[Jeff Higgins]

None of us could ever afford the damn trophy fee on anything like an elephant, which even way back when was something like $25k in most places. So we settled for the decidedly plebeian ten or fourteen day "plains game" gig, wherein one could shoot a whole bunch of various antelope and gazelle species, with one buff thrown in just to add some "excitement". Which it never did, but that's a whole different story. But, yes, if Jumbo were on the list, a .505 would make an excellent choice.

Kind of back to the topic at hand, just try showing up with a lever gun. I asked and was flatly told "no". Two of my buddies just showed up without asking, on different occasions. I wasn't there either time.

One was rather ungraciously loaned a beat up old 8mm Mauser, the staff wanting nothing to do with his "cowboy" gun nor his "cowboy" fantasies. I guess they were real jerks about it... The other was allowed, with great reservation, to "try it", and they "would see". Both had brought what was pretty much the only game in town at the time, the '95 Marlin with really heavy .45-70 loads.

The guy who was allowed to use his managed to pretty thoroughly impress the staff with its killing power. To the point where the lead PH actually asked if he would consider selling it to him before he went home. Alas, at the time, such performance was strictly a hand loading proposition, one which the guy was in no position to pursue, so the rifle came home.

I wonder if it has changed since, what with the availability of commercially loaded ammo (Buffalo Bore, Garrett, etc.) that mimics our hand loads of the day. I kind of doubt it. Like most hunters, they are all pretty stuck in their ways. I would have to think, though, that the lowly Marlin with those heavy .45-70 loads would have to be about the best damn lion gun ever conceived. But then, well, how is a guy to brag that he spent $50k on his rifle alone? Those are the only guys who are going anymore anyway.