In 1993 I shot a 72" antelope near Gillette, WY. The following year I stalked a buck that made him look like a runt, probably at least 80", maybe B&C. I crawled up over a ridge and folded out the bipod. Had him dead to rights at 300 yds. Crosshairs high on the shoulder, squeeeeeeze the trigger, CLICK! Dud round! Quickly cycled the action but he was long gone, never to be seen again.
Out of the couple thousand center fire rounds I have loaded and shot over the years I've only had three duds, all on game! The antelope rifle was a Ruger MK II 30-06 and the other rifle was a push feed Winchester 70 338 WM a couple of years later on what would have been my first elk. Had two duds in a row, later in the day got another shot and it went off, heart shooting a big old cow. I suspect gunk in the firing pin assembly on that one. 20 years later I can still picture that stud antelope buck in my crosshairs.
