THE 458 RUGER MAGNUM

We had spotted a mature Banteng bull walking next to the creek, when he stopped, and lay down for a rest in the comfortable 2 foot tall grass.  So Albert and I carefully stalked in to the last cover, behind a huge old Malaleuca paperbark tree.  I made a plan.  I would crawl to the right and make some pig noises, the Banteng would stand, and Albert would finally get to see the horns properly and decide.  This plan worked perfectly and as the bull faced him... he fired a 416 Rigby Woodleigh soft point into the boiler room.... (but.. in fear of green ants before the shot, due to an earlier green ants nest over body incident..!!) Albert had stood out and away from the tree.  So at 25 yards the hard hit Banteng, saw him and charged flat out.... straight for him.  I aimed the Ruger 458 Winchester Magnum waiting for Albert's next shot... ... nothing.. so urgently I fired at 8 yards and dropped the Banteng bull and it skidded towards Albert in the dust.  I asked him to unload the chamber, before shaking hands... he ejected the empty case!!  what...!!!  He had "frozen" and not "reloaded" with an angry Banteng coming for him...!!

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FAST BANTENG CHARGE

Last year after a long hot day, we had a group of Banteng bulls feeding towards us in dense bush.  Deron moved low and forward to a rest.  Thumbs up I indicated.. yes that first bull was a big one.  When a clear shot presented, he placed a 375H&H in the chest, but it turned sideways running, he got in another shot.. but it took off.  He reloaded, and we moved forward quietly and quickly along the running deep footprints, with the light fading.  I heard a cough, and we approached.  All of a sudden I saw a huge Banteng lift his head at 25yds, 2 others ran off (thank goodness), and the wounded huge Banteng immediately charged at full speed.  I was already moving to the left, and yelled for Deron to shoot, we both fired twice in under 3 seconds, which sounded like, boom, boom, boom, boom.. and the bull almost cartwheeled over and skidded in the dust 5 yards from Deron and Tom, 3 shots in the head (just missing brain) and the last broke the spine.  That was a close call, and again teaches us that every shot must be aimed, always some lead, and placed properly,.... to 100% stop a charge..!!

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DANGEROUS GAME HUNTERS 

A huge old Banteng bull is a must have species for your trophy room.  For the awards hunters, after all the Bovines, or South Pacific species.  They are tough, fast and often dangerous.  Every person who has experienced close up Banteng encounters in dense thorn bushes, or amongst the thick wattles and paperbark trees... will tell you this is a very exciting and rewarding hunt.  That will count amongst your top exclusive species and exciting safaris.  We do it right.

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