Ledd,
we should talk one of these days about claw extractors on bolt rifles. It's generally referred to as "life and death 100% reliability" in a life and death situation. In 2008 I went Cape Buffalo hunting in Zimbabwe. I shot a nice Bull facing broadside about 50 yards away. He went down, dead right there. We tracked downwind about 200yds and across a small creek. Came up a little hill, and he was standing back up facing me. He had a real ugly look on his face at 20 yards. PH says "put one (450 Dakota in a claw extractor CZ550) in the center of his chest (brisket). I did, and he hit the ground, dead again. We walk up about 20 feet from him, and I want to do the classic game thing; poking him in the eye. PH says, "he ain't dead. Put another one next to the second one." I say, he's dead. PH says "look at his eyes.". They are closed. PH says, "he's just waiting for you to get about two steps closer. Then, he's coming off the ground like an F-14 Hornet for us; and he's going to stick one of those big hooked horns dead square up your ass. Throw you in the air about 20 feet, then catch you on the other horn on your way down.".
I put a third 500gr FMJ Hornady going about 2450fps MV dead center about an inch right of the second one. He launches like said Hornet, dead on his feet screaming like Darth Vader. He was dead the third time, and landed about eight feet from my size eleven boot. It was the first time since I was a three year old I wished I'd had a diaper on. It was the scaredest I have been since the first time I walked up around a di-di trail in Vietnam and found two 'cong staring at me. With AK's.
Thing is, I knew that CZ was going to 100% eject that empty case about ten feet away and grab the next round out of the box. That's what claw extractors do. Every time. Turn the rifle upside down, and work the bolt. Ejects the empty and feeds the next round from the magazine. Every time.
The non-claw rifles are not better. They are just much cheaper to manufacture. And, more accurate as target rifles. If you hunt Africa, your PH will suggest, strongly, that you bring a .375 Magnum with a claw extractor.
I have been blessed to hunt Africa three times, and hope to get back one more time next year if the back heals. I will take one of my OM 70's in 300 H&H, and either the custom one in 458 RUM or a 500 NE 3"
double. Be safe, not sorry...
