Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Where do you keep extra cartridges...

When hunting with a single shot, where do you keep extra cartridges for follow-up shots? Obviously, the goal is not to need a follow-up shot but I'd like to take a Ruger #1 deer hunting and (as with any type of hunting) you never know.

I've read about people keeping a couple extra cartridges between their fingers which would be crazy here cuz it's too cold. I've also seen buttstock cartridge holders and slings that have cartridge loops (like Browning's Rio Lobo sling). And of course, one could just throw some extra's into his/her pocket...what a great idea! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, I'm just curious what you people do. Thanks! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

For carrying, a single extra cartridge in each coat or jacket pocket. When bedded down for a shot, one will be sitting on the rest (log, rock, snowbank) just left of the forearm hand. If standing using a tree or some vertical support for a rest, I put a single cartridge between 2 fingers of the trigger hand. I do think the singles cause one to expend a little more time and care when bearing down on game. My partners know that if they hear more than 3 rounds, that some one else is out in the woods too.

Spare ammo in a pocket? What a novel idea!

I keep mine in a plastic shell thingy (highly technical lingo) on my belt ahead of the front pocket - right side. Mine holds 8 rounds which is usually 8 more than I need. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Welcome to the campfire Mrmojo . . . . good to have you aboard.

For a #1, I'd look at the buttstock or wrist-mounted models. For a break action like an Encore, one that holds them horizontal on the forend.

My 2 cents,

haha, the guys who got me into hunting taught me to take out an extra 8 or 10 rds...I've rarely needed a finishing shot let alone half a box plus 4 more in the mag! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> (That's a topic for another thread though.)

I'm kind of souring on the buttstock holder or sling with loops idea. A little cartridge case (ie, thingy) in the front right pocket would be almost ideal. Novel idea indeed! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the welcome!

Mojo. You might want to contact Wolfe Publishing (RIFLE Magazine) and see if they have any copies left of RIFLE Magazine #43 January-February 1976. In that issue on page 22, there is an excellent article by Al Miller called "Speed Loading the Single Shot Rifles". I hunt almost exclusively with Ruger #1s, weather permitting, and his suggestions are worth their weight in gold.
I say "weather permitting because Ruger does a fairly crappy job of sealing the inside portions of their stocks. I learned this the hard way during a violent rainstorm on an elk hunt in Oregon. After the hunt, we got back to Nevada and spent the night on a friend's ranch. The next morning, while doing a quickie pheasant hunt, we spotted a coyote running off the w pheasant. The only rifle in the truck was my Ruger #1 in .300 Win. mag. We never saw where the bullets were hitting. When i got home to Arizona, I checked the rifle off the bench and it was 8" high at 100 yards. it took almost five years in our dry climate before that rifle shot to point of aim again. Once it was back on, I pulled the stock and sealed it as it should have been done. Works just fine now.
If Wolfe no longer has copies, let me know and I'll make a copy of the one I have.
Paul B.

Paul,
How did you seal the forestock? What did you use. I just got my first #1, and I want to hunt it to death, but we often get wet snowy conditions throughout much of our season. And even though moose are big targets, 8" high at 100 yards could put you way off at 200 or 300.

My #1 (7mm Rem Mag) is unaltered and a great shooter...so far I'm very impressed. It's miles apart from my Sako 75 in aesthetics and handling but I just love it. I could easily start collecting #1's at this point! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Again, I haven't altered it yet at all but one of the first things I noticed is that the forend wasn't sealed well at all. Not a big deal since it's usually cold and dry here during hunting season but it needs to be done...especially with the pressure point at the tip.

I contacted Wolfe and they'll send me issue #43 for $8. Thanks for the tip, Paul! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

One has a side "saddle" on the buttstock, for my Snider I have some neat little pouches on the side of my fanny pack that will hold brass shotshells or the big cartridges.

I also use a leather belt ouch sometimes.
When I am stalking I keep on in my right or left hand, I can load equally fast ( different methods however) from either.
cat

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...t&noImage=0


Gee. Try Cabela's and look at shell walet. They don't klink

A Kolpin shell sleeve that fits on my forearm.

And, of course, the Federal red belt slide... they ALWAYS work.

I use a slip on elastic, and lace on leather shell holders on the No.1 buttstocks. Works fine. Will have to use a belt or pocket based holder for my drilling, as it has a cheekpiece.

Jeff

When ready to shoot I keep them between the fingers of the off hand. When just walking around the woods, in my pocket.

I just removed it from the gun and gave it a good coat of varathane. You have to go easy on the part of the forearm that butts against the receiver. One thing that sometimes helps accuracy is to insure that portion of the forearm makes either very even contact against the receiver or no contact at all. Another area that needs attention is the buttstock. I haven't found one yet (I have 17 #1s) where the hole for the bolt that holds the butt to the receiver has been sealed. A barrel mop of the right size is what I use to seal the inside of the hole in the butt.
Some have been fairly well sealed under the buttpad and some apparently not at all. A crap shoot courtesy of Ruger.
FWIW, Most of the Ruger 77s are pretty poorly sealed in the inside of the stock and under the butt pad as well.
Paul B.

I have hunted with single shots for a long time. I put two rounds in every practical pocket. Other ideas will work too such as things to hold rounds on the stock or your arm or whatever.

The big thing is to never take your eyes off of the game no matter what it's doing. I know that I have a round in a pocket and I just reach for whatever pocket thats easiest. Two rounds in a pocket will not rattle. Three will rattle.

Excellent post! And this is pretty much the whole point of the thread; where to keep extra rounds for quick/convenient reloading without having to lose sight of the animal. Good ideas so far. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Regarding sealing the forestock, I was going to use polyurethane, unfortunately, it's partially finished with wax (I think it's wax) so I'd have to do some sanding.

Cheers!

I have a couple of shirts which have two little rifle cartridge pockets made into it, with slits about an inch above the regular left pocket. Each opening is lined with thin leather, and these pockets are behind the regular pocket. About 3/4 to 1 inch of brass protrudes from it, depending, of course, on the cartridge. You can just reach up and pluck one out like a ballpoint pen. For a double rifle, you can get them both at once.

One of my rifles has a trapdoor that I added to the comb, so I can open it without leaving prone or sitting position. It holds 4 cartridges, each in a hole that is drilled to match the holes in the steel. Normally, these are inlet into the toe edge of the stock.

The Old Man is a leatherman and he made me a lace on butt-cuff with shell loops in it. Holds 6 or 8 (I'm not sure and the rifle isn't here to check). Works like a hot damn and looks better on a classic single shot (in this case an 1885) than the elastic jobs.

The trick here is to practice...meaning dry fire on some empty cases and actually reload another empty case as quickly as you can. The buttstock loop holder seemed to make sense so I bought one, then I practiced and realized that after the shot and while I'm ejecting the case (Ruger #1), I bring the rifle down a long ways. I didn't realize that before practicing off-hand. I bring it down so low that my trigger hand is just as close to a coat pocket as it is to the buttstock shell holder. With the shell holder I have to look to find a cartridge to pull out, where with my pocket, I can shut my eyes and my hand gets in there everytime. Long story short, during warm weather plinking (can't remember when I actually had time for that) I keep 3 shells in a shirt or chest pocket. During a hunt, I keep 3 in my coat, or hand warmer pocket.

A lot of people complaint about the empty casing hanging up on the safety of the Ruger #1. A simple solution is to just tilt the rifle slightly to the right as you operate the lever. (Left handers tilt to the left.)
A fancier solution would be to slightly alther the safety, and an even fancier way is to have a competent gunsmith inlet the safety into the tang. Me? I just tilt to the right.
Paul B.