If you are going to be forced to use an inferior rifle for DG, would you rather have a push-feed bolt action or a single shot?

Which one would you pick? Why?

This is just a fun exercise in what-if.

(if you don't want to play, that's fine)

Bob.

Well, as long as this is a fun exercise. Either one would do, provided it is chambered in an appropriate cartridge.

Guns & Ammo magazine brought out a specialty book on big bore rifles authored by the late Jack Lott. One chapter was devoted to single shot rifles in large calibers as "stopping guns". He felt that a shooter practiced in shooting a single shot rifle would be well armed with (his example) a Ruger #1 in .375 H&H or .458 Win. mag.

The late John Taylor stated in his book AFRICAN RIFLES AND CARTRIDGES that when ever he was hunting lions exclusively, he was "armed with a single loader." He gave one example where he took on three lions at rather close range on a small island, IIRC.

So, if I had to make a choice, I'd take my Ruger #1, either the .404 Jeffery or preferably the .416 Rigby and not worry overmuch.
I already hunt with singles shot rifle, so using the Rigby would not mean any transition from one action to the other.

Paul B.

That's "qualified" easy one for me: push feed. Qualified with the following parameters:
No thin, sheet metal extractors
No glued on bolt handles
No fail on fire safeties.
There are a few rifles that meet this criteria;
Weatherby
Colt Sauer
Post-64 Model 70
Sako


How's that? jorge

Honestly RangerBob I'd be very happy with either, I have a perpencity towards singles so depending on the rifle I may just go this way.

MD

I think you'd have a MUCH better chance of a quick second shot with the PF. While I'm not an expert on all types of single shots, their extraction power is often lacking in my experience. Get a hot load in hot African sun and you might REALLY have a single shot. Most PFs will extract mildly stuck cases without much trouble in my experience.

I'd take a push-feed any day of the week over a single-shot. I've hunted many times with PF post-64 Model 70s, Remington 700s, and Weatherby Mark Vs, and all of these have provided good service. I'm a controlled-feed advocate and user, but I've used the others enough to have had very few complaints, and fine results for the most part.

I see single-shots as novelty rifles; they're for the guy who's sick of bolt guns and wants something different.......

AD

ruger no 1's have very positive extraction and I wouldn't be concerned about exraction. If I had a guide for backup I wouldn't be concerned about backup.

I have seen people reload a Ruger #1 faster than most can work a bolt. If I was good enough
I would take my #1 in 458 Lott.
Gene

If I'm using a bow, is it a push feed or a single shot?

Vapodog....yes.

In the spirit of philosophical discussions I will say I feel strongly both ways. I'm not especially terrified of the thought of defending myself with a PF, and have used a wad of single shots. In the case of the #1 my only caveat would be iron sights as a scope will hinder reloading. Break action guns such at the NEF Handi-Rifle can dispense 5 aimed shots within about 15-20 seconds. For the unfamiliar amongst you having a single shot in your hands does not necessarily equate to slow rates of fire, or even leisurely for that matter. I do think the idea of carrying a "hot load" to Africa is as silly as carrying one in the southerly latitudes of the US in the summer.

vapodog - when using a bow you'res supposed to pull the string back - not push it forward

A single shot, one of those with the extra barrel on the side.

I think that a good single shot is the perfect trainer rifle, teach 'um to make every shot count.

Thanks everybody!

Interesting responses, one and all.

Tally seems to be:

Push Feed - three votes
Single Shot - four votes
Either - two votes
Double Rifle - one vote (though this was not an option)

FWIW - I don't think I would mind hunting with any type of rifle so long as I had long experience with it and knew it would not fail . . . and I had plenty of practice.

Thanks,

Bob.

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
That's "qualified" easy one for me: push feed. Qualified with the following parameters:
No thin, sheet metal extractors
No glued on bolt handles
No fail on fire safeties.
There are a few rifles that meet this criteria;
Weatherby
Colt Sauer
Post-64 Model 70
Sako

JORGE YOUR RIGGER AGREES!

D99: You know if there is ONE person I trust implicitly in my line of work, it's you guys and AMEs. I had no doubts that if it ever came time to pull the handle, everything would work as advertised. THANKS for being there. jorge