Malfunctioning rifle on buffalo charge ..

18 January 2012, 16:33

I have also noticed a marked increase in poor gun handling when folk belive that their firearm is unloaded. I have come accross a few AD's when the safety is taken off but almost all (and all the fatalities' occur with an 'empty' rifle.

Personally, I load my rifle before I leave the house and Unload it in the driveway before entering the house at the end of the safari.

Also, the only gunsmith who could reliably fix the ejection problems in the 416 Rugers (Walter Roth) has died leaving a real void in that area in Zim.

18 January 2012, 17:49

DArcy_Echols_Co

I was in Bots a number of years ago and had PH carrying a Brno 602 with the very same malady. Every time the chamber was unloaded the round needed finger assistance. I also noticed that the magazine would only allow the top 2 rounds to be stripped from the magazine while the following 3 would not rise out of the magazine. At lunch one day I convinced the Ph to allow me to take the rifle apart and see if I could fix the issue. As we were in camp we found enough tools for the job. The ejector pin had drifted to one side allowing the ejector and spring to drop away from the normal position and become useless. Miraculously all three parts were still inside the stock. The magazine spring was virtually flat and no longer shaped like a "W". I bent it back into shape as best as possible replaced his ejector and the rifle was back in action as designed. Then I sunk 2 wood screws into the area behind the recoil lug and behind the magazine box as cross bolts to prevent the stock from cracking further and glassed those areas with 5 minute epoxy.

The bill came to 1 1/2 cases of Lion Lager

19 January 2012, 01:55

Michael Robinson

fairgame, looks like I'm on your blacklist as well.

19 January 2012, 03:01

Aaron Neilson

Be armed, be ready, and always be loaded in Africa! My friend "Fairgame", whom I've hunted with before, sometimes drinks too much - JMO

19 January 2012, 05:47

RIP

Thanks to Ganyana and D'Arcy Echols for addressing the issue that started this thread:
Finally something useful here!

quote:
Originally posted by Ganyana:
I have also noticed a marked increase in poor gun handling when folk belive that their firearm is unloaded. I have come accross a few AD's when the safety is taken off but almost all (and all the fatalities' occur with an 'empty' rifle.

Personally, I load my rifle before I leave the house and Unload it in the driveway before entering the house at the end of the safari.

Also, the only gunsmith who could reliably fix the ejection problems in the 416 Rugers (Walter Roth) has died leaving a real void in that area in Zim.

quote:
Originally posted by DArcy_Echols_Co:
I was in Bots a number of years ago and had PH carrying a Brno 602 with the very same malady. Every time the chamber was unloaded the round needed finger assistance. I also noticed that the magazine would only allow the top 2 rounds to be stripped from the magazine while the following 3 would not rise out of the magazine. At lunch one day I convinced the Ph to allow me to take the rifle apart and see if I could fix the issue. As we were in camp we found enough tools for the job. The ejector pin had drifted to one side allowing the ejector and spring to drop away from the normal position and become useless. Miraculously all three parts were still inside the stock. The magazine spring was virtually flat and no longer shaped like a "W". I bent it back into shape as best as possible replaced his ejector and the rifle was back in action as designed. Then I sunk 2 wood screws into the area behind the recoil lug and behind the magazine box as cross bolts to prevent the stock from cracking further and glassed those areas with 5 minute epoxy.

The bill came to 1 1/2 cases of Lion Lager

As for the yahoos quoting my comments on a faulty bolt action but talking about double rifles and their personal peccadillos related to whatever:

quote:
Originally posted by Frostbit:
quote:
Originally posted by fairgame:
quote:
Originally posted by Todd Williams:
quote:
Originally posted by fairgame:
quote:
Originally posted by Todd Williams:
quote:
Originally posted by RIP:
"Well, after my first shot, this case wouldn't extract!! And yes it was lucky that I did have time to extract manually!
I got it out eventually (felt like ages with a buff inbound) and had time to make my brain shot! So all was well."

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Bit of a problem with the explanation by Dean:
The spent cartridges extracted fine! Then just lay there loose within the ejection port, without ejecting, twice in a row, two shots.

That is an ejection problem.
Not an extraction problem.

If he had to extract the brass manually, he would have to diassemble the rifle and use some tools besides his fingers ...

If some problem with the ammo could be figured out that would cause isolated ejection failure after extraction, maybe it still points to weak ejection by the rifle.

Well, Doubles ARE of limited use! Especially when empty! And full of crap from being carried open and empty!

Todd,

Well pointed out to a chap is obviously not very familiar with doubles. Indeed for me they are a new acquisition and there is a lot to learn from experts like yourself.

Fairgame, I was just having a little fun, at your expense I confess. Actually, when we hunt together, I'm sure I will be the one doing all the learning.

Cheers and when mine comes in next month I will be asking more silly questions.

I'm sure Brett Barringer will be happy to answer all your questions. Perhaps it will distract him from reminding me daily how much I "need" a double.