Rifle/ammo failure on Elephant

[Raven]

This is what I keep thinking: “The hunter would have been better off with a reliable bolt gun that he could handle” when I think of going afield with a double.

But at the same time, there are many safari videos where the bolt-action rifle has problems. And the thought comes to mind: "Why didn't he choose a double rifle?!"

 

[Russ16]

But at the same time, there are many safari videos where the bolt-action rifle has problems. And the thought comes to mind: "Why didn't he choose a double rifle?!"

The real question is why aren’t the practices with their gun regardless of type.

 

[Fordy]

The real question is why aren’t the practices with their gun regardless of type.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^. , This
Cheers

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Ok gents, how about impressions as to the issue with follow-up miss-fire?

Gateway to Africa, Episode 55. Big, beautiful 75lb-ish elephant day one. Gent obviously not a novice as he said this was his biggest elephant thus far. I am uncertain what double he’s shooting, and mostly curious if it was a situation of catching the spent case against his palm or something, then on follow up after closing the action he simply returned to his first barrel with empty case…or?

The initial shot and backup by his son is a little after minute 11:00, and then the elephant rises and he goes to give him another around 11:48, “Click..oh gosh..boom.” Gorgeous elephant, clean harvest, no tracking, so to be clear…zero criticism of the hunter, just curious of the click, oh gosh, boom part. (Ok, maybe one little thing I’m hyper cautious about from too many bear hunts, I don’t take any animal as dead until they don’t flinch from an approaching shot, but that’s just me. Seen too many bears, especially browns, go from drop dead, to dead run to think otherwise)

Great hunt and can only hope to find myself in a similar situation someday reasonably soon.

W

 

[rookhawk]

Regarding the comments about catching brass, its something that should never be done with a Double Rifle. They are much stiffer to open than a shotgun and obstructing their ejection could damage the ejectors or jam your gun in the heat of the moment.

Option 1: In the heat of the moment, tolerate your brass shooting over your shoulder and accept that 1:20 pieces will acquire a dent as they hit a hard surface.

Option 2: Heym does offer a bloody expensive option on their double rifles. You can get an extractor switch installed on the forend when made. This allows you to go to extractor only during practice so you can remove your brass, then turn on ejectors for hunting use. It's really cool, but I believe its several thousand dollars as an option....probably cheaper to just sacrifice a piece of brass every now and again.

 

[rookhawk]

Ok gents, how about impressions as to the issue with follow-up miss-fire?

Gateway to Africa, Episode 55. Big, beautiful 75lb-ish elephant day one. Gent obviously not a novice as he said this was his biggest elephant thus far. I am uncertain what double he’s shooting, and mostly curious if it was a situation of catching the spent case against his palm or something, then on follow up after closing the action he simply returned to his first barrel with empty case…or?

The initial shot and backup by his son is a little after minute 11:00, and then the elephant rises and he goes to give him another around 11:48, “Click..oh gosh..boom.” Gorgeous elephant, clean harvest, no tracking, so to be clear…zero criticism of the hunter, just curious of the click, oh gosh, boom part. (Ok, maybe one little thing I’m hyper cautious about from too many bear hunts, I don’t take any animal as dead until they don’t flinch from an approaching shot, but that’s just me. Seen too many bears, especially browns, go from drop dead, to dead run to think otherwise)

Great hunt and can only hope to find myself in a similar situation someday reasonably soon.

W

Sidebar comment. I am in no way an expert elephant hunter nor am I a wizard at judging ivory, but I find the 75lb claim to be incredulous. I've passed on many elephants that size that weren't going to top 40-44 pounds. I'm not seeing much circumference at the lip and I'm seeing a dramatic taper to the tips that aren't worn down at all. I just don't know how the hell that gets to anywhere near 75lbs.

53lbs a side for comparison on a huge, 13,000lb Hwange-Bots cooridor bull:

 

[Fordy]

Gday rookhawk

Regarding the comments about catching brass, its something that should never be done with a Double Rifle. They are much stiffer to open than a shotgun and obstructing their ejection could damage the ejectors or jam your gun in the heat of the moment.

Option 1: In the heat of the moment, tolerate your brass shooting over your shoulder and accept that 1:20 pieces will acquire a dent as they hit a hard surface.

Option 2: Heym does offer a bloody expensive option on their double rifles. You can get an extractor switch installed on the forend when made. This allows you to go to extractor only during practice so you can remove your brass, then turn on ejectors for hunting use. It's really cool, but I believe it’s several thousand dollars as an option....probably cheaper to just sacrifice a piece of brass every now and again.

option 1 seems the better option as it sums it all up with the words of “heat of the moment “
Yes this builds muscle memory where as option2 your conditioning your muscle memory up for failure in the “heat of the moment “ along with the mechanical aspects of the rifle itself

Cheers

 

[Russ16]

Regarding the comments about catching brass, its something that should never be done with a Double Rifle. They are much stiffer to open than a shotgun and obstructing their ejection could damage the ejectors or jam your gun in the heat of the moment.

Option 1: In the heat of the moment, tolerate your brass shooting over your shoulder and accept that 1:20 pieces will acquire a dent as they hit a hard surface.

Option 2: Heym does offer a bloody expensive option on their double rifles. You can get an extractor switch installed on the forend when made. This allows you to go to extractor only during practice so you can remove your brass, then turn on ejectors for hunting use. It's really cool, but I believe its several thousand dollars as an option....probably cheaper to just sacrifice a piece of brass every now and again.

Strange it is so expensive. My beretta SxS has that with just moving a switch with a screw driver.