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On another discussion thread about Ruger #1's rebarreled for Nitro Express cartridges, GeorgeS asked if I had ever hunted dangerous game with a one. The answer is No and I don't think I would given the choice of a good Mauser or double. But George makes an interesting point. Have any readers faced dangerous game like Baker, Gordon Cumming and the hunters of yore? What was your experience? | ||
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I'd use one if thats all I had or all that was available....I don't think it's a good idea to hunt dangerous game with a single shot, but I would if the circumstances required it.....then I have hunted Buffalo with a 308, and that ain't smart. ------------------ | |||
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Many head of "dangerous" game has been taken with single shot bows. I would venture to guess that a single shot Ruger #1 in 458 is a Hell of alot more powerful than an Easton 2317 from a 90# bow. I see nothing wrong with a single shot on anything that roams this planet. DO IT!! | |||
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Been there, done that, and will do it again and again as long as I am able. Custom 500 NE Ruger #1 on buff and elephant with no problem! | |||
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I think I would want a tracker standing behind me with a loaded gun that he could hand to me in a jiffy. | |||
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I own a Ruger Nro.1 in .458WinMag, and never hunted DG with it, except our local wild boars (Jabal� - sus scofra) BUT I have all the intention to hunt buff this year, and of course I will use my single-shot. I'm aware of all the liabilities assocaited with a SS, but the thrill of the hunt is what really I'm after. IMHO, Gustavo | |||
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| <George Hoffman> |
Gentlemen: I do know that history shows a lot of single shot were used in the by gone days. I think that any client that wanted to use a single shot rifle has the right to do so. But. let me ask you this? Do you know of any PH that uses a single shot for a back up rifle on dangerous game??? I have been in the ph business for over 25 years and have yet to see one used for a backup rifle. I have read several articles in recent years about using single shots for general hunting. Usually by the end of the article the author has some gimick for holding extra ammo for a faster follow up shot. I do know of one elk guide in Colo. that used a singleshot Ruger in .338 caliber. After letting some get away he went back to a bolt action. Again it would be allright for the client, but, I doubt if you will see a PH with one. George | ||
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George, I agree with you in that a PH probably should not use a single shot. The only time a PH SHOULD be shooting the clients game, (except for Mark Sullivan,for some reason) is when the client made a bad shot and the animal is either charging or about to escape. I would be interested in hearing any responses from a paying cleint who has had to stop a charge from an animal before the PH was able to shoot. I'll bet it doesn't happen too often. Pick a reasonable caliber, make a good shot, and even Godzilla will go down with the first boom. Thanks, Tom | |||
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TjC, What you say may seem logical to some and to yourself, but after shooting quit a number of Buffalo and assorted dangerous animals, I believe I can say that a "good shot" does not allways put old M'Bogo down for the count and I have seen him go several hundred yards or more without a heart and not much lung and a shattered shoulder...I saw one travel two days shot through both lungs..I saw one take 13 470's and another take 9 470's, all good hits... Just some food for thought and of course you are right, most of them don't make it more than 50 or 60 yds. but since you shoot them at 25 yds. that gives them a little time to stomp the living crap out of one, does it not....besides I hate it when a PH shoots my game, most of them would let me get bloody stomped before they would do that, its because I'm such a lovable feller... Just some food for thought...and I have nothing against anyone shooting dangerous game with a single shot, but I still don't consider it a smart thing to do and really see no practical reason other than ego to do it...that 2nd shot can be all important at times, thats why I gave up the single shot phase of my life..I think all true hunters go through that SS stage, I know I did...... ------------------ | |||
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| <FFg> |
Given the above comments, I won't even ask about the use of muzzleloaders! (Unless of course someone would like to comment.) FFg | ||
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I think that if you are confident in your ability, sure of your calibre and happy with your equipment then by all means shoot a single shot. I do not believe that this is ego driven to the extent that old man Atkinson would like to have you believe.  I would far rather see a hunter face off with his first shot using a single shot in a good manageable calibre than some "egotist" who bought a 577 T-rex because it was the biggest, meanest and most expensive rifle that the salesman said would flatten anything up to and including a Sherman tank. | |||
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quote: This little happening started out with a gut shot Lion at 25 yds. Two PHs, and a client hunter standing side by side. PH #1 armed with a Mod 70 458 win mag, PH #2 armed with a BRNO 602 458 win mag, and the client armed with a Rem 700 416 Rem Mag. Charge starts, PH #1 hits him in the chest with the 458 win mag, no effect, Client hits him in the chest with the 416, No effect, PH #2 hits him in the face with the 458 win mag, no effect, now the lion is on PH#1, Client hunter rushes in, and puts a 416 through the lion's head, but all that fire power did not save the PH from getting some deep wounds. Now what were you saying about the PH takeing care of you if you wound something that is as vindictive as a gut shot African Lion? I have Ruger No1s chambered for the same rounds as some double rifles I use for dangerous game, butTTTTTTTTtt, I use them only for a first shot, when a scoped rifle is needed. This No1 is carried by the tracker, unloaded, till I need it for a complex shot,on dangerous game, or a long shot on something other than the Dangerous game, and I'm never with one rifle in hand, and the ammo for another, since I only carry one cartridge for either rifle.
[This message has been edited by MacD37 (edited 02-14-2002).] | |||
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500, I will change my ego statment as that was a bit all inclusive, and change it to say that in some cases it may or may not be an ego trip to shot a dangerous animal with a single shot, and in others it may be a test of ones "whatever"...but I still contend that ones "whatever" can turn to du-du pretty quick when a charge results and he has only a one shooter. I truly suspect a single charge would convience any half way intelligent being that a SS may not be the correct route....I would further except the advise of those who have faced a charge over those who have not, and that ain't bad advise at all..... ------------------ | |||
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Ray, Re the buff that had been shot 13 times, I can't believe these were all "good" hits. Maybe bad bullet performance. Face it guys, there is no such thing as a bullet proof animal. Take out the heart, lungs, or a direct hit through the shoulder with the proper caliber will stop anything that has ever roamed this earth, period. I plan to hunt Cape Buff with archery equiptment, and from reading some of the posters on this forum, I should be considering using a piece of field artillery. I love to shoot big bores, but for the ultimate in HUNTING,IMHO, archery is hard to beat. No chest thumping,I just like the added challenge. [This message has been edited by TJC (edited 02-15-2002).] | |||
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| <George Hoffman> |
TJC I also, have seen two buffalo take 13 hits from a .458 and .375 I had a client shoot one bull with a .465 six times I put in 5 .416s. The first was a little to far back to ge called a good hit. This is always the story. If the first shot is a good one, there is never a problem with old M'bogo, but make that first mistake and you have got a problem. If you tackle a buf with a bow, be darn sure your first shot is a good one. As you probably already know, a buff has wide heavy flat ribs, that almost overlap. It will take a good broadhead to get into the boiler room. I for one would like to hear how you turn out with the bow hunt? George | ||
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George, thanks for the reply. That was exactly my point about the first shot. If you flub the first shot on even a whitetail, the adrenaline will make it tougher for any follow ups. Make sure the first shot counts. I saw on a Gary Bogner video of an archery hunt for buff how important this is. The first one he shot went about 20 yards, and fell over dead. That was from a perfect shot. The second one went considerably farther and had to be shot with a rifle in mid charge. This one was a less than perfect hit. If anyone wants to see a good example of how deadly an arrow is on BIG game, watch his video on hunting the Big 6. | |||
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| <Bjorn Klappe> |
fla 3006, as a HUNTING rifle a single shot is perfectly OK. | ||
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It's so bloody easy to say "make the first shot count", but believe me there are situations that occur wherein that just may not happen..bullet failure being only one of them.. I recall a very big beatifull buff that was crashing through the brush broadside at an excellerated pace, my adrenaline was pumping, I didn't want to loose him and I took the shot and it landed a bit out of the perfect shot forum...He circled, whirled and faced me at a very short distance and everybody let loose and down he went with 4 brain shots...I should have waited, but I didn't and I'm no first timer at this Buffalo game, we're all human and at the mercy of Monday morning quarter backs.... I bet any old time dangerous game hunter has simular stories to tell and several of them are posting on this board I betcha!! I know one who shot a civit cat for a Leopard and lived to tell about it, and he has been around Africa since Adam and Eve left.... Yep, your gonna make a lot of mistakes if you hunt and your gonna wound some animals, thats the bottom line...or you ain't hunted. ------------------ | |||
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I'll add to what Ray said by stateing this. I shot a Buffalo who was standing broad side to me, at 75 yds, and I had plenty of time to place the shot right where it belonged. I was shooting a 500/450 NE double rifle, and the right barrel had a Woodliegh soft, the left barrel had a woodliegh solid Both 480 gr. Since I was in line with both shoulders I hit him with the solid, holding right on the point of the shoulder,in line with the spine. At the hit he simply lunged forward into thick thorn, and out of sight. I hour later, and two miles away, I hit him twice in rappid succesion, with two solids from quartering away shots. 25 yds later he was down for the count. When we looked at the shoulder I shot at initially, we found the bullet had hit him near the back rib, and low, tareing the diaphram, and exiting the off side. ????? What happened, I fired the left barrel at a blaze mark on a tree, and the sights were dead on. I was puzzeled, so we went by the spot where I fired the first shot on the way back to the bakki. SUPPRISE! SUPPRISE! The bullet had hit a 3/4" stick at about 60 yds out, cutting it into, and diverting the bullet into the back of the chest. If that bull had decided to fight, instead of run, he may have taken some killing with his juices up, and bringing it to me fast! I will put my skill at placeing the bullet, in the right place, from any angle,on Cape Buffalo, up against anyone, includeing PHs, but sometimes SH.T JUST HAPPENS. As Ray says, if you hunt long enough, you will make a mistake, and where Cape Buffalo are concerned, it may, very well, be your last mistake, if you aren't prepared, with follow up shots immedietly! ------------------ [This message has been edited by MacD37 (edited 02-16-2002).] | |||
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| <Bjorn Klappe> |
Ray, It was not a civet but a honey badger! But you must admit I made the first shot count! | ||
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Bjorn, Thats it a Honey Badger, couldn't quit remember, but allways respected the fact that you could laugh at yourself, a trait Im fond of in people....shows character, so let me take this opertunity to congratulate you.. ------------------ | |||
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this would be a good palce to ask this question. when you talk about a single shot, in most cases i assume you mean a Ruger. on another of these boards, Ruger took one helluva bashing as being true crap. maybe the other board was about Model 77s, but i don't think so. so if the Ruger is such a piece of junk, how come you would face off in a potentially life threatening situation carrying one round and a rifle that so many people claim to be an inaccurate, poorly built piece of crap? personally, i like Rugers, but i'm very interested to hear your responses. | |||
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I love Ruger #1's. I'd like to have a Hagn and a Ballard or Shiloh 1885 too. I originally posed the question regarding one-shot rifles in general versus doubles or magazine rifles when tackling dangerous game. On another thread regarding the conversion of Ruger #1's to various big-bore cartridges, someone may have implied that few people would actually choose to face dangerous game with a single shot given a choice. | |||
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