What do you use for carrying your ammunition etc?

[rnovi]

Well, I suppose the answer is...it depends. The type of hunting or walking around coupled with the firearm being used compared to the expectations in the field I suppose defines it. In general, I like to keep the weight of the rifle as minimal as possible and put any carry weight on my hips.

Hunting in a Texas blind: Remington 700 heavy barrel, .308. Buttstock slip with 10 cartridge slots on it. I'm not likely to carry this rifle more than 300 yards so the weight isn't that important.

Hunting in Africa: Merkel K1 single-shot rifle. One in the chamber, five on the hip in an elastic belt slide. Two more - one in each pocket - for a ready load of eight total rounds. If I need more, I have a 10 round hip wallet. Given the ultra light weight (6#, 6oz) a sling is actually quite optional.

Hunting in Africa (Part 2): Montana '99 in .375 H&H (*for the Buff Hunt I haven't done yet). One in the Chamber, Four down. 10-round belt slide (*or two, depending on PH recommendations).

Scouting in the field: I really like my HK P7M8 (the Squeezer) 9mm in a strong side carry. 8+1 rounds is enough but I'm not opposed to a spare mag in a pocket. Where I live, odds are I'm going to encounter either a mountain lion or a tweaker and I suspect the later is worse.

 

[nztimb]

Being reasonably handy with leather and thread I have made belt slides for all my rifles with the small 20VT having 35 loose in the leather box to the spares in the larger 50 count carrier. All other leather carriers have individual spaces for from 7 to 10 cartridges (for the 10 round carrier [303 brit]it is in two parts with covers held by sam browne stud) with the one for my new 6.5x57 having cover flaps over the 7 rounds and a seperate covered pocket for the aperture sight. Sometimes I will carry a 10 round double wallet of spares if in country with high goat numbers. I made it for the 7x57 but it would work for any cartridge in that case size.
Bino's on superlight cord harness and rifles with canvas slings and of course one of my knives is always ready in leather sheath. Canvas hock straps for carrying out animals in back pocket I made for old MN slings

 

[CAustin]

as for ammunition in the field I use the belt pouch on the left for smaller caliber ammo and the leather pouch on right for 375 up. The rifle stock slip over holder I use on my 300 WinMag Ruger #1. Works really well.

 

[BeeMaa]

Dick Murray Custom Leather Buttstock Cartridge Holder showed up today.
Rubbed it down with a little conditioner and installed it.
I tried it with 300WM, 375H&H and 416RM...all nice and snug.
Doesn't interfere with bolt removal on the R8 either.

 

[Alistair]

I've got a wallet style leather cartridge holder that I use for my hunting thus far. It slips on the belt and holds 10 cartridges in two rows of 5 with a push close flap. Personally, the most cartridges I've ever used in a single hunting day is 7, 5 from the magazine and two extra from the holder (that was a memorable and long day on the hinds), so it's probably a little unneccessary. It does balance out the knife though.

For my .375 I've sorted out an open belt holder with 7x loops. This works very well for my running boar practice comps (10 round details, so 7 in the holder and 3 in the magazine) and I can top off the magazine quickly and easily without interrupting the continuity of the detail. No idea how it'll work in anger as yet, and frankly I doubt I'll ever need more than 3 shots from that rifle, but it certainly looks the part!

Al.

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

@Von Gruff you should consider offering a belt cartridge carrier to match the knife sheath when one is purchased.

 

[nztimb]

@Von Gruff you should consider offering a belt cartridge carrier to match the knife sheath when one is purchased.

Not an economic proposal for me as the sheath leather I buy in double shoulder sizes as I get though a lot of it and while the back part of the belt slide uses the same thickness the cartridge loops and back cover are from much thinner and it would take a great number of slides to use the same size hides. Full double shoulders is from belly line to belly line over the shoulder and is the best way to buy leather cost wise. Buying smaller cut sizes costs more and the slides themselves are labour intensive being all hand stitched so not something I would contemplate

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

Not an economic proposal for me as the sheath leather I buy in double shoulder sizes as I get though a lot of it and while the back part of the belt slide uses the same thickness the cartridge loops and back cover are from much thinner and it would take a great number of slides to use the same size hides. Full double shoulders is from belly line to belly line over the shoulder and is the best way to buy leather cost wise. Buying smaller cut sizes costs more and the slides themselves are labour intensive being all hand stitched so not something I would contemplate

Understood

 

[Tra3]

@Wade J VanGinkel that is a beautiful knife! @Von Gruff nice work!

I carry 2 extra rounds in my bino chest pouch. My backpack has a 10 round simple padded ammo pouch I leave in an easily accesible zip pocket.

On a different note: carrying muzzleloader gear is regular Charlie Foxtrot. Ziplock bags for moisture, speed loader, extra jag... and I seem to never remember which pocket I put that stuff in considering all the clothing in zero degree temps.

 

[Newboomer]

Whatever the rifle holds and a 5 rd belt slide with elastic loops. Works for several calibers.

 

[rookhawk]

Dick Murray Custom Leather Buttstock Cartridge Holder showed up today.
Rubbed it down with a little conditioner and installed it.
I tried it with 300WM, 375H&H and 416RM...all nice and snug.
Doesn't interfere with bolt removal on the R8 either.

I know this isn't the topic of the thread, but I wanted to share an amen and a word of gratitude for Dick Murray Leather.

The story: I was in Zim on a hunt and my PH, Lou Hallmore was applying leather dressing to all his gear and showing us what he thinks is the "world's greatest safari sling" made in America by Dick Murray. He also had the ammo holder pouches and the ones that apply to the stocks. I observed the quality carefully knowing everything goes to sh*t in Africa due to use and abuse. Not this stuff, it was used hard and cared for respectfully so it still looked like new but was soft as butter from all the carrying.

When I got home, I showed my 8 year old son the sling that Dick Murray makes online. Mind you, the price Dick charges for the slings is damned reasonable, about $20 cheaper than making it yourself by buying the parts. My son REALLY wanted to make his own sling.

So like any cretin, I called Dick and asked him if he'd sell me the slider buckle so an 8 year old could rob him of his intellectual property and make a knock-off of his products. Dick, being a complete gentleman and realizing that this was about a kid making his own gear and learning a skill, was kind enough to send us a slider buckle and he refused to let us pay for it.

$80 in materials later (MORE than it costs to buy Dick's) my son made a perfect knock off of Dick's product using his proprietary slider buckle. (the buckle looks simple...just try to buy one...you cannot)

It is a genius design. It slides to a comfortable length for you to carry your rifle in the bush without snagging on everything. When you're ready for your final stalk, you slide it up tight to the gun and it is NOT in the way like every other sling is. Truly, a sling that is usable in the thick jess and the mopani scrub on a stalk.

Moral of the story, Dick makes a great product and is a generous, kind human being. I strongly recommend you support Dick Murray leather. Real Americans using first world materials made in a America and he pays a living wage making products right here in the first world. IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT PEOPLE LIKE HIM, YOU'LL PAY THE SAME FOR CHINESE JUNK AND WE WON'T HAVE ANY MORE FIRST WORLD PRODUCTS!

A sincere testimonial from a guy that has never paid Dick Murray a penny but surely will.

 

[GuttormG]

A standard dog trainer vest, lots of pockets and D-rings.
Shotguns shells just drops in a pocket, 22s in their original box, rifleamo in a leather pouch in a pocket or a slip-top box.
No problem bringing what me and doggy needs for a morning of trying to get some ducks or stalking fields for deer. Used it twice in South-Africa and will bring it next time also.

Big pocket on the back for dummies or small game (if I bring a bottle of water it also goes there).

 

[Forrest Halley]

Carhartt has a pocket for this. Holds up to six rounds quietly for right handed reloading.

 

[rookhawk]

I got a belt pouch for my small bore ammo on ebay. It was in elephant leather. It was cheap, maybe $45. That was 3-4 years ago. Not sure a belt pouch of elephant will go that price again, but worth a look.

For large bore, 375 and 500 I got a Galco culling belt. Not so great. You bend over, your ammo falls out.

If I was to do it over again for large bores, I'd do this drop down one from Dick Murray:

www.murrayleather.com

At the final part of the stalk, you can drop it down and its hanging there, the ammo didn't fall out already, and is ready for a grab-and-reload, or you can grab two out and have them in your left (forend holding) hand ready for a reload as your competency dictates.

 

[BeeMaa]

I know this isn't the topic of the thread, but I wanted to share an amen and a word of gratitude for Dick Murray Leather.

The story: I was in Zim on a hunt and my PH, Lou Hallmore was applying leather dressing to all his gear and showing us what he thinks is the "world's greatest safari sling" made in America by Dick Murray. He also had the ammo holder pouches and the ones that apply to the stocks. I observed the quality carefully knowing everything goes to sh*t in Africa due to use and abuse. Not this stuff, it was used hard and cared for respectfully so it still looked like new but was soft as butter from all the carrying.

When I got home, I showed my 8 year old son the sling that Dick Murray makes online. Mind you, the price Dick charges for the slings is damned reasonable, about $20 cheaper than making it yourself by buying the parts. My son REALLY wanted to make his own sling.

So like any cretin, I called Dick and asked him if he'd sell me the slider buckle so an 8 year old could rob him of his intellectual property and make a knock-off of his products. Dick, being a complete gentleman and realizing that this was about a kid making his own gear and learning a skill, was kind enough to send us a slider buckle and he refused to let us pay for it.

$80 in materials later (MORE than it costs to buy Dick's) my son made a perfect knock off of Dick's product using his proprietary slider buckle. (the buckle looks simple...just try to buy one...you cannot)

It is a genius design. It slides to a comfortable length for you to carry your rifle in the bush without snagging on everything. When you're ready for your final stalk, you slide it up tight to the gun and it is NOT in the way like every other sling is. Truly, a sling that is usable in the thick jess and the mopani scrub on a stalk.

Moral of the story, Dick makes a great product and is a generous, kind human being. I strongly recommend you support Dick Murray leather. Real Americans using first world materials made in a America and he pays a living wage making products right here in the first world. IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT PEOPLE LIKE HIM, YOU'LL PAY THE SAME FOR CHINESE JUNK AND WE WON'T HAVE ANY MORE FIRST WORLD PRODUCTS!

A sincere testimonial from a guy that has never paid Dick Murray a penny but surely will.

I spoke with Dick on the phone and he is a true gentleman.
The reason I went with his sling is the slimpicity of it all, just as you described.
Dick put on some sling swivels that I had shipped to him and dropped the price accordingly.
I didn't ask him to drop the price, he just did it.

All of his products are very reasonably priced.
We are considering a few gun slips from him after our next trip.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Africa options:

Vest usually carries 2 solids.

If jacket, 4 solids and 4 softs.

I no longer use this but when I did, 5 solids and 5 softs.

My African Sporting Creations cartridge belt carried 5 solids, 5 softs and 2 empty spaces between. Also a sheath knife and rangefinder. So far, I like this best. Easy on, easy off and more options.

 

[chashardy]

I like the 8 round leather ammo pouch from Dick Murray Custom Leather, the one with the flap and brass peg closer. It looks tough as nails, and I think it will outlive me. It rides on my belt, and can easily be shoved around my body when switching from standing to sitting.

I agree. Dick Murray's leather ammo pouches are great. I have the six round that fits my 300 winmag and 375 H&H and the eight round for my 416 Rigby. I got the open version (no flap) for quicker access.

 

[Dakota Hunter]

Murray ammo belt !