The Lowa Zephyr Desert – The Ultimate African Safari Boot

As we stalked through the impossibly thick riverine cover atop a carpet of “potato chip” dry leaves, I could hear the rumbling stomachs of the Cape Buffalo who shared this tight cover with our hunting party. The unmistakable barnyard smell of buffalo filled my nostrils with each measured breath. Wikus Groenwald, my friend and PH, turned to me and mouthed “20-yards.” He dared not even whisper with the herd of potentially unfriendly bovines so close.


Still unable to see them, WIkus and I took our rifles off safe and pushed forward leaving the trackers behind. We were certainly beyond the need to track them at this point. Each step was made with total care – our pace glacial. When we closed to about 10 paces, we could see the closest buff, a middle-aged cow, but there were far more in this bunch than we could see.

Keeping the wind in our favor, we slowly made our way around the edge of the herd. At this point, a broken twig could mean a stampeding of the herd which one can only hope will be away from rather than towards the hunters. It may seem odd, but it was at that moment - 3 hours and several miles into this pursuit, that I realized how pleased I was with my boots.

Fifteen or so minutes later, I shot a beautiful heavy-bossed bull out of that herd. The shot was all of 20 yards and he had no idea we were there.

Comfort:

I have owned and hunted in many of the “classic” African hunting boots. Typically, these are full grain leather with little in the way of padding and some sort of fairly soft sole. In my experience, these boots are prettier than they are comfortable.

What sets the Lowa Zephyrs apart from the “classic” African boots is their sneaker style design. Boots of the style require little or no “break in” and have the sort of padding and venting that anyone looking to put on many miles in the African heat will appreciate. In 10 days of stalking buffalo and other game in the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania, I walked some 75 miles in my Lowas. In that time I had not one blister, no foot fatigue – not even a hot spot.

Without a doubt, there are other sneaker style hiking boots. In my research, I found nearly all of them to be waterproof which means far too hot for serious African use.

Hunting Aptitude:

All of the other hiking boots and many of the hunting specific boots that I have worn over the years are too hard of sole for serious stalking. A boot that is stiff of sole can cost you in the field. In a pursuit where the hunter often closes inside of 50 or even 25 yards of his quarry, being quiet is a must. Without the super-soft honey colored soles on my Zephyrs, there is no way that I could have closed to within 10 yards of that wary cow.

In addition to preventing much of the scuffling sound that comes from harder soles, softer soles connect the hunter to the conditions underfoot far more directly. Feeling that troublesome twig the moment before it snaps can be all that separates success from failure.

The softness and flexibility of a hunting boot’s soles are often overlooked. A hunter can only ignore these factors at his peril.

The Parting Shot:

Nearly any experienced PH or African hunter will tell you that your boots are among your most critical gear for an African safari. My research and field testing of the Lowa Zephyr Desert boot gives me deep seated confidence in recommending them as the right tool for the job of African safari hunting.

338 RCM: Big Power – Small Package

Generally, when someone refers to some “New” cartridge, it is just that – New. On occasion, a new cartridge is something more. The 338 Ruger Compact Magnum (or RCM for short), housed in Ruger’s handy Hawkeye rifle is a true leap forward in hunting technology. The 338 RCM offers magnum performance in a small fast-handling rifle. It delivers the ballistics that we are used to seeing from full sized magnum rifles from a short length action and, best of all, a 20 inch barrel.


The hard hitting power of the 338 RCM, which compares favorably to the venerable 338 Winchester Magnum, in a rifle with an overall length of 39.5” and a weight of 6.75 lbs is an undeniably excellent big game setup.

The Round:

Like many of today’s new developments, this one came from the partnership between Hornady and Ruger. Hornady currently loads a 180gr GMX, a 200gr SST and a 225gr SST. I would also like to see the use of a stiffer bullet than the SST in the heavier weights. This would enhance to usability of the cartridge on the biggest thin skinned game – we will have to watch and see if one starts rolling off of the assembly line.

Since the introduction of the 300 WSM in 2000, many “short magnums” have come along, including many wildcats and custom producers have been introduced. While these designs have allowed for shorter actions, they have left a major question unanswered.

What good is a short action attached to a magnum length barrel? The biggest leap forward that the 338 RCM makes is that, by using the hyper-efficient propellant combinations that fostered Hornady’s Superformance line of loads, they were able to develop a round that allows is highly efficient in a short barrel. The 338 RCM 225gr SST leaves the muzzle of a 20” barrel at 2710 fps and still carries 2206 fps at 300 yards. This compares favorably to a standard 338 Winchester Magnum shooting a 225 gr load from a 24” barrel which will leave the muzzle at 2780 fps and still be moving at 2184 at 300 yards.

The Rifle:

Ruger’s M77 Ruger Compact Magnum comes from the Hawkeye line of rifles (Shown at left below the Author's favorite 338 win mag). Like all M77s, this one has the full-length claw extractor, controlled round feed, a three position safety and the action is milled to accept scope rings without bases. Thankfully, the RCM rifles are fitted with sights. Maybe I am just a traditionalist, but I do prefer a rifle so equipped.

What sets this particular rifle apart is it’s fast handling and terrific balance. From the stock design to the mauser-type action to the short barrel and exceptional balance, this rifle is a joy to carry and shoot. This instinctive handling makes for faster and better shots afield.

Field Performance:

On a recent safari in Tanzania, I carried a M77 Hawke in 338 RCM topped with the Swarovski Z6i in 1.7-10x42 as my medium bore rifle. The package was a joy to carry and shoot and it dispatched this a Hartebeest with aplomb. I look forward to getting this rifle afield again soon.

The Parting Shot:

I don’t get caught up in every new fad that comes along, but this one has real merit. The 338 RCM truly delivers big power from its small package. It is too early to tell whether or not the RCM s will be a commercial success or not, but they should be. Any big game hunter who goes afield with this rig will be kitted for success and can rest assured that if he does his job, his rifle will do its as well.

Welcome

Welcome to Guns, Gear, Gadgets and Guides,


I am a passionate hunter and outdoor enthusiast. In over 20 years of hunting, I have trailed game on three continents - North America, Europe and Africa. I am also a passionate rifleman and a dedicated follower of gadgetry. Hopefully, these qualifications add up to me having some interesting thoughts to share in this blog.

As any outdoor writer will tell you, nothing is more rewarding than building a loyal readership. I am hopeful that the stories, insights and reviews that are posted here will aid me in accomplishing that goal.

Brett I. Parker