African safaris are generally associated with an abundance of gin and tonic, pressed khakis, and exquisite rifles. Those preaching on the subject will minister you with sermons on controlled feed actions living in Circassian walnut stocks with more figure than Jane Russell. Unlike in the Africa of Roosevelt and Ruark, modern safaris are within reach of the jean wearing, beer drinking, blue collar Americans, who understand a rifle is a tool not a scepter. You can do a five animal / seven day hunt for two with Fort Richmond Safaris for less than $ 6000.o0.
The Mossberg Patriot retails for about $400.00, which equates to only a portion of most American’s two-week paycheck. Though it may not fit Capstick’s definition, a Patriot in .308 Winchester has been my safari rifle for the last two years. It’s proved its ruggedness, reliability, and accuracy along what Kipling called, “the great, green-grey, greasy Limpopo” and across the Boer War embattled savannas of the Northern Cape.
Two years ago I placed the Patriot on shooting sticks and used one of America’s least expensive hunting rifles to take one of Africa’s most expensive plains game animals. I watched my 14-year-old son do the same thing while drawing his first African blood on a warthog. From the seated position the Patriot and I put down two rogue blesbok at a distance I’m ashamed to admit. And last year, not to be outdone, at age 15 my son dropped a trophy kudu at 456 yards. In a true display of his hillbilly upbringing, each night at the fire ring he carved a tally mark in the Patriot’s stock for every kill it had racked up.
Counting scoped combo offerings, there are almost 50 Patriot variations, chambered from .243 Winchester to .375 Ruger. Stock options include American walnut, laminated hardwood, and basic black and Mossy Oak synthetic. For 2016 a new Kryptek Highlander camo patterned synthetic stock is being offered. The Patriot meets all the qualifications of a safari rifle but one. It doesn’t cost as much as the 16-hour flight to get you there. That means you’ll have more money to spend on khakis, gin and trophy fees. Sable are, after all, expensive.
