I've always enjoyed hunting with single shot rifles, and was planning to take a Ruger #1 in .375 on my African hunt this year. I'm very familiar with this gun and quite comfortable with it....but I can't help but wonder if a bolt gun wouldn't make more sense in that situation. I'm thinking of the fact that I won't be alone (I usually hunt solo) and I can't see carrying around a gun with a loaded chamber with people in front of and behind me. With the bolt gun I could have a loaded magazine and load the chamber when the shot presented itself. The single is quick to reload, but that assumes that I'm prepared. I don't think that I want to walk around with a totally empty gun all day and then jump to load it at the last moment.

I've read the threads on the "African carry" and the various thoughts on that, and I worry about the safety in this situation, no matter what carry position the gun is in. How about it? Is it practical to go around empty and load only at the last second? Or should I just take the bolt gun? Opinions?

BTW this gun will be for plains game only, no DG.

John

If you use a single shot more often then your probably best to stick with it.
Haven't met an African guide that doesn't recommend a loaded rifle on safety whilst hunting.
"When in Rome " works well in this case.

If you are comfortable with a single shot rifle. Then that's what you should take.

Talk to your PH about safety and when you should load the rifle and when not.

Best would be to put a round in the chamber just before the final shot.

I would not recommend hunting with a round in the chamber with a magazine rifle as well. I just do not trust safeties on rifles.

Rather be save than sorry

For all except 2 of the 20 or so African animals I've taken, I've used single shot firearms.

I've also always had my guns with a round in the chamber but then I'm using crappy guns (Encore, Contender and Blaser) that are safe to carry that way.

Jwm, Take the 375 and you will not look back. As for an empty chamber never... If I am hunting the rifle is loaded. Safety awareness is more important to me then carrying an empty rifle. My policy is once we all get together in a group I alway open up bolt, crack open double. If dark empty till shooting light, and after the hunt empty walking out.

Mike

normally you take 2 guns if for no other reason that you might have trouble with 1. so why not take both

I hunted in Africa with a Ruger No. 1 in 416 Rem. because I like the rifle and it what I had at the time. Practice reloading without taking your eye off what your shooting. I made a wrist band that held two rounds to reload quickly.

I carried mine loaded after leaving the vehicle, like my PH said, an empty gun makes a nice club.

It is very common when hunting elephant, buffalo, or hippo for the game not to drop at the first shot. You need repeat follow-on shots. I would never hunt such animals with a single shot rifle.

In Africa I always carried my rifle with the chamber loaded. I never point it at another human. Most of the time it is slung over my right shoulder with my right hand controling where it points in case I fall.

There are some who don't like slings. I like them.

Thanks for the opinions. I'm somewhat amazed at the number of experienced African hands who agree that a loaded chamber, safety on, is a common carry. I often hunt this way alone, but I didn't think that PH's would be fond of the idea.

Just to clarify: I am taking two rifles, one a .416 Rigby bolt for buffalo, the other a .375H&H in either bolt or single (my dilemna), for plains game in a different safari area. My brain is saying "bolt" but my heart is saying "Are you nuts? You love that #1!"

It's just a question of which organ I should listen to. Don't you hate when that happens?

Thanks for the info. It is definitely going to help make up my mind.

John

Take the Ruger No1. Carry chamber loaded safety on.

I carry my Doubles that way... And with 2 loaded barrels that makes them TWICE as Dangerous.

No accidents so far.

JWM,

I've hunted with a Ruger No. 1 in 7x57 and with an old Webley single shot rebarreled to use either a .375H&H flanged or a 300 H&H flanged. Also hunt with medium or DG doubles and, on rare occasion, with a bolt rifle in ,.375. In EVERY case, the PH wants one up the spout when in the bush (and so do I). Quite apart from dangerous game country, you don't want to be messing with loading when the games afoot...

Safety is uppermost but a function of where the barrel points.

Regards, Tim

I hunted buff and pg with a single shot Encore in 2007. I had no problems on the hunt, but I was lucky. I was very picky about my shots on buff and would not take the head on shot. I killed 2 with 2 shots, but they were good broadside shots. I had an extraction problem on the 2nd buff, and that was a bad feeling.

I think singles are fine for plainsgame. I am taking a .300 Encore to Namibia this year and will shoot some stuff with it, but I want more than one shot from now on - on dangerous game.

Like stated above, take your single and a bolt gun. It's just as easy to take 2 guns as one...

Take your Ruger No.1 with confidence. Keep it loaded. Use normal gun saftey handling rules. No different than a double, no different than an express, no different than a bolt.

Thanks Gents!

I spent an hour behind the barn with both .375's this afternoon, shooting over sticks. No doubt about it...the #1 is on its way to Africa, just as I intended when I bought it 15 years ago.

John

Good for you. You will not regret your decision. Sounds like you shoot it well enough to have confidence in it. I let some "experts" talk me out of taking a single on my first safari many years ago. I have always regretted that.

It's a matter of personal preferance and also the PH's personal preferance.

I like one up and three down.

A bolt rifle is of course a far more practical weapon for hunting.

I'm sure you knew that but went ahead and bought your one shooter anyway. Just like the rest of us who own and hunt with single shot rifles in the 21st century.

Just have to shoot straight, right?