Handgun Hunting Afield

Everything happens for a reason

My 7-30 waters has been an interesting learning curve. I picked up the barrel from my business partner/mentor, Dave,and immediately became intrigued. First time fireforming brass, first suppressed contender, first time blowing open a contender(a good lesson for another time) and it joined me on my first trip to South Africa in August 2024. 

Due to some forum discussions, and thanks to our confusing federal laws, I ended up leaving the suppressor at home. With the 13” “bull” barrel, I was not too worried about accuracy issues but I brought an extra box of ammo just in case. I had never shot the 7-30 barrel without the suppressor, but I know that just swapping the muzzle device made huge POI shifts. Often times more than 6 MOA in any direction. Usual groups off of a good rest on the bench are around 1 MOA.

After we made it to our first concession, 2 hours north of O.R. Tambo airport, we take a quick trip to the range. I slept for about 3 of the 16 hour flight and 5 the following night before. I was a bit fatigued. I start at 50 just to make sure I am on paper. First shot 3 inches right, 3 inches low. Surprised, I make a quick scope adjustment, and fire again. While laughing, my PH, Brendan, calls it “Dead on”. I thought he was being sarcastic, but behold, I couldn’t have drawn a more center shot. I would like to brag about my expert skills, but as tired as I was, luck was a little part of it. We go to 100 yards, adjust, take a few more shots in a 2-inch spread just a touch high off of the tripod. He said he was happy and we take off. 

The 7-30 was used often the first few days, mostly as a weight because we got our butts kicked by Impala. 3 stalks were successful, but either too young or, in one case a large branch was in the way at about 35 yards. With no animals in the last 3 days, we go to the next location 6 hours southwest to an area south Bloemhof in the free state. The first afternoon, we get an opportunity on a small herd of Springboks. We follow for about 5 or 600 yards and get an opportunity 130 yards. We set the tripod and one of the 2 shooters turns perfectly broadside. I line up on top of his back, and shoot. The 120 grain Nosler ballistic tip is being pushed by 34.4 grains of H335 at nearly 2400 fps. I realized quickly it was a mistake. Just ever so slightly over his back. Everything I remembered about holds for the round went out the window. Given 150 was my absolute max, I should have held dead on. I could blame everything from the long drive to the wind, but I simply wasn’t focused. We chased for another half mile, and no luck. The only good luck that we found out later, that my wife, still waiting in the truck, said a lone cape buffalo was following our path, and thankfully the shot scared it off.

The next morning, we decided we needed a break and went to try a sit on a watering hole. Still mad about the miss yesterday evening, Brendan assured me not to worry. He was optimistic and said “Hey, everything happens for a reason”. Such wisdom from a 26 year old PH whom appeared to have 20 years of experience.

While enjoying the cool weather, an impala walks out of the bush on the other side of the pond. After a few moments, 3 more walk in, one by one. Furthest away to our left appeared to be the largest at 85 yards. He is just starting to put his head down to take a quick drink and he is a steep quarter towards us. I set the 7-30 on the window slot, relax, breathe, steady, easy…..*click*, the loudest sound I could imagine. I forgot to switch the safety off. I reset, realign and confirm my target. As I fire, a cloud of dust fills the window, but with lots of practice, I keep my eyes open to see the impala come off the ground and immediately drop. He didn’t make a step, not even a twitch. It was just the confidence boost I needed. The Nosler BT made it though the shoulder, heart, lungs and nicked a rib and it was bulging from the skin on the other side. Somewhat surprised by this, I made sure to recover the bullet. 

Obviously, it worked, but not to happy since the bullet appeared to have lost a lot of weight. When I got home, the 120 was down to 62 grains. It was a good example of a phrase I coined years ago when I started researching ballistics in college:“Shot placement is key, but a good bullet gives forgiveness”. The bullet seems to have worked itself apart somewhere within the lung so it was just good enough after the bone impact. It didn’t give a lot of confidence, but the impact was on the thickest part of the shoulder. Still unsure about the round, we continue on.

After no luck for another day and a half, tension builds on being behind schedule on our goal. My focus on this trip was a Gemsbok that we finally snagged, but I was hoping for some more free time. With just a day and a half left, we have 2 animals to go, Springbok and Duiker. We loaded the Gemsbok, and take a slow ride back to camp for lunch that we are now 45 minutes late for. We are a couple miles out, with our skinner hanging on the back of the truck and my wife makes a sarcastic banter to our PH about “never shooting at noon”. I laughed it off and told her it would be funny to actually spot some springbok on the way back.

2 minutes later, the road made a gradual curve and I snap my fingers hard at nearly the same time as my PH does. That is the signal to the ranch manager, who was driving for us, to stop immediately. A lone tree 140 yards away is housing 6 Springboks that are just starting to bed down to get out of the noon sun. I rapidly grab the 7-30 and the sandbag. I see 2 goodmales. They don’t know we are there so we take a quick second to look. He judges the one on the right to be a shooter, but I’m told to look at the one in the fork of the tree when he shows his face. As I adjust to look, he turns his head right at use. No doubt that he’s the better option! We go back and forth: “Fork?” “Yeah.” “Yardage?” “140”. “Shooting between the fork..” “Shoot now”. All of this happens in less than 8 seconds.

The shot had to be a few inches further behind the shoulder than I would normally like, but still should get through the lungs, especially after I saw how it reacted to the Impala. I place the 120 BT right down the middle of the 8” gap in the fork. He takes a leap, runs 30 yards to our right and starts to wobble. I reload, get the crosshairs back on and shows every sign of quick blood loss on exit on his left side. He settles into the 14” tall,patchy grass. I start to make my way over, but then he tries to stand back up, I look to Brendan and tell him to hold tight for a second. I look back again and I see one walking… I’m confused. A second later he say’s “Let’s walk”. We jog towards the tree, set up, he points in the grass 30 yards past the tree and instructs me to shoot at the springbok hiding in the grass. I’ve learned that things happen FAST out here, but when did he run back to behind the tree?? Hey, he’s the guide…

I turn my Simmons scope to 2.5x, I barely see his face looking right at us. I split the distance from his nose to the ground and shoot again. He hands me a spare round and we approach. “$#!&, it’s a Copper”(copper springbok). I’m beyond confused. In seconds I go from excited, to worried to just confused. He affirmed that I hit the one he told me to shoot. There was no shot in the shoulder, just my finishing shot in the neck.

As we’re trying to figure it out, we get a whistle from the property manager. We look over, and see the common springbok laying down. “What’s going on?!” I shout in confused excitment. I know I only shot twice, but why was this one just hiding in the grass. As we pick up the copper, we see its back legs. 

There was a clean break across his two rear tarsi (ankles). No way that was my finishing shot. He says that couldn’t have been the first impact due to the tree being in the way, not to mention I could see the exit hole in the ribs while in the shooting position. We figured out the bullet made it through the ribs exactly where I wanted, it deflected slightly, and broke both of the back two tarsi of the copper that apparently was behind. I couldn’t have recreated this shot in my dreams. The 7-30 round continues to intrigue me. After the experience and inspection of the Impala, I was considering experimenting with the 140 grain BT in order to allow use at longer ranges and with the reduced speed, I would expect the round to still deform and better stay together. However, after the experience, the Nosler 120 BT is fantastic for southern deer and antelope with a decent shot placement. 

I had the mentality of using heavier calibers like the .375 JDJ and blasting through any material, but as I learn, I would focus more on the larger target area behind the shoulder and notjust the shoulder. I may have to reach out, but I would still call for Nosler to produce the 120 partitions. Especially if many of us are having trouble sourcing lightweight 7mm projectiles.

My PH was understandably frustrated, this was a completeand honest accident, but was humble about the situation and I will compliment how professionally he handled it. I told him notto worry too much, we can work something out over a beer. The tension began to ease and we have a laugh or two. Admiring the beautiful animals for the photos, he lets out a murmur. I asked him what was up, and he tells me that these springboks were the two largest he has seen all year, and I got them in one shot. I respond, *slightly* sarcastic “It’s a good thing I missed that first afternoon, you said everything happens for a reason, right?”. 

I tell you what, if looks could kill… Thankfully there were witnesses.