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Offline Jay, Tx

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Carrying Extra rounds?
« on: September 04, 2009, 04:25:16 AM »
New Encore owner here. Actually, my first one should be here late next week.

Just wondering how y'all carry extra rounds for easy access? Say, on an elk hunt where you would be layering clothes on and off throughout the day to stay comfortable? Walking all day long?

I've got an ammo wallet, and my plan was to strap it to my pack's waistband. I was just thinking how unnecessary it is to have 10+ rounds of ammo on my belt when one or two would be all I'd need in a hurry. I'd like to hear ideas on carrying a couple of rounds separate from the ammo wallet so it could just get stowed in the pack. A pocket would be the obvious choice. Just thinking how outer layers will likely be coming off and being put back on as the weather dictates, so i didn't want anything in those pockets to have to deal with.

Don't really want a butt-stock carrier. Will use a Safari Sling, so loops on the sling are kinda out. And the little forearm carrier that T/C sells will likely not work on my custom fore arm.

Thanks for any ideas.

Jay
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Offline southernutah

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #1 on: September 04, 2009, 07:24:00 AM »
you've eliminated most of the ways I carry extra rounds. But stock carrier with cover flap that holds 9. Sling that holds 6. they make a wrist shell holder that holds 2. You might be able to add a few loops on pack straps to hold a couple of rounds. i don't think you can carry to many but over a box is just more weight. Had a friend that won't go hunting with out 40 rounds of 30-06 on him. I like them with the rifle  that way I just grab the rifle and have ammo with it.

Offline bolewine

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2009, 08:45:22 AM »
 Thompson Center 8009 Cartridge Carrier
Cartridge Carrier

Cartridge Carrier

Convenient and fast accessibility to back up cartridges for single shot pistol and rifle shooters. Made of nylon with adjustable buckle and velcro fastener.

Features:


•Holds two rounds of either handgun or rifle ammuntion.

Specifications:


•Straps On your wrist

•Holds Two rounds of ammunition

Note: Ammunition is not included!!!

 
PLEASE NOTE,This can also be attached to your rifle between scope rings giving you instant access to two follow up rounds at your finger tips.
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Offline Ladobe

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2009, 11:32:07 AM »
Carry extra rounds?   Horse pucky!   That's why we hunt with these single-shots... we don't need more than one good shot.   ::)

 ;D

It's a personal preference thing, so YMMV from mine!!!   

I guess I've tried just about every way possible to carry extra cartriges for the TC's over the last 42 years to hunt big game, small game, upland, waterfowl, predators and varmints.   Some types of hunting require different carriers than others.   

In a big game hunting situation some carriers work well, some do not.   First up is to decide on how many extra you want to carry.   For quick follow shoots 2 extra cartriges should be plenty IMO, and they should be carried differently than your back up supply of ammo for the day.   I think your "quick" carry should be 3 rounds so one round can be used to easily load the firearm at the "start" of a hunt and as a place for it to be returned to at the "end" of it.   

A backup supply is a good idea, but If you think you need to carry a full box though you're using the wrong gun - get one you can hit something with.  ;)   

Your ammo wallet is great for carrying usually 5-12 cartridges for an all day hunt away from the camp/vehicle.   I have several and use them for just that purpose.   But they are not all that fast to use for a quick followup shot when that 7 point royal needs one more to go down.  The belt slides are faster, but still have the problem of being burried under layers of clothing at the worst possible moment.   Sling loops might be a little hard to find by braille when you're eyes are glued to your elk, especially if the sliing is flopping around.   IMO those wrist carriers are the most worthless of all the ways to carry.   What worked for me best was a stock carrier.   Not those cheap slip-on thingies with elastic loops that hold 6+ cartridges (to make up for the few you'll loose out of it during a day of hard hiking in the thick stuff).  Get one that laces on, preferably leather with tight leather loops and that only carries your 3 cartridges.   I made all of mine myself, easy.   With them the carts were easy to find by braille with my off hand and without loosing my grip on the rifle with my shooting hand.

Loading for a fast follow requires pratice, especially to do it without taking your eyes of your game animal.   So it needs to be practiced same as your shooting.

Since most of my big game hunting with a Contender was with pistols, I choose to live with a sling carrier some of the time, and with the leather belt slides some of the time and just made sure they were always were they could be accessed easily with my left hand.   Both worked good enough, but they were not as fast as the stock carriers were.

L.

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Offline martineta

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #4 on: September 06, 2009, 02:46:55 AM »
What's the issue with a buttstock carrier?  Uncle Mike's makes them, they are cheap, I have them on three of my four encores.  If anyone starts making a hogzilla buttstock carrier for speed load 50 calibers for my Encore 209 X 50, I will be first in line to put one on my Buttstock.  Good luck.  Let us know what you plan to use.
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Offline Jay, Tx

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #5 on: September 06, 2009, 04:42:59 AM »
The idea of the buttstock carrier just didn't appeal to me due to the possibility of rounds falling out of it. Like Ladobe said above, all I really need is a couple of rounds easily accessible, and then a larger amount in my pack. I do plan on using the buttstock carrier for whitetail and pig hunting, when I'm not on the move all day long in who knows what kind of terrain. I've seen the ones with the flap that covers up the extra rounds, but those flaps are secured by velcro, something I refuse to carry any of when hunting. It just makes too much noise ripping that stuff open.

The ammo wallet I have will attach to a belt, and will carry up to 14rnds. Which is way more than I'd need in any given hunt. I just feel it's to bulky to have on my outerwear while hiking around in the mountains. It'll go in my pack with the "emergency reserve".

I'm gonna get my pack out this evening and look at the possibility of sewing a couple of elastic lops in an un-obscure place, but easily accessible, place.


Some good feedback here so far. Thanks for that fellas. And any more ideas anyone might have. I'll post what I come up with as a final solution after more thought goes into it. I just wanted to see if anyone has hit on an ingenious solution to this question.

Jay
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Offline gunrac

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #6 on: September 06, 2009, 06:06:33 AM »
As I understand it, you wanted to have something handy to excess for a follow up shot. I wouldn't think noise from velcro would be an issue at that point. I can see an issue using a buttstock carrier with the type of sling you intend to use. I'd consider sewing some type of a holder in your sling.
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Offline southernutah

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #7 on: September 06, 2009, 07:52:01 AM »
my buttstock carrier has a vecro closing flap that covers the bullets and keeps them safe.
 Ladobe,  I have to carry lots of ammo for the others I hunt with who can't hit spit.....................

Offline Keith L

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #8 on: September 06, 2009, 08:31:35 AM »
my buttstock carrier has a vecro closing flap that covers the bullets and keeps them safe.
 Ladobe,  I have to carry lots of ammo for the others I hunt with who can't hit spit.....................

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Offline Ladobe

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #9 on: September 06, 2009, 10:33:48 AM »
Quote
What's the issue with a buttstock carrier?  Uncle Mike's makes them, they are cheap,...

You just answered your own question.   Don't get me wrong, I have used UM products for years and like many of them, even visited their factory in Portland years ago and bought a trunkful direct from them.   But elastic loops and retaining systems quickly get loose from useage, too much exposure to direct sun light, etc, and they don't even start off holding as tight as leather does even when they are brand new.   So in the thick stuff even a brand new UM's carrier can loose carftridges.

Quote
The idea of the buttstock carrier just didn't appeal to me due to the possibility of rounds falling out of it.

Why I made my own out of leather instead of using the cheap commercial ones with elastic cartridge loops and retainers.  Even after many years of hard use mine held the ammo tight.  

I've put loops on hats, on jacket fronts or sleeves, on belts and even on the front of the upper thigh of hunting pants.   Regardless the most easily accessable by braille with your off-hand IMO is the butt stock because you have control of it already and you are going to use your off-hand near there anyway to help close (and maybe open) the TC action.

Quote
As I understand it, you wanted to have something handy to excess for a follow up shot. I wouldn't think noise from velcro would be an issue at that point.

I agree unless the first shot did not spook the animal or it doesn't know where the shot came from so it freezes.  Ripping open velcro at that moment will get their attention.   Another problem with velcro is it can snag on something and tear open when you don't want it opened... like when putting a sneak through the thick stuff on your bull.   And while we're on the "noise" thing, ripstop nylon carriers are a bunch noisier when brushed against something than a leather carrier is.

Quote
I have to carry lots of ammo for the others I hunt with who can't hit spit.....................

Sounds like you hunt with some of the CA crowd that comes there every year Glen.   Lots of them are spray and pray shooters.    I met up with a CA business associate for a mule deer hunt at Wolf Creek Pass one year while I still lived there and he showed up with a M1 Carbine and two banana clips.   I put him on the Tabiona side and I hunted the Francis side (I got a nice buck, he ran out of ammo and his family ate slow elk that winter).


All of these carrier ideas will work...   A lot of hours in the field decided what worked best for me, but YMMV.   Nothing wrong with that at all... just use what you are the most confident in and comfortable with AND make that one good shot.



    
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Offline SD Handgunner

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #10 on: September 07, 2009, 04:14:20 AM »
I have used the Uncle Mikes and or Koplin and or Bob Allen Elastic Buttstock Cartridge Carriers for years and to my knowledge have never lost a cartridge. I fully understand we all have certain likes and dislikes but this is what has worked for me.

Larry
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Offline southernutah

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #11 on: September 07, 2009, 06:55:39 AM »
If you use a nylon stretch bullet holder of any type do not leave bullets in it when not hunting. they stretch out and won't hold as firm. Lost a few bullets over the years with thee open end ones i left bullets in.

Offline David D.

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #12 on: September 07, 2009, 01:17:20 PM »
For me its pretty simple. I keep them in my right hand pants pocket. As of this time its been no problem. No matter how cold I never wear a glove om my right hand. If I sit with my back to a tree or whatever I lay them within easy reach.
Dave D.

Offline INresponse

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #13 on: September 08, 2009, 05:55:25 PM »
my buttstock carrier has a vecro closing flap that covers the bullets and keeps them safe.
 Ladobe,  I have to carry lots of ammo for the others I hunt with who can't hit spit.....................

 ::)

I seem to remember a few years back, a deer on the far side of a canyon, and a number of shots later it was still walking to the bottom of the canyon...... 

 ;D
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Offline Jay, Tx

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #14 on: September 08, 2009, 06:07:37 PM »
Well, it all might be kinda moot at this point. The fine folks at Bullberry informed me today that my rifle has now been pushed back another two weeks. A grand total of 1.5 months behind the agreed delivery date when i ordered the thing in early May. This would give me no more than one week with the rifle before I depart on my Elk hunt.  So it looks like this one will have to hang out at the house this year. Gunsmiths just seem to live in a parallel universe where time is a completely different concept. The back-up/go too rifle is a bolt action (if I can say that here w/o getting banned, lol).

I guess that's one way to solve the dilemma!

Thanks for the suggestions though fellas.

Jay
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Offline Ladobe

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #15 on: September 08, 2009, 11:48:52 PM »
Jay,

What in the HAIL did you order that is taking that long?

As a newbie to TC's you may not know the ins and outs of dealing with Bullberry.   Fred and I go back a lot of years, so I'd like to know even via PM if you prefer.

Larry

Evolution at work. Over two million years ago the genus Homo had small cranial capacity and thick skin to protect them from their environment. One species has evolved into obese cranial fatheads with thin skin in comparison that whines about anything and everything as their shield against their environment. Meus

Offline Jay, Tx

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #16 on: September 09, 2009, 05:22:06 AM »
PM sent
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Offline Doc T

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #17 on: September 09, 2009, 08:28:01 AM »
     For two quick rounds, wrap a heavy rubber band around the forearm and barrel and put the rounds one on each side in the "groove" where the forearm and barrel meet.  Put extra rounds in the ammo wallet, pocket, etc.  Works great with rimfires as well.

Doc T



Offline Ladobe

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #18 on: September 09, 2009, 09:02:23 AM »
Jay,

Got your PM and know what the root of the problem is (one of those ins and outs I mentioned where you did break a cardinal sin with one of them on your order).   I'll explain after I confirm it.   Hope you don't mind, but I am going to contact Fred and I'll get back to you via PM.

Larry.

Evolution at work. Over two million years ago the genus Homo had small cranial capacity and thick skin to protect them from their environment. One species has evolved into obese cranial fatheads with thin skin in comparison that whines about anything and everything as their shield against their environment. Meus

Offline southernutah

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #19 on: September 09, 2009, 02:20:58 PM »
my buttstock carrier has a vecro closing flap that covers the bullets and keeps them safe.
 Ladobe,  I have to carry lots of ammo for the others I hunt with who can't hit spit.....................

 ::)

I seem to remember a few years back, a deer on the far side of a canyon, and a number of shots later it was still walking to the bottom of the canyon...... 

 ;D

I guess you were having trouble............couldn't of been me.

Offline Jay, Tx

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #20 on: September 09, 2009, 03:42:17 PM »
PM returned Larry.


Jay
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Offline INresponse

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #21 on: September 10, 2009, 11:58:36 AM »
my buttstock carrier has a vecro closing flap that covers the bullets and keeps them safe.
 Ladobe,  I have to carry lots of ammo for the others I hunt with who can't hit spit.....................

 ::)

I seem to remember a few years back, a deer on the far side of a canyon, and a number of shots later it was still walking to the bottom of the canyon...... 

 ;D

I guess you were having trouble............couldn't of been me.

 ::)
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Offline Jay, Tx

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #22 on: September 12, 2009, 03:04:38 PM »
     For two quick rounds, wrap a heavy rubber band around the forearm and barrel and put the rounds one on each side in the "groove" where the forearm and barrel meet.  Put extra rounds in the ammo wallet, pocket, etc.  Works great with rimfires as well.

Doc T





I'm liking something like this idea. Hadn't though about that .

Thanks, Jay
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Offline southernutah

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #23 on: September 12, 2009, 05:29:05 PM »
my buttstock carrier has a vecro closing flap that covers the bullets and keeps them safe.
 Ladobe,  I have to carry lots of ammo for the others I hunt with who can't hit spit.....................

 ::)

I seem to remember a few years back, a deer on the far side of a canyon, and a number of shots later it was still walking to the bottom of the canyon...... 

 ;D

I guess you were having trouble............couldn't of been me.

 ::)

thats the years we decided to hunt with pistol, i remember long shot with near sited pistol, seems the 44 mag I wasn't shooting was having issues too.

Offline willys.450

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #24 on: September 12, 2009, 09:25:08 PM »
Dont laugh at me but when I was in the Marine Corps I got tired of paying for tailoring so I learned to use a sewing machine.  Turns out I am actually really good with a machine.  I was in the same situation as you with extra rounds, didnt want to carry 10 extra rounds.  So, I bought some material and made a 3 round ammo carrier to snap onto my belt.  I've actually done some pretty cool things for my encore pistol like, making a harness and quieting up my uncle mikes holster.  If you would like, I could throw an ammo carrier together for you.  Shoot me a PM.
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Offline pozoutdoors

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #25 on: September 13, 2009, 08:01:26 AM »
This works well for me!!!!

Offline Josp

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #26 on: September 13, 2009, 02:36:25 PM »
Blackhawk makes a butt stock pack that has 5 loops in heavy elastic on the outside, and a zip close pouch that will hold a box of shells, or whatever else you want handy. I have one on my contender to place my head in line with my scope. I only have the plastic stock on my contender rifle, so I didn't mind covering it up. Warmer onthe cheek in winter, and cooler in summer too.

Offline Jay, Tx

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Re: Carrying Extra rounds?
« Reply #27 on: September 15, 2009, 03:42:28 PM »
Just wanted everyone to know that Bull Berry is doing the right thing. They are pushing my rifle through quicker than than told me they would.

I got the stock today, per their initiative to get it to me early, so I can do the finish work while they finish up my rifle and ship it by the end of the week.

I never intended to denounce them in any way. I was just a little peeved that my rifle wasn't going on my hunting trip with me this year. But with the new schedule, it'll be in my hands the whole time I'm there.

I'll post pics when I get more time, and range results as well.


Also, thanks for the ideas on carrying extra rounds. Got a couple to try out. Will post results on that as well.


Jay
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