ok, here's the deal, hopefully going to Namibia to hunt with Vaughan Fulton this summer sometime (my summer, their winter), and had generally assumed that I would pick up the 375H&H I'd been eyeing... a Model 70 Safari Express... but, I was perusing the gun racks yesterday while getting my 10/22 bore-sighted (long story, I was 2 clisks off vertically and only 6 or 7 horizontally, I just couldn't get a good rest to really feel good about the prints)... and well, anyway, I saw my first Ruger No. 1.... mmmmmm, single shot... half the price....
what do you guys think, No. 1, or Model 70???
I'm very very very torn. one interesting thing, the Ruger SEEMED to have a shorter barrel, despite its greater/similar weight... how much effect would that have on velocity?
thanks for the input! (I know you guys can't help it!)
First off I'd be curious to know what was on the menu. If big nasty stuff is I'd probably think 2x about the #1. If it isn't then I'd hop on it in a heartbeat.
I had one in 375 I loved the rifle wish to heck I still had it--wonder if my x wife still has it----guess I won't go there--you get the point though-eh.
"GET TO THE HILL"
Dogz
Posts: 879 | Location: Bozeman,Montana USA | Registered: 31 October 2001
thanks... the menu is generally limited to plains game, and it will be used for some select north american beasts as well (Bison, Elk, Moose).
At this stage in my life, DG just really isn't a good idea... starting a family and all sometime this year (adopting).
that said, I'm never opposed to just making additions to the toy box!
EDIT: We'll also have a 30-06, 35 whelen, and maybe a 257wby vanguard with us... that's pretty much the whole collection... we've got too many shotguns!
If that is the case then I'd be all over the #1-mine shot the X bullets well. It is a wonderful gun! A thought would be to get yourself a wrist sweat band like the roundball players use or used to use and practice shooting and getting rounds out of it to reload faster (make sense?)
Congrats on starting a family-how old of a child are you adopting?
Lastly I'd opt for taking the #1 and the 06 and leaving the rest. Just my thoughts-even though I know you didn't ask for them.
"GET TO THE HILL"
Dogz
Posts: 879 | Location: Bozeman,Montana USA | Registered: 31 October 2001
Quote: Congrats on starting a family-how old of a child are you adopting?
hopefully an infant... we're trying our hand at the domestic route (international is $$$$$$$), hopefully things go well, we've got meetings with several agencies over the next two months (have already had several as well!) and THANKS!
we'll at least take three.. the whelen and 30-06 are both Mausers, so that's nice and interchangeable. I'm going to go have a look-see at the No. 21 this afternoon... I'm way intrigued.
Quote: You might want to look at the Ruger RSM also.Nice guns for the money.
its a No. 1 or a Model 70 Safari Express, the RSM is too much money... nice gun though. the No. 1 is tempting because I get get one NEW for under $500... so, yeah, that's nice!
oh, and I went back to the store today.... mmmmmm, drool....
we'll just have to see how the money comes in.
are they fairly easy to load? seems simple enough, but with the big-assed trigger locks and other stuff all over the gun (stinking non-specialty stores), its tough to tell. I've been loading an SKB/Ithica O/U my whole life and am quite proficient with that as well as many other action types (never really sorted out the whole "pump" thing), so assuming there are no acrobatics required I SHOULD be OK... and the money is just good!
Given what you've said, I'd go with the #1. If I wanted a repeater, I'd look for a Mark X Whitworth or Alaskan or a CZ550 or ZKK-602, or even a pre-64 M-70 "shooter".
Posts: 9487 | Location: Texas Hill Country | Registered: 11 January 2002
I hunted with Vaughan in 2002......your 30-06 and 35 Whelen will do everything you need. I'd also advise against taking 3 or 4 rifles, you are only allowed 2 rifles per case and 2 separate rifle cases are really going to cut into your luggage allowance! You won't be taking more than 2 rifles into the field anyway because there won't be enough room in the truck. Trust me, you won't need more than 2 rifles and dealing with the extra baggage will not be something you will enjoy!
Posts: 1499 | Location: NE Okla | Registered: 22 May 2002
If you're serious about hunting Africa, buy a bolt gun. The Winchester Model 70 is an excellent one to start with. As soon as you buy it, take it to your local 'smith and have him bed it and do a trigger job. I like my big bores at around 2 lbs. A number 1 is a nice rifle but if you're ever even thinking about DG having the additional rounds in the mag instead of your pocket, hands (where you can drop 'em in the heat of battle) or shell carrier(on you or the gun) is much more comforting. I've been there, done it 8 times and feel that if you're saving your hard-earned money to go to Africa, don't leave anything to chance. The money you save now may come back to haunt you later!
