Lazzeroni rifles. Which one to get?

[Eightball]

in africa, they dont care if your bullet is fired from the engine of the space shuttle, it must be at least a 375 cal.

Not to be nitpicky, or detract from the opinons presented......but I think that if it could withstand re-entry, just about any bullet would work if fired from the engine of the shuttle .

There is the chance you could get proficient......if you never left the range.

 

[trstafford]

Manufaacturer's oponion

I'd bet a dollar to a dozen donuts that if you call Lazzeroni they would tell you to take your .375 and 30-06, buy a rangefinder and limit your range to your level of competency.
Then pick up your new rifle when you return. Any way they are not going to give you an opponion based on a few dollars and have an unsatisfied customer talking bad about their product. They know more about their products ability than all of us put together.

 

[Metapotent]

270Win said:

Man, what a HORRIBLE sounding father-in-law. If this safari fails to impress, I'd just elope in Vegas...

Ok now its time to break it down so you all can begin to understand my situation and desperate reasoning.

Well, tell you the truth the man who I hope will be my father-inlaw is not a nice guy. But I think he is just overly protective of his daughter and he just can't get passed certain issues.

First, I am only 19 years old, his daughter is 21. I make alot of money but he would definetely say we are too young and irresponsible to get married, but thats the easy part to address. The biggest obsticle is religious differences. He is Jewish, his daughter raised Jewish, and I am LDS (eloping would be out of the question, considering both sides of the family). Plus, his daughter's previous boyfriend was a Jew, who he adored but she dumped him for me 2 years ago and she is reminded everyday that it was "the worst mistake of her life" by her father.

Now, I'm trying desperately to salvage the situation and impress the man enough to consider allowing me, non Jew -who has no intention of converting to Judaism - to marry his daughter. And then maybe he can grow tolerant of that so that maybe, just maybe he won't kill me when he finds out that his precious daughter whom he has raised in a strict Jewish lifestyle is planning on converting to MY religion and planning on getting married twice, the 2nd time in the tradition of MY religion.



Coronach said:

1. next month? You want to order a pretty-much custom rifle, get a rifle, sight it in and become proficient with it in a month? This is not going to happen. Especially when we're talking a rifle with ammo that is several bucks a pop. I don't care how much you make. Even if you have the money to burn, you don't have the time.

Now I don't want to brag and say how good of a shot I am. But I am not worried about becoming proficient with a particular rifle considering my confidence. And to stress the irrelevance of cost. I make 6 digits a year and I only work 1 week a month and I am out of college because it is summer break. I have plently of time and resources to exploit.

2. You really need to consider whether impressing him is worth all this. My opinion? It's not. She might be worth all of the bother, but here is a big hint; if she is, you won't have to go to silly lengths to impress her father. She'll like you despite what he thinks, as long as you've been respectful and done your reasonable best to extend the olive branch. If she really thinks you need to go plunk down crazy loot on a rifle so you can go hobnob with the uppercrust in order to win her hand, run far and run fast. Even if the safari goes well, the marriage will not.

She is worth the bother. Her whole family is ok with the idea but everyone is afraid to bring it up to the big man due to his strict adherence to religious tradition of Orthodox Judaism. So to try my best convince this man that I am not going to ruin his daughters life, that I am a worthy suitor, that he and I have similar interests and that I am capable of bringing meat to the table (both metaphorically and literally), I will gladly fork over money for ridiculously expensive and over kill rifle so that I can bag some game and convince him enough to think am not "such a big pussy" and that perhaps I'm not.

Sorry to bore you with my personall problems.

Now aside from having it bad enough that my life is slowly turning into an ABC special, I have the issue of picking a GOOD rifle with the money I have (7500) that will allow me to make long range shots on a variety of game. I will be hunting just about every African game animal other than wild boar/elephant/rhino at most likely extended ranges out to perhaps 500yds. If someone can think of something better than a big-bore Lazzeroni for this job, I'm all ears.

Do you think a .30-06 or .375 H&H is up to the challenge? I don't think so.

So I would appreciate it if people would cease criticizing me for my judgement and give me advice instead so that I don't embarass myself and so I don't ruin my chances of having a little normalcy in my personal life.

P.S> I know its wishful thinking that this man will change his whole outlook based on my performance on Safari but this is currently my immediate concern for the time being.

 

[db_tanker]

Well, if your looking for range as well as KO factor, then go with a 378 or 416 Weatherby, or even possibly one of the Dakota offerings...of which I am sure will be easier to get ahold of.

And a little side note...416 Rigby's and 470 Nitros aren't wildcats. They are grand-fathers compared to most cartridges.

YMMV

D

 

[strambo]

Good luck,

Be yourself, stick with what you know, worry about meeting your own high standards for yourself and don't try to meet someone else's. Heck, has he even said what will impress him? Does he know? Is it possible? Take it slow with this girl, be true to yourself, have fun on the trip and let the chips fall wherever.

I could see a lot more embarassment potential in trying to impress this guy, then in simply being you and sticking to what you know and your limitations.

You're only 19...expecting you to be the great white hunter extroardinare isn't realistic anyway. I'm not saying you aren't a good shot and hunter, just that is isn't realistic for you to be able to impress these rich, snooty much more experienced older guys who have a reason to dislike you from the outset.

Let us know how it goes and if you get that high $$ Lazeronni, make sure and give us an in-depth range report with plenty of pics! That's what is important, even if the girl doesn't work out, you'll still have a great rifle!

 

[HankB]

OK, assuming you're not just jerking our collective chains here on the Hunting forum . . .

You mentioned that local laws only require a .30 caliber for lion and buff . . . IMHO those are too light. I used a .375 for my lion and buff and didn't feel overgunned.

. . . won't be shooting more than probably 20 rounds a year

You will not develop proficiency by shooting 20 rounds a year.

I don't want to embarass myself by missing a shot in the presence of the man that (hopefully) will accept my request of his daughter's hand in marriage.

20 rounds a year . . . new rifle you bought a few weeks before the hunt. You DO see a problem here, don't you?

He is a very macho, cocky and successful person who has hitherto refused to go hunting with me due to what he claims to be my "pansy attitude" and my "obvious inability to hunt with the big-boys".

It is supposed to be zeroed before delivery since I will be ordering a scope for it aswell. So I will take it to the range once and test it out (only a few shots as to avoid undue injury to my shoulder)

If you told the old man this it explains his attitude. Serious hunters sight in their own rifles and don't avoid shooting them "to avoid undue injury." A rifle you're afraid of is NOT a rifle you're going to do well with.

(As an aside . . . do you KNOW the Lazzeroni stock will fit YOU? Have you hefted one with the exact stock dimensions you plan to order? Rifle fit, often neglected, is a MAJOR issue in marksmanship, particularly with large calibers. I wouldn't spend $6000+ on a rifle unless I KNEW it was stocked to fit ME perfectly.)

Field marksmanship will impress the old man far more than a fancy rifle shooting a proprietary cartridge which you purchased the month before the safari. ESPECIALLY if the rifle you get is really shiny, which makes for a poor hunting gun.

Also, if your cartridges don't make it, you have NO rifle, and you will NOT find Lazzeroni ammo in Namibia. (I HAVE met people this sort of thing happened to, so it's not an imaginary problem.)

cease criticizing me for my judgement and give me advice instead so that I don't embarass myself

Here's some advice: Forget the boutique rifle - you don't have time to properly set it up and wring it out. Get yourself a .30/06 to go with the .375 you already have today, and 'scope it with something like a Leupold 3x9. spend at least $1000 of what you saved practicing with both rifles from field positions - prone, standing, kneeling, supported against a tree, etc. Just take one load - a premium SP, like a Nosler 180 for the '06, and premium ammo (mostly softs, but some solids) for the .375.

Be sure you have proper hunting clothes - well broken-in footwear is a must. A hat with a brim. Dark color clothing, olive or dark green; what is called "khaki" here shows up as almost white under African sun. (Note that camo is illegal in most places there.)

Read Capstick's book Safari: The Last Adventure for more sound advice on your kit. Order it from Amazon or elsewhere today since you need it ASAP.

Don't brag to the old man about how good your stuff is or how good your rifle is - your actual performance will speak for itself.

Good luck . . .

 

[Terrierman]

You want advice? I got plenty of that.

1. Stop worrying about what others think about you.
2. Stop telling everyone how great you are and instead let others tell the stories about the remarkable things you do.
3. Stop worrying about whether the father of an adult female will give you his "permission" to marry his daughter. If she wants to marry you, his permission is superflous.
4. Stop thinking that expensive gear will impress anyone but the rankest amateur.
5. Stop thinking that shooting 20 rounds per year out of any rifle is sufficient to gain proficiency with that rifle, no matter if you're the second incarnation of Annie Oakley, nobody on the planet with any meaningful experience would make such a claim.
6. Do shoot a rifle that you are comfortable with and have an understanding of it's external ballistics and that you have shot significantly in practice from field positions, not just the bench in order to sight it in.
7. If you do actually make it to Africa, don't get stomped, eaten or AIDS.

Added in edit:8. Never put ice in good whiskey.

 

[Eightball]

Now I don't want to brag and say how good of a shot I am. But I am not worried about becoming proficient with a particular rifle considering my confidence. And to stress the irrelevance of cost. I make 6 digits a year and I only work 1 week a month and I am out of college because it is summer break. I have plently of time and resources to exploit.

Not to make the rest of your tale any less important, but man, I want your job.

If you really want range, get a .460 Weatherby.

Or, just take everyone's advice, and don't get a rifle you hope will impress. Hunting with the "big boys" will impress them more based on your skill, rather than how expensive your rifle is. If you wanted to go the "dollars=impressive" way, buy a Holland and Holland.

 

[TimboKhan]

Confidence does not equal proficiency. Confidence gets you a girl, confidence gets you 6 figures a year, and confidence gets you to the point where you think you can buy a custom made african rifle and get everything worked out inside of a month. Thats pretty much where confidence stops. 20 rounds is nowhere near being a competent marksman, and thats just the plain truth. Look, I will bluntly say that I think your being an idiot for doing this to impress an old man, but the thing is, your not even going about it the right way. Your setting yourself up to look like a major ass. Its not like your going to roll into Africa and be presented with a smorgasboard of game to shoot. It actually does require some pretty hard hunting sometimes, and what happens if you get skunked? Worse yet, what happens when you miss? If your really gonna go through with this plan, take your .375 out to the range, today, and start shooting. I mean, you shoot that rifle every day right up until the day you leave. Evidently you make enough money that you can afford the bullets, so do that. You will be 100% better served by doing that then wasting money on a custom rifle. Anyway, good luck to you and your quest to impress. I think telling him to F off if he doesn't like you is probably plenty, but you gotta do what you gotta do, I guess.

By the way, I recently read an article in which an african guide of some experience said that he believed the .30-06 was enough gun to take down anything on the planet. It is certainly enough for ungulates, and a .375 is enough for the rest.

 

[trstafford]

Manufacturer's Oponion

The point of my earlier post was only to say. Ask the manufacturer! They are the best source of information. If you don't agree then use someone else's oponion. What do you have to lose by asking them.

P.S
Let us know what they suggest

 

[Metapotent]

Alright you people have me convinced that buying a Lazzeroni is not in my best interest and I am reasonably convinced that it might be wise to practice.

I have both a .30-06 and a .375 H&H scoped and ready to go so I guess i will bring both. (or should I bring the .270 instead of the .30-06?)

Now, what brand of ammo should I buy for each to fulfill the need for a large variety of game?

Final word is that we will be hunting mostly Black Wildebeasts, Hartebeasts, Gazelles, African Buffalo and Water Buffalo, and we are driving a ways off to have a guided hunt one day to try and bait a leopard. I will be given 5 tags for myself personally during the 2 weeks of guided hunts, and 1 tag for Leopard if my humble host (sarcasm) is feeling saucy.

So for the .30-06 I'm thinking of getting something in 180 grain range but I am stressing the need for accuracy at long ranges in my rifle so I might have to experiment for a while to see what my Savage likes. For the H&H mag I am planning on alteast 250 grains but I also stress accuracy and knock down power both.

Since I suddenly have a $7500 surplus, affordability of the ammunition is not going to be a problem.

What do you think about Federal Premium Cape-Shock Nosler Partition for the Buffalo, and Federal Premium Vital-Shock 180Gr Nosler Partition for the the Wildebeast, Hartebeast, gazelle (overkill perhaps) and (if I'm lucky) the Leopard.

I have no experience on animals other than Varmints/predators, Deer, Black Bear and Elk so I am a Safari virgin and have no clue what is needed for each animal. But let it be known that they will have plenty ammo for me at the lodge in Namibia to choose from and to zero with. But I am going to the range tommorow to test the before mentioned ammo choices for accuracy and to chrono to make a trajectory card. I have a little more than a month so i have time to test other suggestions for accuracy as well.

So if anyone here has any experience with any of the animals I will be hunting, give me a suggestion.

 

[strambo]

I don't hunt so I can't tell you which loads for what...but you are totally on the right track now. You're already on top of making a range card/ballistics table. Get a box of 2-3 different brands for each gun and pick the one that groups the best...unless you already know what works best in your guns. Good luck.

For your range table: http://www.eskimo.com/~jbm/calculations/traj/traj.html

Great ballistcs calculator. You can enter weather data for where you are going to make it a little more accurate. It's not like your gonna be shootin' at 1000yds though.

 

[Metapotent]

I already have the JBM ballistics program on my palm pilot (I won't be taking that on Safari).

But its is a pretty neat program, i've tinkered with it at the range with my .223 and .308 and it has worked pretty well.

Its fun figuring out exactly how many clicks you need to adjust your scope to aim dead on at 600 yard targets instead of breaking out paper and a pencil like the other guys at the range, or even worse using extreme holdover.

 

[HankB]

What do you think about Federal Premium Cape-Shock Nosler Partition for the Buffalo, and Federal Premium Vital-Shock 180Gr Nosler Partition for the the Wildebeast, Hartebeast, gazelle (overkill perhaps) and (if I'm lucky) the Leopard.

Very good choice. I've taken Cookson's wildebeest, puku, blesbok, zebra, impala, bushbuck, kudu, gemsbok, and other African plains game with a .30/06 using handloaded 180 grain Nosler Partition bullets. (I used a 180 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip on my leopard, but a partition would have worked, too.) If I were using factory loads, Federal's "High Energy" version of this load would be my choice, but if I could only get the standard load, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

For the H&H mag I am planning on alteast 250 grains but I also stress accuracy and knock down power both.

For .375, I suggest 300 grain loads - just about any "premium" load will do the job. I used a handloaded 300 grain Swift A-Frame on my lion, but a Nosler Partition or Trophy Bonded would have done as well. I used solids on both of my buffalo; take mostly softs, but you might also consider obtaining some 300 grain "solids" - Federal loads 300 grain Trophy Bonded "Sledgehammer" solids which have a good reputation.

The most important thing is shot placement. There's a wealth of good information on this in the book "The Perfect Shot" by Kevin Robertson, published by Safari Press; MidwayUSA also carries it, which is where I bought my copy.

I believe your .30/06 / .375 battery is an excellent choice for anything that walks the Dark Continent. Practice like h*** in the weeks before you leave (field positions, not off a benchrest), read the book(s) I've recommended, and you ought to have a great hunt.

Be sure to report on your return . . . and bring pictures!

Take your own ammo - IIRC you can take up to 11 lbs. Strongly suggest you call the airline before you leave to see what current regulations are.

Strongly suggest you stop by U.S. Customs before you leave to register your rifles. (THEY don't keep a record, they fill out a form which YOU keep, proving you had the guns before you left. When you're coming back, this shows they're YOUR guns, and you're not trying to import something from overseas.)

(One last bit of advice - take care of your own guns on safari, don't trust them to the camp staff. No black African will properly care for them, no matter what is said.)

 

[Metapotent]

After thoroughly cleaning my Remington 700 in .375 H&H last night I decided to take it to the range today. On the way there I bought 1 box of Remington Premier Safari Grade 300gr Swift A-Frame PS for $65 at the local GI Joes.

After setting up my target and checking my gun I created a good support with bean bags under the foregrip and under the butt. The first round I chambered and squeezed off was about 10 inches low, so i chamber another one and it was about 8 inches low.

I adjust the point of impact 40 1/4 MOA clicks up and this time made sure I was as steady as possible before squeezing off a round that landed right in the X ring. So I adjust 8 clicks up again, wait a few minutes to let the barrel cool down and I squeezed off one a round that hit 2 inches high. So I decided to test a 3 shot group for consistency. After I did that, I measured the 3-shot group to be 3.5 inches from center to center. Then I thought if I used a metal front and back shooting rest I could achieve better results so I used that and only improved to about 3.20 inches center to center and 1 of them was in the X ring again!

Now I am pretty dissappointed.

I let the barrel cool again and take 3 more shots using the very steady metal support and I wait a minute between each shot for the barrel to remain cool and I get another dissapointing group at 3.5 inches center to center.

I know this should be sufficient considering the large game I will be taking with it but should I strive for a more accurate load?

I will be going to the range again tommorow to try another load, and also to bring my .30-06 to sight in after I re-mount my old leupold scope and bore-site it.

Any suggestions?

 

[Terrierman]

1. For sighting in, lose the "metal" supports and stick with sandbags.
2. Support the stock not the barrel.
3. Try some different ammunition. Several different brands and bullet weights. Every rifle has it's preferences.
4. When you find a round that shoots well in your rifle, buy plenty of it.
5. Double check everything for tight. Scope mounts and action screws front and rear.
6. Go to the range every night between now and when you leave for Namibia, try to shoot up the $6500 you were planning to spend on the Lazy.
7.Once you find the sweet load, get yourself off the bench and try using some shooting sticks, using a post as a rest, shooting sitting and kneeling and any other field expedient position you can think of. After jogging would be even better.

 

[Metapotent]

Well, I find that I can hold the crosshairs completely still with the metal rests that have rubber grooves for the rifle. Much more so than with sandbags.

Also, I know not to rest the gun on the barrel, I didnt do that and before I chambered the first round I checked my gun top to bottom, scopemounts, action everything. It was snug.

So tommorow I'm going to buy all the .375 H&H ammo types that they have at the store and test them out, and buy some for the 06 as well.

 

[strambo]

Is your twist rate fast enough to stabalize the 300 gr bullets? Probably is, .375 isn't a caliber i'm real familiar with. Maybe that's just the load your gun don't like. They're entitled...as long as they aggree with something!

 

[HankB]

Every gun has its "likes" and "dislikes." A 3+ inch group is pretty disappointing - IMHO a factory load ought to do no worse than 2".

Three rounds of my handloaded Swift A-Frames go into just over an inch at 100 yards, out of my older Browning Safari.

Try Federal's loads with Nosler and Trophy Bonded bullets. I also understand they're now loading a Barnes X-Bullet in .375, (Maybe a Triple Shok?) and though I'm not fond of them myself, Barnes X-Bullets seem to shoot well for some people. I'd also try Hornady .375's.

I'd stay away from Winchester's "Silvertip" soft points - I've heard all kinds of stories about their inconsistent performance on large game. (On the other hand, Winchester's "Fail Safe" bullets have a good reputation.)

 

[goalie]

Alright you people have me convinced that buying a Lazzeroni is not in my best interest and I am reasonably convinced that it might be wise to practice.

Reasonably convinced, eh?

Just remember this: When you end up in Africa taking a shot at an animal, you will NOT "rise to the occasion," but, instead you will default to your level of competence. Period.


I've never heard anyone come back from a hunt saying that they practiced their field-position marksmanship too much. Somehow, I doubt that you will either. Get out there with those rifles and get to where you can hit a paper plate EVERY time from sitting, kneeling, standing, supported standing etc... out to 400 yards or so. That's the best chance you have of not making a fool of yourself.

IMO, you don't have enough time to prepare to impress the guy.

Good luck.

 

[HankB]

When you get a shot, think three things:

1. Shot placement.

2. Shot placement.

3. Shot placement.

 

[Metapotent]

Ok today I went to the range and on the way there picked up a box of Federal Premium Cape-Shok 300gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw for the .375 and I got a box of Federal Premium Vital-Shok 180fr Nosler Partition.

I decided to sight in the .375 at first and my first round was about 4 inches higher than point of aim, so I let the gun cool and shot another one, same result, so I adjust the point of impact 8 clicks down and fired another round and was exactly 2 inches high (perfect). So I tried a 3 shot group taking minute long breaks between shots to allow the barrel to cool and I got just about a .85 inch group from center to center, so all rounds squeezed in to about 1.25 inches. I was incredibly happy so I tried a 5 round group and still got a grouping less than one inch center to center. Excellent

Now I got even better results with the .30-06. My first 2 shots were a little low, so I adjusted the scope and got the next 3 rounds at exactly 1.5 inches high, these grouped pretty well but I didn't measure them yet and decided try a 5 shot group. I got a good .6 inch group if I disregard the flyer that made the group about an inch big center to center. I tried another 5 shot group after letting the barrel cool and got about a .75 inch group.

I am very satisfied with these loads and they have pretty impressive ballistics and energy levels when ran through JBM, a little lower than what was advertised but still great.

The store I bought it from had little of it so i think I'm going to order a bunch online. Maybe 5 boxes of each?

 

[kjeff50cal]

Metapotent
+1 +1 +1

 

[ms45]

I’m the wife of a member whom shall remain anonymous. He left this page up, and spends too much time here for me to not wonder and then get sucked into this place a bit too. Skip this if you can’t stand the female perspective.

I think this future father in law of yours just doesn't like you much no matter what. You are a 19 year old college student making 6 figures on your lunch breaks or something? That can only mean one of two things, either you are a drug dealer (hey way to go!) or you come from some privilege (another hey, way to go!). If the second is right, then I just wonder why this privilege is not enough to impress him? How much privilege is that, I dunno? Maybe I am too far down the chain to even guess, it just seems like a lot. No offense meant though. So you’re all in the same class, way up there somewhere, whatever, I am not speaking out of jealousy, it doesn't matter the class you are in, we’re all playing the same game.
Ok, this idea that you can impress him with hunting exploits, honey, you've watched too much tv. So the money doesn't mean much to him, because he sees that you think it would in the first place, maybe? You've pointed out now that you have the money, that you are in "his" class, but he still doesn't like you and you just don't get it? Is he self made? Maybe he is wishing you were as well.

The religion thing is more believable. Way more. And believe me, it won't matter if you shot 3 leopards as they were attacking your FIL, because religion runs deeper than all that. You are screwed basically if that's the hang up he's got on you. I think you know that already. What’s the point of impressing him if you are going to turn out to be the demon spawn of Satan, or whatever jewish people believe in, as you steal his daughter’s soul for eternity and all, tomorrow?
Oooor, there’s the idea that NO man is good enough for his daughter, which is what EVERY dad thinks, and you are honestly going to try to change that? ha.
Your only 19, for his 21 year old baby girl, but you’re rich, (or now a good shot?) so you think that's gonna make this game any different?

Just to offer you some light at the end of the tunnel though- if you make his daughter happy and he sees that, any father worth associating with will come around eventually, and should tolerate you in the mean time. And to create the ultimate contradiction to my whole point, when he sees that you are making an honest attempt to impress him, that should mean something too. That honest attempt should just be within your means, and as you have indeed mentioned several times, you are playing with the 'big dogs' and that means the amounts you spend, that make my husband drool, are within your means. So, best of luck as you try to impress your future father in law. My husband was employed and sober.

And yes, I was beating a dead horse already, that you all changed his mind on the rifle two pages ago. My husband shouldn’t leave this page up for me to even see

 

[Metapotent]

ms45, I thank you for your interest in my situation. I also thank you for your "female perspective".

But to clarify a few things... I am not a drug dealer and my means of income is not attained by any illegal activity. However, I do come from some privelege (my dad is a doctor) but my relative success is mostly self-made. I haven't mentioned what my line of work is before because A) Some people criticize me on moral grounds for my business choices and B) I didn't want to elaborate on my personal life. But I guess that ship has sailed huh?

I make alot of money because I am involved in the stock market and I own alot of shares in the Israeli military industry and the recent scuffle in the middle east has driven my stock shares through the roof in double digit profit margins. I also own many shares of DOW Ind. (inherited due to privelege) and recent events have caused this particular stock to rise in value as well. Now I don't know how many Anti-semites there are in this forum (no offense but it is quite common among avid outdoorsmen) but I thought it would be wise not to mention my involvement in the "Jewish conspiracy" so that I could avoid any sort of contention.

My privelege and my support of Israel would seem to be enough to gain the respect of an orthodox Jew but apparently it is not. He believes I am just in support of Israel in order to exploit the Israeli reliance on American investment for my own personal gain so that I can make a quick buck, which isn't the case. I have real heartfelt support for Israel due to religious beliefs and my own judgement but it is still not enough.. I have even signed up to be an apprentice in weapons development for an Israeli company and this hasn't gained me any favor either. (let it be known I didn't buy Israeli stocks and sign up for the job just to impress my potential father-inlaw)

The religious differences I believe are a major obsticle but I also think that he views me, as you said, like someone who swooped in to steal his daughter from him. I also believe I make his daughter happy and I think he believes I do as well. But according to the Torah, " the temporal happiness of a man (woman too i presume) is void if he is led astray from the righteous path and is prevented from reaching the paradise that 'God has in store for the Children of ISrael'" interpreted by some Orthodox Jews as "the Paradise that is in store for 'STRICT ORTHODOX JEWS'". Now I don't know if this man believes that his daughter has to marry a fellow Jew to obey the Lord, but I know that SOME Orthodox Jews do believe this. I know his wife and the rest of the family are less fundemental about some of the beliefs that are up for personal interpretation but this man is the son of a Rabbi. So maybe by miraculous chance his family might be able to persuade him to interpret it the more common way. But he has never mentioned to anyone that this is a reason for his opposition to my relationship with his daughter.

So it is obvious, even to me, that my performance in Africa won't be the deciding factor in the process of winning him over, but I believe that embarassing my self and performing poorly would only add on to the list of things that I have to worry about. So I thought it would be wise to equip myself with the best possible gear so that I could eliminate any possible variable outside of my own power that might compromise my mission. I want to be able to only worry about the human variable (myself) and focus on the hunts and perform as well as I can. ("A weapon is only as good as the man who wields it. That is certain. But the man who wields the better weapon will be more effective than an equilly skilled man" - Norman Schwarskopf)

Now I decided against forking out thousands of dollars for a fancy rifle and I decided to use my existing rifles which I will practice with constantly. I am going hunting for black bear next weekend and I have 2 tags so hopefully I will bag one with each rifle to get familiar with the new loads I just decided to use. So hopefully I will be prepared enough so that I can perform at the best of my ability.

So hypothetically, if all things go well I can have a successful safari experience and maybe spend enough time with the man so that I can actually have a conversation with him long enough so that he can get to know me. We will be in the bush for almost 2 weeks so I'm sure I'll have plenty opportunity to do so.

But the only thing I can do in the mean time is focus on my shooting practice so that I can atleast take advantage of the free trip and bring home some trophies (hopefully a leopard, my dad would cry in jealousy, he never got one).

Thank you for enduring my autobiograpy