Being on the game rich plains of Africa never grows old. Being there with a fine rifle and the opportunity to put said rifle to the test is, how shall I put it…exhilarating. And then there is the fact that Africa has a way of capturing the soul.
A Cape Bushbuck taken with the 7mm PRC
I had only just returned from the Northern Cape of South Africa in May of 2023 when I began planning yet another African excursion, as it turned out for July and August of 2024. This would be my third trip to Africa, and this safari was made all the better by the fact my daughter would be accompanying me.
Cant get any better, my daughter and I looking over the Woodlands from a vantage point
Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT
Christensen Arms, based in Gunnison Utah, has been around since in 1995 and stands on their claim of always made in America.
My first experience with Christensen Arms began in May of 2023 when I traveled to South Africa and put the Mesa FFT to the test in the Northern Cape with the well versed .300 Win Mag cartridge. The rifle performed wonderfully as did the cartridge.
Electing this year to try out the Christensen Ridgeline FFT in 7mm PRC, I soon had the rifle in hand to begin prepping for my African plains game hunt in July/August of this year. In a previous article this year, Notes From the Bench: Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT in 7mm PRC, I detail the attributes of the Christensen Ridgeline and the 7mm PRC Cartridge.
The Ammo
All of the pre-hunt range work was completed on my home range in New Mexico. This included a specific barrel break-in procedure consisting of a series of shooting and cleaning sequences. Although many different break-in sequences exist, Christensen’s procedure has been developed over the last 15 years, is simple, and has a record of providing excellent results. This process is well defined on the barrel break-in section of the Christensen website.
Hornady ammo company provided two variations of the 7mm PRC cartridge, Both of Hornady’s primary hunting loads for the 7mm PRC, the 160gr CX in the Hornady Outfitter line of ammo, and the 175gr ELD-X in the Hornady Precision Hunter line were put to the test.
While both Hornady loads performed wonderfully grouping in the 1MOA range, the most consistently accurate load proved to be the Hornady 175gr ELD-X bullet, especially at 200 yards where I fired numerous three-shot groups during my range testing that were sub-MOA (under 2 inches at 200 yards).
Recoil experienced with the 7mm PRC cartridge in the Ridgeline was minimal despite being so lightweight. All Christensen’s Ridgeline FFT rifles comes standard with a removable stainless-steel side-baffle muzzle brake. Recoil I would say is no more than say the .270 Winchester.
So, while there is an increased decibel level with the muzzle brake, I simply wore quick ear plugs when about to shoot. Of course, you can remove the brake and attach a suppressor if you rather.
The Optics
When you have a quality rifle your optic needs to stand up to the challenge. Enter Lucid Optics and their L5 4x-16×44 rifle scope. For this hunt I utilized this exact same Lucid scope last year on a Christensen .300 Win Mag when hunting Kalahari Region of northern South Africa and experienced excellent results.
Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT and the Lucid L5
Binoculars I utilized for this safari also came from Lucid Optics. Their model B-8, with 8×42 magnification allow for a wider field of view and only weigh 24 ounces. These are also the same binos utilized on last year’s safari and they continue to serve me well.
Hunting with John X Safaris
The first half of this hunting excursion would be in the Eastern Cape of South Africa for plains game with the well-reputed company, John X Safaris. Owned and operated by Carl and Trish Van Zyl whom I had the good fortune of meeting at the Houston Safari Club convention if January of 2023.
John X Safaris enjoys an excellent reputation for providing a first-rate safari experience. Hunting with this company in late July of this year, the John X company actually exceeded my expectations.
Myself, Bull, and our PH Clayton with an outstanding Nyala
Aside from John X Safaris support of a local school a few things that stood out was their attention to detail in finding not just quality game, but also in selecting animals that were just past their prime. An animal for example that not only displayed good trophy qualities, but also showed signs of being past prime breeding age. In other words, on the downhill side of life and an ideal animal to harvest allowing other mature animals in their prime to carry on the cycle.
Our professional hunter (PH), Clayton Fletcher was methodical in observing hundreds of head of game via a quality spotting scope to put my daughter and I on just the right animal. I was impressed. Additionally, John X Safaris main camp, the Woodlands Lodge (and all their lodges for that matter) are run in a manner that would defy anyone’s expectations for comfort, cuisine, and atmosphere.
Black Wildebeest taken at 250 Yards with the 7mm PRC
One of the things that made our hunt so interesting is moving between different hunt locations including one of John X Safaris newer camps, Bankfontein. At this location my daughter was able to take two outstanding Springbok, a common and a white.
Our safari started each day with and early breakfast and then out to the field with our PH Clayton. Always accompanying us was Bull, our native tracker, and two terrier dogs, Scamp, and Bean in case the need arose to find a wounded animal.
Every animal harvested was on foot and away from the truck usually after spotting and sometimes long stalk or wait for the animal to move into a position for a good shot. All shots were taken from a prone or kneeling/sitting/standing position with the use of shootings sticks or a mechanical tripod that was a real asset for longer shots.
My toughest shot was at just over 300 yards in an uphill sitting position at the Mountain Reedbuck. The Christensen Ridgeline was spot on and the 7mm PRC Precision Hunter ammo performed wonderfully. The Reedbuck went down with a single shot.
Mountain Reedbuck taken at just 300 Yards
All toll we hunted five different areas in the Eastern Cape and took excellent examples, of Kalahari Springbok, Mountain Reedbuck, Common Duiker and Black and Blue Wildebeest, Impala, Blesbok, Common and White Springbok, Nyala and Bushbuck.
Well done John X Safaris!
Final Thoughts
The Christensen Ridgeline FFT performed beyond my expectations. The rifle is lightweight (a fact commented on many times by PH’s and hunters alike), accurate, built tough and just plain handsome with flawless performance.
Likewise, the Hornady 7mm PRC Precision Hunter, 175gr ELD-X performance was nothing short of outstanding. The 7MM PRC is one flat shooting cartridge and one that I will continue to utilize for hopefully many hunts to come.
A nice Blesbok, my daughters first African Game
On the second leg of my journey, to the Northern Cape, I also took Red Hartebeest, Warthog, Kudu, and Steenbok with the Christensen. I had a near perfect shooting score in both the East and North Capes, with every species taken with a single shot…save the Nyala.
An end to a Wonderful African Adventure with JohnX Safaris
Yes, it’s hard to believe, especially to myself, that I missed a standing broadside shot on that handsome Nyala bull at 200 yards off the sticks. The rifle’s fault? I think not. It’s the person pulling the trigger and I have to admit that after years of hunting and multiple trips to Africa, I still get excited. Fortunately, a quick follow up shot and the Nyala was mine. But humbling and a good reminder to myself that hunting Africa is in fact exciting…as it should be.
About the Author:
TERRY NELSON – is a 30-year veteran of law enforcement with police and sheriff agencies, including SWAT and sniper roles, and has served as a state game warden. Nelson also served seven years with New Mexico State Guard. A lifelong hunter, guide, tracker and firearms enthusiast, Terry is sought for training in multiple disciplines by both civilian and police-serving agencies and companies. Nelson also holds a Basic Tac Med instructor certification from Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
