Thoughts on cartridge traps in plains game or dangerous game rifle

[Noah Hutchens]

Hello, long story short a year ago I owned two drillings, one was a very nice Krieghoff that had a spring loaded cartridge trap in the buttstock and I loved it. Fast forward to today I no longer have said drillings but have been hankering to find a cartridge trap for my regular hunting rifles. I finally found a guy who makes them, and for an extremely affordable price. Plus he’s local to me in Oklahoma which is crazy lucky I guess.

His design has multiple cartridge “plate inserts” so that it’s basically a one size fits all and you just choose your plate for your desired cartridge and drill your holes and your golden. One of these insert has holes that are .532 and I believe 375 H&H is .534 at the band so I should easily be able to drill it out and put one on my eventual 375 rifle.

I’m definitely going to put one on my Ruger no 1 30-06 that I use for deer hunting at home.

My only thought is if it would be practical on a Dangerous Game Rifle and Plains game rifle.

I’m going for a bolt action and not a double so I will have at minimum 3 extra shots in the magazine. The trap holds 4 more so I figured at worst it would be a not so quick reload, but i doubt I’d need them anyways. To me it’s more of an esthetic choice. I personally hate the leather cuffs that you can put on the buttstock to hold cartridges and like to keep my stock visible.

Anyone have one of these on their rifle other than an old drilling? To me it just seems timeless and an added touch of personality to the rifle. Any other thoughts would be appreciated.

Link to his website for anyone interested: https://www.grubee.net/collections/riflescope/products/butt-stock-trapdoor-cartridge-carrier

 

[Shootist43]

I too would be cautious as well as curious as to how these would work on larger caliber rifles, especially those whose caliber started with a 4 or a 5.

 

[spike.t]

Just carry extra on your belt.....way too slow trying to reload from that with a dg rifle...I have one on my Brockman 45-70...but to me it's only for having a few spare rounds....not something I would use in trying to do a fast reload for a dg rifle....fine on a pg rifle as said just for carrying a few spares

 

[Newboomer]

Just carry extra on your belt.....way too slow trying to reload from that with a dg rifle...I have one on my Brockman 45-70...but to me it's only for having a few spare rounds....not something I would use in trying to do a fast reload for a dg rifle....fine on a pg rifle as said just for carrying a few spares

How would it affect the balance, especially in a heavier caliber?

 

[roklok]

I have a trap on my .458 and really like it. For practice I loaded up 4 casings with molten lead capped by a bullet to really add some weight to dampen recoil. In the field I will carry four extra cartridges, in addition to a belt slide.

I believe it would take some practice to load faster from the trap than a belt slide, my intention is to load from belt slide if in a hurry, replenish belt slide from trap if things go that far.

My rifle balances well with four cartridges in butt, and slightly butt heavy with lead filled casings. Balance is going to be different from rifle to rifle of course, depending on barrel length and profile.

 

['68boy]

I think it’s butt-ugly and I wouldn’t buy a rifle with one.

 

[spike.t]

How would it affect the balance, especially in a heavier caliber?

In my 45-70 doesn't make any difference really...it's got a short chunky 16 inch barrel.....I find it handy in that I have been giving the m98 7x57 time out and been putting the brockman in the cruiser when out on ranch...so can have 4 extra rounds in butt....although it's not a feature I would specifically ask for on any other rifle....just came with it

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

I was wondering if they rattle? And is there a way to stop it if they do
The only one I can recall seeing was a two cartridge one on a double
Gumpy

 

[roklok]

I am sure the rattling potential depends almost entirely on the tolerances of the holes. On my rifle I believe a chambering reamer was used to finish the holes, as they are tapered and the cartridges fit very closely. During normal gun handling or carry no noise is observed. If jogging or inverting the rifle faint clicks are heard.

 

[Noah Hutchens]

I have a trap on my .458 and really like it. For practice I loaded up 4 casings with molten lead capped by a bullet to really add some weight to dampen recoil. In the field I will carry four extra cartridges, in addition to a belt slide.

I believe it would take some practice to load faster from the trap than a belt slide, my intention is to load from belt slide if in a hurry, replenish belt slide from trap if things go that far.

My rifle balances well with four cartridges in butt, and slightly butt heavy with lead filled casings. Balance is going to be different from rifle to rifle of course, depending on barrel length and profile.
View attachment 764381
View attachment 764382

Did your rifle come with it or did you purchase one and have someone fit it in the stock? Im not totally confident in my ability to fit it to a tight enough tolerance for me to be happy with so I will have to get my local smith to do it.

On another note, on my old kriegoff the hole tolerances were almost too tight I would say and it was fairly tough to get the cartridges out once you pressed them in all the way, especially the cartridge nearest the hinge which needed, at least in my drilling, to be seated further than the rest to allow the trap to close. All that to say, while I’m happy they were tight and not loose and rattling around too tight is another issue entirely, how tight are yours? Just a firm friction fit where it is easy to remove them with your finger tips? On mine I had to grab the rim with my nails and pry it out fairly hard.

 

[roklok]

This rifle is a custom built in 1974 and was ordered with the trap installed. Rifle was stocked by Bob Hooper, a well known stockmaker of that time period and as far as I know he installed the trap. I did have to deepen the holes slightly to allow for my longer seated handloads.

On this rifle the cartridges drop out in the hand when door is opened. My dummy rounds filled with lead did require to be pried out, as the case mouth dimensions were a bit off, I made the dummies from cut down 300 Wby brass to save my precious .458 brass. That kind of gives an indication of the close fitting of the holes, and part of the reason I think a chamber reamer may have been involved.

 

[steve white]

Hello, long story short a year ago I owned two drillings, one was a very nice Krieghoff that had a spring loaded cartridge trap in the buttstock and I loved it. Fast forward to today I no longer have said drillings but have been hankering to find a cartridge trap for my regular hunting rifles. I finally found a guy who makes them, and for an extremely affordable price. Plus he’s local to me in Oklahoma which is crazy lucky I guess.

His design has multiple cartridge “plate inserts” so that it’s basically a one size fits all and you just choose your plate for your desired cartridge and drill your holes and your golden. One of these insert has holes that are .532 and I believe 375 H&H is .534 at the band so I should easily be able to drill it out and put one on my eventual 375 rifle.

I’m definitely going to put one on my Ruger no 1 30-06 that I use for deer hunting at home.

My only thought is if it would be practical on a Dangerous Game Rifle and Plains game rifle.

I’m going for a bolt action and not a double so I will have at minimum 3 extra shots in the magazine. The trap holds 4 more so I figured at worst it would be a not so quick reload, but i doubt I’d need them anyways. To me it’s more of an esthetic choice. I personally hate the leather cuffs that you can put on the buttstock to hold cartridges and like to keep my stock visible.

Anyone have one of these on their rifle other than an old drilling? To me it just seems timeless and an added touch of personality to the rifle. Any other thoughts would be appreciated.View attachment 764232

Link to his website for anyone interested: https://www.grubee.net/collections/riflescope/products/butt-stock-trapdoor-cartridge-carrier

Been looking for one of those (affordable, too) for a long time.
Not for speed loading or DG gun, but for a drilling. Thanks!

 

[8 x 60]

They are quite appropriate in an old drilling. Not so sure they wouldn't add an un~needed "faff" factor to a DG rifle when a quick reload is needed ? I am sure there are faster/better methods for that.

 

[steve white]

View attachment 764461
View attachment 764462
They are quite appropriate in an old drilling. Not so sure they wouldn't add an un~needed "faff" factor to a DG rifle when a quick reload is needed ? I am sure there are faster/better methods for that.

They look a lot better engraved, too.