Bolt Closed or Not?

[DuckGoosePhesantDoveNdQuai]

OK, first I'll admit this is purly Operator Error. I "switched modes" from duck hunting (there were none flying) to go walk a field for pheasant. When reloading with pheasant shells I just opend the bolt by hand, dropped in a shell and let it slide closed. It didn't make that final "rotation" at the end, so five minutes later when the rooster flushed three feet in front of my nose, no boom!

 

Be honest -- anyone else lost a bird to this problem? I've seen it documented on an OLN program once too. Same issue. Bolt not fully closed. Rare duck got away. I think it was Todd Helton hunting on Chesapeak Bay.

[69beers]

What made mine worse was the flinch that followed. I was at the range on about my 50th slug to see which shot best. I make a point of checking to make sure the extractor is fully rotated in the field. If you close the bolt by hand to avoid noise you can finish the rotation with your finger.