Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Single Shot Rifles in Africa

Not to piggy-back Cal Pappas' thread, but to piggy-back Cal Pappas' thread, anyone using single shot rifles in Africa? I occasionally see the "Team Wild" guys on Youtube shooting a Ruger No 1 (.450-400) in Africa, and I know Maddog has used his Ruger No 1, .375 in Africa. Anyone else us a SS for plains and/or dangerous game?

I did for my first trip in 2008 - #1 in 45-70. PG only and no problems.

My wife and I are taking my two collage age nephews with us for this years annual trip to Namibia. They've never been exposed to firearms or hunting before, Decided to go with SS for their simplicity and safety of operation. I've purchased them H&R Handi Rifles in 45-70 and have had compensators installed. They will be coming to our house for two weeks of extensive firearms safety training, range time and animal identification and shot placement before we leave. My wife and I are also going to use a couple of H&R Ultra hunters in 45-70 with them. So, this year will be an H&R singles only African PG hunt.

Hunting load will either be Rem 405's at 2000 or 350gr TSXs at 2300 or 300gr TSXs at 2400. We've used all those loads in our bolt action 45-70s and bolt action 450 Marlins for PG up to the body size of mountain zebra with no problems at all. I've played with the H&R's enough over the years that they can easily handle these loads. I put the compensators on their rifles because with the camo synthetic stock and scope they only weigh 7 lbs or so and with those loads are a handful for even an experienced shooter. With the compensators the recoil with those loads is like shooting a 308 Win. The Ultra's my wife and I will be using don't have compensators, but have the heavier laminated wood stocks with an extra 1.2lbs steal weight in the buttstock and scopes bring their weight up to a little over 9.5 lbs.

Lastly, since the terrain is rocky/mountainous (NW Namibian highlands) and it being their first time hunting and carrying a rifle ever, I'm packing a spare synthetic buttstock and scope. Inside the hollow synthetic buttstock I've put a small plastic bag with parts for a complete trigger repair/rebuild.

For a plains game hunt I would have no problem with a single shot rifle. Hunting dangerous game I would want a repeater.

Here's a link to a thread about No.1 Big Bores in Africa from a little while ago that might help...

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...s/5142927/Ruger_No_1_big_bores_in_Africa

Stump

I havent...but can certainly see no reason not to.A PG hunt with a #1 in 300 H&H would be the bees knees.

A #1 in .270 Win. would be cool too.

Wouldn't mind using a Ruger No.1 in 450/400 3" for buffalo,leopard or even lion. The thing is,there's a PH who might/can (depending on the situation) back up your shot.

Is it just me, or did anyone else see that one coming from a mile away???

Yup.

Ingwe is reliable.

I have shot two buffalo, a leopard, and plains game with a Number One. It is definitely not ideal, but works fine.

As with any rifle just make the first shot count.

However no matter how fast you can reload a single shot it will never be as fast as a bolt gun, so you will give up some capability for a quick second shot.

If I could go back, I'd use one again in a heartbeat. Almost got to take a 450/400 NE 3", on that trip in 2011, instead of the 375. I'd use either one, and yes for dangerous game.


maddog

I was thinking that I'd take my Boddington Leopard when we all go on the Ingwe Farewell to Africa tour. I had a line on a M77 African but it's a .270, so I didn't want to risk it.

Get the .270,but don't tell Ingwe.

Guess I'm gonna have to miss the "Ingwe farewell tour of Africa."

Personally a think of nothing better than the idea of hunting elephant with turn of the century (19th) era British single shot rifle chambered for maybe the .577 black powder express.....or even better a 4-bore single.

really would like one of those...have since they came out

Not me,until I read Craig Boddington's book "Safari Rifles II" last month (for the umpteenth time ) I got the idea of getting one instead of a .416 Rem/Rigby.

Have a .375 H&H on lay away in El Paso,but still have the itch for a Ruger No.1 in 450/400 3". Maybe late this year I can get one,IF I can convince the wife.

I used a Dakota Model 10 in 30-06 for Leopard and plains game. For follow-up of the Leopard I used a bolt action 416 Rigby - he was found dead. A single shot is a great rifle for leopard.

I can't see the point in using a single shot for hunting anything, especially for hunting dangerous game.

If you only need one shot, either a bolt action or a single shot will do equally well.

If you need two shots, you could be in real trouble with a single shot.

Dangerous game commonly needs more than one shot, to "pay the insurance" if for no other reason.

I'm not sure I could stand it. No doubt he'd find out at some point. Maybe I should just buy it and have it rebored to .280 or 7x64 or something like that.