20. August 2024
Leapers is known for tactical solutions, but the company has developed many handy accessories and durable ring mounts that are perfectly suited for hunters around the world, from the AR platform to bolt-action rifles. In line with this thinking, Integrix was built for professional shooters across disciplines. Late last year, Leapers became acquainted with a newly established wild game reserve in South Africa, and in April, the company had the perfect opportunity to make a trip. What better way to test Integrix than by pursuing big game in the bush?
Hunting with Muller Hunting & Safari in South Africa
It was nearing the beginning of winter at the Ngiri Wild Game Reserve, run by Anja Müller and Phillip Henderson with Muller Hunting and Safari. Anja’s reserve is on the south side of South Africa, just outside Alicedale, an hour and a half drive from Port Elizabeth along the coast. They manage over 5,000 hectares of continuous land and a multitude of animals, carefully managing against any threat of hunting pressure. Their property is entirely self-sufficient with its own water and solar electricity sources, and Anja and her team treat guests like family to deliver a custom 1:1 experience and achieve their hunting goals. At night, the team enjoyed fresh game Braai (South African BBQ) by the bonfire and a cooling midday swim between sweaty hunting excursions.
The four-man team from headquarters included David, CEO and founder of Leapers; Margaret, Director of Marketing; Steven, Cinematographer; and Ken, Lead Testing Engineer and lifelong hunter of local game in Michigan, from deer and duck to coyote. They mounted and zeroed their Integrix 1-8X28 LPVO on Anja’s Blaser R93 in 30-06, their 3-18X44 on a Blaser R93 in 9.3X62, and the 4.5-27X56 on a Mauser M18 in 300 Win Mag. Phillip was amazed at the ease with which they could lock and adjust the oversized turrets, a feature useful for different levels of shooters he encounters as a certified professional hunting guide. They also used Remington 700 rails for the Mauser M18 and UTG PRO POI rings. Each day was an adventure as they set out before sunrise at 6 a.m. and ended after sundown at 8 p.m., navigating African brush and mountain landscapes in pursuit of various herds. Integrix held up to its new environment and did not disappoint. By the end of the trip, they had eight clean shots across big and medium-sized game.
Just Passing By
On the first day, the team set out after a herd of eland with no success. After a brief stalk and a run-in with some springbok and impala, they decided to change locations. That’s when they spotted a herd of zebras grazing as they were passing by. The wind was blowing straight into the herd, so they continued further down before backtracking to 105 meters. Finding concealment behind a bush, they spotted a large zebra on the right. Waiting for it to turn broadside, Margaret took the shot shortly after it kicked one of the zebras next to it. The first shot of the trip was recorded at 15:10. Weighing 270 kilos, it was a big old female. The Integrix LPVO mounted on the 30-06 performed excellently.
Ghost Hunters
In the middle of the afternoon on day two, the team spotted a herd of greater kudu on their way to glass. This was a great surprise since kudu are well known as the elusive Grey Ghost of the Savannah and tend to disappear during daylight hours. Unfortunately, the kudu spooked as the team passed by, and after a short stalk, the team continued on their way.
Reaching the peak of a mountain, they located another massive herd of kudu mixed with some eland. They planned their stalk, trekking down one side of the mountain and setting up on a spur to shoot towards the other ridgeline. A greater kudu bull had skylined himself on the horizon, but as they set up for a 315-meter shot, he started walking away and out of sight.
Pursuing him across brush and wadis, they found the bull again, this time inhaling the air surrounding a group of cows. Though he was well-distracted, he had a cow directly behind, so the team had to delay. Once she stepped out, the moment was nigh. At 17:45, from 105 meters, the 250-kilo bull fell to the Integrix 4.5-27X56 on the 300 Win Mag. The saying holds true: wherever the women are, the men will follow.
Triumph in the Mountains
Saturday brought the most grueling stalk of the trip. After days of sightings and unsuccessful attempts, the team headed straight for the mountains in the morning, determined to make the cape eland their target. Learning from Anja and Phillip, they knew this was their best shot to wait out the eland. At night, when the air was cool, the eland came down to the valley bottom to gather water, returning to the mountains once it warmed during the day.
After hours of glassing with little movement, they eventually found a herd, but the wind was blowing directly to them. Backtracking for a better approach, they climbed up and down the mountain three times that morning, only to be thwarted by wind, lack of cover, and spooked herds. By midday, they had located three separate groups of eland and were ready for another attempt in the afternoon.
Come afternoon, they trekked back up the mountain. Although they couldn’t spot the eland from the ground, they found them after making their way across the top. Moving closer for a better view, they reached roughly 120 meters. Losing sight of the bull, they inched closer to spot him through the brush, reaching about 80 meters. As they set up, a group of baboons began calling and fighting at what sounded like just 30 meters away. With the wind swirling, mixing their scent with that of the baboons, the eland began moving in their favor.
Ken set up for the shot and waited for the bull to walk past. At this point, they were completely out from the cover of brush and several cows and a young bull spotted the team, stopping to investigate. They froze and waited, staring them down. The bull, distracted by the cows and not knowing what was directly in front of him, was now 40 meters away, quartering to the team. Ken took the shot with the Integrix 3-18X44 on the 9.3X62. The bull dropped within 20 meters with the bullet lodged just under the skin on the exit wound side.
Just before sundown, the eland was the 1,700-pound reward to a long day and a 7-day trip.
Leapers® on the Ground
Advancing exceptional products extends beyond engineering; it centers on the shooter. If Leapers’ second decade was dedicated to building its manufacturing expertise, the current era is focused on utilizing those capabilities to their fullest potential. Leapers’ goal is to get their teams out of the office to experience their products under real-world conditions. By doing so, they seek to foster a deeper engagement with shooting communities worldwide and continually refine their offerings based on first-hand experiences and feedback.