Just wanted some opinions from guys with experience. I'm interested in hunting DG with one of my #1's but am curious if you guys think I'm out of my mind? I would have a ph for backup of course. I have a good many big boomers in all shapes and sizes but have a interest in using a single shot. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Go for it. Sounds like fun. I used to be very fast with a number 1 in 416. I am quicker with a bolt

As long as you have back up, go for it. You can probably load a #1 almost as fast as a bolt gun anyway, I can.

I hunted buffalo in Tanzania with a Rger No. 1 in a 416 Rem.

Practice reloading and have a wrist band to hold extra rounds. It is not as fast as a bolt but it is adequate.

Now elephant in the thick jess......I would rather have my double.

I shot my leopard with a #1 in 9,3x74R.

Only used half of a .470 double for buffalo #2.

Does that count?

I was thinking of using my 416 rigby. I can load it pretty quick. Dont know how quick in a sticky situation. One way to find out.

Better make it in 577 NE

RPW,

Have you ever had extraction problems with your #1???

I shot a 375 for several years and used it as a saddle gun in pacific NW elk hunting. Handy little rifle with a 3 X Luepold, but the extractor had a madening way of slipping over the rim of the ctg.

I had to carry a cleaning rod w me, so I had a muzzle loading single shot. sort of!

That would be my only concern.

Posatives are light, long barrel for length, and handy, as you know already.

Elmer Keith, who I knew slightly, had his ss made up on 375 Flanged brass, so extraction was posative.

This was a 338 x 375 flanged and he and his wife both shot that rifle very well.

I would maybe follow his lead on that for DG.

(Believe it or not, this was their antelope rifle! 250 sierra BT at 2700 fps had same come ups as 172 grain match ammo in 30-06, which Elmer was used too).

You cant make this stuff up!!!

Andy

I shot an ele with a single shot. My advice is to be sure to practice rapid reloading WITHOUT taking your eyes off the game (unlike me). I shot, looked down, remounted the gun, and saw the east end of 4 westbound elephants crashing away from use, making me hesitate a second to make sure I shot the correct one!
bob

Have not had any extraction problems yet. Maybe I'll try and buy the 450 nitro my buddy just got. More of a rim on that one. I love that gun. Probably gonna cost me though.

Well, that's what my son and I are doing, in early August. We are both taking ruger no. 1s to hunt cow cape buff, hippo, and tuskless ele.


maddog

MD

You are not a Mad Dog, you are a lucky dog, Your time is getting short!!!!!!

Andy,
I have the alleged king of over-pressured cartridges in my No 1, a 416 Rem. I never had an extraction problem in Africa or Louisiana where it is usually much hotter.

One other good thing about a No 1 is no feeding problems just like a double (or one of Michael458s Winchesters) and you can shoot any bullet you want.

It will work but it's never the best option as some of the above posts mention.

If you make the first shot count then there is no problem. I single shot will usually make you shoot better, or at least be sure of your shot.

I have never hunted anything that I would consider dangerous, but I have over the years owned 2 Ruger No.1's.

Am looking at another one as I write this. I ended up getting rid of both the ones I had, simply because no matter how good a shot a person is, things sometimes go wobbly. When that happens with a white tail or pronghorn ot may not be a really big deal. A hurt and pissed off anything big enough to kill you is a different matter, and having a quick back up shot could mean the difference in going home in the first class section of the plane enjoying a drink, or in a box in the cargo hold. JMO.

I know there are several used by hunters in the Boddington on Buffalo 2 video - including one by Boddington himself. Not that he's the authority on all things, and it's clear he's getting some payola from Ruger (and several other companies). But, if you want to see some used on Buff you can take a look at that video.

I know I've had no time to put a second shot into either of the buffalo I've shot, so a single wouldn't have been an issue on follow up. We did have some bulls come back though the jesse on one buffalo after my bull was down and got to within about 10 yards. They were looking for some retribution, and if things would have gotten more sticky than that, a single would, I suppose I would have been at a bit of a disadvantage with a single.

Well, to add a little more to my above post. We are hunting together[father/son], 2x1. We are both taking ruger no. 1s, in 375 H&H mag. He is using Hornady factory loads, 300 gr. DGX and DGS. I'm using handloads, with hornady brass, using the same bullets. He is using a 2-7x leupold, for a cow buff and the hippo. I'm using a 1-4x leupie, with heavy duplex cross hairs, and Warne QD mounts for a cow buff, and either it or irons for the tuskless ele. Neither of us have any qualms about our setups.


Mad Dog

Did it in Zim in the Omay in 04. My son and i both took and buffalo and an impala with one Ruger #1 in .405 Win. No problems whatsoever.....never felt at a disadvantage, but then I've been hunting with single shots for more than 20 years.

Go for it! I love my No.1 in .450Nitro and will definately use it for buffalo (already killed a black bear with it).

Have fun,good luck.

I'm loving what I'm hearing. Now if I can get that 450 I'll be happy. All this #1 talk has got me wound up. Thanks guys.

Take the #1, practice, and don't sweat it. I have been hunting with a Sharps for over 20 years, and plan on Cape Buffalo with my 45-110 in 2012.

As I recall the 450 nitro has either the largest or thickest rim of the rimmed ctgs, doesnt it?

I dont have any reference books with me, but the double I handled in SA, which belonged to Krugers head veterinarian, impressed me that way.

Hope you get it, as you can still use your 375 for PG and DG backup. Without that bulky bolt 2 number ones would pack in a travel case neatly.

Ive only hunted elephant once but recommend a dedicated elephant rifle with peep sight, very few scopes have enough field of view if you are real close, which a good PH will get you.

(130 feet with Swarovski 1.1 x 6). I think the Luepolds are just half of that.

Andy

Or you could try this:

http://www.reedercustomguns.co...rifles/megabeast.htm

quote:

Originally posted by Andy:
As I recall the 450 nitro has either the largest or thickest rim of the rimmed ctgs, doesnt it?

Andy

The 450/400 has the thickest rim.

The 450 NE has a thin rim.

Hunting with a No 1 will not be a problem if you practice as when the lever comes down, the case will almost eject completely out by itself.

Practice and you will quite quick with reloading and with back up,
it shouldln't be a problem.

.

just be sure to flip the ejector to pitch cases to your right. The other way might liven things up a bit more than you want in a fast reload.

Go For It!!

Rich

Love my 600JDJ

Wow, who built that? The gun is beautiful. If you dont mind me asking what did that cost?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 600 Overkill:
Love my 600JDJ

So do I!

Please tell us more.

Just a word of caution and experience on Ruger #1 s.

I own three #1H Rugers, 375 H&H, 405 Win. and 450/400 NE 3 in.

I have never had an ejection/extraction problem with the .375 H&H. However, Both rimed cartridge guns tend to stop the rapid ejection of the cartridge case on the leading top edge of the safety. Thus making a good rapid reload difficult without dumping the rifle over to the side. I have had both safeties top tang extensions bobbed off about 1/4 inch or slightly more to prevent hang ups of spent shells. This does not effect the use of the safety but does permit the ejected shell to clear the safety tang area.

Good Hunting DG with your No 1 and practice ,
practice, practice......

Tetonka

Andy

Are you sure Elmer's number 1 wasn't a 338x74? He built that wildcat on a No. 1 and wrote about it in Gun Digest. He was very positive about the results.

quote:

Originally posted by tetonka:
Just a word of caution and experience on Ruger #1 s.

I own three #1H Rugers, 375 H&H, 405 Win. and 450/400 NE 3 in.

I have never had an ejection/extraction problem with the .375 H&H. However, Both rimed cartridge guns tend to stop the rapid ejection of the cartridge case on the leading top edge of the safety. Thus making a good rapid reload difficult without dumping the rifle over to the side. I have had both safeties top tang extensions bobbed off about 1/4 inch or slightly more to prevent hang ups of spent shells. This does not effect the use of the safety but does permit the ejected shell to clear the safety tang area.

Good Hunting DG with your No 1 and practice ,
practice, practice......

Tetonka

That's exactly what i had done to both my son's and my ruger no. 1s, this winter. Bobbed the safety.


Mad Dog

Art,

I Googled both 338 x 375 and 338 x 74 and it does appear Elmer used the metric ctg. When he showed me his two identical rifles I knew absolutely nothing about the Double Rifle ctgs. He may have mentioned you could also make it from the flanged 375 case.

The two rifles he had were not built on Number one actions. It was a limited production action I forget the name of. They had a 26 inch barrel that was rectangular, made as I recall in Montana.

I have often wondered what happened to those rifles.

Interesting about filing down the safety for reliable ejection.

Andy

A single shot will do the job, but it's a definite handicap when follow up shots are needed, and they frequently are, where DG is concerned.

What is the opposite of go-for-it?

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
What is the opposite of go-for-it?

"Pussy"

Good advice on bobbing the safety. I had a .458 rechambered to .450, as well as a .416 rebarrelled to .450-400 by the late Chick Donnelly, and cases stopped after striking the forward edge of the safety on both guns.

quote:

Originally posted by 600 Overkill:
Love my 600JDJ

Thanks guys. I like it---some don't. It was built by SSK a few years ago. If memory serves me, I think I have about $3500 in the gun. Plus of coarse all the reloading stuff--that's extra. Now a-days, I shoot mostly 700-1000gr home-cast bullets around 1500fps +-. Even at those speeds those big flat-noses put a pretty good smack down

quote:

Originally posted by FMC:

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
What is the opposite of go-for-it?

"Pussy"

Now that is funny!

What about the new Winchester 1885 in 375H&H?

Octagon barrel as well...

Price not too bad. Are components available? That is a very interesting gun. How is the recoil?