Two weeks until I depart for Buffalo - Rate my rifle setup!

[DPHunter4570]

Very cool looking wood on those guns. Nice work on the stocks!

 

[Green Chile]

All you can really work and hope for is the first shot. Anything can happen after that. My single shots have made me a better shooter across the board as I always think...you get one shot, make it count.

 

[Just a dude in BC]

No.1 DG- brave man, praying for good backup and/or good bullet placement! I love it, your double is for plains game.

Well, I went with a double for plains game, since that 9.3x74r is going to also be a perfect cal for hunting in BC Canada (For Elk and such). Subsequently I am going to use that rifle noticeably more.

Obviously I will shoot at least one black bear with the 500NE... Just because I don't like them.

All you can really work and hope for is the first shot. Anything can happen after that. My single shots have made me a better shooter across the board as I always think...you get one shot, make it count.

Yes I read your hunt report on the leopard elephant hunt. That Dakota M10 looked lovely. I also have a Ruger no.1 in 7x57 as well. It is next in the breach to have me make a custom stock for it.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Please post more details and pictures of the rifles.

 

[franzfmdavis]

I love this kind of post! Im always interested in what people are taking! The pairing looks great!!

 

[light476]

Wow,Very nice rifle.Best of luck.

 

[McKenzie Sims]

Great looking setup, i'm excited to see how the trip goes and follow along!

 

[matt85]

Not a popular opinion but... I would never use a single shot weapon for DG.

 

[Certus]

Not a popular opinion but... I would never use a single shot weapon for DG.

It’s as classic as a double

 

[Hefty Jefe]

The wood on those rifles is amazing. Well done

 

[Frederik]

Nice setup and forces you to get close and personal with your plainsgame rifle.

Quick question does the zero change when you take off the muzzle brake?

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

My shoulder is sore thinking about that 500. Did you add weight to the forend or anything? What’s its total weight?

 

[Just a dude in BC]

Nice setup and forces you to get close and personal with your plainsgame rifle.

Quick question does the zero change when you take off the muzzle brake?

I honestly have not checked with this rifle, but it usually does with other rifles I have. Usually around and inch or less, it does depend on how thick/stuff the barrel is, so with this one I am not to worried. But I am hitting the range tomorrow so I can check.

 

[Just a dude in BC]

My shoulder is sore thinking about that 500. Did you add weight to the forend or anything? What’s its total weight?

The 26" barrel is very thick, and I put 1lb in the butt. So overall it weighs in at 12.5 lbs with the optic on. But the factory hornady are coming out at 2250 so the recoil with them is rather stout. Tomorrow I am working on my ladder loads, aiming for around 2150 with a lighter powder load, which should lower recoil considerably.

 

[sniper7]

Beautiful looking rifles! Incredible stocks!

 

[Green Chile]

I wouldn't change a lot this close to the hunt. Sounds like you are still developing loads.

 

[Philip Glass]

Hello All,

I have not even left yet, but I have already had a fabulous time building up this pair of rifles for the trip!

For my DG rifle I re-barreled a Ruger no.1 500 NE. It has a 26" IBI stainless match barrel (was meant to be a 50 BMG barrel But King Trudeau up in Canada banned those). Scope is a Leica Ampulus 1-6 (Which I quite like). And the stock is New Zealand walnut and ebony. I made this stock from scratch. The loads for it are 570gr Swift A-frame @ 2150. In this pic I was busy shooting some factory Hornady to get the brass. It really likes the Hornady, but it is giving me 2250fps and a hell of a wallop on the recoil. OH yes.... The muzzle break is just for sighting it in. I will not be hunting with that on it; just makes life a lot nicer when zeroing the irons and then the optic off a bench.

For my plains game I built up a Krieghoff Optima double rifle. Two barrels of 9.3x74r, and a 20ga shotgun. It is wearing a Leica 2.5-10. I finished the stocks on this rifle as well, but I had the smith do the inletting, as the inlet for it is more complicated than the ruger. Loads for it at 285gr northfork SS, at 2340fps.

Credit to Jakob Strasser out of Canada for the smith work.

View attachment 622592

Very unique setup! Best of luck on the hunt.

 

[Just a dude in BC]

I wouldn't change a lot this close to the hunt. Sounds like you are still developing loads.

It was a bit of a race to have this rifle done prior to the hunt, as it took longer to get it cerocoated (I wanted it to match the other rifle and be black). With that in mind I bought enough commercial off the shelf ammo for the hunt and to practice with. So I am already zeroed and ready to go. But I just find the Hornady rounds to abusive. With the 570gr rounds coming out at 2250, its getting into 505 gibbs levels of performance, and hence recoil.

Since I am fairly accomplished at reloading, I had already bought everything I need to load them up, and since it is a falling block, it is about as easy a rifle to load for as possible. I also have these two weeks off, so I could go to the range every day before the trip.... If my shoulder could handle that LOL.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

The 26" barrel is very thick, and I put 1lb in the butt. So overall it weighs in at 12.5 lbs with the optic on. But the factory hornady are coming out at 2250 so the recoil with them is rather stout. Tomorrow I am working on my ladder loads, aiming for around 2150 with a lighter powder load, which should lower recoil considerably.

That's heavier than any of my doubles, so I think you'll be fine and are likely feeling a little less recoil given the weight.

 

[steve white]

I would practice loading without looking. If that could not be made to work, then loading with minimal time looking at the breach. Otherwise you will take your eyes off the game for significant precious seconds. With a bolt gun or double you can keep your eyes tracking movement of the game while getting the second shot off. That is one problem with a single shot. The other is just how much action can take place in the time it takes to reload. But there is no doubt that a killing first shot is key. I would be hesitant personally to take a running shot with a single, given how I can seldom get a second shot off on the same flying bird with a single barrel shotgun. If hit too far back, a running buff will probably be into the brush before you get another shot off? Single shots are like bow hunts--it's all about the proper stalk and a good first shot. People bow hunt, so WHY NOT hunt with a single. Just a bit more limitation over a repeater, that's all. Good luck, and I know your adrenaline will be kicked in! lol.
Beautiful wood BTW