Magazine capacity

[Tanks]

I am posting this thread to know about some preferences in magazine capacity in a DG rifle. For me it is atleast 6 + 1 rounds .

To layout suppressive fire?

 

[Tanks]

If you find a PH that specializes in DG and hunts them enough to warrant it, you may see “stopping” guns in 505 Gibbs, and the like… but the overwhelming majority will still be bolt guns..

Of all my PHs, only one PH carried a bolt, a .458 Lott, rest had doubles .470 and .500

 

[375Fox]

Fewer than you think..

Most simply can’t afford a double… can’t afford the initial purchase, can’t afford any maintenance or repair costs, and can’t afford to feed a double..

You’ll find the majority have working class bolt guns.. lots of CZ and BRNO, a good number of whitworth, zastava, and other affordable Mauser 98 pattern rifles, etc.. and most in common calibers like 375HH, 416 Rigby, 416 Remington, and 458 Win Mag..

If you find a PH that specializes in DG and hunts them enough to warrant it, you may see “stopping” guns in 505 Gibbs, and the like… but the overwhelming majority will still be bolt guns..

This has not been my experience. I’ve never seen a PH with a 505 Gibbs, but around half of the PHs I’ve hunted with that primarily hunt DG have carried 470 doubles. The rest carry 458 win until they can afford a double or buy their double back. I think it’s looked at as an insurance policy and necessary tool. The same as many here look at high end optics.

 

[mdwest]

Of all my PHs, only one PH carried a bolt, a .458 Lott, rest had doubles .470 and .500

I’ve had the exact opposite experience..

1 with a 500 NE (double) 1 I can recall with a 416 RM… 1 with a 458 WM, more than I can count with 375 HH…

But again, we’re largely talking about guys that occasionally do DG, and predominantly hunt PG..

Thst said, the exception was the 416 RM PH.. he is a freelance that almost exclusively does lion and buffalo..

 

[375Fox]

I’ve had the exact opposite experience..

1 with a 500 NE (double) 1 I can recall with a 416 RM… 1 with a 458 WM, more than I can count with 375 HH…

But again, we’re largely talking about guys that occasionally do DG, and predominantly hunt PG..

Thst said, the exception was the 416 RM PH.. he is a freelance that almost exclusively does lion and buffalo..

I’d also think there’s a big difference between South Africa and elsewhere. A PH in South Africa would have much more ability to call in a backup PH than PHs in other countries. Having a 2nd PH when needed is a lot less expensive than the double.

 

[mdwest]

I’d also think there’s a big difference between South Africa and elsewhere. A PH in South Africa would have much more ability to call in a backup PH than PHs in other countries. Having a 2nd PH when needed is a lot less expensive than the double.

And they’re easy to come by… every young(ish) PH I’ve ever met is “working” on obtaining his DG license.. to get it they have to have been involved in a certain number of DG hunts across I think 5 of the dangerous 7… so getting a second PH to come along is a pretty easy thing to accomplish.. they’re all eager (albeit somewhat inexperienced since they do t have their DG license yet)…

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I’m perfectly comfortable with a 3+1 (Winchester 70)… the likelihood of me getting off 4 shots and going empty in an emergency / charge situation is almost non existent… more than 4 is definitely non existent…

I do keep additional rounds on me.. so, assume I put a couple into a buff that has now run into the bush, I can certainly top off and be back up to 4 rounds rapidly.. and then be back in pursuit..

But I’ve never felt a need for more than 4 to start the hunt…

Right! If you shoot, you top off before following. I've never heard of anyone using up.more than four before having a chance to reload, though I guess it could happen if you somehow had more than one animal to deal with? I can't see that as likely though.

 

[Rumrunner]

Far from an expert or even experienced but, I’m all for bringing as many as possible to the party. If I’m going to carry them I would just as soon they be in the magazine as my belt. However my model 70 in .416 holds 3+1. It’ll have to do. I highly doubt I would empty the rifle without the PH joining in if necessary. I’m all for reloading as soon as possible.

 

[375Fox]

I am admittedly not an expert, but I doubt most people using a heavy recoiling bolt action could get more than 3 shots off at a charging animal.

Maybe a better example of my point. It’s about having 1 in the chamber when it’s time for a charge not firing 3. Action is at 17:45. Remember to reload when you have opportunity rather than getting a charge on camera. This could have turned out very different. He got lucky.

 

[Andrew62]

And many of the more famous PHs carried bolt actions: e.g. Harry Selby, Wally Johnson and more recently on this forum Ron Thomson's 458 Model 70 went on the auction block.

I've taken a lot of African hunts and have yet to hunt with a PH who used a double!

 

[grand veneur]

I probably will never hunt dangerous game, but what can be considered is that a number of PHs carry a double rifle?

The vast majority of PH use a bolt action rifle. In 30 years of regular hunting in Africa, I was only once guided by PH who used a double rifle caliber 470 Nitro Express. All the others used bolt action rifles and they were all primarily serial production like BRNO or Winchester 70. The main reason is certainly the price of a double rifle, but also personal preferences. Choosing a rifle for hunting DG is primarily a matter of passion. As has often been discussed, there are Pros and Cons to both kinds of rifles.

 

[grand veneur]

Just curious, what DG rifle will hold 6+1?

Common was 5+1 among other things for rifles caliber 425 WR. It is nowadays an option for custom built rifles and 6+1 can then also be built. Larger-capacity magazines are in this case installed, but in my opinion, it is not very nice, especially when it comes to big magazine for five big cartridges caliber 500 Jeffery for example. The rifles have then something like a big belly. My rifle caliber 11,2x72 caliber also has an extended standard M98 magazine and can therefore hold five cartridges. This was a typical construction by August Schüler from Suhl before the WWII. However, the cartridge 11,2x72 Schüler is a relatively narrow big bore cartridge and that is why it hardly makes a difference in the shape of the rifle.

 

[bigborelover]

Just curious, what DG rifle will hold 6+1?

Winchester model 1886 Lever action in 50-110 WCF or any dg rifle with a detachable magazine.

 

[mdwest]

Detachable mags are generally discouraged for DG by PH’s… and lever actions are very uncommon among DG hunters..

 

[grand veneur]

Winchester model 1886 Lever action in 50-110 WCF or any dg rifle with a detachable magazine.

Neither one nor the other are classic DG rifles, despite their high magazine capacity. The magazine capacity 6+1 for a DG rifle is an absolute rarity anyway.

 

[Art Lambart II]

My CZ 550 Safari Magnum in 375 H&H holds 6 in the magazine and feeds just fine. I don't know if thats true for all CZ 550 Safari Magnum, mine was fine tuned by Griffin & Howe which explaines why if feeds and shoots so well. On a DG hunt the hunter has two jobs, make the first shot count and reload as soon as you can. If I need 7 rounds of 375 H&H (as the OP suggests) before reloading I'm not on a DG hunt, I'm in a firefight.

 

[Flbt]

Winchester model 1886 Lever action in 50-110 WCF or any dg rifle with a detachable magazine.

I don’t want a. Detached magazine on my deer rifle.