Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Ian Gibson - Rifle Jam

From that photo I can't tell iof it's push feed or CRF or even a Model 70. I doubt if it makes any difference, though.

On my push feed Model 70 .458, bought used, the second round would pop up from the magazine in such a way that the rifle jammed. My gunsmith said that someone had pinched in the sides of the magazine for reasons unknown.

I too suspect he waited too long. I was mock charged by a young bull. My PH told me it was legal to shoot it if it came within five yards. That's close.

Or it could have been safety problem. About five years ago Kieth Atcheson's wife was gored by a buffalo because of the safety problem (which I forget what was). I tried to replicate this failure on my Model 70 but could not.

I wonder what kind of ammo he used? In 2008 my PH carried a hodge podge of .458 ammo left by his clients, two of these, eight of those, etc. I left him some flat point solids. He later said they would not feed. This, I am told, is caused by the front of the magazine slope (whatever it's called) being too rough. The fed perfectly in my rifle.

I once had some .375 300 grain handloads that would jam against the front of the magazine. The bullet maker suggested I seat them a little deeper and that solved the problem.

At least two well-known PH's used a push-feed M70 .458 for several years without any problems, Finn Aaagaard and Harry Selby. Finn did note, however, that he learned to keep gunk out from under the extractor to keep it working correctly all the time.

Remember Finn and his .458 along with Selby. IIRC Selby used a .458 when his .416 was back in England being re-furbished.

Didn't Finn have a .458 re-barreled/re-bored that was originally a .425 Wesley-Richards?

You'll just have to take my word for it gents, there was no jam, short stroke or any other malfunction. J

As does John Sharp when he's not using his 470 Rigby double.

Good enough for me.

elkhunter,

Finn had two .458's, the converted .425 Mauser and the PF M70.

Yup,you're right.

Didn't I read originally that the charge originated at something like 20/30 meters?

Wouldn't think anything is going to help you at spitting distance.

Nope....ele was 100+ meters/yards(?) away when it came for them....

I don't see how anyone can know for sure other than Ian, God rest his soul. Even with his tracker there as an eye witness I doubt seriously his attention was focused on the action of that rifle.

Mike

Of course they could have. The rifle was found and looked at after the accident. I'm just not in a position to discuss in an open forum because I was asked not to.

.... Condolences...

I am/was not familiar with him but what a tragedy!!

My condolences to all affected.

Only if its a push feed..If it was a CRF it was obviously operator error..

It often appears that way.

I was wondering if anyone would actually say it. Nice to see and open mind.

with an enraged bull in state of musth charging down on you, I would not try and call its bluff!
be 100% ready to shoot in such cases.

Gibson knew the bull was in musth but pursued it anyway.
He also knew the gun he was carrying had mechanical function problems,
on a previous hunt for leopard, the gun had jammed on him preventing him from stopping the charging leopard.



Yes it is important, thankfully people on 24HR are more mature, sensible and open minded and ready to learn.
yet, If one reads the AR hunting site, people are getting all emotional upset and abusive when they learn that
Boddington dare publish a graphic account and details of Gibsons death.

And you know this, how?

Why would Boddington claim a jam?