Carrying Loose Rounds?

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I keep a few on the nylon/elastic side saddle and have become fond of the Butler Creek rifle slings for hunting rifles and they have 4 lil elastic cartridge loops and I use the bottom two loops for a couple extra cartridges.

I'm not much of a hunter and can prove it but even I don't imagine I'd ever need more ammo than what is in the chamber/mag but I'm always mindful of potential scenarios where having extra could be helpful and the extra weight of carrying more ammo isn't much of a problem for me..... I like side saddles and sling mounted cartridge holders.

If you didn't want to carry the extra cartridges on the gun stock or on your sling you could always just put a few in a lil nylon cartridge wallet and keep it in your jacket or sling your belt through it. They make different types of those. I'm sure you wouldn't have to look very long to find something that'd interest you, or if your crafty with nylon or leather you could fashion your own.....
 
Dad always cut the factory Federal ammo box plastic or styrofoam holders in half & stuck in his hunting jacket pocket. Depending on what rifle I take, I still do that sometimes. I also use a buttstock shell holder, ammo wallet or an extra loaded mag in my coat pocket.
 
Back in the dark ages I always carried half a box just in case. There were no portable phones and the local signal for help was 3 shots fired rapidly.
Nowadays if you've only fired 3 somebody walks up and says what's wrong dude, you outta' ammo?
:rofl:
 
How much ammunition are you wanting to haul around?

Deer hunting, isn’t a very ammunition consumptive activity. I generally load the magazine, maybe -1 so things are not as tight and even if that’s 3, that’s enough for the task at hand.

If I am shooting a single shot and would like the comfort of not having to be perfect, I put a couple in the watch pocket of my jeans.

57D986B8-3056-46F6-94BE-EF790422B378.jpeg
 
I’d like to carry some spare ammunition for my hunting rifle. How are you all carrying loose rifle ammo in the field? I’ve seen some pouches and loop setups but don’t have experience with them. Would prefer to carry on the belt. Thanks!

For belt carry, or for throwing in my daypack, in the USA I use a simple folding nylon model with elastic loops for the cartridges. They fasten with velcro which is noisy but I doubt that I have ever needed to open it while hunting. As they are nylon and cover the cartridges they are fairly weatherproof and inexpensive.

When I am somewhere in Africa I use good leather models that are open top (no flap covering cartridges) for quick and silent access. The better leather cartridge carriers are a bit pricey but are worth it in some situations.
 
For my bolt hunting rifles I tried leather but found over time the loops stretch and get loose plus they cause rounds to tarnish so no good for long term ammo storage. For the past few decades now I've used the elastic stock cuffs and been completely happy with them. I can only think of a couple times I've had ammo fall out of them, both of which were hard falls. Otherwise I really like having 9 rounds stuck to each rifle at all times. Grab a gun from the safe and it's ready for the woods. It's no fun getting somewhere and finding yourself with either no ammo, or the wrong ammo.

For magazine fed semi-auto rifles, one in the gun and an extra in a pocket of the day pack seems to work out fine.
 
I carry 2 mags, 5 rounds in each (deer hunting). 2nd mag goes in the small pack I carry with me to the tower stand or tree stand.
 
I don't really see the need to carry lots of ammo when hunting. When I go out, I am going to shoot once or twice at the most. My hunting area is literally my backyard as well. My primary hunting gun right now is a lever action with a full tube of 6 rounds. Load tube full, cycle, go to half cock. That gives me 5+1. I usually hunt with a pistol on my side to take care of snakes (common) or two leg vermin should that issue arise.

I used to have butt stock ammo pouches. But figured that was covering up some very nice wood furniture for the rare instance I would need 12 extra rounds. So I removed it. Plenty of ways to carry on a belt too.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1020604311?pid=761527
 
I have but stock bullet holders. but always carry way more than nessasary, a couple boxes, cause you never know when it might be needed. Plus I carry my 9mm with 2 mags one in the gun. Some one gets lost, snowed in, or hurt you dint want to be caught short.

Honorably I only take a shot or 2 on game.
 
I've carried it loose in pockets, in boxes in pockets, pouches in pockets...but mostly in my pockets.
I have waded the creek squirrel hunting and put a dozen or so in an empty water bottle so my ammo would float if I went under. Can't swim, so I'd have been a gonner but my ammo woulda been safe and dry.
 
I’d like to carry some spare ammunition for my hunting rifle. How are you all carrying loose rifle ammo in the field? I’ve seen some pouches and loop setups but don’t have experience with them. Would prefer to carry on the belt. Thanks!

One thing to consider is that, if carried loosely in a pocket, not only do you run a risk of damaging the point of the bullet but how it is seated in the brass. You could also pick up dirt or other debris that could affect your bullets accuracy. You should always use some kind of protective container. The "wallets" or the plastic cases are good choices.
 
Another vote for the WW2 Mauser/Mosin cartridge belt box.

5 in the rifle.
15 clipped in one side of the box.
Matches, bandages and etc in the other.

Only once used the spare cartridges. And that was to give 7 to a friend who left his 30-06 ctgs at home. He got sighted with 4 and had 3 to use.
 
Another vote for the WW2 Mauser/Mosin cartridge belt box.

You know. It's cool and all, and I have some WWII gear that is functional, but the only drawback I see there is is that it's leather. With the exception of my rifle sling, I'm moving away from leather for hunting. It's too high maintenance. It absorbs water/moisture, and that tends to rust any non treated metal inside.

I like the durability of leather over nylon and other synthetics, but synthetics repel moisture and dry quicker. Kydex is really where its at. About the only natural anything I use anymore is wool.
 
If I’m using a mag fed rifle, I just carry a spare, loaded mag in my pocket or in my pack. If I’m using a No. 1 or bolt action with a blind mag, I either use an ammo wallet (Allen makes a decent, cheap 14 round wallet), or I use a butt cuff with ammo carrier. All these methods have worked well for me. I particularly like this Galco butt cuff. 459D1F07-6CC0-4DE4-9E7C-0BB0413F9397.jpeg
 
I try not to hunt with rifles (or pistols) that require carrying loose rounds.
The Win. 30-30 was the lone exception. Even my muzzleloader spares are carried in 'speedloaders'.
With my Mosins, Mausers, and SKS, I used strippers, the revolvers, speed loaders. Semi automatic pistols, spare mags.
Pheasant hunting is about the only time I carry loose ammo in a pocket while hunting.
 
Like a lot of people here the ammo wallet of sorts is what I use. I do not carry it on my belt though, it's slim enough to fit in a jacket pocket. I only carry about 6 spare rounds to cut down on the weight I carry into the field. The older I get them more extra stuff I think I need. :)


-Jeff
 
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