Can you reload a single shot fast enough for DG?

I started shooting single shot a 5 years old. We were poor and rabbit and grouse was always on the menu. Now I am in my sixties and have come back to my roots. I have a CVA Hunter 45-70 reamed to a 45-90 with a muzzle brake. So far I have taken 2 wild Russian boar, one of which was getting ready to charge us. I consider the Wild Hog in America the only real DG we have. I have only had a couple of brown bear that stood and looked at me the most of them tried running off.
Having said all of this. Yes I would hunt at least Cape Buffalo with a single shot rifle, built that I can reload fast and with ease. And and probably a 45-120 in an H&R beak open action that ejects on opening. And with my preferred muzzle brake. I would choose the 45-120 not as much for power but the length of brass for handling. (I load my 45-90 using 300 grain ttsx at 458 win mag loads) . So far so good. Plus the 45-120 brass is dang close to 450 nitro express brass ..
So, I guess because I started young with a single shot break open and feel comfortable with the mechanics of them I would and will use them for Dangerous Game. (Just my 2 cents).
 
I can reload a single shot pretty fast…. for the next mourning dove with a tail wind coming in hot- started practicing 67 years ago when nine years old. DG in a scramble, moving and under pressure…. mmmmmm. The underlying question would be why, with a choice for using a reliable repeating arm?
 
I feel confident in my ability to reload a Ruger No1 quickly enough for DG. Having seen numerous videos of hunters fumbling around trying to chamber a follow up with a bolt action rifle makes their rifle no superior to mine.

The No1 is my preferred platform for deer thru DG so I am intimately familiar with its operation. Serious practice with emphasis on quick reloads and actually putting the second shot on target will get you as ready as you can be. I leave Monday for my second trip. Later today I will be at the range.
 
steve white said:
What is your verdict?
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I dont have a single shot, because I am believer in magazine capacity.

But in 2024, I went for cape buffalo hunt, with my friend.
We both hunted buffalo.
He hunted with ruger no 1 in 375 H&H, I hunted with bolt action in 375 H&H.
I was observer for him, and he was observer for me.
He trained before the hunt.
I think that after making a choice for single shot rifle, most important part is to train with it.

So, after the first shot, he reloaded that single shot in a blink of an eye.
He had spare round in his hand.
I dont think I can reload bolt action that fast.
Second shot was used only as insurance shot. Buffalo was down with a hole in a heart after running about 200 yards

Verdict:
Single shot is not my first choice, but it is definitely doable and usable for DG.

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I recall a while back when someone posted a link to video of a PH trying to reload his double rifle while a buffalo was about to stick a horn in him. Really impressed upon me how difficult it would be to break open a rifle and reload it while trying to back/run out of the way rapidly. A bit more complicated than walking and chewing gum at the same time. And don't tell me that guy hadn't practiced reloading ... a lot. But at least he finally had two rounds in the tubes to do the job ... at a distance less than the length of his gun. Meanwhile the client was running around with a short stroke jam in his bolt action + pants full of poo. He was supposedly experienced but not clear if he was using his own gun.

Driving a dune buggy in the desert can be a lot of fun and even a bit hairy. But I wouldn't enter one in the Indy 500.
 
Ontario Hunter said:
I recall a while back when someone posted a link to video of a PH trying to reload his double rifle while a buffalo was about to stick a horn in him. Really impressed upon me how difficult it would be to break open a rifle and reload it while trying to back/run out of the way rapidly. A bit more complicated than walking and chewing gum at the same time. And don't tell me that guy hadn't practiced reloading ... a lot. But at least he finally had two rounds in the tubes to do the job ... at a distance less than the length of his gun. Meanwhile the client was running around with a short stroke jam in his bolt action + pants full of poo. He was supposedly experienced but not clear if he was using his own gun.

Driving a dune buggy in the desert can be a lot of fun and even a bit hairy. But I wouldn't enter one in the Indy 500.
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Ill tale the dune buggy for hairy situations..


Your indy 500 aint going anywhere but a circle.

But that said. Most people do not practice to a level to make things muscle memory.
 
RLD said:
..... They have a timed shooting segment and Kevin is very clear that the best performance he ever saw in that course was by a guy using a Ruger 1 drawing rounds from elastic loops sewn above his breast pocket.
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Actually I believe that the rounds were hold in elastic loops saw on his shoulder, the bullets pointing backwards. It was an orginial/ atypical arrangements that draw my attention to it. Can't remember for sure if they were placed on the shooting shoulder or the other one, but it was clear that the student had experimented searching for the fastest solution for him.
It could have been on the opposite shoulder as I vaguely remember it said "he was reaching across" for grabing the next round for reload.
Anyway, it's amazing what is possible with enough practice.
 
steve white said:
These are the words of Craig Boddington in his book "Where Lions Roar." He had just placed a bullet (375 Dakota) in the boiler room of a buffalo. Here are his next words:
"DG with a single-shot was an experiment for me. I've used Ruger Number Ones a lot on lesser game, and I'd practiced a lot with this rifle. I'd anticipated exactly this moment, and I had extra cartridges between the fingers of my supporting hand--I thought I was ready.
There was lots of time; I could have emptied a bolt action--possibly I could have emptied and reloaded a double. But the Dakota single shot, an usually beautiful and smooth handling rifle, doesn't eject. Eyes on the buffalo, I cleared the empty, started to stuff a fresh 375 Dakota cartridge into the chamber, and realized I'd never make it--the trees were now closing around the departing buffalo."
At my shoulder, ready, Russ said calmly, "Do you want me to shoot him?" Unprintable affirmative......
My X bullet from the fast 375 Dakota had pierced its heart and all the rest was window dressing, but that first shot might not have been so perfect and there was nothing I could have done about it. Food for thought.
That made me want for us to give it some thought.

So, not enough time for a NON EJECTOR to get off a departing shot, and an inbound charge would cut the time allotted significantly. First qualification might well be (for DG) is it an ejector? If not, is it disqualified for general recommendation?
Which single shots are ejectors?
Are some actions just faster than others in your experience. How fast, honestly, are you?

I don't have DG experience with a single shot. But I shot an old single shot shotgun for the pot when I was too young to afford a better gun, and you play hell if you can get two shots off with a departing game bird. Seconds matter. Life matters too.
What is your verdict?
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You will not find a bigger fan of single shot rifles on this forum than me. I spent twenty years building custom Ruger #1s at a moderate degree of quality. I spent the last 15 years using Dakota Model 10s. My daily driver for almost all hunting is a Model 10 7x57.

So I'm biased strongly in favor of single shots in general.

Nonetheless, I would NOT use a single shot rifle regardless of caliber for these applications: Hunting elephant. Hunting Hippo on Land. Hunting Buffalo. Hunting Rhino.

I WOULD consider using a single shot for leopard or lion over bait, but I would strongly prefer a bolt rifle because the odds are 80% the cat is dead at the bait, 10% that it is flopping around under the bait and needs a second shot. (and 10% that all hell breaks lose and you're chasing a wounded cat...not good) You cannot reload a single shot strung up properly in the blind for cats. So its not optimal, but it WILL work.

It WILL work for a precise shot on a Hippo in the water. It WILL work for crocs where one shot is all that matters.

It's absolutely ideal for long, tiring stalks on Eland, Kudu, Giraffe, and all manner of plains game.

Based on my biases in favor of single shots, but also the practicals of not getting myself killed or wasting time with a dangerous situation I could have avoided altogether, those are my parameters.

The most ideal single shot for all purposes I believe would be a 375 Holland Flanged. Absolutely perfect for lots of walking and stalking and very little shooting. For North America and much of Africa, a 7x57 is extremely versatile. So too would be a 9.3x62mm.

Note that all of my caliber preferences align with my intended uses and they are altogether unsuitable for the uses I would not try such as much of the Dangerous Game opportunities.
 
Sarg said:
I think so, but I wouldn’t start a fight with a single shot unless circumstances dictated it.
I was shooting at a BGRC shoot & using a H&R single shot converted to .500NE 3 1/4in, with horrendous recoil.
Any way I shot the Nitro Stopper 6 shots 25yds offhand in 25 seconds - using a borrowed .470NE Webley screw grip double, we had finished & someone said I couldn’t do that with the single shot, so I said ok let’s try.

Positioned the extra cartridges where I could get them fast & shot as fast as I could reload, had trouble last couple as my hand had gone numb/dead from the recoil, I finished before the horn went with time to spare & even with the scoped penalty, out did my double rifle score.

The H&R was the older ejector model which helped amazingly.

Funny just after that one of the members watching made me a very good offer on the rifle & I sold it to him.
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Great performance!
Also noted that your rifle had an ejector...

Now, WHICH RIFLES HAVE EJECTORS?
 
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Ontario Hunter said:
No. Don't own a single shot of any sort and never will. I have never been enamored of the Ruger No 1. They just never felt right in my hands. I thought they were a novelty when introduced and fully expected the line to die in a year or two. But novelty sells. Look at who's sitting in the White House. :D
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It pleases me that single shot stalking rifles displease you. Considering the GIbbs-Farquarson and the Wesley Single shot are some of the most storied, highest quality rifles ever made, coupled with the fact you think they are terrible says a lot. The Ruger #1 is a beer-budget replica of the former of course.

Class isn't just the thing you skipped a lot of in your teen years. I could explain why the single shots were so desirable compared to magazine rifles in the golden era, but I'm not able to understand it for you.
 
Personally, I am not proficient enough with reloading a single shot to even try it on DG.





It could work out just fine, but on the other hand, I would hate to not be able to fire a second shot very quickly, if the situation required it.


(I'm the type who would rather my PH not be put into a position to have to make a follow-up shot)
 
There were several other would-be respondents to your inquiry, but sadly they're no longer available for comment...IF your PH is ok with it, shouldn't be a problem (but do get the ejector!) lol
 
I have a lot of time with the Ruger #1. What I do is put a 2" piece of bicycle inner tube over the forearm & barrel up against the front scope ring, then place a round under the innertube in the vee between the bbl & forearm. This does not change my point of impact & keeps two rounds very handy for a pretty quick reload. I point my rifle down, the ejector removed the empty, & gravity seats a fresh round.
I have never hunted dangerous game, but ALL of our elk country is grizzly Country, I use a #1 .375 H&H Mag.
 
What a topical thread for me.
I've been practicing stressful reloading with my Ruger No 1. .375 H&H. PH encouraged me to bring it for buff in Mozambique this September. It's outfitted with a NECG rear diopter sight, equipped with the largest aperture, "Ghost Ring", available. In addition, a Leupold scope in facory Ruger rings is also sighted in and ready.
Indeed, a persons comfort with the situation, equipment, companions, and their own perceived skill level is the deciding factor regarding this topic. To some, it seems foolish and perhaps foolhardy. To others, just another hunt.
In light of this, the answer regarding the OP's question is probably. I'll continue to practice first shot from the sticks at 50 yards, subsequent follow up moving and reloading, shooting offhand.

What I will not do is make inane, boorish comments that add nothing to the collective wisdom, while hiding across the border in The Great White North.
 
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