Rifle spare parts kit for safari?

[njc110381]

When out in a remote area this seems like something that would be a good idea? Most rifle parts are fairly cheap and easy to come by at home, but maybe not so much in Africa? Firing pins, extractors, fore sight blades and hood... I'm just wondering if anyone has a kit like this for their rifle and if so, what it contains?

I've read that things like extractors can be a nightmare to source for the locals? As such a cheap but possibly very useful item I'm also thinking such a kit would be a nice thing to leave behind at the end of a hunt if it may help someone out one day?

 

[Hoss Delgado]

Well... When I'm hunting Nilgai or Boars in Kuch Bihar and Uttar Pradesh ( Yes , some states in India HAVE legalized hunting again . Well , at least these two animals , anyway , on account of crop damage ) , l always do bring a kit of sorts with me , since you have no access to gun stores which sell imported guns or their parts in India ( only disgusting Indian Pot Metal guns ) . I bring a spare firing pin for my Winchester Model 70 in .375 HH Magnum and spare sear springs for my BRNO Full choke Over under 12 gauge shotgun., And of course , my own Ammunition ( you can only bring two guns and 250 rounds of Ammunition total ) . And cleaning tools. And a Scope

 

[Longwalker]

I have a spare scope that I pack for such possibilities, and all my rifles are equipped with metallic sights as well, but that's all. Unless a rifle has a particular identified weakness, I wouldn't bother with spare parts.

 

[Ridgewalker]

In Africa, I don’t take anything other than a backup scope presighted in and in QR mounts. If my rifle goes down, my expectation is my PH will have a backup or two.

You’ll need to carry a tool kit, table vise, etc. So how much “backup” stuff do you want to haul around risking it doesn’t get there anyway? I tend to be a minimalist myself.
JMO I’m a bit lazy.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

A spare extractor for my model 70 is $35 I’m gonna buy one someday just in case. I’ll probably never use it but what if I do. Spare screws are cheap too, and they don’t take up much room.

 

[mdwest]

the problem with spare parts as I see it is... that means you also likely need tools..

you could get by with just a few small items (punches, non marring hammer, small screwdriver, and a few other things I would think)... but.. where does it end? and for what purpose?

Im in agreement with @Ridgewalker ... for me at least.. the much simpler (and probably the most affordable) option is if you break a firing pin, or need to replace a front sight blade, or swap out an extractor, etc.. is to wait to fix it when you get home.. and use a PH rifle for the rest of the trip..

If you insist on repairing your rifle.. 2 things are happening.. 1) you are losing valuable (and expensive) hunting time.. when the much quicker solution would have been to grab your PH's rifle and go.. Even just swapping out an extractor on a very simple rifle like a 98 Mauser is going to require you to have some tools, access to a place to work (the back of the bakkie isnt optimal), etc... and 2) youre going to burn ammo and even more time confirming reliability and function of the replacement part.. and potentially re-zeroing if youre talking about an issue with a front or rear sight.. unless you brought a substantial surplus of ammo with you.. you very well might exhaust your supply.. and have to burn even more time and money spending a half day away from camp to go to the nearest hunting store to buy more (which likely isnt the same load you are zero'd for... so back to the range you go again.. before getting back on the hunt)..

For me at least.. the better option is either to take 2 rifles that have some overlap in capabilities.. or to use a PH rifle if my rifle were to go down..

 

[Adrian]

If you're going to Africa for a week or two hunting, just make sure your rifle and scope are serviced and functional, have open sights on your rifle as back up.

I don't know if anyone here has suffered a significant rifle malfunction that has required a set of spare parts but as mentioned above, the PH should have a spare rifle to use as back up if required and therefore negate the need for a set of spares.
Or if you are taking two rifles you will have a back up.

It's another expense and something else to think about when in reality you should be looking to travel light and efficiently.
I take a gun cleaning kit, a set of hex and star head keys in case I need to move or adjust or tighten anything and that's it.

Get out there, go hunting, enjoy it and don't overthink.
You will always get by should the worst happen without resorting to gunsmithing.

When you're paying to be there and hunt are you going to refuse a rifle your PH hands you in favour of wasting a day in the workshop trying to fix your rifle?

 

[Ryan]

Do you take spare parts on an offroad trip anywhere else? Keep things simple. Have your rifle(s) serviced by a good gunsmith before you leave and go. If on the way off chance something fails they have back up rifles. Leaving parts or a kit as a gratuity only works if you know what your PH or staff is using and they actually want and need such things. Usually the best gratuity is money.

 

[Tra3]

Bringing two guns makes more sense to me than bringing spare parts. If one’s guns are in good working order prior to the trip, they should stay so.

With that said: a leatherman style pliers/multi tool is a must.
A simple screwdriver with the bits for your scope mounts would make sense too, since it is small.

I don’t mind the opportunity to shoot other people’s rifles and hunt with them. (But I am more comfortable with my own)

 

[HWL]

Our ancestors came with a batterie of rifles....for good reasons.

One is a no go...two are just right, three is perfect... and does not make more paper war than one.


HWL

 

[Hogpatrol]

If I take a Remington 700 that hasn't been modified, I take an extra extractor. The remainder are parts for the scope, crossbolt and base screws, and sling attach bolts. In the kit is also an assortment of hex wrenches and a torx wrench that fits scope parts. Weighs very little and goes in the gun case. YMMV

Edit: I always take two rifles, albeit one is a .17 Fireball. It'll take animals up to a blesbok.

 

[Tra3]

@Hogpatrol a .17 fireball for Blesbok? How was it? Close shot? Do tell.

Which torx wrench do you use? Have you found a small version?

 

[Hogpatrol]

@Hogpatrol a .17 fireball for Blesbok? How was it? Close shot? Do tell.

Which torx wrench do you use? Have you found a small version?

Yeah, a real close cull, IIRC 30 grain Kindler Gold bullet. The small torx are scarce, used mostly on 1" rings, but I do have one. It came with a set of Burris rings.

 

[fourfive8]

Nothing other than torx, hex or correct screw driver for my action screws. I take the barreled action (Mauser or Win M70) out of stock for transport- poor man's takedown- all in a shorter Pelican. I index mark the screws to retighten to exact same place and have zero issues with rifle on zero when re-assembled. The barreled action is full length bedded in stock and actions screws are pillared.

I used to think about such things as spare parts but no way to predict what will break or whatever. I make sure the open sights and scope are sighted in with the ammo and zeroed correctly. Otherwise the only extras are the aforementioned correct action screw driver and cleaning rod, small bottle of oil and solvent and cleaning jag- all packed in the rifle hard case.

Most PHs/outfitters have spare rifles available just in case.

 

[Jeffrey]

I carry and recommend either the Leatherman Wave+ or Leatherman Surge multitool with bit extender and the full assortment of Leatherman Bits (sold separately). The Wave+ is light enough to pack on your belt at all times, while the larger and heavier Surge has slightly sturdier tools and fits in a daypack. Both take the bit extender and extra bits. Throw in a small tube of blue locktite. Extra screws for your scope rings/mounts, if you can find them, weigh nothing and are easy to pack.

A small torque wrench, like the Wheeler Engineering Fat Wrench, packs into luggage easily and makes a great gift to the PH.

But mostly an extra scope in rings pre zeroed is all you'll ever (maybe) need. If your hunt is short (a week or less), don't waste time trying to fix anything, just use loaner rifles.

 

[WAB]

Take a screwdriver with a hollow handle for spare bits. Throw away all the bits that came with it and take a quality wheeler bit to fit every action screw and scope mounting screw on your rifles. If you are using a good solid rifle (CZ, Mauser, Brno, M-70, etc.), these are the only screws with a chance of needing attention. Take a leatherman for misc. needs but please, please, please DO NOT use it on a firearm!!!!!!

 

[Mekaniks]

I carry a ziplock bag with-

A "gun tool" (link below) because it has the correct bits for my scope, screwdriver bits, and a push pin for my shot gun actions.
An Otis zippered cleaning kit with the appropriate, cable, barrel brush and patches.
A couple Rem oil wipes in the individual use packages. I can usually use each one more than once.
A gun rag for wipe down
If shotgunning I also add a Hoppes bore snake with the brush in the middle, choke tube tool, and extra tubes


https://www.amazon.com/Real-Avid-Tool-Silver-Black/dp/B0044XGDNM

 

[BeeMaa]

In Africa, I don’t take anything other than a backup scope presighted in and in QR mounts. If my rifle goes down, my expectation is my PH will have a backup or two.

You’ll need to carry a tool kit, table vise, etc. So how much “backup” stuff do you want to haul around risking it doesn’t get there anyway? I tend to be a minimalist myself.
JMO I’m a bit lazy.

I'm with you, less is more.
Two (well tested, cleaned & serviced) rifles in the case and hope for the best.
Maybe a spare scope but my rifles have irons that work out to 100 yards.
Beyond that, I'll be asking my PH for a camp rifle.

 

[Tra3]

Does anyone here clean a gun during a safari or other hunt?

Certainly the exterior is easy to wipe dust off and keep the scope clean, but I don’t clean the bore. If it is wet out I do a wipe down and then keep it close (not too close!) to a heat source to dry completely. If really wet I’ll put electrical tape over the muzzle.

(Unless the rifle goes swimming in the mud, which I watched my buddy do last year in a bit of a horse rodeo after dark.)

 

[mdwest]

Does anyone here clean a gun during a safari or other hunt?

Certainly the exterior is easy to wipe dust off and keep the scope clean, but I don’t clean the bore. If it is wet out I do a wipe down and then keep it close (not too close!) to a heat source to dry completely. If really wet I’ll put electrical tape over the muzzle.

(Unless the rifle goes swimming in the mud, which I watched my buddy do last year in a bit of a horse rodeo after dark.)

I don’t.

I take a handful of Zeiss Wipes and clean the glass every day.. and I take an old oily rag in a ziplock that I’ll wipe down the steel with once every few days.. but other than that, no cleaning until I get home..