So last November, Thanksgiving week. Headed from MN to MT Elk hunting with 2 good buddies. On the drive out we are discussing any and all things shooting/Hunting. On the topic of the guns and ammo we are bringing my buddy mentions his 280 Rem and how it was shooting the Federal Fusion ammo, myself my 7mm Rem Mag and the handloads pushing Hornady Amaxs.
Fast forward 5 days to Thanksgiving day, leaving the truck an hour or so before light, I decide I'm gonna grab one more handload from the back seat to fill the triad stock pack. On the back seat next to my OPEN topped box of handloads is a long action red tipped bullet. In the stock pack with 3 other rounds that are loose not in loops. A couple miles on foot later after several minutes of hand signals through binoculars to each other from across the valley we meet up to put the sneak on a herd of 20 elk I found over the next ridge. Upon cresting the top the elk have moved into a strip of timber that works uphill from the public land onto some private property. DANG. Then off to the right, here comes two spike bulls. Us flatlanders were planning to shoot anything we have the chance, so game on! We have to hustle to get to a position to shoot while the elk are crossing the last little 100 yd clearing prior to the pines that lead to private land. As we move we notice a 3rd bull, 5x5. My buddy has killed several, bow and rifle, myself only a cow 2 yrs prior on only other elk hunt, so he says if we make it you shoot. DEAL. We get into some rocks to shoot from just as the spikes get into the pines, so I range the spot where they hit the clearing at 485yds. I grab one of the loose rounds from the stock pack and feed it into the chamber. 5 seconds later out steps the 5 pt, we give him a few steps to be totally clear and my bud hits a cow call. He stops. I'm totally solid on the rocks, it's 40 deg, light wind directly in my face. I hold 1.8 mil(if memory serves). And touch it off. BOOM. Oh crap I got scoped, buddy says "didn't see that one". I wipe my cheek and have blood on my hand. Screw it, run the bolt as the bull is just standing there. As I see the case land in The snow I realize I'm tasting gun powder and my eyes are burning. CRAP a handload just blew up on me! I look at the rifle and the bottom metal is unlatched with the 3 rounds laying under the rifle. Pull the bolt out quick, barrel is clear. Another quick visual and the Sendero in a McMillan Game Warden looks totally fine. This all over about 5 seconds from the initial shot. The bull is still standing there....
Grab another round.
In the chamber it goes, I settle in, my buddy I think is wondering WTF.... View through the AMG is good, I break another one off. BOOM...
THUMP, he goes down, tries to get up, BOOM... THUMP. He's down.
Turn and tell my buddy the handload was bad on the first shot as I grab the first brass from the snow. I take a look at it...
"Yeah dude that was your round. 280 REM." I told him... Turns out that morning he was looking for a round that fell out of his pocket. Never found it apparently and he told the other two guys with I'd but I didn't hear it. I assumed he was shooting Federal Fusion from the conversation earlier on the drive out, so seeing the red tipped bullet I grabbed it without thinking twice.
And that's the only time in my life I have failed to be ANAL about the right ammo going in the right gun.
Case ruptured, I had shrapnel in my cheek, burning eyes, but ok otherwise. And my first Bull was down on Thanksgiving morning.
The Good Lord was definitely watching over me that morning!
