How Many Rounds in the Rifle

[JD338]

After I read Powerstokes thread on how many rounds does one take on a hunting trip, I got to thinking about how many rounds are loaded into the rifle and magazine.

I always load 3 rounds in my rifles, one in the pipe and 2 in the magazine.If I can't get the job done with 3 shots...

How may rounds do you carry in your rifle?

JD338

 

[Kodiak]

I kinda like those 'lastic shell-holder thingys that stretch-to-fit around the buttstock. They hold 4-6 rounds and I poke 2 in the bottom and one in the chamber, and I figure I'm good to go for the day.

Total rounds taken for a weeks hunt , usually, is a box of 20. Unless I'm going to visit a p'dog town along the way. Then its 500 to 1000 rounds :mrgreen: :grin: . Sometimes thats not enough :lol: .

 

[DrMike]

Jim,

When hunting, I usually have three rounds--one up the pipe and two in the magazine.

 

[velvetant]

I spent many many years hunting with a Thompson contender handgun, Had to make that one shot count.
I load one in the chamber and one in the mag on my big game guns but load to max on my coyote/varmint rifles.

 

[HeathSexton]

Deer = 3 rounds
Turkey = 3 rounds
Hogs = as many as I can stack in there. No limit on hogs so I will pull out my gat and say ratty tat tat, just haveto get lucky enough to find them first. :lol:

 

[SJB358]

Same here, 1 in the chamber and 2 in the mag. I do usually keep 10 or so in my day pack. Haven't used up all of my rounds on a hunt yet, but I am sure the day will come! Scotty

 

[jmad_81]

Usually as many as it will hold and one in the pipe.

 

[Guy Miner]

I tried to get all three of these:

In here, but it just wouldn't work. Weird.

:grin:

 

[6mm Remington]

As I pack a Ruger #1B in 6mm or a Ruger #!B in 30-06, my pipe only holds one. 8) I honestly have never felt handicapped by it and I think that without even trying, just knowing that makes you just a bit certain of your shot before you squeeze the trigger. I have one round in my right front pants pocket in addtion to the one in the pipe, and 10 in shell holder on my hunting pack.

 

[Powerstroke]

Will generally depend on which gun I have - a couple I have the bullet seated beyond magazine length.
Most of the time I have *one* in the magazine with the bolt open. Our hunting area allows us the luxury generally
of knowing what's going on so a quick shot doesn't come that often.
If I ever sit down etc - yes it's in the pipe.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

I always carry a full magazine. Sometime that is 3 rounds, sometimes it is 20.

 

[nodak7mm]

I always load 3 rounds in my rifles, one in the pipe and 2 in the magazine.If I can't get the job done with 3 shots...

Yepper, works for me... Like to say one, but that just aint the truth all the time....

Rod

 

[Teknys]

In my Sako 75 & 85 - 3 in the box and 1 in the tube. In my Rem 700s - 2 in the mag and 1 in the tube. I usually carry 5 more in a leather ammo carrier in my fanny pack for the day.

 

[FOTIS]

2 downstairs, one upstairs no matter what the gun or game.

 

[Murphdog]

On the same page as Antelope Sniper

"An empty gun at best is a very poor club"

One of the overlooked advatages of a standard caliber over a magnum is the extra couple of rounds in the magazine. Long range shooting can take a couple of rounds to get the wind and trajectroy right. Have seen deer, elk, and antelope stay put for a few seconds trying to figure out where the rounds are coming from, doubt if they will wait for you to reload. Before wolves and during the days of multipule doe tags it was common to be able to take more then one animal out of a given group.

More importantly I have a personal rule learned the hardway and have heard the same story from others. Regardless of how hard I think they are hit if the animal is up I knock them down, if a part of them (like the head) comes back up I knock that down. This is especially true if I will loose sight of the animal on the trip to retreive it. Taking your eyes off of a downed animal ,even if it is only while you reload may (ok I know it is rare)give them an opportunity to get up and sneak off. Spent a whole day chasing after a "dead deer" that cold have been avoided by a coup de gras round. Had a coworker that lost a bull elk because he thought that there was no way that the elk could survie with two body blows from a 300 Weatherby. The elk got back up an took off at a run, he missed with his third and last shot and after that all he could do was watch it go while he was digging in his pocket for more ammo never saw the elk again.

In my 30-06 or my 243 I have five in the gun and pack 20 in on my belt. Oh for the record at one point I had eight consecutive one shot kills spanning three seasons, with my old 30-06. Two elk, one black bear, one coyote, and four deer. Missed a cow elk to break the run but got her with a 2nd shot.

 

[irocbarry]

For me it's as many as the gun in hand will hold, with 10 rounds in the pouch on the belt. I'd rather have way to many then one too few.

 

[sask boy]

I shoot my 270 4 in the mag and 1 chambered.
Blessings,

 

[onesonek]

I tried to get all three of these:

In here, but it just wouldn't work. Weird.

:grin:

LOL,,,,I have that problem too Guy.
Always carried a couple of spares in my pocket,,,, if for some reason I felt the need for a quick follow up I kept a second round between my fingers of offhand. I have a wrist band for a couple rounds.
Dave

 

[Guy Miner]

Dave, glad you enjoyed my attempt at humor! :grin:

When I was hunting mule deer a few days ago with my little .30-30 Marlin and iron sights, I kept the magazine full of six rounds - it seemed prudent as I was planning to lay down what a buddy calls the "wall of lead" if I managed to jump a decent buck within range. That didn't happen, but I was sure looking forward to it!

 

[big rifle man]

Two in the magazine, one chambered and five in a carry pack in the pocket. If I can't do anything with the first three I'm definitely doing something wrong or I should have rethought the shot.