What type of shell holders do those going on safari use. A belt type or the holder that slips on to the belt. How about the number of shells carried in the holder (6, 8, 10 or more). Does it make a difference if its say a 416 vs a 450 NE for example as to the number of rounds carried. As a novice I want to be prepared.

If you search for this you will find a couple thousand posts! Every shape and size has been recommended from a mason jar to three over-the-shoulder bandoliers. Take your pick.

A 20 round belt has served me well.

Any others?

I like the 10 round slip on the belt type made by Murray Leather. The ones with the elastic loops seem best to me.

BigB

When on Safari and I will be switching between guns I like the Murray Leather 15 round ammo belts.

When hunting where I will not be switching between guns I use Murray shell holders on my pants belt.

Also most of my rifles have Murray buttstock ell carriers on them.

Lately I have also been using a couple of 2 round carriers with my 9,3x74Rx20ga Blaser D 99 Duo from Africase Leather I got from Aleko at Heritage Arms.

I bought a couple of the five-shot wallets that slip on your belt from Aleko Jensen (Heritage Arms). They are much nicer, in my opinion, than the Murrays (I also have one of those to compare to). They are called Africases I believe.

Heritage Arms
7045 South State Street #9
SLC, Utah 84047
www.heritagearms.net
801-562-2486

This rig has been in use since 1996.
Uncle Mikes

It ain't fancy, it just gets the job done!

The Best of the best - Africase:



www.heritagearms.net

I have owned cartridge carriers from Wesltley Richards, Murray Leather, Cape Outfitters and others, and IMO the Africase holders are by the best.

There are not many things that 500grains and I disagree on, but I really like the Westley Richards belt shell holders. Maybe it's because I prefer the open holder and 500 likes the closed top. There is no question that the closed top keeps more dirt etc out of the shell holder but it is also slower getting ammo out. I had rather get dirt off of ammo than have someone try to separate me from the dirt some ele stomped me into.

These are the best I've seen.



From Galco International

Kyler

mufasa, the reason I like my Africase carriers better than my WR is that the Africase carriers feature thicker leather and heavier duty stitching. Africase has an open top carrier too, although I understand why people would like a culling belt style carrier as well. In fact I carried a WR culling belt in Sep of this year on an ele hunt because that was the only carrier I had that fit a .505.

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
This rig has been in use since 1996.
Uncle Mikes

It ain't fancy, it just gets the job done!

Thanks Rusty, you have saved me from taking a photo of mine to post.

This is the one I have been using every year since 1993, and it works great! I have two 10 round holders - actually I can only squeeze 9 rounds of my 357/404 into each holder.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
This rig has been in use since 1996.
Uncle Mikes

It ain't fancy, it just gets the job done!

Thanks Rusty, you have saved me from taking a photo of mine to post.

This is the one I have been using every year since 1993, and it works great! I have two 10 round holders - actually I can only squeeze 9 rounds of my 357/404 into each holder.

Well, it's unanimous. Rusty, Saeed and I recommend the same rig.

And as usual Rusty has saved me from posting a picture of mine for the umpteenth time.

I have all kinds of fancier leather, canvas, and elastic goo-gaws, but none as pleasing as this nylon and elastic rig from Uncle Mike.

In Alaska in 1986 we all used these to hold down our Bianchi Ranger rigs for toting .454 Casull revolvers. Mine has been with me for 20 years.

Where can we buy a leather belt similar to the one above? There is a saddlemaker I know who will soon make me a rifle sling/carrying strap.I might get him to make me a cartridge belt.

Of course, you must buy the most expensive holder you can find. The elcheapos you buy at Walmart or Cabelas are certainly not as good as the custom made ones.

Not that I would ever want to have anything that RIP endorses, a cloth or nylon shell belt, is better. When leather gets wet it stays that way for a long time, and they corrode brass.

Though I can't afford a WR rifle, their canvas cloth belts are the best. But the cheapies from WalMart will do, especially if you want just one belt and are switching cartridges on one safari. They'll hold just about anything.

And I think Mickey uses them as bandoliers.

I have three Galco belt "wallets" ie the ones with the fold over flap, a couple of Westley Richards of the same type, a Galco eight round foldover pouch, and a couple twenty round Westley Richards culling belts (Will, bought on a special ).

They all work for the purpose depending on the type of hunt.

I want a couple of bandoliers however too.

I reccomend the 5 shot wallet type. I have two and I wear them on either side,one on each hip. I like the balance this gives me and I like to lean on them when taking a quick rest stop. I strongly suggest staying away from any of the double stacked wallets as they stick out from the waist too far.. Just my $.02 or about $120 Zim.

I use all kinds of belts, and carriers, but for the double rifle shooter, the little two shot "DOUBLE DUTY" made by Galco (some one above posted a link to Galco) is a handy little gadgit. I wear mine in front of the carrier on my belt, and with the flick of a thumb, the gadgit drops two rounds into the palm of you hand! I have a few things from AFRICASE,the ones with two rounds, a space, the two rounds, a space, then two more, and so on, and a couple from UNCLE MIKE, and A couple pocket wallets from Westley Richards. My favorite, however,is a canvas culling belt, with one DOUBLE DUTY on my left hip.

"Uncle Mike's!? We ain't got no nylon. We don't need no nylon! I ain't gonna use any stinking nylon!"

My amigos and I use only Murray leather cartridge holders on dedicated 1 3/4 inch Murray leather belts (or bandoliers).

Last week I didn't even know how to spell bandolier, now I use one.

I started with a 5 shell holder for my 465 double-not enough ammo. Went to two-still not enough ammo. Tried a 20 round nylon belt but found it weighed a ton after a long hike in the bundu. The last couple of years I have used a Westley Richards culling belt and it is amazingly comfortable. I find that I now sometimes forget it is there when I return to the vehicle and don't realize it is still on until I get back to camp.

465H&H

I like the Uncle Mikes myself. There is another cheap option available; the plastic shell holder in the box of Federal ammo.

Dave

I must be the last person in the world to carry my ammo in my pockets.

mike

Is it too much to ask for a simple 10 dollar leather cartridge belt similar to the ones that are used for shotshells.It seems we got to dish out a couple of hundred dollars these days and go nuts looking for one.

I use these ones for 9,3x74R and 375 H&H.

I use two who holds 6 rounds, and one who holds 10 rounds.
I think they are made for allmost any calibre.

Making the right decision on your cartridge carrying system is very important. Of course you'll have your rifle to carry, binoculars are a must, a flashlight is a must and possibly a small digital camera. Gear management is critical. I have a small day pack along for all my extra items.

Your cartridge carrier should:

1) Not allow the cartridges to glare off sunlight
2) Not allow the cartridges to rattle.
3) Be thorn resistant.
4) Be comfortable to wear.
5) Be weather resistant to stretching.
6) Be as quite as possible opening.
7) Not allow cartridges to scratch your rifle.

Mine is a 10-round belt pouch with snap flap that has a Cordura nylon shell with a stitched suede liner and individual elastic holders inside the suede pouches. It has a leather belt loop rivited to the Cordura. It was not expensive and has functioned very well over the years.

The VERY BEST I have ever seen are the ones that are hand made by AR member and PH Brad Rolston out of cape buffalo hide. They are individually hand made and are hand stitched (although you would swear that they were made in the finest leather shop in the world) and will last a number of lifetimes. He is in the process of making three of them for me. He also makes belts, knife scabbards, etc. etc. I too have owned most of those discussed and listed in this thread, so I speak with experience in saying that Brad's are the ultimate in ammo carriers and belts.

The original post seems to ask about carriers for doubles, but I am not a double man (yet) so my comments pertain to bolt actions.

As an addicted collector of anything I could possibly use on a hunt, I have every possible shell carrier out there, including Africase, WR and a rig similar to Saeed's and RIP's.

For a while I used the 5 cartride open case on the belt, worn forward. The I got the WR belt, but discovered it is made to strap on above one's normal belt line, and for me, also over the largest part of my anatomy- my gut, so it was small for me, and I sweated inderneath it, although it felt very stylin to wear..

After a while the belt wallets annoyed me- digging into my---gut---when sitting in the truck and when crawling through the bush. And banging against my rifle, no matter where they were worn, when walking.

Now, like Aussie Mike, I just put a shell in each pocket, on e always has a minimum of four pockets, sometime six, plus four in the rifle, that is ten, so it is plenty.

One does need a lot of ammo at the times least expected. A couple of weeks ago I was hunting and it was freakin HOT! No ammo belt, but I popped a warthog, and he dropped, but it was scooting around in a circle trying to get up and make his getaway. Bam, Bam Bam...and my rifle was empty. He was still scooting around and I was out of ammo! Since it was only a warthog and we stalked it for about 100 yards from the truck, the PH did bring his rifle and spare ammo and his rifle were not close at hand.

Imagine the conversation- why won't this thing just die? You are out of ammo? Hmmmm..Feeling around for my knife to do the rambo kill, and since, I dug around and found another round in my pocket. Got up close and personal with the hog and finished him.

So based on my own experience, I should always carry the ammo wallet, but don't. I am always on the look out for shirts that have ammo slots inside the pockets, eliminates glare, but even these are a pain because they weigh down that pocket and make you feel like an old hag with one droopy tit.

I really don't like most of the ammo wallets and belts because they are uncomfortable, but especially with doubles and DG, they seem necessary......

404Jeffery, sounds like what you need is a DGR with a 40 round clip!

This one from Cabelas is made by Boyt, so, even if reasonably priced the quality is better than average.

Les

Les,

I bought one of those out of curiosity some time back. The cartridge holder itself would be fine if one sewed it across the bottom so that the cartridge heads stuck up higher and if one sewed it to the belt so it didn't slide around and up and down.

Or just buy a WR canvas belt and be done with it!

Mac

Some days it feels that way! Woe is me

500 grains,I took your advice and just ordered one of those Africases for a 300WM.She looks like a good shellholder! I based my decision on the feeling that I don't want to carry too many cartridges around my waste.I also do not want them to show because they will make me look like a cowboy or warrior.I go for the flap cover to prevent debris from contacting the cartridges.I do not need too many cartridges by my side because when it comes too shooting game I am a shooting ballerina.When I hunted with my father this fall he was impressed by the way I conservatively shot my rounds at game.Over years it has always been a round for each animal garaunteed.So,with five rounds in the Africase I will be able to shoot 5 charging lions.If there are six then he can eat me because in life you just got to take chances.A happy new year to my AR family.

When we sat down and worked out the Africase designs, the greatest concern was quality. My original Africases have been on countless safaris, and hunts overseas. They work. Thank you for all the wonderful comments

Aleko