Overcome with boredom, I sometimes watch hunting videos. Why do so many people dismount the rifle as they eject and reload? It's not just neophytes but many very experienced hunters. Searching for enlightenment.

Sqeeze,

I don't know about enlightenment on this subject but I too have found myself yelling at the screen "reload". Some of these guys don't immediately reload. Instead they turn around and mug for the camera giving the animal more than enough time to jump up and run off. Idiots.

I love it when the guide says "shoot, shoot again" and there's a long pause before the 2nd shot. WTF are these "hunters" doing during the pause?

As I was taught and practice I reload from the shoulder because it's faster and I don't loose sight of the intended target.

Mark

Not sure about your question.

I dismount my rifle before reloading, and I make sure my empty is in my hand and that has never been any problem whatsoever.

Shooting bolt guns in competition, I'm used to cycling the bolt with the rifle still mounted during sitting (at 200) and prone (at 300) rapid fire, so I agree, there is no need to dismount the rifle and it costs valuable time. While I don't dismount the rifle, I have been accused of "admiring the shot".

While I agree with the need to reload quickly after a shot rather than taking time to "admire" the shot, I don't think there is any great advantage to cycling the bolt while still on the shoulder. Reloading with the rifle dismounted can be achieved very quickly without taking the eyes off the target, even for left handers like me, and allows an unobstructed view of the target.

Harry Selby was a left handed shooter using right handed actions, having not seen any video of him operating a bolt action I assume he probably used the standard lefty reload with the bolt gun dismounted. Considering Harry's shooting record it didn't seem he was inhibited in any way by his operation of a bolt gun.

In my own years of shooting I have often shot mobs of deer and feral goats where I have emptied the mag and then some and never felt the need for LH rifles or any wish to be able to reload without dismounting.

Maybe a lefty with a right hand rifle might need to dismount the rifle, but there is no need whatsoever to do so with a right hander and a right handed rifle. The only real shoot out I ever got into with a buffalo I can promise you my rile never left my shoulder until it went click, which is just about the time the buffalo collapsed.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Maybe a lefty with a right hand rifle might need to dismount the rifle, but there is no need whatsoever to do so with a right hander and a right handed rifle. The only real shoot out I ever got into with a buffalo I can promise you my rile never left my shoulder until it went click, which is just about the time the buffalo collapsed.

One issue that I have heard of that can crop up with reloading while on the shoulder is that there is a greater potential for short stroking the bolt which is a disaster if it happens.

I suppose righties can answer the OP's question. I think the answer will be, like mine and Saeed's, is that they are more comfortable operating the bolt off the shoulder and have never had a problem or felt disadvantaged with reloading this way.

quote:

Originally posted by eagle27:

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Maybe a lefty with a right hand rifle might need to dismount the rifle, but there is no need whatsoever to do so with a right hander and a right handed rifle. The only real shoot out I ever got into with a buffalo I can promise you my rile never left my shoulder until it went click, which is just about the time the buffalo collapsed.

One issue that I have heard of that can crop up with reloading while on the shoulder is that there is a greater potential for short stroking the bolt which is a disaster if it happens.

I suppose righties can answer the OP's question. I think the answer will be, like mine and Saeed's, is that they are more comfortable operating the bolt off the shoulder and have never had a problem or felt disadvantaged with reloading this way.

Exactly. I like to see my next round fed into the chamber.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by eagle27:

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Maybe a lefty with a right hand rifle might need to dismount the rifle, but there is no need whatsoever to do so with a right hander and a right handed rifle. The only real shoot out I ever got into with a buffalo I can promise you my rile never left my shoulder until it went click, which is just about the time the buffalo collapsed.

One issue that I have heard of that can crop up with reloading while on the shoulder is that there is a greater potential for short stroking the bolt which is a disaster if it happens.

I suppose righties can answer the OP's question. I think the answer will be, like mine and Saeed's, is that they are more comfortable operating the bolt off the shoulder and have never had a problem or felt disadvantaged with reloading this way.

Exactly. I like to see my next round fed into the chamber.

One day at lunch, Alister and I were discussing this (short stroking) and which rifle could get 4 shots off quicker, My Armeria De Madrid 500NE (ejector) or his .458 Lott. He threw a jug off the bank into the Luangwa sand and we raced. He beat me by one shot.

I short stroked the first shot on a magnificent Roan in CAR. Thankfully, the bull allowed me to get it figured out.

For me, it was a habit I got into trying to keep from losing brass.

Admittedly I keep trying to work on keeping it up there and cycle the action at the shoulder, but tend to revert.

Also, when someone is telling me to reload, to me they are saying reload the magazine, ie put more rounds in the gun from my belt.

Of course it also doesn’t help that all my formal training is with auto loading weapons…

I don’t even try!

Fire, off the shoulder, reload while taking the empty off the action, new cartridge in, and fire.

Never been a problem.

I am amazed at the amount of short stroking I see on TV and videos. You PH's are no doubt not surprised!

Final answer, everybody is going to keep doing what they have been doing for 40, 50, or 60 years.

I think regardless of technique, fire, reload and regain target in sights.

To each his own, but for most of us its a good idea to forget about your brass. Don't lose a $2000 trophy fee over a $2 piece of brass. The tracker can always pick it up later.

If you shoot thousands of rounds a year in competition with your rifle, you will not short stroke. While I've shot somewhat less rounds than that with my .416, I did short stroke on a buffalo once. He dropped as soon as that issue was rectified. Still don't know how that happened.