Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Anyone hunt DG with a single shot rifle?

I would like to hear from anyone who hunts cape buffalo with a single shot rifle. Calibre, rifle and bullet choice?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Brian

Shot my first two buffalo with a Ruger No 1 chambered in 416 Remington Magnum.

i have always been a fan of the Ruger #1`s and own a few also and generally hunt with a Ruger #1 , i did go on a plains hunt in Africa this year 2024 i took a bolt action rifle i shot 10 animals all with the 1st shot , a couple had to be shot again and a single shot would have been just fine instead of the bolt rifle. the only reason i took a bolt action rifle was i was more worried about wracking the wood on my nice Ruger #1 `s but after being there now i wished i would have taken my Ruger #1 rifle over the bolt action. as far as taking a single shot for cape buffalo i see no reason why that would not work great , if i ever go back i will use my Ruger #1 next time even for a cape buffalo. my biggest Ruger #1 is a 458 Lott but i also own these 458 win. mag , 450/400 , 416 Ruger ,416 Rigby , 405 win. ,9.3x62 , 9.3x 74 , 375 H&H all in Ruger #1`s , i have always been a big fan of African cartridges and Ruger #1`s. good luck ,Pete53

There is a long sticky thread at the top of the Express Rifles & Big Bores Only forum dedicated to the 458 Win Mag where they have discussed hunting DG with single shots. The Ruger No. 1 is a particular favorite since it is chambered for a round that this group is enthusiastic about to the point of fanaticism. Lately they have been touting the capabilities of the 404gr Shock Hammer and working on various loads for it. The link below is to a trip report where gunner500 was able to use this bullet to drop a cape buffalo with a single shot (from a Winchester M70). The posts that follow it give additional details.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...hould-own-one-at-least-once#Post17706621

If you repost this question in that thread, I am certain you will get plenty of workable suggestions. They'll probably all be dedicated to that single chambering but at least you'll be able to make an informed decision about that whether that option is a good choice for you.

Odonata, Thanks of the heads up. I will head over there.

I have been hunting cape buffalo for a few years now with my converted H&R single shot, mostly with a 577NE barrel but also with a 50-110 barrel. I would like to meet some single shot DG hunters to trade reports/views with.

I use 700gr. Peregrine Bushmaster bullets and 600 gr.CEB Raptor bullets in the .577NE. In my 50-110 which is a custom chamber to true .500 cal, I use 410 grain CEB Raptor bullets.
I hear good things about the Hammer bullets.

Single shot are a hoot!

Thanks again, Brian

gunner500, who I mentioned in my previous post, has a 577NE and mentioned working up loads for it in the 458 Win Mag thread. There was also some discussion about it in this post from a couple of weeks ago if you missed it:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...-robertson-on-big-bore-safari-cartridges

The well-known gun writer Jon Sundra killed ALL of the so-called "Big Five" with Ruger No. 1 single-shots. He also hunted considerably in Botswana on his own with a particular tribe, and used his No. 1s for some of that hunting.

Jon signed up on the Campfire a few years ago, but hasn't posted much since then--due to the general BS. In fact I can't find his name on the member list anymore.

Mule Deer, thanks, That is interesting. He was a single shot man! I did not know that.
I wish he was still here. I have kinda admired him from afar. Brian

Have any of you singe shot African hunters ever tried or owned a nice double rifle?

Swiftshot, I sure would have liked to own one but could never afford what I wanted. I shot a Sabbatti, in 470. It was nothin' to write home about. Brian

I got to try a Manton in .450/.400 NE 3". Big Mistake. That is one nice shooting 10+ lb rifle.

I console myself with a #1 chambered in the same cartridge.

Don't own a rifle, but I've done elephant, lion, Cape buff with my .416 Taylor Encore handgun. Did hippo, leopard with .375/.284 XP-100 handgun, croc with .325 WSM XP-100 handhun, and rhino (for the heck of it) with my .475 Linebaugh revolver.
Never saw a need to use a rifle.

wvhitman,
That is awesome!! Brian

Thanks, Brian. I'm an adrenaline junkie. Got the ele at 12 yards...charging. Got the 475# lion charging at 20 yds. I was "person of interest" on Cape buff & rhino at 35 yds. Hippo, leopard, croc were one shooters from 65 to 129 yds. Ele & rhino took 2 shots. Others 1.

WV...did your humongous balls make it harder to do all the walking that Africa requires? Lol

WVhitman,

That is fascinating to me. (Sometimes I panic at card tricks!) Please tell me what your favourite DG bullet is, especially for buffalo.

Congratulations again,

Brian

I used 400 gr. Horn. DGX on my buffs in my .416 Taylor.. I used Nos. 260 gr. Solids in my .375/.284 XP on the hippo. On my male lion I used a special made 400 gr. bullet by Northern Precision that was like a gigantic Nos. BT/Solid base. It dropped him. On my lioness, we tracked it for hours. She jumped up at 30 yards, growled. I put a 275 gr. .475 Barnes X from my .FA .475L in her shoulder. DRT. The croc was taken with a 180 gr. Barnes X from my .325 WSM XP-100.
MJB, I walked just fine for all these, but now with a new knee I walk a little slower, but still shot the same.

That took some excellent hunting/shooting, I'll bet. I have an old foot injury that limits me now, a bit in the bush. It's wonderful what medical science can do now to keep us going. Cheers, Brian.

Of my four big-game rifles, two are "single-shots", so-called, as ANY other rifle called a "repeater" with a magazine only fires one at a time. . . same as a Ruger No.1. My .458 Win Mag is a Ruger No.1 and now waiting for the right bear to show up at my bait site.

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

I had a Ruger #1 in 416 Rigby but never hunted Africa with it because I got a chance to get a William Evans double that was made in 1898 in 450/400 3 1/4 Nitro Express with the exposed hammers. The #1 was sold to help finance the double. The double made it to Africa and the PHs were really happy to see it back in the bush.

In a time of complete and total idiocy I sold the double. This is the only photo I have of it.

I would sure like to have a double like that in .500 or .577. I like hammers!.
Thanks for the picture/post. Brian

I'd rather have 4 rounds in the rifle and only need 1, than have 1 round and need 4 on DG. They're called dangerous game for a reason. And I don't believe in relying on a guide to save my ass.

Riflehunter, Good post. That is actually a definitive conclusion to the debate on a single shot versus a magazine rifle for dangerous game.

The single shot, big bore will work well for cape buffalo until it doesn't . Brian

I would advise against it.

No, too chicken, i have to use a double barreled rifle ; ]

Put 10 rounds through my 26" barreled V/C 577 Nitro double yesterday evening a dusk Brian, 750gr Barnes banded flat nosed solids and TSX's averaged 2068 fps with H-4350 over the Garmin and regulated beautifully at 25 yards, flipped up the 100 yard sight blade and again slapped the crap out of a rock over in the pond bank 100 yards away off sticks.

I only shoot it that far from hearing a sickening story of a hunter and PH nearly to tears over a 50+ inch Cape Buffalo bull walking away up a Tanzanian river 100 yards away with both of them carrying double rifles, that 'WONT' happen to me!

gunner, Thanks for the post. I would have liked to have been there when you were stretching out your good old VC .577 NE.

You are sure right about the 100 yd thing. A decent shot can kill any walking away animal at 100 yds. with express sights.

I'll bet it was fun whacking that 100 yard rock with a 750 grain bullet in the evening light. That is is as good as it gets!


Now gunner, I don't wanna' say it but am not sure that I can go along with you 100% on that "Trump Won" thing. I'm just sayin'

Cheers, Brian

Yes Sir, fun testing for Africa's challenges, so yes, we best stick to guns and hunting, you see, i am 179 degrees right of Attila The Hun, i routinely offend people when they engage me in politics that thought they were conservative, it's not a matter of extremism, simply a matter of right and wrong.

There is no oh well, or sometimes, Right and Wrong, Truth and Lies, nothing else, very simple way to live! ; ]

I used to have a real soft spot for a Ruger #1! Finally found one and walked away. beautiful rifle though. As I remember Didn't Sundra carry a second shell in a trap around one wrist? Well I don't hunt really dangerous game and if I did I would give some thought to the rifle. I suspect I can reload a round faster in a bolt action that pretty much anyone can with a single shot! Your under attack and could be you only have time for one shot then again maybe, just maybe you have time for a second if needed. ya probably don't but then again, maybe. if your being charged by a truly agitated big game animal, good chance it intends to kill you! If for some reason you find time for that second shot I'd suggest you reload fast as you can! Either that of get a double rifle, even faster that a bolt. Hunting is a game for us of life and death. Most big game animals seldom fight back, they attempt to get away and live. We on the other hand somehow feel superior probably because we carry a gun. If your gonna do that with a single shot gun I'd suggest you spend some time learning to reload really fast! It probably won't be fast enough but get as fast as you can!

Sometimes you win and sometimes lose! Sounds like the cape buffalo won that round! :-)

Something to think about with WV. In most every case he was carrying a fire arm that had back up rounds ready right now. I would not attempt to do what he did, I'm no good with heavy recoil handguns. But if I could handle them, I'd choose one of them over a single shot rifle.

When the average hunter tries to work a bolt fast under pressure he usually jambs it.
Well, I can sure reload my single shot faster than that. chuckle.

I keep 4 rounds on a carrier mounted on the right side of the butt stock. It' surprises people to see how fast I reload my break open .577 single shot. The big .577 cases are very easy to grab and whip into the huge chamber.

Another thing that I should mention is that I have never needed a second shot when I am hunting buffalo with my 577 NE.
If I could afford a double .500 or .577 I would eagerly use it all the time.

This is true.

Have mentioned this before, but I served for two years as the "charging buffalo shooting" instructor at the practical shooting get-together that gunsmith Charlie Sisk held in Texas in January. He held the events due to so many of his clients being very busy businessmen, who rarely got to the range. Consequently they didn't do as well with Charlie's fine rifles as they might have.

The first year fewer people were involved, maybe 15, including several invited customersand some others including gun writers and guides. The shooting involved actual field positions, at paper targets ranges out to 400 yards, along with the "charging" buffalo shoot. This involved shooting buffalo silhouette targets at various ranges out to around 50 yards, offhand, as fast as the shooter could hit everyone. The shooting was timed.

I came out on top, and then explained how I could shoot the buffalo targets faster with a bolt-action than anybody else did with a lever-action. As a result the second shoot, a year later, was MUCH bigger, enough to construct an actual moving, life-size silhouette target of a buffalo that emerged from behind some bushes at about 60 yards, and accelerated toward the shooter on a track. This took four seconds, and only a few could get three shots into the target's "vital zone" before it reached them. (I could, using Finn Aagaard's pre-64 .375 H&H, which his widow Berit brought to the shoot. Her second husband, Bill Pace, also attended, allowing several people to shoot his .500 double rifle.)

The stress involved wasn't due just due to the time and target, but because 1st prize was a Tanzanian safari. Consequently some of the so-called competitors brought along a "ringer" to do the actual shooting. One ringer the 30-something pilot employed by one of the attendees for his private plane. He chose to use a controlled-feed Kimber .308 Winchester--which jammed after the first shot because he short-stroked the action. (Yeah, it can happen even with a "short" action.)

Which is why one of the bolt-techniques I demonstrated was the "open palm" method used by some experienced big game hunters. I learned it from John Wootters, who among other things killed around 25 Cape buffalo in the Okavango Delta with various rifles when the area was opened to safari hunting, during several safaris. One advantage of the "open palm" method is it almost entirely eliminates short-stroking, since the bolt can't be shoved forward until the palm is reversed.

But obviously many experienced hunters can shoot a bolt rapidly while grasping the bolt knob, including many PH's and other dangerous game guides, including Alaska Master Guide Phil Shoemaker, who's used it on charging brown bears for over 50 years.

That said, many of videos I've seen of Cape buffalo clients trying to put another round in the chamber show them grasping the bolt knob while short-stroking. This mostly indicates how little they've actually practiced shooting quickly with their buffalo rifle, but the open-palm can work well--IF it's practiced.

If you read Selous you learn that they used to hunt all these animals with muzzleloaders. How much better off one is with a single shot cartridge rifle!

If you read it and understand it you'd realize muzzleloaders were the best they had then.

So its like the Bible where you have to read it and understand it? Here i thought Selous writings were self evident. I'll be sure to search out the hidden meaning

And a growing number of hunters are using bows for most of their hunting (or all of it), including the dangerous 5 or 6. In all my hunting years (70), I've rarely had to use a second shot for BG - even when using a semi-auto.
It hasn't been mentioned, but any safari today that involves DG, the hunter has an entourage of helpers including a PH with a so-called DG rifle, and often I've seen, on numerous videos, more than a couple of "extra" rifles, so it's not as if we're talking solo hunts. Incidently, of four BG rifles, two of mine are single-shots including a Ruger No.1H in .458 Win, which I'd take to Africa in the blink of an eye. I'm a bear hunter and often use a single-shot rifle - as a solo hunter.

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

Moosemike, Good one!
"Like the bible... hidden meaning", Esoteric knowledge. I'm still laughing. Thanks for the fun. Brian

If you're relying on guides and helpers to not only find the animals, not only to determine whether to shoot them or not, not only to get you into position, not only to tell you when to shoot but also to assist you to shoot them when you stuff-up the shot...then you are not "hunting". Everyone else is hunting for you. All you're doing is paying the huge cost of the "hunt" and then deluding yourself and others (when you get home) that you're a successful big game hunter.

Some things I don't understand. But I only shoot animals for meat for the family and friends or that are pests or predators at the farm.

I would love to tour Africa and see and photograph the animals, but why spend a bunch of money to be squired around by a hired entourage and have animals pointed out to you to shoot? For meat that you don't get to bring home?

I travel the western U.S. but don't even care to kill something I would have the problem of transporting 1000 miles back home. We just photograph the wildlife out west and eat the whitetail deer within 10 minutes travel from home.

In terms of "for meat that you don't get to bring home" - most of the meat from animals you shoot in Africa goes to the local natives, unless your camp needs it. The guides distribute your meat the way they want without consultation. And the natives usually have an "entitlement" mentality to your meat, of course there's no "thank you" and last time I went, besides the meat, they kept asking for cigarettes.

Buff are probably the only DG I can afford, so there it is. Unless you count crocs

Assuming finances and health allows - I'll probably take a fairly rare beast, a Ruger #1 in .475 Turnbull - the cartridge is basically the .50-110 necked to .475. It was designed to be the biggest round to fit in an 1886 Winchester. Turnbull made some very nice ones, and also arranged for a few (less than 100) Rugers in same.

I bought it years ago, expecting to make a safe queen out of it. The seller lost the box, so I said oh, heck, I might as well shoot it. It is astonishingly accurate with the 500gr SN .475 Woodleighs, which are designed for 1800-2200fps, out of the .470 Nitro. I've stashed a couple hundred of the big Aussie bullets. The cartridge has 95% of the capacity of the .458 Win mag, so it has no trouble driving them to the recommended velocity. I've tried catching a couple in tree stumps, and have yet to find a tree stump that will actually stop one of them!

The recommended velocity for the bullet isn't necessarily the same as the recommended velocity to kill buffalo. Early .458 Win loads that delivered velocities less than 2000 fps developed a bad reputation on buffalo. I run 500 gn SN Woodleighs at 2300 fps in .458 bore.

Neighbor shoot a big bull elephant with a bow, that count?

That .475 should work very well. It's close to what I use for Cape buffalo, a 50-110 with a good bullet and it sure works for a one shot kill. Brian

That's what I'm talking about. I would enjoy travelling about taking pictures and seeing the wildlife but I'm not taking my wife to Africa. And we vacation together for the most part, especially that expensive of a trip.

Now I know that's not true, they don't have elephants in South Dakota.

I figured at one time that due to the cost of an Africa hunt I'd never make it. Then it hit me, shoot them with a camera.
Well have a brother that took his son and daughter in law on a photo safari for three weeks. The kid got close to 5000 shots and some beauty's too! Trying to remember what it cost my brother something like $75K not counting the trip over there! Guess it will permanently stay out of my reach. Over at his place couple weeks ago and saw some his son had done on metal, WOW!!!

Years ago I read that Fred Bear stopped a buffalo charge with a bow!

Don't believe everything you read Don. For example, Harry Caldwell was said to kill a tiger with a .22 Savage Hi-power, but I doubt it. I think he most likely shot it with a 190 grain bullet out of his .303 Savage, and Savage sent him a .22 Hi-power so that they could promote that cartridge and rifle. He probably in return for them sending him a free rifle, just pretended that he did shoot the tiger with the 70 grain .228 projectile.

You'd be wrong. I have Harry Caldwells book. He killed multiple Tiger with the 22 HP. Then killed more with the 250 Sav

Is it worth reading? If so, I'll try to get a copy. Blue Tiger is the book you're referring to? In a conversation with Roy Chapman Andrews he said he had only shot one tiger with the 22 Hi-Power and that was a gut-shot at night...supposedly a dead-right-there shot. How creditable does Caldwell seem to you (perhaps he's another Capstick)?

Yes it's Blue Tiger and yes it's worth reading. The man is a Reverend and he doesn't pull any punches. He kills more than one Tiger with the 22 Hi Power. The villagers are amazed and they all line up to hold one of his 22 HP bullets. They can't believe something so small can bring down a Tiger. He uses three Savage 99's in all. He gets out of China in about 1920 so he never gets to shoot the 300. He also never kills the Blue Tiger which eats a lot of villagers. He blames himself for muffing the few opportunities he had at it

Just ordered the book. Thanks.

Simply because we choose to. That's all. Mozambique booked for next year...

Speaking of Chinese tigers, my grandfather was a missionary in China before WWII. Some locals had a problem with a tiger killing livestock and asked my grandfather for help. He borrowed a rifle, don't know what caliber or make, and he shot the cat.

I inherited it when he passed away. Not something you can say everybody has.

That is impressive.

Wow! Harry Caldwell was also a missionary to China. I don't think he was planning to shoot Tigers and thats why he only took a .22 Hi Power. But Tiger hunters were what was needed and he eventually upgrades to the 303 Savage and then again to the 250 Sav

LOL, I was surprised when he told me. He is not currently a hunter. Said the bull was number one archery elephant when he shot it but bigger bulls have been shot since. He made a heart shot and it walked off and died without a follow up shot.

Gorgeous rifle. I have a deep weaknes for double hammer guns. And Evans rifles are top drawer.

Thanks for the heads-up on this book. I just ordered it!

If you like Jim Corbetts books you'll like The Blue Tiger

No reason not to.

Just got back from Zambia 9/24. Hippo, croc, buff and tuskless with a bow. My third buff with a bow- also shot one with a 3-7-5 and one with my five hundred. Shot a lion & buff last year with my bow.

Don't be a pussy.

































And a puku & warthog

Very well done! Thanks for your comments and pictures, "no reason not to". Brian

well if this young archer could use a bow and arrow to kill those great animals ,i see no reason why a single shot rifle would not work even better . i took a bolt action rifle when i was there May of 2024 but next time i will just bring my Ruger #1 . the only reason i did not take my Ruger #1 i was worried the rifle would get beat up and need more than 1 shot , well i shot 11 animals all 1 shot kills , guide used my rifle too for some camped meat 3 deer all 1 shot kills also. > great pictures thanks for posting them ! Pete53

HOF Handgun Hunter JD Jones talked me into doing a number of questionable things years ago. One of which was hunting Cape buffalo with one of his single shot SSK Handcannons chambered in 9.3 JDJ. It came with an identical .22lr barrel to facilitate practice. I shot hundreds of .22lr rounds practicing. I shot a hundred + rounds of full throttle 9.3 286g solids. I took a young cape buffalo with one shot. Instantly realized that might have been one of the most foolish things I've every done! I really never felt a proficient shot with the handgun, nor was I comfortable with just one round ready to go.

Even though my brief experience wit a single shot was positive, I gave up on and went for double rifles. The SSK was sent down the road. Photographic evidence can be found in Barnes reloading manual #1.

So you were never a beginner or novice at anything? Rather than denigrate guy utilizing an experienced guide, drawing on their knowledge, learn how to stalk, how to sit and glass, how to still hunt even in an apprentice role, I appalled the effort. "See one, Do one, Teach one is a a very effective teaching model. Before you can "Do one" yourself, it is of immense help to have seen one being done properly. It is of great help to have an expert mentor you through your first once. At that point, hopefully you've learned enough to pass the wisdom along. Having an "entourage, especially for DG is nothing to be degraded about in my book. I've taken enough DG to have a PH right in my ear at the shot, and I've been fortunate to have the confidence of a PH have me self stalk right up to within 30 yards of a cape buffalo and take him -ALONE. It's all hunting in my book. Anybody who wants to tell me how they scout alone, packing in alone, spot alone, shoot alone, quarter and pack out alone are the only true hunters really are true snobs.

Its great in theory to think that each time a "hunter" goes out in an entourage of guides and helpers, he is taught how to track, how to glass effectively and to eventually be highly skilled so that he could do it all himself. However, the learning curve comes to an abrupt end after the first few guided hunts because the "hunter" on most African hunts is not really being shown how to track or in fact do anything. The guides have this attitude that their job is to get the "hunter" the animal except for the very last part of squeezing the trigger. This attitude of the guides is reinforced by numerous "hunters" who are quite content to be led around without actually participating in the hunt...except for the very last part of squeezing the trigger. The game laws of most foreign countries in any case prohibit the non-resident hunter from ever being able to hunt without a guide which means to do a real hunt, where you are actually part of the hunt is often restricted to hunting in your own home territory. That is where most of your learning occurs...not with guides in foreign countries. In addition to the above point, you are making the "hunt" even more artificial if you are relying on your guides to finish off the animal or to kill a charging animal (and thereby ensure your safety) if that first shot from your single-shot rifle is not successful, more so, than were you to have a double or a bolt-action which has a faster second and maybe third shot if your first shot fails.