safari hunting is not about bringing meat home. You have the opportunity to have some while in country.


That would be very cool. Added to bucket list! I must assume even in today's most stupid gun climate, shipping/luggage check rifle international both ways is not a giant hassle(?)


To be clearly honest, traveling is a hassle. Security, passport checks, crowded airports, getting here, to and from, connections, the food while traveling, pain in the ass. :frust:

I will say this without reservation, taking a rifle to Africa and bringing it home was easy. It is all about the paperwork, not only in Africa, but here in the USA. Once you check in at the Airport (say SeaTac) you do not see your rifle again until you land in Africa, your guns are held at security. There they review your paperwork, check your serial number, then release your rifle to you. There is a local representative form the outfitter that knows the system, has a copy already of your paperwork, and meets you after you get off the plane. You are escorted through the whole process. Then you are driven and escorted everywhere you need to go, this is all included in the price of the hunt. People have guns in South Africa, it is just regulated for the locals. It is jacked up and I think they have to pay for license to own a gun, another reason some of the average people do not own a gun, they cannot afford it. It is their version of gun control.
As far as the hunter from the USA, lets be honest, they want you there because you are helping their economy.

Return trip, wherever you get check in by customs, re-entering the USA, they inspect your rifle, basically just confirming the serial number and that's it. The paperwork is no big deal, you fill the forms out online and forward them to the Outfitter, he takes care of it on that end. Here in the USA, you have to take your rifle down to the Customs office in Tacoma, they inspect it and issue the form you need to take with you and then bring back in the USA. Seems like a lot but you do it all over a period of time, so you are not rushed or meet a deadline.


When I was there, there was a guy form Moses lake who was a Bow Hunter. Bow Hunting in Africa is increasingly becoming more and more popular not only because of the newer bow technology, but a Bow is not considered a deadly weapon in the category like a rifle so you do not need all the paper work hassle. Outfitters are now more set up for bow hunting more than ever. They have blinds and tree stands now set up just for that. Then if you do not take a rifle, you can rent a rifle and buy ammo from the outfitter, but is additional expense. Adds flexibility though.
Some return hunters do this so they do not have the whole rifle hassle through customs. It is a matter of what you want to do.


This is not like those Canada, Alaska or even Lower 48 hunts where you pay these high dollar hunts and you do not even get a complimentary bottle of water. You are treated like a guest. It is hard to believe that it is more than a Hunt, you learn about the animals, you see so many animals in the hunting areas, different species, you learn about the culture, they all speak English, they want to talk and interact with you, you try different foods, you learn about the politics, the languages, then you go hunting.

Good luck if you consider an African hunt. I got interested and got hooked up with this outfitter by going to the Puyallup Sportsman show. If you have ever been , you know they have many outfitters from all over. Good place to start to check things out.

Author:  Mediumrarechicken [ Fri Jan 26, 2018 10:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa

I'd love to do this one day. So on the price page it has the price with a guide then price per animal, is there any other costs involved besides getting there? How much does taxidermy cost?

Author:  SFCRMSA [ Tue May 08, 2018 5:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RUGER MK 1 30.06 In South Africa

Mediumrarechicken wrote:
I'd love to do this one day. So on the price page it has the price with a guide then price per animal, is there any other costs involved besides getting there? How much does taxidermy cost?


PM Sent

Page 1 of 2 All times are UTC - 8 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
https://www.phpbb.com/