Where are you talking about carrying them?

In the woods, I load the magazine tube if I'm just going to a stand in the early hours. If it's during daylight hours I keep one in the chamber with the safety on. I've got a carrier sleeve like you mentioned in #3, but I don't use it that often for hunting... Hopefully I won't need 15-20 rounds Otherwise, I'll just leave them in the box until I get where I'm going and/or keep the box in my back pocket.

I occasionally carry a camelback with a couple small pockets in it, so I can toss extra ammo and some snacks in there if I'm going to be out for most of the day.

 

I must admit I carried my extras in my pack wrapped in a rag so they wouldn't rattle. They were for emergencies. Most levers can carry enough ammo in the tube for a lot of hunting. If I was fitting in a quick sneak a couple in my jeans pocket was enough. I don't hang stuff on my rifles. I'm planning one of those cartridge holders in leather that carry ten in two rows of five and are folded and snapped on a belt for big bore plinking.

I must admit I rarely filled my 444 tube. So there were usually a round or two in my pocket. It is a pain unloading and threw the hand carry balance off. Usually one in the chamber and two in the tube in deer country. Three in the tube in Grizzly country.

Edit: In light of the post below a few in my pocket is usual.

 

I suppose I should have clarified...this would be not for storing the catridges long term (I just keep them in the box for that) or when bench shooting (I keep them on the bench or my range bag in the box as well) but when the rifle is unloaded (none in the chamber or the mag tube) and you are carrying them when you are not actively hunting..i.e. when you are driving or ATV'ing from one spot to another, when you are ascending or decending a treestand, crossing a fence, in camp for lunch. This would also be for any extra shells you wanted to carry while out hunting...so if you load the mag tube and want a few extras 'just in case'

 

In my pocket...coat or pants. I've always thought a cartridge belt would be nice, but never really needed one.

 

Cartridge Belt for each caliber :biggrin:....Well ya never know... :hmmmm:

 

I like this.

No more then 5 or 6 rounds is best.Any more then that and they get to heavy.

 

 

I never carry more than it holds in a mag or tube, usually I bring back most of those, I just like traveling light and it works for me.

 

Four in the tube, one up the spout, if I need more I shouldn't be in the woods. Never like the looks of those stock cover ammo holders, never like carrying ammo exposed to the elements. They do make nice leather ammo wallets that will hold six rounds if you need, last saw them in the Cabelas catalog.

 

For me depends on the lever If it's a 99 just a spare Mag My Marlins 1 in the chamber 3 in the tube and a leather Cartridge wallet that holds 8 to 10 rounds. I have never needed my cartridge wallet ever I do the same for my bolt gun's.
Well I should not say ever I have blasted away at yotes and needed to too top up the gun:biggrin:
But never for big game I have missed a few Deer in my life but made enough noise that non where in the area after that!
and sometimes I just load the rifle and put two or three rounds in my back pocket in my jeans.
The only gun for me that is different is my Ruger#1 I have one of them buttstock things that hold's 3 rounds.
But really just go with what works for you. Your not Goose/Duck hunting so I don't think you will ever need more than 4 or five rounds,plus two in a pocket.

 

Uncle Mikes makes a nice carrier for your belt, that folds and locks with velcro, and holds 8 or 10 rounds. I never lost a round hunting, and it's low cost and accessible.

Uncle Mike's - Folding Cartridge Carriers

They last forever.

 

Uncle Mikes makes a nice carrier for your belt, that folds and locks with velcro, and holds 8 or 10 rounds. I never lost a round hunting, and it's low cost and accessible.

Uncle Mike's - Folding Cartridge Carriers

They last forever.

This is my preferred way to carry.

 

The stretchy thingies need to be replaced every year or two because the elastic takes a set. I still like the idea of on board ammo so I use them on my rifles. I also carry extra rounds whether hunting or going to town, ya just never know.

 

#4.

I hate those cartridge carriers that fit over the buttstock. They look so tacky!

 

Federal ammo comes in a little plastic cartridge holder that you could put on your belt.....2 to a box that hold 10 rounds each. I carry one of those in my knapsack with a few rounds in it.....it does a good job of keeping the ammo together and even works with other brands of ammo.....

Usually, I only load three rounds in my 336....makes unloading a little easier and I figure if I don't get bucky boy with three shots its his day. The only reason I carry any extras in the pack is in case a coyote or two comes by....they are usually moving targets. So far in 20 or so years of hunting I have yet to run out of ammo!

 

I have one of the stretchy ones like you mentioned in #3 on my rifles!!!!

 

MTM cartridge wallet. Load the tube, carry spares in MTM. Have never needed to reload in field, but always care spares.

 

Put them in my orange vest when hunting, usually in a plastic carrier. I usually only load a couple in the tube. I don't expect to shoot more than two deer at a time, even though that has happened before.

 

Like mentioned earlier, most tube fed lever guns carry more than enough ammo for a hunt. But, since you came back and clarified that you are talking about how to carry ammo that you've unloaded from your rifle while traveling, I've always found that my coat pocket works just fine. Doesn't much matter what coat I'm wearing, I toss 'em in there and reload when I get where I'm going.

If you are traveling "rough" like bouncing around in an ATV, you might have to take pocket design into consideration and opt to put 'em in your pants pocket or a pack instead but pretty much every hunting coat I've ever had had at least two deep pockets with a button flap on it somewhere. If you're wearing a regular canvas/duck small game hunting coat or vest with shotgun loops inside the pockets, usually two rifle rounds side by side fill the shotgun loops nicely and stay put well. I usually don't bother and just dump them into the bottom of the pocket. It really is the fastest place to get at them that I've used yet. Feels more natural to me too. I find it far quicker to reach in and grab a loose round from my pocket than to have to fish one out of a loop so if your concern is that you might bump into a deer on the way in and need to load quickly, the loose rounds in your pocket is your best bet. You're not gonna stand there and load multiple rounds or that deer will be gone usually. Grab one round, pop it in and hope you get a shot.

I've tried the stock sleeve with cartridge loops and always forget that they're there and reach into my pocket first anyway. I've also found that if left on most guns for a full season or even worse, through the "off season" that the wood gets discolored under the sleeve and i REALLY don't like that!

 

Excellent responses! Thanks!!!

 

I use one of the "stretchy" cartridge loops on the butt stock to store 5 rounds when the gun is unloaded. Easy access in an emergency situation (home defense, etc) or a grab and go. I will probably upgrade to one of the leather buttstock cartridge carriers just because they really look good on a classic lever gun.

The rest of my ammo gets stored in the factory ammo boxes.

 

I never load more than three rounds in the tube these days; and if I were to carry a couple extra rounds when stand hunting, they stay in my vest pocket so they can be accessed quickly. I've found those leather and elastic butt cover things with cartridge loops annoying, so you won't find one in my pile of hunting stuff; and I also despise rifle slings with cartridge loops. In all honesty I don't remember the last time I had to shoot more than once (the reason I only load 3 rounds), but there have been times when I did use those extra rounds; as on several occasions I've dropped three deer from a group, and on two occasions I could have dropped a 4th (I wanted to, but was reminded of the processing bill; so bit my trigger finger!). But for anyone feeling the need to carry multiple rounds, the best thing I ever found I got at Wal Mart. It is a small canvas cartridge wallet in Realtree camo; it has loops for ten rounds, closes with a Velcro tab, holds all rounds noiselessly, and easily fits inside a coat pocket. I never carry it anymore, as it is not necessary for the little day hunts I do; but it does stay in the vehicle with a few extra rounds "just in case".

One thing I really like about the fact that Marlin levers utilize a loading tube is the ability to keep/store 2-3 rounds in the tube, as in the tube they are always handy in a pinch; and provided you don't forget your gun, will salvage a hunting trip when the stresses of life cause you to forget to load your ammo stash with the rest of your gear. I remember going deer hunting early one frosty morning years ago with my BIL; and after a couple of hours drive he realized, as we gathered our gear to trek to the stand, that he had forgotten his box of Coreloks. I thought that was real funny until I drove 75 miles one morning; then realized, when I reached behind the seat to get my 30/06, that I had left my gun standing by the carport door!

 

One in the chamber two in the tube maybe a couple in my pocket,but I never unload while going to and from the woods,on my four wheeler or around camp.What good is an empty rifle? Mine is never unloaded unless it's out of season.

 

I carry one similar to these, but all leather even the loops, no elastic. This I carry in my back pack.
Hunter Quick Belt Slide Folding Rifle Ammo Carrier 14-Round up to

When hog hunting I keep the mag tube full and carry another 20. Going through a full mag tube and then some is common when hunting out of a swamp buggy.
When I'm only planning on whitetail I only have 3 in the tube and maybe 2 in pockets. Mostly only ever using (1) round.

 

Home made leather ammo wallet that fits my shirt pocket. I never carry more than 5 rounds for deer and elk and can say that after 50 years of hunting that I never came home with less than 3 of the 5. Also never put more than 3 in the rifle either - makes it easier to unload to cross fences or other obstacles which is a safety factor many choose to ignore.

 

I don't cross no fences!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!