My long-standing love affair with British double rifles had lately resulted in the bolt-actioned occupants of my gun-safe suffering a bad case of neglect.  Several of them were chambered for cartridges recognised as 'nitro express' by the British gun-trade and most would be regarded as 'vintage classics' by big game hunters and collectors alike.  One in particular had not been taken into the hunting field since I acquired it several years previously, so a trip was planned with my hunting mate Marty to hopefully christen the 1910 Mannlicher-Schönauer take-down on buffalo and boar.  Chambered for the .375 Rimless Nitro-Express cartridge, the rifle would be loaded with bluff-nosed 270-grain Woodleigh Weldcores for its debut afield.

As is often the case, I found myself alone on the creekline when the action started as Marty had headed off to check out another likely spot a short distance away.  I had just cleared a thicket of paperbark regrowth when a mob of a dozen pigs was spotted in a bend of the intermittent stream, busily rooting up the soft sandy soil and wallowing in the small pools of stagnant water that had accumulated in the deeper rifts.  They all appeared to be fairly large-bodied specimens however I couldn't identify an obviously-dominant boar so the nearest pair were chosen as candidates for the opening barrage!

As expected, the first two shots galvanized the mob and a veritable stampede ensued for the woodland beyond.  A large ginger razorback took the time to look back before exiting the overflow however, and was drilled neatly behind the shoulder for his trouble!

Once the remaining hogs had achieved the higher ground, they slowed to a trot so I bounded up the embankment to reach a suitable vantage point for the follow-up attempt. With a convenient bloodwood sapling offering support for the forward hand, I hastily recommenced proceedings on the unfortunate porkers.  Reloading at the shoulder, I was able to drop two more of the fugitives before the mob once again broke into a gallop!

Sprinting forward to the fallen quarry I checked that they were both quite dead before settling in to a steady rest for a couple of long shots at the now rapidly departing mob.  As they angled across a small treeless plain, the gold bead foresight was snuggled tightly into the shallow vee and held just ahead of the leader's snout.  That careful shot found its mark and hog number six skidded onto its side in the dust!

A final shot was offered as the few remaining pigs rapidly approached the tree-line at the far side of the plain.  They were now galloping directly away so I held well-up on the largest of the survivors and attempted the aptly-named 'Texas heart-shot'.  By great good fortune the bullet landed perfectly and the large ginger hog hit the deck in full stride!

Although no bovines had presented themselves on the day, it had nevertheless been a rather successful first hunt with the vintage Mannlicher.  Judging by the field accuracy and bullet penetration of that marvellous rifle (all shots were pass-through except the final projectile), it should have no trouble handling a big buffalo bull with care.  Although the dry season is fast drawing to a close, another trip with the unusual .375 is planned with the specific aim of seeking conclusions with a trophy buff.  Watch this space!