SOUTH AFRICA: Buffalo Rodeo In The Kalahari

[huntermn15]

I'm glad everyone is well and things turned out ok. Seun was a PH on my lionness hunt a few years back, squared away and a good guy.

 

[Newboomer]

Great buf and a hair raising tale. Glad you got him and no one was hurt. Solid reason for detachable mounts on a dg rifle. After the first shot, the scope can come off.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Great trophy. Congrats.Thanks for sharing.

 

[Rum Runner]

Thanks for the write up. Going for my first buffalo, first safari, tomorrow!

 

[cmk]

Exciting story! Glad it turned out ok in the end. And a great looking animal!

As much as I like my Sakos, it is not the first time I hear this story. It seems like the newer models (when they went from the fixed, mauser-style ejector to the spring-loaded pin in the bolt face) sometimes send the case in too vertical an angle, rather than sideways. With a low scope mount and/or large turrets this can send the empty case right back.

I dont think it's a coincidece that even the lowest Sako-made mounts can still handle scopes with 45-50mm objectives. They want that extra gap for safety/margin of error. Maybe it's not much of a conspiracy theory, but at least it's mine

My own rifles predate this innovation but the same thing can of course happen there as well, but only if the bolt is being worked much too softly.

 

[BeeMaa]

Congratulations on the Buffalo.
No matter how it went down, you earned it.

As for the rifle, I think enough has been said already.

Can't wait to hear about your Lioness hunt.

 

[Shootist43]

Can the bolts and ejectors on newer Sakos be reworked or replaced with something that functions reliably?

 

[cmk]

Correction to previous post regarding the ejectors (if my googling skills are correct):
Model 75 came with the plunger ejector.
Model 85 returned to fixed ejector, but it seems to be positioned at 6 o'clock (instead of 3 or 9).

 

[TOBY458]

Thanks for the report.

That's why we don't use Sako or Ruger as back-up rifles....

You just managed to squeeze the shot in there, another 4 inches back could have been a much longer follow up, never take an initial shot quartering away on the left side of a buffalo.

It is amazing how far they can go when only one lung is hit!

Glad things worked out in the end. Congratulations.

Yes, I knew better, and did it anyway! Sometimes the heat of the moment can cause us to have poor judgment. I thought I could reach the heart from that angle, if I could get the needed penetration. But, my shot landed too high for the heart. I literally had about 2 seconds to size the bull up, and make the decision to shoot. Time was running short on the hunt as well.
No one ever thinks his rifle will jam at the exact wrong time, but I'm proof that it can and does happen.

 

[TOBY458]

Correction to previous post regarding the ejectors (if my googling skills are correct):
Model 75 came with the plunger ejector.
Model 85 returned to fixed ejector, but it seems to be positioned at 6 o'clock (instead of 3 or 9).

I have both 75 and 85 rifles. Both have the same ejector. It's not a plunger, it's a blade ejector that is at the 6 oclock position in the bolt face. That is the reason it tends to eject straight up if the extractor isn't gripping the case correctly. I knew this could happen, but it's only been an occasional thing with my particular rifle. But this time it happened at the wrong time.
As far as plunger ejectors go, I think you're referring to the Sako A7 or Tikka rifles.

 

[IvW]

Exciting story! Glad it turned out ok in the end. And a great looking animal!

As much as I like my Sakos, it is not the first time I hear this story. It seems like the newer models (when they went from the fixed, mauser-style ejector to the spring-loaded pin in the bolt face) sometimes send the case in too vertical an angle, rather than sideways. With a low scope mount and/or large turrets this can send the empty case right back.

I dont think it's a coincidece that even the lowest Sako-made mounts can still handle scopes with 45-50mm objectives. They want that extra gap for safety/margin of error. Maybe it's not much of a conspiracy theory, but at least it's mine

My own rifles predate this innovation but the same thing can of course happen there as well, but only if the bolt is being worked much too softly.

With Sako and Ruger it happens when you operate the bolt at speed not when slowed down....

 

[IvW]

Can the bolts and ejectors on newer Sakos be reworked or replaced with something that functions reliably?

Nope buy something that works from the start especially when hunting DG...

 

[Art Lambart II]

Toby, I'm glad your home safe and sound. That was quite a hunt you had, I'm sure that's not how you wanted your hunt do go but I'm sure its one that you will never forget.

 

[IvW]

Correction to previous post regarding the ejectors (if my googling skills are correct):
Model 75 came with the plunger ejector.
Model 85 returned to fixed ejector, but it seems to be positioned at 6 o'clock (instead of 3 or 9).

Correct so stay away for a DG rifle...

 

[TOBY458]

Can the bolts and ejectors on newer Sakos be reworked or replaced with something that functions reliably?

I don't think so. Most people remedy the problem by turning the scope so the elevation turret is on the left side of the action and the windage turret is on the top. Of course this would only work on a plain crosshair style scope, with no yardage marks on the bottom post. My particular scope does have those marks, so I resisted doing this. In hindsight, I wish I had used a different scope, and made the adjustment.

 

[IvW]

I don't think so. Most people remedy the problem by turning the scope so the elevation turret is on the left side of the action and the windage turret is on the top. Of course this would only work on a plain crosshair style scope, with no yardage marks on the bottom post. My particular scope does have those marks, so I resisted doing this. In hindsight, I wish I had used a different scope, and made the adjustment.

Or just go with a proven action and rifle from the start...which will exclude Sako or Ruger or Rem M700 or Weatherby or... for DG.

 

[TOBY458]

Or just go with a proven action and rifle from the start...which will exclude Sako or Ruger or Rem M700 or Weatherby or... for DG.

I agree. The worst part of all of this is, I have a safe full of Winchester and Kimber CRF, mauser extractor/ejector rifles to choose from. The Sako is short, easy to handle, and very accurate. But reliability trumps all of the above.

 

[TOBY458]

I'm glad everyone is well and things turned out ok. Seun was a PH on my lionness hunt a few years back, squared away and a good guy.

Yes, he is a fun guy to hunt with. We also hunted Lion and Lioness on this trip.

 

[IvW]

I agree. The worst part of all of this is, I have a safe full of Winchester and Kimber CRF, mauser extractor/ejector rifles to choose from. The Sako is short, easy to handle, and very accurate. But reliability trumps all of the above.

Exactly! If you where the PH things could have turned out a lot worse...

Sakos are great and very accurate for PG but they are not DG rifles...

I nearly saw my arse when circumstances forced me to use a Sako as a back-up rifle on a multiple DG safari, never again....

 

[Neale]

Fantastic story Toby. Glad it worked out and you got your Buff.