Would you use single shot for Dangerous Game?

[thriller]

Personally no I had a single shot turkey gun for a while and ended up in a bare knuckle fight with a turkey. I am not interested in repeating this performance with larger game. It’s your life though so live it on your terms.

 

[318AE]

I would definitely use a single shot for buffalo. My problem would be in finding the right single shot. IMO, Ruger number ones have a poor stock design and are typically too light in heavy calibers. Those that are heavy enough gain their weight through wall thickness instead of barrel length taking away the sleek appearance a single shot should have.

To me, a heavy caliber single shot should have a twenty six inch barrel of medium wall thickness, a well designed stock with a large butt, and a proper recoil pad. Ruger came oh so close.

Well said. The Ruger no 1 is a great rifle, but ranges from 22 hornet to 450/400 etc. I have a Jeffery 450/400 3” falling block, and the barrel weight, stock design etc just make it more pleasant to shoot.

 

[Certus]

I’d love a Ruger No1 in .450 Nitro or bigger (heck, I’d love to get a .577 built on one since it’s the only way I can afford a .577 Nitro).

Yeah, with no experience I’d have a crack with it if I had it.
Would I rather something else? Probably. But imagine the hunt report on someone using a .500 or .577 single shot on ele.

 

[meigsbucks]

When Ruger first introduced the #1 in .458 Lott I bought one with the intent of it being what I’d use on buffalo if / when I got to Africa. I’ve been using single shots since around 1980. Contender and later Encore handguns and rifles. #1’s. TCR83.
When I first started talking to African outfitters at local shows and talked about bringing the #1 Lott, they were hesitant and recommended I bring my bolt action .375 instead. Several years later, Ruger introduced the .416 Ruger in the Hawkeye Alaskan and I purchased one. This is the rifle I took my buffalo with. One shot.
Since that buffalo hunt, I’ve spoken with several outfitters at SCI shows about using the #1and they have no qualms with it. One did recommend that I bring along a bolt .375 in case follow up is needed. So when I pursue buffalo again, the #1 will be my rifle.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I wouldn't use a single shot to hunt anything. Not even to shoot paper. Target shooting isn't my thing anyway. I only use the range to work on loads and proficiency for my hunting rifles and shotguns. No way do I want to be limited to single shots or even double guns when in the field. Follow up is too often required.

 

[grand veneur]

That would be stupid with any rifle

Why ?

I shot buffaloes in various countries in Africa and Asia and that's why I can compare the different types of hunting dangerous game. I have practiced for years buffalo hunting in West Africa without a backup, like some other hunters. My local guide only occasionally had his single-barreled shotgun with him, which he used to shoot birds and other smaller animal species during the buffalo hunt. If something did not go as planned, he was not a big help when it came to safety. There were a lot of lions and the elephants were aggressive like everywhere else. My guide and the two other trackers always ran away faster than me, but ultimately you are sure that you really shot your buffalo on your own. It is sure that if you hunt without a backup, you should choose your rifle carefully and if possible one that can also stop something, but some hunters were very careless, especially the bird hunters in the bush only with their shotguns and shotgun shells.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Why ?

I shot buffaloes in various countries in Africa and Asia and that's why I can compare the different types of hunting dangerous game. I have practiced for years buffalo hunting in West Africa without a backup, like some other hunters. My local guide only occasionally had his single-barreled shotgun with him, which he used to shoot birds and other smaller animal species during the buffalo hunt. If something did not go as planned, he was not a big help when it came to safety. There were a lot of lions and the elephants were aggressive like everywhere else. My guide and the two other trackers always ran away faster than me, but ultimately you are sure that you really shot your buffalo on your own. It is sure that if you hunt without a backup, you should choose your rifle carefully and if possible one that can also stop something, but some hunters were very careless, especially the bird hunters in the bush only with their shotguns and shotgun shells.

Good lord! You must have some stories to tell! I have spent most of my life hunting alone (but not when in Africa). Over here the elements are more dangerous than the animals and in most critical situations I encountered extra bodies would have just made survival extra complicated.

 

[grand veneur]

For all members, @rookhawk enlightened me about the English terminology when it comes to the various game species. The topic is mainly about hunting dangerous game species with a single shot rifle and some of my answers were, due to my language, perhaps a bit confusing.

In my opinion you can shoot anything with a single shot rifle, including dangerous game, the latter as long as there is someone for backup. I am not an opponent of single shot rifles, on the contrary. Such rifles have always had a tradition in many European countries, especially for hunting in the high mountains, but hunting dangerous game with such rifles, especially when you are alone, is a little bit different.

 

[AZDAVE]

@grand veneur I understand your question but as a traveling hunter we can't legally hunt in africa by ourselves. Even in Europe I have to have a outfitter for European Brown bear. So unless the world turns on its head and we are back to hunter gather groups there isn't a place we could hunt DG alone.

I love history and the repeating arms are a relative new creation 170 some odd years. With single shots for 500 ish years and before that was bows and spears. The repeater (Double, bolt lever guns). Through out history man has strive'd to create a better mouse trap. That being said the plain old single spring trap with a bit of cheese still works fine. Same with a Single shot.

I love the nostalgia and history behind the rifles that were used in Africa and around the world. Like many kids hear in the US I shot 22 the graduated to 30/06 up to a 338 Win Mag. But reading the early trapper and buffalo hunter books I fell in love with single shot rifles from 38/55 to 50/90 I hunted with them and archery equipment for many years. While in the military I was station for over 7 years in germany and was exposed to the metric calibers. and Old classic rounds. (22 Hornet, 7x57, 9.3x62 etc)

Over the years my tastes in firearms changed and now my preference to hunt with are
1. Double rifle
2. Single shot
3. Lever gun
4. Bolt gun
I try to take the rifle that is best for game and distances I will be shooting If it is over a 125 meters it will be a single shot of bolt gun. If over 250 it will be a bolt gun.

Long garble of words to get to your question. Yes I would hunt any animal that has ever walked the planet with a single shot of appropriate Caliber. That said I would take a double as my 1st choice.

We have a responsibility to do our best to cleanly harvest the animals we hunt and that first shot is alays the most important.

 

[AZDAVE]

When I started this tread in 2016 I was looking for others that liked shooting single shots. Today I would probably ask the question in a different way. so thank you everyone for contributing to the discussion.

 

[WAB]

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When I started this tread in [emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji6] I was looking for others that liked shooting single shots. Today I would probably ask the question in a different way. so thank you everyone for contributing to the discussion.

Well you found out there’s a bunch of us who love single shots!!! Thanks for starting an interesting discussion.

 

[MS 9x56]

I like single shot rifles, but draw the line at dangerous game.

 

[Raven]

I have spent most of my life hunting alone (but not when in Africa). Over here the elements are more dangerous than the animals and in most critical situations I encountered extra bodies would have just made survival extra complicated.

It's true. There are places where falling through the ice on a snowmobile, falling under a rockfall or falling into a precipice is easier than dying from the claws and teeth of dangerous animals. We don't think about it as often as we should.

 

[Tom Leoni]

Heck, I use a single shot for every game I hunt, and when the desire to get a buffalo will hit me, I will not deviate from my preference.

Here is a sample of my single shots: from the top, Westley Richards M. 97 in .500 NE, Watson Brothers Martini in .303, and my default go-to rifle, my Holland & Holland .375 Flanged Magnum.

My most recent acquisition--an Alex. Henry in .450 BPE:

The H&H in action in Greenland about a year ago. The same rifle will accompany me to New Zealand in 2026.

The H&H in Africa:

The Martini in action:

A beauty shot of the Martini against an ancient Brazilian Pepper tree:

I went from loving bolts to double rifles, to single shots. So yes, I'm crazy enough to hunt a buffalo or a leopard with one, if and when I decide to move away from plains game.

 

[colorado]

Only if your guide is using a single shot too, otherwise it doesn't count lol

 

[Flbt]

Good morning all. Thought I would throw out a question for fun since we are in the end of safari season and getting ready for the shows and prep start of the 2017 season. I am currently building a matched pair of Ruger #1's in 450/400 and 9.3x74R with upgrades to the wood. (Thin shell english walnut).

I have alott of experience with singles and can shoot and reload a number one for three shots within a second of what I can do with a bolt gun for a reference point.

Would you hunt Cape buffalo, lion, or hippo on land with the Ruger #1 450/400 loaded to 400gr at 2300fps?

Hogs are about the most dangerous thing around here. I have hunted them with one.
One with a ejector’s and a cartridge in between the off hand fingers with practice can be fast.
I was about as fast as a friend with a bolt gun
But he all ways drops from the shoulder to load
I got that from reading Ross Siegfried hunting articles

 

[Flbt]

Extra shots are insurance. So pretty simple individual answer in my opinion. Would you hunt DG without insurance?

I wouldn't, but others will.

Like others have said, I don't want to rely on the PH alone for my safety, nor do I want to increase his/her peril by not being able to pump an extra shot into an animal as it is running off. The buffalo in my avatar dropped to a second shot, one I would have not had time to make with a single shot rifle.

Here is a question for the hunters. What would you think if you showed up at camp and your PH said he would be backing you up with a Ruger No 1, but not to worry, its a Lott.

And yes, I know there is a difference between hunter and PH and rifle requirements, but something to think about never the less.

How many use sxs? Do you have more faith on the second shot hitting than the first?

I have been in carry classes and heard people say there no way I would carry a revolver not enough ammo.
Why do you think you will get more than one shot is all ways my question.
I have seen guns shot,hands, shot people not be able to get there gun out.
I have carried both autos and revolvers
I like the power of the revolvers.
I know that’s not the same as hunting.
But the question is still valid. What makes you think you have more than one shot?

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

32-35 single shot martini, 150gn cast lead projectile and 36gn 3P black powder.
It’s taken a goat , does that count
Gumpy