Gentlemen,

I am curious how many of you have used a single shot on safari in Africa...and if so, what was it?

Second, if you were going to build a single shot for safari what would it be?

My current project is a Ruger No. 1 in .303 British (possibly going to be .303 Epps)with a quarter rib, express sights, and barrel band sling swivel. I'm hoping to find a perfect piece(s) of wood for it.

The next step will be to build a matching Ruger No.1 in .470 Nitro...but that will have to wait. I'm in Stellenbosch, and most of my stuff is in Oregon...

I used a 45/70 sharps calvary carbine and took some plainsgame with it. I took a ruger #1 in 458lott as a backup gun for DG but only shot a few baboons with it. Ended up using the bolt for ele and buff.
Dean

Ruger #1 in 500 nitro
Several buff, 2 elephant, some kudu.
I am building a second rifle in 300 H&H to compliment the 500 so I have a matched pair of classic calibres which can take anything Africa has to offer

.

I have always wanted and old Farq-----n single shot in 404 Jefferys..I love single shots and may one day own a No.1 in a real big bore....I have owned a number of different SS rifles over the years. I have had some funny experiences with them such as missing a shot at a huge whitetail, and cutting the next loaded case completely in half before it seated fully on loading, guess I was in a hurry to get that second shot off! Several other incidense that would have all rolling in the floor.

But, for DG I still think it wise to have a repeater, just good common since and a since of survival thats kept me around for a long time...but that is an individual appraisal.

I took my #1H in .375 to RSA as a back up rifle on a plainsgame hunt. I shot only one animal w/ it but that Gemsbuck went down like a stone. It has since been rebarreled to a .338x74Keith. I think a .300h&h would be very classic as well as a 9.3x74R & capable for all of the African antelope. Ray is right though, a double or bolt gun is the way to go for DG.

I also have a Ruger No. 1 in 45/70 with a small Leupold on top. It is certianly a compact and handy rifle. Never been to Africa, but the groundhogs here in Pa can get plenty big!

steve

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the replies. I think it will be fun to take my .303 Ruger No.1 out into the bushveld when it gets done. I think I'll put a 24-26" barrel on it, which will give me 2250 fps with 215 gr. Woodleighs, or 2450 fps if I use the .303 Epps.

I know from experience how well those long bullets penetrate on plains game, and I think it will be a classy combination.

Not too sure how much DG that I'll hunt with the .470 when it gets done (years from now, probably), since I have a Ruger .416 Rigby, but I'll probably have to try it at least once.

I think if I was to get a single shot .45-70, it would be a NEF Handi-Rifle to ride around in the truck.