The ideal number of cartridges to carry while hunting.

[bigborelover]

To all the respected AH members out there , how many rounds do you carry while hunting (DG or else) ? For me it would be about 40 rounds for non-dangerous game. For DG it would be 7 in the rifle , 6 in another magazine/ stripper clip and 15 on my ammo belt. Do you guys think that is enough? your opinion would be valued.

 

[375Fox]

I travel to Africa with 60-80 rounds up to 5 kg limit. Starting on a track, I carry what the rifle holds, plus 7 that fits comfortably in my ammo wallet, plus 1 loose round in my pocket for quick access. If I need more than that I have a problem. Carrying more than that also gives me an opportunity to lose ammo that’s difficult to replace.

 

[Green Chile]

That's more than you will need on your person and it's a lot of extra weight. I leave a box or partial box in the truck...and then have a full rifle, a full belt slide of 5-7...and then I always put an extra round in both of my front pockets of shorts. It's tidy...quiet...and has never been a regret for me.

 

[Green Chile]

Looks like Zach and I were saying the same thing...pretty standard approach for experienced hunters.

 

[Milo]

To all the respected AH members out there , how many rounds do you carry while hunting (DG or else) ? For me it would be about 40 rounds for non-dangerous game. For DG it would be 7 in the rifle , 6 in another magazine/ stripper clip and 15 on my ammo belt. Do you guys think that is enough? your opinion would be valued.

Curious, what DG rifle holds 7?

 

[MacJenkins]

I've used 8 for a buffalo and the PH used 5. Obviously did not go as planned as the buffalo charged before the first shot was fired. We were in very long grass. My furthest shot was about 3-4 yards and closest (second shot) about 18".

I carry 2 in the double and 10 on my belt.

 

[1dirthawker]

when guiding brown bears, i typically carry 3 rounds in the magazine, 7 on the butt stock of my rifle, one round in my pocket to slide into the chamber quietly AND my binocular case holds 4 rounds in a side pocket. way more than i am likely to need, but i need to have at least 3 in my rifle when i am hiking out with a bear hide on my back.

for perspective, a hunter and i once shot 15 times at a brown bear (combined) i shot 7 times (running bear in alders, etc.) oh, i am packing a 458 win mag. the shootout occurred with a 375 ruger.

i have NEVER wished for less shells or a smaller caliber gun!

 

[bigborelover]

Curious, what DG rifle holds 7?

Some variants of the WIM M70 can hold 7 rounds using detachable magazines.

 

[Nhoro]

I have 5 in the rifle +10 on my belt for my 458. I do school trips with that carry plan, taking groups of students out into the Bush on walks- usually have a few extra rounds in my backpack.

For hunting with my 30-06, I have 5 in the rifle + 10 to 15 in my pack. Then I often have a box or two in the car/camp depending on the what I am hunting. I am not usually hunting with a PH, usually I have a scout with me so I am a bit more DIY. If I were hunting with an outfitter I would have 5 in the rifle + 10 on my person and then chuck a box of 20 in the trackers pack. I have been there at a giraffe where 5 rounds from a 375 and 2 from a 458 before it was down. 385 was empty and more cartridges were in then just car. Then an eland took a full mag of 3006 + 2x 470 NE. Again more cartridges in the car. It dropped at the first shot but remaining shots were put in while it was down. Extra rounds are sometimes needed and the car is often a distance away. So I reckon 15 rounds is pretty safe.

 

[BJH65]

I carried a total of 22 rounds on our recent elephant & buffalo hunt: since we went after elephant first, 6 solids loaded in my 458 Lott with one in the chamber, 10 solids on my cartridge belt and an additional 6 soft points in a cartridge slide holder in case we came across a nice buffalo bull and if I had time to load them. I think whatever ammo one brings should be on your person not in the Land Cruiser.

 

[mark-hunter]

To all the respected AH members out there , how many rounds do you carry while hunting (DG or else) ? For me it would be about 40 rounds for non-dangerous game. For DG it would be 7 in the rifle , 6 in another magazine/ stripper clip and 15 on my ammo belt. Do you guys think that is enough? your opinion would be valued.

5 kilo flight limit. Soft points + solids. 4 boxes, 80 rounds,

During stalk:
Full rifle magazine (6)
Full belt pouch (10)
Spare box in backpack (20)

On arrival to camp, refill pouch, and back pack supply if spare box is opened.
Always have extra ammo in camp, if you need to zero the rifle. Plan trip accordingly

 

[Hogpatrol]

For plains game, two magazines, six rounds and a box of twenty in the truck. Can't help on DG.

 

[DLSJR]

I’m very similar to Zach & Bryan. 3 or 4 in the rifle, depending which rifle. 7 in cartridge belt, one or two in each front pocket. Any extras beyond that are in my pack on the truck.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Good gawd, I'm going hunting, not to war. I carry a full rifle and maybe a bit more than that in my pocket or daypack. My Springfield holds six 30-06. A dozen rounds is more than enough for a day hunting. Really, if I can't kill an animal with five rounds, I need to give up and go home! Last year I shot at a buck four times before finally dropping him. Shooting through the grass was just stupid. I think that's the most shots I've put downrange at an animal in my life. Dumb and it won't happen again. Anyway, anyone who thinks he needs to carry twenty rounds into the field hunting must not have much confidence in himself. I prefer to not be around guys like that. Spray and pray doesn't cut it with me. Or sniping at animals in the next zipcode.

 

[analog_peninsula]

Full magazine, belt slide, and a box in my day pack, which may stay in the vehicle. I like the idea of the singles in a buttoned shirt pocket.

 

[Datchew]

Ditto what @375Fox wrote.

Another way to think of it is to estimate what you'll need for each animal planned and add a factor of safety.

For example - cape buffalo - conservative estimate = 5 rounds +100% FOS because it's DG = 10 rounds.

Plains game - conservative estimate 3 rounds. +50% FOS = 5 rounds.

 

[mdwest]

For me it largely depends in the hunt as well as the rifle being used.. but as a rule I always have more than I expect that I will need..

For a typical 1 week long PG hunt where I expect to maybe take 5-6 animals between me and my wife I will typically bring 40 rounds.. enough to hit the range and also be able to fix any problems that might arise before heading out to hunt.. plus plenty left over for hunting..

Most of my PG rifles will take 4 in the magazine.. plus I use a 6 round belt slide.. and I'll keep all remaining ammo I have in my possession in my pack thats in the truck... I do have a couple of rifles that only take 3 in the mag though.. and a few others that can take 5.. it just depends..

For DG my primary rifle is a Win 70 375.. I keep 4 in the magazine, and then I also have a 6 round belt slide for 375 cartridges, plus all "extra" remaining ammo in the pack in the truck.. like @375Fox I typically keep a couple of loose rounds in my off hand front pocket as well..

My wife is transitioning from a 375 bolt gun to a 375 double at the moment.. what I THINK will become her primary load out will be 2 in the gun, and 6 on a slide, plus 2 in the pocket... but thats undetermined at this time.. its going to take some time/practice to see whats best.. but since we already have 6 round slides that seems to make the most sense..

 

[meigsbucks]

As far as travel to Africa: Always take the 11# (I include the weight of the case). During the hunt, full magazine and 12-15 rounds on me. I also, keep some in the truck to restock if needed.

 

[BJH65]

Good gawd, I'm going hunting, not to war. I carry a full rifle and maybe a bit more than that in my pocket or daypack. My Springfield holds six 30-06. A dozen rounds is more than enough for a day hunting. Really, if I can't kill an animal with five rounds, I need to give up and go home! Last year I shot at a buck four times before finally dropping him. Shooting through the grass was just stupid. I think that's the most shots I've put downrange at an animal in my life. Dumb and it won't happen again. Anyway, anyone who thinks he needs to carry twenty rounds into the field hunting must not have much confidence in himself. I prefer to not be around guys like that. Spray and pray doesn't cut it with me. Or sniping at animals in the next zipcode.

Sorry there pardner, you’re drawing some conclusions that I can’t agree with. On our recent elephant and buffalo hunt, technically all I needed were all of 2 rounds. However, being changed by an elephant and being around some angry elephants, it was comforting to have 22 rounds total. Really not many more than most here are carrying in the field and to me the extra weight of 5-6 cartridges is insignificant. Granted, if I wasn’t hunting elephant and just buffalo, I’d just have 10 cartridges on my belt and 5 or 6 in my 458 Lott.

One doesn’t spray and pray or snipe elephant and buffalo. As to lacking confidence, well that’s not something I’ve ever been accused of.

 

[Tanks]

I just carry 10 for double rifle, and 10 plus 3(in magazine) for bolt. My cartridge holder seen below holds 10, so that's what I go with.