Hi Folks

Just a quick post to let all the folks that I have hunted with and others know the facts surrounding an incident that resulted in my main tracker Criton getting trampled by an ele bull.

“ I have just returned from an elephant bull hunt where my client shot and wounded an elephant bull. It was a hard shot under very trying circumstances and my clients shot was a little high. It dropped the bull unfortunately in quite thick bush. Knowing that it was not a perfect brain shot I did a back up shot as best I could. We then followed the bull for a few hours when we reached a road where my client said that he was not feeling well enough to carry on ( I must point out right away that my client was an extremely fit and capable hunter but had been suffering from a bad case of nausea for a few days and really was not well at all. The fact that he had gone this far was a surprise to me and a credit to him.) I left him with a learner hunter for Eddy my driver to pick up and continued after the bull.

We were tracking at a very fast pace when we came up to him late evening in thick bush. He charged and I gave him a frontal brain shot at about 15 yards which had no effect on him and then proceeded to have a jam with my 416. I only just managed to jump out the way as the ele sped past me and unfortunately for Criton he had slipped on a bit of gravel and the elephant tried to trample him. It did manage to step on his waste area before I shot it off him.

Been late in the evening we got Criton to Triangle Hospital (as Mars could not fly out been dark) and have to say the service that we had there was first class. In the morning we got MARS to take him to Harare where we had the top orthopaedic surgeons on stand by. After numerous xrays and examining Criton they decide that no operation was needed as he had a broken Pelvis but that traction for several weeks was what was required. Criton has been there for 11 days now and is recovering well and is in good spirits and we expect to be hunting ele bull again together in September.

The reason I post this apart from wanting to let all my clients know, is that when there is no first hand info on an incident it often results in numerous interesting scenarios been thrown around- which is what I want to avoid. The facts are the facts and a fact that is worth pointing out is that my client was an excellent hunter and in no way did he let the side down and I look forward to hunting with him again.

Please bear in mind that I have hunted elephant solidly with Criton for over 15 years now and we have been together on well over 400 kills. I mention this only to point out that unlike your average PH that does a couple of eles a season we are constantly in the line of fire as such and law of averages means that we will get ourselves in more sticky situations then average. I have also up graded now to a 500 Jeffery Blazer which I hope will give me a bit more fire power.

Damn! Glad no one was killed or have permanent injuries.

That 416 has jammed on you in the past if I remember correctly.

It's called dangerous game for good reason. You are right about the law of averages. While it is selfish of me I thank the lord it wasn't on my hunt.
I am sure this has been hard on the client as well, even though as you have pointed out he didn't let the side down.

A terrible thing. I wish Criton a fast and thourough recovery.


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Hi Larry

Yes- the reason I payed and ordered a double 3 years ago- anyway thats another story! Also stay away from a flat nose solids in a bolt actions.

Buzz: PLEASE go a little farther with the 'flat nose solid in a bolt action'! I have experienced difficulty also. Thanks

quote:

Yes- the reason I payed and ordered a double 3 years ago- anyway thats another story! Also stay away from a flat nose solids in a bolt actions.

Was your jam in the Ruger RSM? Based on your comment it was a feeding jam? I ask as there is a video Saeed of one of Alan VIncent's hunters who very calmly hand-ejected a piece of brass (twice)that did not eject during a buffalo charge. This was in an RSM, but not sure what the long-term on that was.

Sounds like someone owes you a double, hope that gets sorted out to your satisfaction.

If a DG critter tries to take you out, you need to put it down, without question.
SAME GOES FOR A RIFLE!
Is there anyone who would venture out on another DG hunt knowing his rifle previously failed at a critical time?

As I told you last week Buzz - tell Criton we wish him the best and he is in our prayers...glad it didn't turn out worse...

Not sure the Blazer is the answer but a double sure is.

Hi Guys

Thanks for the kind wishes I know that Criton will appreciate them.

BColyer- I am certainly no gun smith and when I had an issue with Flat nosed solids a few years ago I took my gun in to a gun smith and he claimed it was the spring in the magazine. It was replaced. I then have shot many eles /buff etc with it since then ( however I have to say mostly with my favorite round the Woodliegh)and have had no issue until this hunt which was with Flat nose solids. I have found that under normal circumstances they feed fine BUT when load extremely fast I find that the second round is the problem round. What issues did you have- I would be interested? Bob N- having had it "fixed" by a gun smith here and having used it perfectly for many years in all conditions I was comfortable with it. However after the last incident I have lost confidence with it hence the up grade!

BaxterB- The Ph in question is Dean kendall- a good friend of mine and a darn good PH who uses the same rifle as I do ( or did) a 416 Rigby Ruger.

I will periodically let every one know how Criton is doing.

Buzz,
This really disheartening news about Criton. And what a fortunate fellow to get by with only these injuries. Give Criton my best and pray for rapid and complete healing. He is definitely one of the top ele trackers and I know he can;t wait to get back.

Hope to see you and the complete crew in Sept.

PM aka Dak

All the best to Criton. I hope he will recover soon.

Wishing the best for Criton. He is fotunate to be alive.

quote:

The Ph in question is Dean kendall- a good friend of mine and a darn good PH who uses the same rifle as I do ( or did) a 416 Rigby Ruger.

Yes, Dean, that's the guy. A cool customer. Since it was a flat-nosed solid issue, why not just go back to Woodleighs? Or at this point is the confidence lost in the RSM?

Damn, glad everybody will be OK!

Best wishes to Criton and well done on getting him the care he needed.

Sober reminder, that's for sure.

Buzz,

My best regards to Chriton.

Sounds like we need to put together a double fund for Buzz or at least get him his already paid for double rifle!!

All the best to Criton. He is a strong and healthy fellow, let's hope for a full and complete recovery.

Sorry to hear this Buzz, wishing Criton a speedy recovery.

Dave

Hoping for a speedy and full recovery for Criton.

I hope Criton recovers quickly.

Damn, this makes me think. I use the Trophy Bonded Sledgehammers in my 416. They are flat nose as I recall.

Buzz,
Let Criton know our thoughts and prayers are with him for a full and speedy recovery! All the best, my friend!

What was that I read about using enough gun?

Something about Harry Manners getting his tracker toasted.

My sympathies to Criton.

quote:

frontal brain shot

Make that an attempted frontal brain shot.

Sorry to hear that an best of luck to your tracker.

Brett

BUZZ..........PM SENT !!!!!!!!!!!

Does Criton have some type of insurance? How do his medical bills (living expenses) get paid while he is out?

Give my best to Criton in hopes he has a full recovery. Does he need a fund for expenses or is it covered already? I believe the Boddington Fund was specifically set up for incidents like this.

Dean Kendall uses a Ruger 458 Lott or at least he did in September of 2010 when we did our 10 day double tuskless together in Makuti. I believe it is the same rifle Myles uses. 500 grains at 2300 fps gives a bit more room for error.

What caliber was the client using?

Buzz, all the best. You are right that odd's usually catch up to us no matter what sport we play, especially the dangerous ones. I agree that the SOMETHING MORE SAFARIS fund may be a place to get him some financial relief. The stated goal is to help PH's and trackers with medical expenses from accidents suffered in the line of duty. This would be just such a case it seems clear. Google the Something More site and PLEASE let me know their response.
Please give your man our best for a quick recovery.

Hey Buzz,

Best regards to all concerned and hopes for a speedy recovery. Thanks for sharing.

The RSM jam on flat nosed rounds seems to be common, but the same can be said for many popular rifles. My .458Lott RSM had problems feeding the BBW#13 rounds until I polished the rails and the feed ramp; thereafter no problems. I worked the action many, many times with dummy rounds and fired it rapid fire many more times before it went Ele hunting in Chewore South last year.

In August I will be chasing Ele again, this time with a Winchester WSM .458B&M using the BBW#13 loads. When I had SSK build this rifle I specified the dummies be run through it rapid fire a minimum of 100 times before it was shipped to me. I have since fired it many times and will do so many more before I depart.

I absolutely believe that any/all DG rifles (even custom rifles) need aftermarket work to make them 100% reliable and even then things can go wrong, as evidenced by your story. It could be as simple as a speck of sand in the chamber. It's called DG hunting for a reason.

Sure hope Criton heals well and is afield sooner than later!

I am very sad to here this.I hunted with Criton and he is an excellent human being.He gave me an ele bracelet and took nothing for it.It is incredible what fine gentlemen we hunt with in Africa.The flat nose solid is not a bullet that many rifles can feed or shoot well and therefore should not be left in Africa at the end of ones hunt,IMO.This along with bad handloads.What we should leave in Africa more often are good rifles,quality factory ammunition and rifle cleaning supplies.Stay safe,Buzz-cheers!

Sorry to here this. I hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Best wishes to your friend,
Quite a story.

Best wishes to Criton. I hope to bring my two sons hunting with you some time in the next few years. I hope Criton gets well soon and will be around to hunt with us. I also shoot a 500 Jeffery, it's a lovely caliber.

Best wishes to Criton for a speedy and complete recovery!

Best regards,
Chris

Good man, great tracker.

Thanks for the pic, Mike. Best to Criton.

Hi Buzz. Jane and I send our best to Criton for a speedy recovery. As Allan and now Criton know it is a very dangerous game.

sorry to hear this buzz , happy that it wasnt worse ..you are right on about the law of averages ...