If one leaves the truck with a double over your shoulder and a belt full of it's ammo and a smaller caliber bolt gun on a trackers shoulder where and how are you carry the ammo for the bolt gun?

Zephyr, there are three ways to carry depending on how the two rifles are carried. One way is to have two rifles chambered for the same round like a double rifle and a single shot scoped rifle. I this way if a long shot, or one that needs to be threaded though a small opening in the bush to the vitals the double can be unloaded and traded for the scoped single shot. With a usual double rifle carry with a soft in the right barrel and a solid in the left, you have an instant choice of bullet types, and the tracker is never carrying a loaded rifle.

The above is something that I did for some years! However I think you mean a bolt rifle and a double! In that case there are two ways. The shooter carries one of the rifles loaded and ready (usually the double) with a belt for that rifle and the tracker carries the bolt with the belt for that one, or a buttstock shell holder for ten rounds. The rifle’s magazine full but chamber empty.

Today my safari pair are a pair of double rifles, one in a large chambering, and the other in a smaller chambering , but large enough to take the place of the big bore if anything happens to either rifle. In this case I carry an ammo belt with two ten round slides, one for each rifle, and placed on opposite sides of the belt. If I’m carrying the big bore I turn the belt so the ammo for that one in front, and if the smaller one the belt is turned so that one is in front. Extra ammo for both carried by a tracker along with the rifle I’m not carrying unloaded!

I hope this is at least as clear as African mud!
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The best way that I have found is that I carry my double and have its ammo in my belt. Tracker carried my scoped bolt gun with three in the mag and a nylon 6 round shell holder on the stock. Mine has a full flap to protect the cartridges and to keep them from falling out. No confusion about which rounds for which gun and there is always plenty available. It worked out great!

Exactly like JCS said. I carry my Double with it's ammo on my belt. Then my scoped backup, (in the past a bolt in 375 H&H or preferably 416 Rigby, but now currently a Double 9.3X74R), in a nylon or leather ammo carrier securely affixed to the butt stock of the gun.

The Double and it's ammo carried like this:



The Backup and it's ammo carried like this:

Zephyr

Every one of my rifles has a buttstock shell holder. There is never a worry about where the extra ammo is. This may not be "Classic" but neither is "Where the !@#$ is my ammo".

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

Today my safari pair are a pair of double rifles, one in a large chambering, and the other in a smaller chambering , but large enough to take the place of the big bore if anything happens to either rifle. In this case I carry an ammo belt with two ten round slides, one for each rifle, and placed on opposite sides of the belt. If I’m carrying the big bore I turn the belt so the ammo for that one in front, and if the smaller one the belt is turned so that one is in front. Extra ammo for both carried by a tracker along with the rifle I’m not carrying unloaded!


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I don't know Mac. 14 Rounds of 500NE on one side and 14 Rounds of 577NE on the other is going to get really heavy. Better hit the Gym, eh!

I have the trackers carry extra ammo for a second rifle that may be accompanying us into the bush in one of their backpacks-already in an ammo belt rolled up and placed in the backpack. I always have ammo belts ready to go for any rifle that is on the truck and going out with me. If the extra gun stays in the truck, so does the ammo belt for that rifle. If I switch guns, I switch ammo belts.

Thanks.... Been toying with two belts or ammo front and back but did not want to carry the extra wieght, had not considered the carrier for the butt stock.

quote:

Originally posted by Zephyr:
Thanks.... Been toying with two belts or ammo front and back but did not want to carry the extra wieght, had not considered the carrier for the butt stock.

Spend a few minutes and look for one that has a flap to cover the rounds, well worth the extra $3!

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

Today my safari pair are a pair of double rifles, one in a large chambering, and the other in a smaller chambering , but large enough to take the place of the big bore if anything happens to either rifle. In this case I carry an ammo belt with two [B]TEN]/B] round slides, one for each rifle, and placed on opposite sides of the belt. If I’m carrying the big bore I turn the belt so the ammo for that one in front, and if the smaller one the belt is turned so that one is in front. Extra ammo for both carried by a tracker along with the rifle I’m not carrying unloaded!


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I don't know Mac. 14 Rounds of 500NE on one side and 14 Rounds of 577NE on the other is going to get really heavy. Better hit the Gym, eh!

Damn Todd with 14 rounds of 500, and 14 rounds of 577 you would need an ATV not walking shoes!

I use TEN round of 470NE, and ten rounds of 9.3X74, not 14 rounds of either. and it is not too heavy!

When I use a 375H&H bolt rifle to back up my 470NE I do as most here have stated! My light bolt rifle will carry the ammo for that one in a buttstock ten round carrier, with the magazine of the rifle loaded, but the chamber empty. The double is different for a reason that may be unique to me.

The reason the bolt rifle uses a butt stock carrier is because of the way I load any double rifle is different from how I load a bolt rifle.

I load any double rifle with the LEFT HAND, from two rounds on the back of my right hand, and/or from a belt! The bolt rifle I load with the RIGHT HAND from the butt stock.

For two double rifles I find ten rounds of each caliber to be more usful to ME, This way the double rifle the tracker is carrying is UNLOADED, and I have the ammo. so either way the tracker carried rifle has empty chambers.

This is just a personal thing I have found to work well for ME, but others can work out their own system that works best for them. Any way you do it is personal to you, but no matter how you do it, enjoy it, because the fact that you are doing it is what really counts! Whish I was twenty years younger I'd be doing it a lot more than I have been for the last 7 or 8 years!

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Hey Mac,

I was just jerking a knot in your tail about the 500 and 577! This October will be my first time to take two doubles instead of a Double and a Bolt.

I still think I'll put a butt stock carrier on the 9.3X74R as it will be a back up rifle to the 577. I agree with your description of how best to load the double but in the capacity I'll be using it for, I think the butt stock method will work fine for the small gun. I've found that with my back issues, carrying the big bore ammo in front on a belt is harder on me than carrying the rifle itself. May have to move the rounds to the side instead for long haul tracking.

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:
Hey Mac,

I've found that with my back issues, carrying the big bore ammo in front on a belt is harder on me than carrying the rifle itself. May have to move the rounds to the side instead for long haul tracking.

I agree one always has to modify because of changes in health or handicap changes. I too have a permanent back injury, and had to often carry a smaller concealed handgun because it would make my low back sore, and some times cause nerve pain in my right leg. I normally carry a Kimber Pro Carry 45 acp in an IWB holster. When I gets to bothering me, I have to switch to a little S&W chief special, or a small Berretta .380APC. SO, I can see where the ammo being very heavy effecting your back on long walks.

I really do not like a butt stock carrier on a double rifle because it effects the balance of the rifle too much and to even out the balance to your hips with the belt what ever works best for you is the way to go! In any event, good luck on your upcoming safari with your new 577NE. That baby should do the trick!
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One thought on a butt stock carrier, I shoot a right handed bolt left handed, if I use a butt stock carrier that will make the rifle unusable for any right hand shooter I feel anyone in a shooting party should be able to pick up a rifle and be able to use it if the occasion is arises.

Looks like everyone else goes to war - I go hunting.
I carry 375 scoped rifle and tracker carrys 470 double.
I have a bullet pouch on the front of my belt with eight 375s in it and one on the back with eight 470s.
I cant imagine why you would ever need more.

quote:

Originally posted by Zephyr:
One thought on a butt stock carrier, I shoot a right handed bolt left handed, if I use a butt stock carrier that will make the rifle unusable for any right hand shooter I feel anyone in a shooting party should be able to pick up a rifle and be able to use it if the occasion is arises.

I do the same as Todd's pics above. Being a left handed shooter, I have had to pick up and shoot a right handed rifle with a buttstcok carrier in an pinch - it was doable, but uncomfortable, and I only really noticed after the fact. If you walk around the side of the tent and run into a brown bear, you won't notice. In an emergency, it will work.

quote:

Originally posted by R.Jolly:
Looks like everyone else goes to war - I go hunting.
I carry 375 scoped rifle and tracker carrys 470 double.
I have a bullet pouch on the front of my belt with eight 375s in it and one on the back with eight 470s.
I cant imagine why you would ever need more.

RJolly, I think you are well fixed for the amount of ammo you carry! That is 16 rounds total and even if you run dry for one rifle, the other rifle will finish the day’s walk. This si the reason that one’s light rifle should be large enough to be legal to take the place of the big rifle should something happen to the big boy and/or you run dry of ammo for one or the other.

What you carry is only 4 rounds total less than what I carry. I just happen to have two 10 round slides, so I see no reason to leave those four slots empty, when a buffalo or elephant can, on occasion, take ten or twelve rounds and still have fight left in him, and the hunting car is often miles away, if your ammo is in the car.

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Trackers often double up as pack mules

quote:

Originally posted by Zephyr:
One thought on a butt stock carrier, I shoot a right handed bolt left handed, if I use a butt stock carrier that will make the rifle unusable for any right hand shooter I feel anyone in a shooting party should be able to pick up a rifle and be able to use it if the occasion is arises.

Well if you are having the tracker carry an extra ammo belt and an emergency arises, the belt may not be anywhere near the rifle and it WILL be the wrong size for anyone else that picks it up in an emergency. You have to draw the line somewhere!

I did say 'trackers' of whom one or more stay up front while porters follow up the rear at a distance.
It would be up to the shooter to have enough sense to be within reach of the tracker carrying his goodies and besides, if the job hasn't been done with between 15-20 rounds plus what the PH contributes to the cause, I would suggest that person should seriously take up playing golf instead.