wildland - january 2015

JANUARIE / JANUARY 2015 | WILDLAND #001944

46 Nood leer mens bidDeur Cobus Erasmus 58 Jan de Man vra:

Wat van duiwe?48 The .22-250 Remington

Teken in en WEN groot

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22

Strasser A straight-pull marvel

Gelatien- toetse

40 000 raampies per sekonde

Suid-Afrika se model-jagter

06 Lank voor ons ge-were opgehang word

9772307794005

01019

Nyala The most beautiful of them allBy Craig Boddington

Leupold Goue ring wys dis goue gehalte

Z6(i) FAMILYPRECISION IN EVERY SITUATIONStalking. Mountain hunting. Moving hunt. Safari. Hide hunting. Every type of hunting is special, each of them appealing and exciting in their own way. You are equipped for any of these scenarios with the Z6(i). This masterpiece from SWAROVSKI OPTIK has revolutionised the way we use rifl e scopes. It has a 6x zoom, thereby ensuring an impressive fi eld of view at low magnifi cation, as well as enabling you to recognise all the key details at high magnifi cation. You can choose from eight different models, which all essentially combine uncompromising optics with all the necessary fi ne settings. Perfectly adapted and already tried and tested more than 100,000 times. When seconds are crucial – SWAROVSKI OPTIK.

SEE THE UNSEENWWW.SWAROVSKIOPTIK.COM

YOU CAN FIND OUR PRODUCTS AT EXCLUSIVE SPECIALIST RETAILERS AND ONLINE AT WWW.SWAROVSKIOPTIK.COM

For your closest stockist, please contact Brad on 0861-005903

H21ND_SouthAfrica_A4_EN.indd 1 18.06.13 12:36

Indeks / IndexUit die heup uit / From the hip 04Die Vuurwapenwet: Ons gaan nie sommer ons gewere ophang nie 06Wat, waar en wanneer 14Die luiperds van Shyamanzi 22Nyala facts 24

Hunting on Blanco in North-West 34Raising the alarm 42Nood leer bid... en ’n plan maak 46Craig Boddington hunts Africa’s prize animal, the nyala 52

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08 The Strasser rifle is a “straight-pull marvel”, according to the expert Pierre van der Walt.This highly innovate design by Horst Blaser is making its mark on the market with a touch of flair.

Hoëspoed-fotografie wat teen 40 000 raampies per sekonde geneem is wys presies wat gebeur wanneer die koeël sy teiken tref. Dit stel die vervaardigers van jagkoeëls in staat om beter ontwerpe te doen.

Craig Boddington, the well-known American writer, calls the nyala “Africa’s prize animal”. Read of his interesting experiences in Southern Africa while hunting nyala.

WILDLANDF I R ST F OR T H E H U N T E R | E E R ST E V I R DI E JAG T E R

© Kopiereg Wildland. Alle inhoud in hierdie publikasie word deur kopiereg beskerm. Alle regte voorbehou.© Copyright Wildland. All content in this publication is copyright protected. All rights reserved. The editor reserves the right to change or shorten articles and letters. The editor, publisher and editorial staff accept no responsibility for the content of articles as well as the content of advertisements.

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RUBRIEKE / COLUMNS

Strasser the straight-pull marvel 08Vat die spoor van die sebra 16Hoëspoedfotografie: Wat maak jou Koeël binne-in die bok? 18Leupold: Goue ring, goue waarde 36Beeldskone jagter van Ellisras noubekend op TV 40Practical cartridge basics: .22-250 Remington 48

ARTIKELS / ARTICLES

JAGSTORIES / HUNTING STORIES

KOMPETISIES / COMPETITIONSKyk wat het ek gejag 28Teken in op Wildland en wen groot 44

RESEP / RECIPEWildsfrikkadelle met bos-bessie- sous en suurkool 32

Posadres / Postal addressPosbus 30541,Wonderboompoort, 0033Redaksionele / Editorial staffRedakteur / EditorAndré van [email protected]: 012 335 1140C: 082 455 8707Uitlegkunstenaar / Layout artistQuentin NellAlgemene navrae / General inquiriesRika van Dyk T: 012 335 1140 C: 079 892 0023F: 086 208 0652Bydraers / ContributersCobus ErasmusCraig BoddingtonDeon FurstonburgGareth GoonsJan de ManJannie ParsonsPaul CoetzeePierre van der WaltPiet EloffRené PrinslooRudolph van der Westhuysen

“Like” Wildland op Facebook en staan ‘n kans om ‘n jagnaweek vir twee te WEN ter waarde van R10 000!

Foto: Hilton Kotze

www.facebook.com/wildlandmag

Z6(i) FAMILYPRECISION IN EVERY SITUATIONStalking. Mountain hunting. Moving hunt. Safari. Hide hunting. Every type of hunting is special, each of them appealing and exciting in their own way. You are equipped for any of these scenarios with the Z6(i). This masterpiece from SWAROVSKI OPTIK has revolutionised the way we use rifl e scopes. It has a 6x zoom, thereby ensuring an impressive fi eld of view at low magnifi cation, as well as enabling you to recognise all the key details at high magnifi cation. You can choose from eight different models, which all essentially combine uncompromising optics with all the necessary fi ne settings. Perfectly adapted and already tried and tested more than 100,000 times. When seconds are crucial – SWAROVSKI OPTIK.

SEE THE UNSEENWWW.SWAROVSKIOPTIK.COM

YOU CAN FIND OUR PRODUCTS AT EXCLUSIVE SPECIALIST RETAILERS AND ONLINE AT WWW.SWAROVSKIOPTIK.COM

For your closest stockist, please contact Brad on 0861-005903

H21ND_SouthAfrica_A4_EN.indd 1 18.06.13 12:36

UIT DIE WINKEL / FROM THE SHOPWild & Warm resepteboek bestelvorm 57

3 WILD LANDJanuarie / January 2015

4 WILD LAND Januarie / January 2015

Dis ’n nuwe jaar met nuwe geleenthede, nuwe moontlikhede en dalk ook nuwe moeilikheid. In hierdie verband verwys ek na die aankondiging dat die owerhede besluit het om weer met ’n vergrootglas na die Vuurwapenwet te kyk. Ek is nie iemand wat spoke opjaag nie en gaan dit ook nie in die toekoms doen nie, maar as daar al ooit ’n goeie tyd was om ’n verenigde front te vorm, is dit nou die tyd en die geleentheid. Alle belanghebbende partye moet van die begin af saamwerk en saam die nodige insette gee en daardeur ’n sterk boodskap aan die owerhede deurgee. Die foute wat ons in die verlede gemaak het, moet onder geen omstandighede herhaal word nie, maar indien almal nie saamwerk nie, gaan daardie foute herhaal word. Dit is ’n feit wat nie weggeredeneer kan word nie.

Miskien is dit nie so erg as wat ons dink nie en ek gaan ook nie probeer om die situasie op te blaas en uit balans te ruk nie. Al wat ek sê is: Wees voorbereid en staan saam. Onthou die ou leuse van ons voorvaders: “Eendragt maakt magt.” Dit is hierdie leuse wat ander mense in die verlede baie suksesvol toegepas het en daardeur het hulle gekry wat hulle wou hê.

Wildland het die dienste van Rudolf van der Westhuysen, die bekende prokureur wat daagliks met die Vuurwapenwet te doen het, bekom wat ons op ’n gereelde basis op hoogte gaan hou van die vordering van die proses. Die eerste artikel verskyn op bladsy 6.

Ek wens julle almal ’n voorspoedige 2015 toe. Mag julle jagpaaie interessant wees, julle skote reg geplant wees en mag elke jagter en sportskut genoeg skietysters hê om sy teikens suksesvol te tref!

The year ahead will present both opportunities and challenges to all of us in the sport shooting and hunting fraternity. On the challenges side - Amendments to the firearms law hit the headlines recently after the fatal shooting of Bafana Bafana Captain Senzo Meyiwa. Although many of you might hang your heads in despair, I see this as a golden opportunity for all hunting and sport shooting associations to work together from

the beginning to ensure that in the wake of this latest challenge they are able to present a unified front and a solid argument to Government to ensure that the firearms we use to pursue our favourite pastime will still be available to us.

Wildland has secured the services of Rudolf van der Westhuysen, a well-known lawyer who deals with issues around the Firearms Control Act on a daily basis to keep us abreast of the situation and his first article appears on page 6. I feel that if we follow the motto of our forefathers “Eendragt maakt magt”-“unity is strength”, our voices will be heard and we will prevail.

I wish for all of you that 2015 brings you interesting hunting and shooting experiences and that all the various types of

firearms you require to carry out your favourite sport shooting and hunting activities will remain readily available to you.

Uit die heup uit / From the hip

Teken in op WILDLAND en staan ‘n kans om ‘n Savage Axis-geweer te WEN. Sien bl. 63SMS “Wildland” na 45633 om in te teken (R1,50 per SMS)

Subscribe to WILDLAND and stand a chance to WIN a Savage Axis rifle. See p. 63 SMS “Wildland” to 45633 to subscribe (R1,50 per SMS)

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!Ons wil graag die mening van ons lesers kry en dit in ‘n briewekolom publiseer. Stuur asseblief jul briewe aan [email protected]

We want to publish the opinion of our readers. Please send your letters to [email protected]

36

André van Dyk by die nyala wat hy in 1988 naby Mkuse in Kwa-Zulu Natal gejag het.

en die Wildland-span

Reguit skiet

Unity is strengthEendrag maak mag

and the Wildland team

Straight shooting

4 Januarie / January 2015WILD LAND


Die meeste lesers het waarskynlik kennis geneem van die onlangse gefladder in die Wapenwet-duiwehok… Soos altyd, net voor Kersfees en met almal wat jaag om alles klaar te kry, het die nuutste voorgestelde Konsepwysiging van 2014 op die Wet op die Beheer van Vuurwapens, Wet 60 van 2000, ons bekruip en met skaars vier dae om daarop kommentaar te lewer, amper met die broek om die enkels gevang.

Wapenbeheer is die wêreld oor niks nuuts nie en dit wil voorkom of die meeste lande op die een of ander tyd daarmee te doen kry. Rusland, Turkye, Duitsland, China, Brittanje, die VSA en Australië, om maar ’n paar te noem, gaan onder wapenbeheer gebuk.

Die bevolking van Suid-Afrika het vanaf 1900 (1,4 miljoen) geweldig gegroei na vandag se ongeveer 45 miljoen en dit is noodsaaklik om die besit en gebruik van vuurwapens te beheer.

Ons eie geskiedenis in hierdie verband is geen uitsondering nie en spreek boekdele.

Kort na sy aankoms het Jan van Riebeeck besef dat die Kaap ’n baie gevaarlike plek was en dat die burgers vir hul eie veiligheid verantwoordelikheid moes neem. Leeus het gereeld in die Kompanjietuine hul opwagting gemaak en botsings met wilde diere was alledaags. In Mei 1659 gelas hy dat alle vryburgers (waarskynlik die wêreld se grootste groep onbeheerbare hardekoppe bymekaar) voortaan ’n vuurwapen moes besit, leer skiet en verplig was om te alle tye gewapen rond te gaan. Burgers wat nie ’n geweer kon bekostig nie, kon ’n vuurwapen by die Kompanjie se wapenkamer trek. Die binneland is verken en groepe jagters het ’n ryke bevolking van wild ontdek wat nog verder gelei het tot botsings met olifante en ander gevaarlike wild.

Gedurende sy plasing het Van Riebeeck verskeie “Ordonnansies deur Plakkate” uitgevaardig wat onder meer aangedui het watter soort vuurwapens die burgers mag besit en ook beveel het dat burgers hul vuurwapens te alle tye veilig moes bewaar om diefstal te bekamp.

Net so het sy opvolger, Simon van der Stel, kort na sy aankoms in die Kaap in 1679 burgers aangemoedig om gereeld met hul vuurwapens

te oefen, aan die jaarlikse papegaai-skiet deel te neem en lede te wees van skietverenigings. Hierdie plakkate was derhalwe die oorsprong van die oudste sportsoort in Suid-Afrika: skyfskiet.

Misdaadvoorkoming was hoog op Van der Stel se prioriteitslys. Nie net het hy gelas dat vuurwapens behoorlik bewaar moes word nie, maar ook gebied dat die burgers die boonste gedeeltes van hul vuurwapens se snaphane moes afskroef en veilig op ’n ander plek bewaar wanneer dit nie in gebruik was nie. Landdroste het die wetgewing toegepas en het selfs later opgetree as agente waar nuwe gewere bestel en aangekoop kon word. Oortreders is beboet en op allerlei ongemaklike maniere gestraf wat vandag op growwe oortredings van enige menseregtehandves sou neerkom.

Die gebruik dat elke burger moes verseker dat hy te alle tye ’n geweer, perd, saal en toom beskikbaar het, is tot die uitbreek van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in 1899 gehandhaaf.

’n Mens kan dus met sekerheid sê dat die besit, gebruik en berging van vuurwapens vanaf 1652 tot kort voor die uitbreek van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in 1899 volgens dié plakkate deur die staat gereguleer is.

Na die ondertekening van die Vrede van Vereeniging op 31 Mei 1902 het die Britte die besit van vuurwapens deur die Boeremagte verbied en alle vuurwapens wat deur die Boere in die oorlog gebruik is, moes ingehandig word.

Die verdrag het verder bepaal dat daar twee onafhanklike Boererepublieke, Transvaal en die Oranje-Vrystaat, tot stand sou kom. Die twee republieke tesame met die Kaap en Natal is later, op 31 Mei 1910, verenig en het voortaan as die Unie van Suid-Afrika bekend gestaan. Deurentyd is die besit van vuurwapens deur plaaslike landdroste gereguleer.

In 1912 vind daar ’n rebellie plaas en in 1922 staak die mynwerkers aan die Rand en word dit duidelik vir die regering van die dag dat die beheer van vuurwapens in privaat besit noodsaaklik is ten einde die vrede te bewaar en stabiliteit te verseker.

In 1937 vaardig die Unie van Suid-Afrika die Wapens en Ammunisiewet, Wet 28 van 1937, uit, waarin onder meer vereis word dat

’n persoon voortaan aansoek moet doen vir die uitreiking van ’n vuurwapenlisensie by sy plaaslike landdros. Indien die landdros dit goed ag, sal die aansoeker ’n geskrewe “Vrye Lisensie om ’n Wapen te Besit” ontvang, teen betaling van die voorgeskrewe fooi. Vuurwapens en ammunisie wat in daardie stadium vryelik in die handel en bykans by alle winkels te koop aangebied is, kon voortaan net aangekoop word indien die koper ’n geldige vuurwapenlisensie kon toon.

Ten spyte daarvan dat ons op 31 Mei 1961 ’n republiek geword het, het dié wet in werking gebly en is die oordrag van vuurwapens en die aankoop van ammunisie daardeur gereguleer totdat dit met die Wet of Vuurwapens en Ammunisie, Wet 75 van 1969, herroep en vervang is.

Die Wet of Vuurwapens en Ammunisie, 75 van 1969, het ingrypende veranderinge meegebring vir die breë wapenpubliek. Elkeen wat voortaan ’n vuurwapen en ammunisie wou aanskaf, kon dit slegs doen by besighede wat in besit was van ’n Lisensie om in Vuurwapens en Ammunisie Handel te Dryf, wat deur die SAP uitgereik is. Boonop moes daar aansoek gedoen word by die Sentrale Vuurwapenregister vir die uitreiking van ’n lisensie om ’n vuurwapen te mag besit. Daar is onderskeid getref tussen die soorte wapens wat beskikbaar was, en waarvoor elkeen aangewend kon word. Die berging van vuurwapens in kluise is verpligtend gemaak, die aantal vuurwapens wat enige individu kon besit is gereguleer en die spesiale status van bona fide jagter, sportman of versamelaar is deur die Sentrale Vuurwapenregister aan suksesvolle aansoekers toegeken.

Rudolf van der Westhuysen het aan Tukkies studeer en sy hoogste kwalifikasie is ’n LLM in maatskappye en bank reg. Hy praktiseer reeds sedert 1997 as prokureur. Hy is sedert 2001 gemoeid met wapenreg en verteenwoordig verskeie geakkrediteerde jag-, sportskiet- en versamelaarverenigings. Hy is self ’n Toegewyde Jagter, Sportman en kategorie B privaat versamelaar en dra die belange van elke vuurwapeneienaar op die hart. Kontak Rudolf by [email protected]

Deur Rudolf van der Westhuysen

Ons gaan nie sommer ons gewere ophang nie

Vervolg op bladsy 146 Januarie / January 2015WILD LAND

IWA15_210x275_SA_ENG_WILDLAND_WM_10-2014.indd 1 21.10.14 09:54


Strasser RS05 a straight-pull marvelBy Pierre van der Walt

Company historyHMS Präzisionstechnik GmbH, the

manufacturer of the Strasser RS05 rifle, is a newcomer on the international firearm scene as it was only founded in 2004. The “HMS” represents the initials of Herbert Strasser, the founder of the company.

HMS Präzisionstechnik developed out of the main company of the Strasser family, Strasser Machinenbau GmbH. This company was founded in Salzburg in 1947 as a small parts manufacturer by Herbert Strasser. From these humble beginnings Strasser Machinenbau developed into a high-tech and precision concern that manufactures specialized parts internationally. These includes parts for the satellites of ESA, the European Space Agency.

It was probably inevitable that Strasser Machinenbau eventually also manufactured parts for hunting rifle manufacturers. It only constituted a small aspect of production, but gradually increased. In this process Herbert’s son,

also Herbert, happened to meet Horst Blaser, the designer of the famous Blaser rifle and founder of that company. Horst Blaser, as we know, has a fascination with machinery and precision mass component production and pioneered that concept in the sporting arms industry. Horst Blaser was intrigued by the Strasser Machinenbau production facilities and after Blaser’s sale of his company, Blaser and Strasser began working together.

This resulted in the manufacturing of the Sodia Super Light break-open rifle for the Salzburg based Sodia Jagdwaffen concern in 5,6x50mmR Magnum calibre. This planted the seed with Strasser and Blaser to build hunting rifles and eventually led to the incorporation of HMS Präzisionstechnik in 2004 in the Austrian town Eugendorf.

Horst Blaser then designed a rifle for the company and it became known as the Strasser RS05. The designation indicates the first year of production and a prototype was first exhibited at the IWA Show in Nüremberg, Germany, in 2005. The Strasser was well-received

and production launched in the same year. HMS Präzisionstechnik is a small company with less than 30 employees working for it and until two years ago focused on selling its rifles in central Europe. Two years ago it also began selling the Strasser RS05 rifles in Italy, New Zealand and Australia and since 2014 also in South Africa.

The Strasser RS05 rif le

Even a diehard traditionalist like me have to admit that the switch-barrel, straight-pull, calibre-interchanging Strasser RS05 is a fascinatingly impressive rifle and in a league of its own. For example, barrel clamping is hydraulic, but more about that later.

Although I really, really dislike the looks of modern Germanic rifles such as the Blaser, Merkel, Sauer and Strasser with their metal side panels below the action that interrupt the stock, I have to concede that I admire their ingenuity and that overcomes my aesthetic objections.

The all Austrian combination of Strasser and Swarovski is a formidable force.


My first acquaintance with the RS05 sold me on the Strasser concept. It must be one of the best, if not the best designs in this genre. Everything on the Strasser is ingenious, practical and extremely effective.

The receiver body is unique in that it has two ejection ports on either side of a central integral riflescope base that connects the receiver ring and bridge. This feature provides the Strasser with the capability to ejection right or left, depending on the bolt used. It also employs a fantastically simple and effective method of riflescope mounting and removal which can be affect with one hand while on the move! The return to zero between riflescope removals and replacements in our case was one hundred percent.

The bolt handle protrudes horizontally to the right as is the case with many straight-pull designs and that is the absolute only criticism I can raise against

this rifle. The distance required to move the shooting hand from the trigger to the bolt knob and back once cycled is much more than I am used to and like. However, it remains a lightning fast rifle to shoot, so my objection probably is more academic than constructive.

The bolt proper has a safety on the very tail of the bolt shroud and it functions vertically. That is not only the most convenient place a safety can be situated for both right and left handers, but its function is perfect, silent and utterly reliable as it locks the firing pin directly. Very impressive. It also provides visual confirmation regarding the rifle’s state of battery and a red section is visible when the rifle is cocked.

At the forward end of the bolt shaft sits the typical removable bolt head common to all interchangeable calibre rifles. The Strasser’s bolt head has four massive locking lugs (quadrants) which expand into the lug recesses in the rear

end of the barrel. It is an extremely sturdy system and it is for this reason that HMS Präzisionstechnik is already in a position to offer a wide range of dangerous game chamberings. The fact that locking takes place across the 360° spectrum means that bolt wobble is reduced, if not eliminated, and an accuracy contributing factor. Since these quadrants lock into the barrel, the RS05 transfers no strain to the receiver.

The magazine is removed by cupping the hand under the floorplate and depressing the magazine release buttons on the side of the receiver. The magazine then drops into your hand. It is ergonomic, smooth and unobtrusively impressive. The magazine accommodates and feeds all the calibres currently on offer in the Strasser RS05. Mini and Standard calibre magazines hold three cartridges, while magnum magazines only hold two. One can however purchase large capacity

The barrel of the RS05 locks hydraulically into the receiver by means of an Allen key.

The left side of this RS05 shows the additional ejection port on the left side which comes into play when a left hand bolt is inserted.

The RS05 bolt locks directly into the barrel breech end and it actually does not require an action for this.

9 WILD LANDJanuarie / January 2015


magazines in which case the figures become six and five respectively.

A feature of the Strasser RS05 I really liked and where it puts its competitors to shame was trigger adjustability. The modular RS05 trigger assembly can be removed without tools in a second. It then offers three hand-adjustable settings – light, medium and heavy. These settings are changed by simply changing the angle of the trigger support pillar in less than a second. The trigger pull can be further refined with the use of tools. No need to take the gun in to a few and far between brand dedicated gunsmith.

The Strasser RS05 is unique in that the front sling swivel also serves as the Allen key with which your remove the forend

so that you can effect a barrel change. It is not necessary to carry any tools around to do so. It is all contained in the rifle. So is the Allen key required to change barrels; it is recessed inside the forend where it cannot be lost.

I first fired the Strasser RS05 with open sights at a buffalo target placed at 25 metres. The rear sight is a standing pyramid with a square partridge cut atop florescent green vertical insert about 3 mm wide. The front sight is a flat-topped pillar with a round red bead on the face thereof. Both sights sit on reasonably elegant saddles. As I progressed through my fifties I began to suffer from hyperopia and I battle to see gun sights. Although it was blurry I was still able to offhand place

all my shots in the buffalo’s brain without wasting time aiming. A person with normal vision will find the sights very effective; but I have to say that I outshot the much younger Strasser rep and the two gunsmiths. No names no pack drill. To be fair; they probably are not as used as I am to a light rifle in 9,3x62mm calibre or a buffalo’s face.

The Strasser undoubtedly has amongst the best ex-factory short-range iron sights on the market. Personally I am compelled to opt for a reflex sight for dangerous game use, or a riflescope for plains game hunting. My reflex sight choice undoubtedly is the Trijicon RMR RM08G with its green triangle.

The most fascinating aspect of the

The sling swivels on the RS05 also serve as tools for the assembly and dismantling of the RS05.

The barrel channel and underside of the RS05 are extremely neat.

The grip area of the RS05 is typically German and nor always to the taste of new world hunters.

Whylo representative Liam Price with a blue wildebeest hunted with the RS05 near Groblersdal


wildland - january 2015

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