Safari Club International’s 39th Annual Convention

Safari Club International’s 39th Annual Convention was held again at Reno, Nevada and Kynoch were there showing their range of big game ammunition and having an opportunity to talk to the users of this ammunition in Africa and other parts of the World. Over 20,000 professional hunters and sportsmen attended the convention and in the course of four days on our stand it felt as if we had spoken to every one of them. The team this year was a family affair with David Little (Managing Director), Susan Little (Company Secretary) and Ruth Little (Company Accountant) having her first taste of the American market.

The show which comprises over 1500 exhibitors runs alongside the convention. The star performer this year was President George W Bush who caused quite a security stir during his visit.

The main interest as far as our stand was concerned is as ever ammunition, ballistics, availability in strange countries and a general discussion on the pros and cons of the old British calibres. They seem to be more popular than ever with some of the older calibres coming back into favour alongside a whole jumble of short magnums, long magnums and a never ending amazement of wildcat cartridges. Ammunition is either loved or hated by the gun trade and it certainly gives us an interesting and stimulating show.

Our stand was a centre for ammunition and we had a prolonged visit from Graeme Wright, the author of Shooting the British Double Rifle, who was signing books on our stand and also Geoff MacDonald from Woodleigh Bullets who gave David a rest with people were asking about bullet performance, specifications etc.

The range of people visiting our stand was from Alaska in the north to Argentina in the south. Just about every country in Africa and Europe as well as visitors from the Philippines and Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand.

For anybody who wishes to join in an international gathering of hunting, shooting and fishing people the SCI Convention and Show is at Reno, Nevada again in January 2011 and is well worth a visit. We will be there again and would be more than glad to meet you.

Young Professional Hunter of the Year 2010

The African Professional Hunters’ Association in conjunction with Kynamco Ltd, the UK company behind Kynoch big game ammunition, have chosen a young hunter/guide from Kenya as this year’s APHA Young Professional Hunter of the Year.  Johnny Chipman, 28, impressed the judges with all the basics – his competence in tracking, and bringing his clients on to a huge range of African animals from lion, leopard, buffalo and many others.  More importantly however, the judges felt that the ease with which he created a strong rapport with his clients marked him out from other candidates. His stated interests  –  the outdoors and meeting new people as well as old friends – chime well with the judges’ assessment.

Johnny started in the professional hunting business when he was just 17 years old, working for Robin Hurt Safaris, and he’s been with them ever since.  The award was presented by David Little, the Managing Director of Kynamco Ltd at the Safari Club International’s 39th Convention in Reno, Nevada.