Can you reload a single shot fast enough for DG?

[Rafiki]

I get pretty excited too when a rooster flushes, heck my uncle has quail hunted for 70 years and got so excited this year on a covey rise he didnt get off a shot

Same with Ruffed Grouse.

 

[rookhawk]

My question for all the experts on here is,

How many of you shoot single shots regularly to where you are proficient with them?

I shoot mostly single shots. I'm not fast enough to satisfy myself that I want to hunt DG with them under most circumstances.

The reason single shots are amazing is not because of their speed of loading, its their action type. The action is very small which reduces the overall size of the rifle by about 6" over a bolt action. That means a full length 23" barrel carries like a tiny carbine. They are also lighter than a bolt gun for several reasons. They also have a tang safety that allows a near instantaneous shot if required.

In short, a single shot is ideal for a lot of carrying and stalking. For that task, there is no equal.

A double rifle is built for total redundancy and the fastest large-bore second shot possible.

A bolt rifle is built for volume of ammo that can be sent within a short period of time.

Each has their application, but single shots application isn't elephant, rhino, or buffalo.

 

[JimP]

After watching numerous episodes of TIA I have come to the conclusion that most hunters need to sell their bolt action rifles and purchase a double for hunting dangerous game.

I'm no speed demon with my No 1's but with a little bit of practice I'd wager that I could work the action just as fast as the ones that I have seen work a bolt. I know that I can with my TC Contender and that is even harder to do since you have to do it with your off hand to get that empty shell out and into the chamber.

It takes a lot of muscle memory and the ability to stay calm during the heat of the moment. Watching TIA most with bolt guns will lower them off of their shoulders to work the action, this moment could be the difference between getting a second shot or becoming a grease stain on the African landscape.

But like all things you need to practice the loading process, not just a few times but over and over to where it is second nature to get that second load into the rifle.

But for stopping a charge I'd want a double, then a bolt action over a single shot. But then if there is a charge the PH is going to be doing everything that he can do to protect his client instead of just standing there watching.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Same with Ruffed Grouse.

Especially in the spring when a pissed off hen with chicks flies at your head. I have experienced more than one rodeo when attacked riding in to fishing camp. Don't know what it feels like to have an elephant bearing down but dancing a jitterbug with Jeanie on the trail going over the rock "stairs" in the Great Bear Wilderness a couple hundred feet straight above the Middle Fork of the Flathead sure got the adrenaline flowing.

Returning to the topic, I have been known to push the envelope in my life. Hunting alone is my preference and that in itself is inherently unsafe. Even the above scenario was unwitnessed by anyone but me, the horse, and God (who I'm quite sure was in attendance that day). Well, at least hunting alone is usually less safe than hunting with someone else (if he knows enough not to shoot me ). But I'm not endangering anyone else when I hunt alone. Hunting African game is different. It legally requires PH accompaniment. The dangerous game client who pushes the envelope unnecessarily while hunting with PH is, in my opinion, morally irresponsible.

Is using a single shot morally irresponsible? I cannot believe a single shot can put as much firepower consistently into play as efficiently as a bolt action, especially in highly stressed field conditions. Yes, I read about the stunt shooter with extra rounds sewn on his shirt, ammo tucked in fingers, etc. But range environments are controlled even if some measure of "stress" or variation is added. I am always told how sporting clays emulates wingshooting in the field. Not really. Presentations may vary but the shooter standing at the station with his gun mounted knows when the target will fly and where it will go (unless the station has an articulating trap machine - our course did have one on station three for a while but the other guys found it too hard and had it removed). Similarly, one can jog to work up heart rate before target shooting his rifle. But shooting at a piece of paper a hundred yards away is not the same as shooting at an inbound 1700 lb animal intent on killing you. Then factor in the possibility of needing to reload on the run through brush and/or over uneven ground. Trying to hand feed extra rounds into my rifle at the same time (a very desperate time) is just an added unnecessary potential for something to go fatally wrong. Playing with "golden age" single shot artworks for the sake of nostalgia and vanity is fine and dandy ... if hunting alone. But the PH and tracker have families waiting for them at home. PHs have a professional obligation to do their best to make sure clients stay safe ... and clients also have a moral obligation to do their best to ensure their PHs don't get hurt or killed. Writing a big cheque doesn't invalidate that obligation. Not in my opinion anyway.

 

[AJ Peacock]

A little off topic: I can remember a particular time that a Rooster Pheasant flushed at the feet of the green broke filly I was riding. I can tell you, that will give you an adrenalin dump!

AJ

 

[Art Lambart II]

In 2024 I hunted Buffalo in the Eastern Cape with a Ruger #1 in 416 Rigby with 410 grain Woodies. I put one soft and two solids into my buff before we started the follow-up. During the follow-up we were charged at 7 yards.

Can you reload a Ruger #1 fast enough for follow up shots on Buffalo, yes you can. Can you reload a Ruger #1 fast enough to stop a charge, No you can’t.

I used a wristband that holds two rounds for my quick reloads and my belt slide if I had more time. To eject a round reliably I need to tilt the muzzle up, and open the action, to load a round quickly and reliably I need to retrive a new round, tilt the muzzle down, insert the new round, and close the action, then I need to reshoulder the rifle and acquire my target. All that movement takes time, time you don’t have during a charge.

Being charged at close quarters has changed my outlook on GD hunting. A client hunters’ primary task is to shoot accurately and reload instantly. Please note this is one task not two separate tasks or actions. A buffalo can cover 7 yards / 21 feet in much less than 2 seconds if you hesitate even for an instant on an empty chamber you probably won’t get a second shot off before the buffalo reaches you.

In 2027 I’m returning to Africa to once again hunt buffalo. This time I’ll use my CZ 550 in 375 H&H as my primary rifle, and my Ruger #1 will be my secondary rifle.

Would I use my Ruger #1 to Hunt Buffalo again, yes but only if I’m backed up by several large caliber rifles or a large caliber double.

 

[Challer]

Nope

 

[JimP]

In 2024 I hunted Buffalo in the Eastern Cape with a Ruger #1 in 416 Rigby with 410 grain Woodies. I put one soft and two solids into my buff before we started the follow-up. During the follow-up we were charged at 7 yards.

Can you reload a Ruger #1 fast enough for follow up shots on Buffalo, yes you can. Can you reload a Ruger #1 fast enough to stop a charge, No you can’t.

I used a wristband that holds two rounds for my quick reloads and my belt slide if I had more time. To eject a round reliably I need to tilt the muzzle up, and open the action, to load a round quickly and reliably I need to retrive a new round, tilt the muzzle down, insert the new round, and close the action, then I need to reshoulder the rifle and acquire my target. All that movement takes time, time you don’t have during a charge.

Being charged at close quarters has changed my outlook on GD hunting. A client hunters’ primary task is to shoot accurately and reload instantly. Please note this is one task not two separate tasks or actions. A buffalo can cover 7 yards / 21 feet in much less than 2 seconds if you hesitate even for an instant on an empty chamber you probably won’t get a second shot off before the buffalo reaches you.

In 2027 I’m returning to Africa to once again hunt buffalo. This time I’ll use my CZ 550 in 375 H&H as my primary rifle, and my Ruger #1 will be my secondary rifle.

Would I use my Ruger #1 to Hunt Buffalo again, yes but only if I’m backed up by several large caliber rifles or a large caliber double.

With a charge at 7 yards I would want a double, most people are only going to get off a single shot before the buff is past them and working on the turn around, but even then I think that most would be struggling to get a second shot off with a bolt action.

 

[Art Lambart II]

With a charge at 7 yards I would want a double, most people are only going to get off a single shot before the buff is past them and working on the turn around, but even then I think that most would be struggling to get a second shot off with a bolt action.

I agree with you 100%. If I can't beat this Buffalo Hunt addiction I'll have to invest in a 450/400 double rifle.

 

[RLP]

I love questions like this, especial when the answers speak from experience and remain respectful. In the 90's I hunted whitetail in NY exclusively with a 12 ga Ultra slug single shot. I now own four Ruger #1s 375 H&H, 300 Win Mag, 30-06 and 22-250. I have hunted and taken game with two of them. I found early on a single shot put me in a mental state of mind that I must make an excellent first shot. I think many of the above post have proven that you can hunt DG with a single shot with these caveats
- practice, practice, practice (firing loading firing)
- know your limitations and your rifle's
- conversation with your PH, what is your expectation for when PH shoots?
Standing freehand loading is the easiest. off quad sticks, tripods, prone position and in a blind are much more difficult.
Of course, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Happy hunting!!!

 

[RLP]

In 2024 I hunted Buffalo in the Eastern Cape with a Ruger #1 in 416 Rigby with 410 grain Woodies. I put one soft and two solids into my buff before we started the follow-up. During the follow-up we were charged at 7 yards.

Can you reload a Ruger #1 fast enough for follow up shots on Buffalo, yes you can. Can you reload a Ruger #1 fast enough to stop a charge, No you can’t.

I used a wristband that holds two rounds for my quick reloads and my belt slide if I had more time. To eject a round reliably I need to tilt the muzzle up, and open the action, to load a round quickly and reliably I need to retrive a new round, tilt the muzzle down, insert the new round, and close the action, then I need to reshoulder the rifle and acquire my target. All that movement takes time, time you don’t have during a charge.

Being charged at close quarters has changed my outlook on GD hunting. A client hunters’ primary task is to shoot accurately and reload instantly. Please note this is one task not two separate tasks or actions. A buffalo can cover 7 yards / 21 feet in much less than 2 seconds if you hesitate even for an instant on an empty chamber you probably won’t get a second shot off before the buffalo reaches you.

In 2027 I’m returning to Africa to once again hunt buffalo. This time I’ll use my CZ 550 in 375 H&H as my primary rifle, and my Ruger #1 will be my secondary rifle.

Would I use my Ruger #1 to Hunt Buffalo again, yes but only if I’m backed up by several large caliber rifles or a large caliber double.

Experience speaks!!! Love it.

 

[thriller]

I personally would not use a single shot on DG. Because I don’t think my reload speed would be satisfactory. However that doesn’t mean you can’t if you feel you are fast enough

 

[MS 9x56]

I love questions like this, especial when the answers speak from experience and remain respectful. In the 90's I hunted whitetail in NY exclusively with a 12 ga Ultra slug single shot. I now own four Ruger #1s 375 H&H, 300 Win Mag, 30-06 and 22-250. I have hunted and taken game with two of them. I found early on a single shot put me in a mental state of mind that I must make an excellent first shot. I think many of the above post have proven that you can hunt DG with a single shot with these caveats
- practice, practice, practice (firing loading firing)
- know your limitations and your rifle's
- conversation with your PH, what is your expectation for when PH shoots?
Standing freehand loading is the easiest. off quad sticks, tripods, prone position and in a blind are much more difficult.
Of course, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Happy hunting!!!

You forgot one important detail, update your life insurance. Especially if you have a family. If you do decide to go forward in this endeavor I wish you good health and good luck. Many thousands of head of DG were taken before the advent of repeating arms. Indeed with muzzle loaders that were much slower to reload than modern single shots.

 

[Ryan]

I have two Ruger #1's and and as a Lefty I can say I can't reload either of those fast enough for DG, and neither of those is in a DG caliber. Part of it for me is engineered into that action. There is a wall to support the block on the left side, so they load on the right side. I have use my off hand to load. Add a DG cartridge and it's even harder to get a fast shot. If I were to hunt DG with a Ruger #1 I'd have to view that hunt like a bow hunt. Make the first shot count and if a second is needed on a charge it's gonna be the PH taking it.

 

[Rafiki]

Where is @Brian? He shoot lots of Buffalo with a single shot, I would imagine he'd have an opinion or two.

 

[expresshunt]

The first time I went to RSA in 2005 my first shot on African game was with a custom #1 in .405 using a 400gr Woodleigh. Blue Wildebeest at @40 yards. On the shot he lurched forward, my right hand popped the lever down and grabbed a second round from the leather cartridge carrier on my belt. My beest ran into a small tree and hooked a horn around it getting entangled. On his first lap around the tree I plopped the round in the action and on his second I closed the lever, coming up into shooting position. At that time he got free, took a couple steps and fell over.
My guide/PH looked at me and said “reload!”. I said that I did and he said “no, reload!”. I pointed at my empty laying between us and popped the action open. His reply was “Oh!”.

Could I hunt DG with a single shot? Maybe, but I haven’t hunted DG (animals) yet. When I eventually do I have boltguns for that.

Great story...!!!!
I've got a Win LA 405 now for some future Buffalo encounters... but always a different story when 2 peoples.

 

[Brian]

Hi Rafiki, This a fun topic. I like single shot rifles.

But it's official, I am in a very small minority category of dangerous game hunters. ( The majority of cape buffalo hunters, last time I checked, like the .375 with mediocre bullets.)

Here is what I like about single shot rifles.
1. They are a few inches shorter than bolt actions and lever actions. Easy to carry, handy.
2. You can load different types of bullets for them as the cartridge doesn't have to cycle though an
action. No overall length issues other than chamber throat length.
3. You can mount a fabric band of several cartridge loops on the butt stock and reload pretty quickly.
4. You can shoot ay length of big bore cartridge in them for reliable killing power. I don't remember
ever having to make a second shot on a cape buffalo when I hit one on the engine room with my
.500 or .577. They were all dead right there. ( I use premium bullets, they kill way better.)
5. With a single shot, go for at least a .416 cal. with the best bullets. NorthFork, CEB are winners.

Hunting buffalo with a single shot focuses the mind and gets the energy flowing.

This year I am heading over to hunt 10 water buffalo, "beyond the black stump" in Northern Territory in Australia. I will be using my TC Encore Single Shot in .50-110 Winchester, 500 cal. Cutting Edge Bullets Raptor and Safari Solid, 400 grain to 450 grains at around 2,100 fps.

G'day mate. Brian

 

[Rick R]

After thinking about this topic a bit more I’ve decided the proper way to hunt DG with a single shot would be carrying a scoped #1 in your favorite big bore cartridge while a fellow behind you carries a double chambered for the same cartridge so he can hand it to you when you decide you’ve had enough fun with the single shot.
Of course behind him there needs to be someone with the ingredients for a proper gin & tonic. And nearby some guys with the tools to grill really fresh steaks…

 

[steve white]

After thinking about this topic a bit more I’ve decided the proper way to hunt DG with a single shot would be carrying a scoped #1 in your favorite big bore cartridge while a fellow behind you carries a double chambered for the same cartridge so he can hand it to you when you decide you’ve had enough fun with the single shot.
Of course behind him there needs to be someone with the ingredients for a proper gin & tonic. And nearby some guys with the tools to grill really fresh steaks…

Right. Now, if the fellow holding the gun for you will just not run!

 

[RLP]

Hi Rafiki, This a fun topic. I like single shot rifles.

But it's official, I am in a very small minority category of dangerous game hunters. ( The majority of cape buffalo hunters, last time I checked, like the .375 with mediocre bullets.)

Here is what I like about single shot rifles.
1. They are a few inches shorter than bolt actions and lever actions. Easy to carry, handy.
2. You can load different types of bullets for them as the cartridge doesn't have to cycle though an
action. No overall length issues other than chamber throat length.
3. You can mount a fabric band of several cartridge loops on the butt stock and reload pretty quickly.
4. You can shoot ay length of big bore cartridge in them for reliable killing power. I don't remember
ever having to make a second shot on a cape buffalo when I hit one on the engine room with my
.500 or .577. They were all dead right there. ( I use premium bullets, they kill way better.)
5. With a single shot, go for at least a .416 cal. with the best bullets. NorthFork, CEB are winners.

Hunting buffalo with a single shot focuses the mind and gets the energy flowing.

This year I am heading over to hunt 10 water buffalo, "beyond the black stump" in Northern Territory in Australia. I will be using my TC Encore Single Shot in .50-110 Winchester, 500 cal. Cutting Edge Bullets Raptor and Safari Solid, 400 grain to 450 grains at around 2,100 fps.

G'day mate. Brian

Good luck, make sure you tell us all about it!!!