One Track
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2001
- Messages
- 4,469
- Reaction score
- 6
What the F? That's exactly what I was wonderin' after I pulled the trigger on the biggest hog I have ever seen! Pit Dog, FF&F invited me and Buckeye to hunt a spot that they thought was really hot. Buckeye had already tagged out on a big sow. However, he joined me for a serious climb to where the big boys live. Pit and FF&F stayed in the bottom where the hogs had been coming for water. Bucky and I got way up where we could see forever and started glassing. After a few hours, we hadn't seen any hogs and it was hog:30. We split up with about twenty minutes of shooting light remaining. I decided to walkover one more finger ridge to see into the next canyon. Sure enough, at the top of the canyon was about a dozen hogs, four of them being the biggest I've ever seen. I started the lung-bustin' climb. I picked out a bolder that would put me at eye level with the hogs. When I got to the rock and peaked over, they were all there, feeding and oblivious. 180 yards. Bingo!
I looked them over, and got my breathing back in check. There were five mature hogs that were at least 300 lbs each. There were two calico colored hogs staying off to the right by themselves. I could not make out tusks because their snouts were buried in the long grass. I just figured they had to be boars and they were the biggest by far. I layed my backpack on the bolder, and my Weatherby Vanguard 7mm Rem Mag on the backpack. That happens to be my favorite rifle, and has taken my bear, my Kaibab buck, and a few hogs. I decided that the calico-phase hog on the right was the biggest and had to be 400+ lbs. I was stoked. I already had him on the wall. I already had the jackpot. I even figured out how we were going to get him outta there. I had all the time in the world and was calmed by how well this was going. As this monster of a hog turned broadside, I put the cross hairs on his shoulder. My rest was solid. I was mellow. The crosshairs were locked. I remembered what my Pa always said, "Squeeze slowly and let the shot be a surprize." Well, that was the biggest surprise I have ever experienced!!! All I remember is getting knocked back a few feet, a big flash, ringing in my ears, and my head was spinning. My first thought was, "Where am I?" My next thought was, "I can't believe I crept up that far on the scope." Then, I realized that I was hog huntin' and looked up to see hogs scattering across the grassy bowl. I tried to jack another round. But, the bolt was stuck. Then, the rifle started crumbling in my hands. At that point, I realized that blood was flowing from my head and I couldn't see very well. So, here I am. I don't know if I killed a monster hog, or what. Now, I'm thinking that I have a huge gash over my eye cuz I'm bleeding like a stuck pig. Should I try to fix my gun and look for that hog, or should I stop the bleeding. I go back to the rifle, and finally figure that it's damaged beyond making a follow up shot. So, I better stop the bleeding. I called my buddy's on the radio and told them that I had bad news. That the gun blew up in my face and I'm bleeding pretty bad. They replied with concerns and were ready to run up the hill. It took a few minutes to focus on the task. I was fumbling with a range finder, a radio, binos, and trying to remove my shirt all at the same time. Finally, I wrapped my shirt around my head and that did the trick. The bleeding stopped. I tried to look for a fallen hog through my binos, but I just wasn't able to focus very well. However, one of the big black hogs returned and started feeding only 150 yards away. Unfortunately, it was too late for one of my buddies to climb the mountain and kill that hog. I think there may have been 5 minutes of shooting light remaining, and the hike would have taken a mt. goat guide at least thirty minutes. That means, at least an hour for my huntin' buddies. Although, it was hard to leave that hog all there by itself, I figured it was time to regain my composure and start down the hill. It was a fun descent with one eye working properly.
I made it. The cuts to my left eyebrow are very minor. Not even a stitch needed. I do have something in my eye, or a scratch to the cornea, that is making it hard to keep that eye open. I'll head to a clinic as soon as I think I can drive well enough. Both eyes are really sensitive to the sun. I've had stuff in my eye before. So, no big deal.
Notice that it's the left eye. (I shoot right handed.) Yah. The rifle was blown apart at the magazine housing. The side plate on the right side blew open like a door. I'm sure the rifle is designed to release compression at that area, instead of to the rear. I'm lucky that I wasn't shooting off-hand. My left hand would have been on the floor plate and my fingers would have been on that right-side plate.
After sticking a cleaning rod down the muzzle, I don't believe the bullet is still there. I do know that the casing is in the gun, as the bolt is completely jammed.
So, what to do? I thought Weatherby would like to see the gun. I spoke with the Senior Customer Service Rep this morning. She asked me a bunch of questions, and said to send the rifle to them. I asked for their Fed Ex number. She said that I have to pay for shipping on any repairs, and they would ship it back. I explained that I'm not shipping it for "repair." I thought that they would be very interested in seeing the rifle and they that they would pay for shipping. She refused to pay for shipping. I explained that I would rather have my gunsmith look at it before I send it to Weatherby. All I want is to know the cause of the malfunction. I have no interest in a settlement of any sort. Maybe it's not a big deal to them. It's a bigger deal to me since I'm the one typing with one eye open. I figure that they will tell me that since I was shooting reloads, there is nothing they can do. I don't know. Wouldn't a Weatherby hold up to a full casing of powder, regardless. I've been shooting the same loads for years. I had forty of these loads and shot about twentfive at the range three weeks ago. I took the remaining loads to Tejon.
There was a safety recall on the bolt a few years back. I sent them the old bolt, and they sent me a know bolt.
I don't think the muzzle was obstructed. As best I can tell, the bullet is not in the rifle.
Any thoughts?
Also, we went up to look for blood on Sunday morning. No luck. I guess the bullet never made it to the right spot. There's always next time.
I looked them over, and got my breathing back in check. There were five mature hogs that were at least 300 lbs each. There were two calico colored hogs staying off to the right by themselves. I could not make out tusks because their snouts were buried in the long grass. I just figured they had to be boars and they were the biggest by far. I layed my backpack on the bolder, and my Weatherby Vanguard 7mm Rem Mag on the backpack. That happens to be my favorite rifle, and has taken my bear, my Kaibab buck, and a few hogs. I decided that the calico-phase hog on the right was the biggest and had to be 400+ lbs. I was stoked. I already had him on the wall. I already had the jackpot. I even figured out how we were going to get him outta there. I had all the time in the world and was calmed by how well this was going. As this monster of a hog turned broadside, I put the cross hairs on his shoulder. My rest was solid. I was mellow. The crosshairs were locked. I remembered what my Pa always said, "Squeeze slowly and let the shot be a surprize." Well, that was the biggest surprise I have ever experienced!!! All I remember is getting knocked back a few feet, a big flash, ringing in my ears, and my head was spinning. My first thought was, "Where am I?" My next thought was, "I can't believe I crept up that far on the scope." Then, I realized that I was hog huntin' and looked up to see hogs scattering across the grassy bowl. I tried to jack another round. But, the bolt was stuck. Then, the rifle started crumbling in my hands. At that point, I realized that blood was flowing from my head and I couldn't see very well. So, here I am. I don't know if I killed a monster hog, or what. Now, I'm thinking that I have a huge gash over my eye cuz I'm bleeding like a stuck pig. Should I try to fix my gun and look for that hog, or should I stop the bleeding. I go back to the rifle, and finally figure that it's damaged beyond making a follow up shot. So, I better stop the bleeding. I called my buddy's on the radio and told them that I had bad news. That the gun blew up in my face and I'm bleeding pretty bad. They replied with concerns and were ready to run up the hill. It took a few minutes to focus on the task. I was fumbling with a range finder, a radio, binos, and trying to remove my shirt all at the same time. Finally, I wrapped my shirt around my head and that did the trick. The bleeding stopped. I tried to look for a fallen hog through my binos, but I just wasn't able to focus very well. However, one of the big black hogs returned and started feeding only 150 yards away. Unfortunately, it was too late for one of my buddies to climb the mountain and kill that hog. I think there may have been 5 minutes of shooting light remaining, and the hike would have taken a mt. goat guide at least thirty minutes. That means, at least an hour for my huntin' buddies. Although, it was hard to leave that hog all there by itself, I figured it was time to regain my composure and start down the hill. It was a fun descent with one eye working properly.
I made it. The cuts to my left eyebrow are very minor. Not even a stitch needed. I do have something in my eye, or a scratch to the cornea, that is making it hard to keep that eye open. I'll head to a clinic as soon as I think I can drive well enough. Both eyes are really sensitive to the sun. I've had stuff in my eye before. So, no big deal.
Notice that it's the left eye. (I shoot right handed.) Yah. The rifle was blown apart at the magazine housing. The side plate on the right side blew open like a door. I'm sure the rifle is designed to release compression at that area, instead of to the rear. I'm lucky that I wasn't shooting off-hand. My left hand would have been on the floor plate and my fingers would have been on that right-side plate.
After sticking a cleaning rod down the muzzle, I don't believe the bullet is still there. I do know that the casing is in the gun, as the bolt is completely jammed.
So, what to do? I thought Weatherby would like to see the gun. I spoke with the Senior Customer Service Rep this morning. She asked me a bunch of questions, and said to send the rifle to them. I asked for their Fed Ex number. She said that I have to pay for shipping on any repairs, and they would ship it back. I explained that I'm not shipping it for "repair." I thought that they would be very interested in seeing the rifle and they that they would pay for shipping. She refused to pay for shipping. I explained that I would rather have my gunsmith look at it before I send it to Weatherby. All I want is to know the cause of the malfunction. I have no interest in a settlement of any sort. Maybe it's not a big deal to them. It's a bigger deal to me since I'm the one typing with one eye open. I figure that they will tell me that since I was shooting reloads, there is nothing they can do. I don't know. Wouldn't a Weatherby hold up to a full casing of powder, regardless. I've been shooting the same loads for years. I had forty of these loads and shot about twentfive at the range three weeks ago. I took the remaining loads to Tejon.
There was a safety recall on the bolt a few years back. I sent them the old bolt, and they sent me a know bolt.
I don't think the muzzle was obstructed. As best I can tell, the bullet is not in the rifle.
Any thoughts?
Also, we went up to look for blood on Sunday morning. No luck. I guess the bullet never made it to the right spot. There's always next time.
