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I have had a #1 for about a year and a half and have shot it off the bench enough to work a load up and see how it shoots. I now wish to practice for use in the field. While i have shot single shots before, the were all at the range. Does anyone here have experience in stalking situations particularly when dangerous game is involved? How do you reload and quickly get back on target? I know some carry the 2nd and 3rd shot in between fingers etc. Just looking for pointers from experienced hunters. Thanks. Curtis | ||
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Yep, between the fingers on the forward hand. | |||
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You can also use a wrist-band cartridge holder on the left wrist. I plan to make one for use with my .450-400. There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t. – John Green, author | |||
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I used a Ruger No. 1 in a 416 Rem to kill two cape buffalo and some plains game in Tanzania. The wrist band worked better than holding rounds IMO although I made my own. My apologies if you have viewed the video as it has been posted previously. I also dried fired quite a lot.  | |||
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Ah, i had not thought of the wristband. I have been practicing using the cartidges in the shooting hand not the forward hand. I do have a band on the buttstock that hold a few rounds but it would not be fast enough. Judging by the video, the wrist band might well be the best way to go. Curtis | |||
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I've never shot dangerous game with my Ruger No 1 rifles, but I have shot a lot of animals in game control situations, mainly elk. That often requires three or four very quick shots (one each at 3 or 4 different elk) as a group runs across a rancher's truck trail in the woods or hills. Long ago I switched away from trying to hold enough extra cartridges in one of my hands or in a wrist band to do that. What I have used for the last 10 years or so is like a wrist cartridge band, but is is stretched around the buttstock just behind the pistol grip, with the cartridge heads UP on the right side of the stock. (I am shooting right handed.) After I fire a shot, I move my trigger hand at warp speed back and slightly up from the trigger and in the process yank a fresh cartridge from that cartridge band. Then my hand goes forward and down very fast to work the lever with vigor, which ejects the fired round. Then, I chuck the new loaded round into the breech and slam the lever shut. If you train yourself to do that and practice it a bunch, you can do it without lowering the rifle or moving your left hand off of the forestock. After enough practice, muscle memory takes over and it is about as quick as delivering a left hook followed by a right cross in the heat of a fight...automatic, that is. EDITED TO ADD: When starting to learn this (or any other loading drill) move your hand slowly, preferably in front of a mirror with dummy rounds. The object at first is to move your hand the least distance required, very smoothly, while getting the job done. After your muscles learn that route, and the exact motions required start to become automatic, THEN you can start to increase the speed until you get to where you can do it as fast as you want/need. | |||
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If you decide to go the wrist band route I made mine from a couple of beer can koozies. Actually my wife did. She sewed one together to match the taper of my wrist and then sewed the cartridge holders on the outside. | |||
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I think i will try this method also. It sounds like it could be effective also. Thanks. Curtis | |||
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While I don't hunt dangerous game, I do hunt all over Alaska where dangerous game abounds. I too use the buttstock band. I find it extremely fast to access extra ammunition without lowering the rifle from the firing position (important for quick second shot). With practice you can fire as fast or faster than a guy with a bolt. I use this on all my single shots, Ruger's and Sharp's. Jim Jim | |||
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I carry one round (and nothing else) in each front pants pocket. ______________________ RMEF Life Member SCI DRSS Chapuis 9,3/9,3 + 20/20 Simson 12/12/9,3 Zoli 7x57R/12 Kreighoff .470/.470 We band of 9,3ers! The Few. The Pissed. The Taxpayers. | |||
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I posted the same question a while back, here is the link. http://forums.accuratereloadin...471070231#3471070231 "The difference between adventure and disaster is preparation." "The problem with quoting info from the internet is that you can never be sure it is accurate" Abraham Lincoln | |||
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Way back had the wife make up a couple of elastic armband shell holders, placed over left bicep. Seemed to be quite handy but never had to use it in hurry. Just reach over and grab one when you need it, never have to lower rifle. C.G.B. | |||
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Thanks. I think with all these posts I can practive a few things and find something that will work. Curtis | |||
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Here is how I do it. From Murray Custom Leather, purchase C-36 Murray Butt Stock Shell Holder and install on your rifle. Get the one with elastic shell holders. Place your cartridges in the shell holder with the bullets pointing up. With practice, you can fire the rifle, eject the spent brass, push the loaded cartridge down out of the shell holder and into the chamber, without lowering the rifle. It sounds complicated, but it works very well with practice. The loaded cartridges will not fall out of the Murray shell holder. I have tried other butstock shell holders, don't waste your money, buy the Murray. I have been using this technique on several Ruger #1's with complete satisfaction. | |||
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Second shot between fingers of left hand Third in left shirt pocket Bunch more in belt slide A good clean reload is better than fast. Don't get in the habit of trying to catch your empties. Load up some dummies to practice with, snap caps don't have the same weight or feel. I hunt rabbits with mine for practice, 358 Norma. I have tried keeping it on my shoulder but it does not work for me, if you do watch out for the ejecting empty. This may be because I also hunt with a Contender, it is break action. Try both ways and use what feels best for you. If you drop it off the shoulder to reload keep your front hand back near the balance point because when you fire you drop the butt as the shell is ejected and then lower the muzzle to drop the new round in. Jim B is right; with practice you will be faster than an average shooter with a bolt gun. Mark | |||
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"After I fire a shot, I move my trigger hand at warp speed back and slightly up from the trigger and in the process yank a fresh cartridge from that cartridge band. Then my hand goes forward and down very fast to work the lever with vigor, which ejects the fired round. Then, I chuck the new loaded round into the breech and slam the lever shut." You might try it this way. Rather than grab a round and then open the action, let the recoil help you drop the lever, then go for the next cartridge. Other than that, that's how I do a rapid reload with my Ruger #1 rifles. Try it. You might like it.  Paul B. | |||
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Regarding rapid reloads for DG with a Ruger #1. Be aware that most rimmed cartridges, i.e. 405 Win., 450/400 3in and 450 NE will not eject cleanly as there is a problem with the upper part of the tang safety being too long and stopping a case from being ejected clear of the gun. Ruger is aware of this problem and won't fix it. Their answer is just to tilt the rifle to the right as you eject the case. This involves "thinking" what you need to do on a rapid reload with a Buffalo charging, not good. Solution, only required on big bore guns shooting rimmed shells is to bob off the front part of the tang safety about 1/4 inch. Do not expose the slide channel as it will collect dirt etc. Had my gunsmith do 2 of my #1's yesterday, total cost $52. They work great now. I like the wrist band idea for extra ammo as the shells between the fingers of your off hand does not leave that hand free to move bushes out of the way while stalking. Another problem if you mis-step and fall down you are going to break some fingers with shells between them. Old elephant footprints in dried mud are notorious for falls while tracking buffalo. Be safe and enjoy your hunt Good Shooting Tetonka | |||
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I guess it may depend to some extent on how heavy a cartridge you are shooting in the No. 1 rifle, and perhaps how recoil sensitive you are. With cartridges up through about the .300 Mags, and maybe the .338 Mag, I think your idea makes good logical sense. Shooting larger rounds than that, I think opening the lever first would slow ME down. The upward rise of the muzzle with heavy recoiling rifles tends to "arc" the lever away from my right hand, making it a bit harder to get to, and then I'd have to shove it even farther forward (and a bit up) to get the block to drop. By grabbing the cartridge first, I am getting the cartridge with my right hand while my left hand is still pulling the muzzle down out of recoil, and also causing the rifle to come against my right hand motion when I do open the action just a bit later. The shell holder on the butt wrist does not move nearly so high as the muzzle and thus my right hand still comes pretty much straight back to get the cartridge, while the muzzle still feels to be above point of original aim. But for the lighter cartridge rifles, where the recoil may not be an issue, I can see how it would work very well. I guess the other thing is that I started off using the motion I described, and it was not a problem as I was not straining to do it fast. It just kept getting faster as I did it over the years, and I never saw a need to change. So, Paul, I think it is a good suggestion for some folks and some chamberings. Of course, which is better is the one that feels most comfortable and natural to the particular individual. Best wishes, and thanks for your idea. Maybe I'll see precisely how big a cartridge I feel comfortable trying it with. AC | |||
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AC. I haven't had a problem doing it my way even with the .375 H&H, .416 Rigby or .404 Jeffery. Yes, I have them in those cartridges. Guess we just all have to work with what we are the most comfortable with.  Paul B. | |||
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I am glad to hear it works for you with those bigger cartridges. Will look forward to trying it with my .405 and .450/.400. Maybe it will work for me too!  | |||
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I have run into the problem with a round hitting the safety and not fully ejecting. I think some modification can correct the issue. Curtis | |||
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Yep, I do exactly the same, but only from the left side as I shoot from there. Bob www.bigbores.ca "Let every created thing give praise to the LORD, for he issued his command, and they came into being" - King David, Psalm 148 (NLT) | |||
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