SOUTH AFRICA: Buffalo Rodeo In The Kalahari

[Bullthrower338]

Glad everything got sorted out with everyone in one piece!

 

[cmk]

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.

I only have older models - a few AV (1980's) and a L691 (early 90's). They are fairly similar internally, with ejector/bolt stop at 3 o'cock (left handed). I thought I had it googled, but... you have the actual rifles so I stand corrected.

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

For 6 o'clock ejectors I can certainly understand that. My 3 o'clock experiences are opposite.

 

[TOBY458]

I only have older models - a few AV (1980's) and a L691 (early 90's). They are fairly similar internally, with ejector/bolt stop at 3 o'cock (left handed). I thought I had it googled, but... you have the actual rifles so I stand corrected.



For 6 o'clock ejectors I can certainly understand that. My 3 o'clock experiences are opposite.

I once a had an AV in 416 Rem Mag. It too had the 9 oclock (right handed) ejector. It was very reliable. Although it was a push feed action, it fed very smoothly, and held 4 rounds in the magazine. The bolt guide was the only thing that scared me, as they are known to sometimes slide forward on heavy recoiling rifles, and jam the action up, so it can't be opened.

 

[sestoppelman]

Alls well that ends well! Got the animal, and nobody hurt. Been there done that.

Still haven't quite wrapped my head around your description though of the jam. You say the empty, fell back into the loading port and then jammed itself against the round in the "action", when you slammed the bolt forward. Do you mean there was a round in the chamber, cant see how, or somehow it jammed against the top round in the mag? Cant quite envision that either.

 

[tarbe]

I'm pretty sure we all imagine how we want our Cape Buffalo hunt to go down.

We are the hero who single-handedly takes down the beast with perfectly aimed and timed shots.

We don't wet our britches, and everyone calls us bwana.

Reality gets in the way...our decisions, the weather, the animals, our equipment...something usually conspires to screw up our dream - at least a bit (if not a lot!).

I keep reminding myself that if no one gets hurt, and the DG animal is not lost, and is brought to bag within a reasonable timeframe, one has to count this as a win.

Thanks for your hunt report. Cody and I are off to the BVC in a few days, and one cannot be reminded often enough to choose the shot carefully. I can very easily see myself making the same decision you made!


Tim

 

[sestoppelman]

Tim, you and Cody have a great time now ya hear? And tell JS I loved his book!

 

[CoElkHunter]

Having never been to Africa, I for one, REALLY appreciate the details and honesty of this difficult hunt! Your story about this hunt is GREAT! Thanks!

 

[Ridge Runner]

Thanks for the report. Great buff.

 

[TOBY458]

Alls well that ends well! Got the animal, and nobody hurt. Been there done that.

Still haven't quite wrapped my head around your description though of the jam. You say the empty, fell back into the loading port and then jammed itself against the round in the "action", when you slammed the bolt forward. Do you mean there was a round in the chamber, cant see how, or somehow it jammed against the top round in the mag? Cant quite envision that either.

The fired case fell back on top of the next round in the magazine. Then when I tried to chamber the next round, both shells moved forward and kind of pinched together at the feed ramp. I had to dig my fingernails into the fired cartridge's extractor groove and pull it out.

 

[johnnyblues]

Nice buffalo sir, congratulations. I know it’s a hard pill to swallow but thankfully everyone made it out safely. I know the feeling of tracking a wounded dangerous animal as I had to do it recently on my leopard.

 

[Shootist43]

Toby, what you described is a pretty standard "jam" not too hard to figure out. As a pistol shooter I probably see jams more frequently than a rifle shooter, your description of the problem is exactly what happens.

 

[TheoR8]

Great stuff Toby, Awesome Buff.

 

[sestoppelman]

The fired case fell back on top of the next round in the magazine. Then when I tried to chamber the next round, both shells moved forward and kind of pinched together at the feed ramp. I had to dig my fingernails into the fired cartridge's extractor groove and pull it out.

I see now, essentially a double feed. Bummer.

 

[kevin masters]

Dang what a story! lifetime memories, I love the Ruark reference!
Congratulations!

 

[norfolk shooter]

@TOBY458 Im glad nobody was hurt. Ruger the dog is freaking awesome I love that little terrier and your right he is extremely courageous. Congrats anyhow I know how hard the Kalahari can be

 

[Brent in Az]

Nice bull! At least you got him down.Amazing how fearless those little dogs are!

 

[Chago]

I keep trying to convince myself. Ya I don't need a buffalo. I don't want a buffalo. Then I look at these pictures and think. Omg I need a buffalo. Omg I want a buffalo. Congrats.

 

[flatwater bill]

Most things in life are a team effort. This was no exception. You earned that buffalo................it is yours......congrats and thanks for taking us along..............FWB

 

[CoElkHunter]

The fired case fell back on top of the next round in the magazine. Then when I tried to chamber the next round, both shells moved forward and kind of pinched together at the feed ramp. I had to dig my fingernails into the fired cartridge's extractor groove and pull it out.

Toby,
You may know this, but with a semi-auto pistol, to clear a “stoppage”, the quote is “tap “ (the magazine into the pistol), “ rack” ( the slide back to refresh the chamber with a new cartridge) and “bang” (pull the trigger). With a level/class 3 “jam” (double feed) in a semi auto, one must pull the magazine out and rack the slide to clear the double feed and insert a new magazine and “rack” a fresh round into the chamber and shoot. You had a level/class 3 jam in your bolt action rifle. Under STRESS, you tried everything you could to clear the jam, short of racking all the rounds out of the magazine and/or dropping the magazine bottom plate, (if even possible) and loading the magazine individually from the top of the action. I think you performed VERY admirably under an extremely STRESSFUL predicament. Congrats on the bull YOU got and the outcome you deserved!

 

[krish]

Congrats Tobi. I am new to this site. Like to meet new people. Learn more about bigbores and experience of you great hunters.