Single shot, break open shotgun?

[andrew cochran]

Yep! I love mine! I put about 70 rounds threw it so far and it worked flawlessly!

[perdidochas]

Originally Posted by jeffsenpai

I would never hunt with it, not one of my interests.



Why? The price (less than $150) of a single shot is lower than a similar quality pump it seems. Also, I suppose, I DO just like the look of them, the simplicity. I don't need much more than one shot for shooting watermelons and targets out with friends and family.


I'll take a look around at some of the pump-actions people have posted. I am favoring an H&R model so far.

You should be able to get a Remington 870 Express (pump) with interchangeable chokes for less than $200. The main downside is the finish. It would be a much better skeet gun than a single shot.

[alfred]

Originally Posted by jeffsenpai

I am interested in picking up a single shot, break open shotgun. This would be my first shotgun, and I would be using it primarily for target shooting and plinking w/ family. I also think it would be a great way to introduce me to shotguns, and a great ammo saver.
Any popular models out there? A quick google search turned up a H&R model, any others?

Do you want a shotgun that people hunted for and repeatedly took Siberian Tiger.Russian Brown Bear,Polar Bear,Moose,etc. from Northern Siberia to the Mongolian Desert with for many years now?My last 3 shotguns I bought were Russian Baikal single barrels.They were used for all of this because this is all most Russian peasants had to feed their selves and families with.You can say much the same for the old US single barrel shotguns on the American Continents.Do we have any game or animal that they have not taken?I know of none.Necessity often makes greatness out of the most common of things.
It is comical but true.You often hear "One shot one kill" since the book came out,but you most often see "Spray and pray".People who depend on hitting what they shoot at very seldom need a second shot.Those who do not depend on one shot very seldom do it with one.The money for the commercial interest is in selling you as much as possible as often as possible.Your needs have nothing to do with it.Getting you to want what you do not need has everything to do with it and it is very obvious that it works.
I have the old H&R that I first shot 50+ years ago.Once having a collection of over a dozen shotguns at one time of name brands in all of the different actions that I can think of,I have still shot my Single Barrels more than all of the rest put together.I hunted regular to my illness stopped me.Also by buying a "Turkey" single barrel with a 3 1/2 inch 12 gauge chamber and laminated stock I have a very easy shooting gun with standard loads due to the weight of the laminated stock and thick recoil pad.You can also use the OLD stock recoil reducer way of stacking 2 penny size circles of truck tire or heavy duty equipment inner tube over the stock bolt head,10 pennies,1 piece of inner tube,10 pennies,one piece of inner tube and so on to you get to the Butt plate.Finish up with with how ever 10 or under pennies you need plus 2-3 max pieces of inner tube to get a snug fit to and up under the butt plate.The Penny weight and movement at each shot absorbs much of the recoil.Just make sure it is snug and slightly tight as you should not be able to move it by shaking.I say Penny,but you use what ever coin fits the snuggest but will move freely in the hole.I got a old 36 inch H&R single barrel 12 done this way that the kids like to use for doves at every shooting angle.This says it all for the method.It now shoots easier than my Browning A-500G which was the easiest shooting shot gun I ever owned until this.My old Mossberg original Un ported 835 is the hardest shooting with any shell now that the 36 " is tamed.
Make yourself happy.You got to live with it.I wish you the best.Let us know how you make out.We are all learning except for the ones who already know everything.
I AIN'T DEAD AND I AIN'T QUITTING.peewee

[alfred]

Being single barrel shotguns have taken every known animal on all continents simply because that was all someone had at the time,it would be hard to go wrong.I still have the well worn and used H&R I started out with 50+ years ago.

I once had over a dozen shotguns at one time and they were a mix of all of the actions that I can think of except OU and single barrel recoilless.I shot them all.I loved and enjoyed them all.I still shot my single barrels more than all the rest put together.

Make yourself happy.You got to live with it.Please let us all know how you decide and come out as we are all learning.

I AIN'T DEAD AND I AIN't QUITTING.alfred

[matt760]

ah dont worry about recoil. you get the feeling back in your arm in a few hours and the bruises only last a few days. i turkey hunt with a NEF single shot. I shoot 3 1/2" #6 Federals. thats what i started with when i was...i think 12 or 13 when i got the gun for Christmas from my parents. Borrowing dads 20 just wasnt cutting it for me. Get a 12 gauge. more variety and 2 3/4" target loads are cheap cheap and easy to find. 12 bucks or something for a box of 100 rounds. and go the H&R/NEF route. new theyre not much more than $100 and you can find used ones by the dozens at gun shows for $75 or so. sometimes less if its a little rough looking(but still perfectly functional) which they often are.

[nick112207]

I actually bought me a H&R Pardner single shot 12 guage back before christmas. I have shot it lots since then and i can say that gun is amazing. I love it. it is so simple and easy to use. but it is also very ruggid. I only paid 100 for it at walmart. Ive put everything through it from 7 1/2 target load to 3" magnum slugs. It works flawlessly. Only thing is id have to agree that it kicks like a mule. But i bought a little slip on recoil pad that cost me about 10 bucks and it still kicks quite a bit, but certainly a lot less than before. I would definately suggest getting one of the H&R single shots. Doesnt matter what guage im sure they are all just as good as mine is

[meatloaf]

Well after shooting a single shot 12 every other gun will seem tame. Single shots help teach you how to aim especialy if you get good enough to wing shoot with it. Once you master shooting it you will be able to apreciate a high quality pump or semi auto shotgun. My first gun was single shot but it was a twenty two, my first shot gun was a bolt action 12 it was heavy and kicked like a mule. It might as well of been a single shot though because you couldnt get a second shot off fast enough to hit any birds. Check your local pawn shops, and call around I picked up my first shotgun for $80.

[jashoffa]

When we were dating I bought my Wife a Single shot 20 ga. stoger. It was something like $100 and she at first questioned why a single shot. I told her I wasn't going to spend any more money if she wasn't going to like using it. Well she got pretty good with it and last year we picked up a Browning BPS 20 ga.

Her single shot is a good solid gun. Nothing pretty to look at but a very solid gun. I can't hit clays very well with it but I think it's shorter length and weight messes me up. I love her BPS and might have to get one of them my self some day!

[NHmsj]

Except of one Savage .270 bolt action, all my long guns are single shot, .22s, 30-06, 20ga, .410 and more - with a number of them being New England Firearms pieces. In fact, just last year I traded in my last two pump shotguns and a bolt action .22 for single shots. When my sons were just lads, I initiated them to firearms with NEF and Marlin single shots. My thinking then was I didn't want either boy to have a firearm that could easily have another round chambered after shooting game. I was always concerned that the excitement of a kill might overcome safe firearms handling. To my delight, such a scenario never materialized - actually, it couldn't. However, I discovered to my surprise that I found I liked the single shots a very great deal - their simplicity had great appeal to me. Also, by their very nature, single shots demand more from a hunter - "one shot, one kill." And that I find very appealling. Moreover, by default, they are just that much safer.

msj

[Capt'n Mil Coll]

Hey Jeff I collect the H&R singles. I agree the kick is a lot on the 12 Gauge, just try the 10 gauge I have once. You better be standing right when you shoot that. But the 20 gauge might be an option. I have seen Mossberg 12 ga pumps at gun shows for under $200. If you just want a single shot then you cant go wrong getting an H&R in whatever gauge you decide on. I paid $60 for a used H&R .410 and the most I paid was $169 for the 10 Gauge used. H&R single breaks can be found in .410 28ga 20ga 16ga 12ga and 10ga. Im still looking for a 28ga H&R single break with the case hardened reciever. If anyone finds one please let me know.

[tippmann7]

i have a charles daly field 20ga and its a great skeet gun, but you might wanna go with a 12ga because i made the mistake of buying a 20ga when i should have got a 12ga

[yeedamiah]

they have single shot remington 12 ga for about 100$ at joes or r&r arms. it felt really nice in the hands and didnt have the "small gun" feel some of them have. -hers the link G89500-Remington SPR100™ Single Shot 12Ga

[Burningtree_83]

I bought a H&R single shot 12 about a year ago as my first shotgun, and I've enjoyed it every time I've taken it out. Its cheap and its good for the price.

[jimkim]

I would go with the H&R as well. You can then start ordering rifle barrel for it. I cut my teeth on my Grandpa's Meriden Arms 12ga. Learn to hunt with the single shot. You will learn to make them count.

[andrew cochran]

Umm I don't think you can get a rifle barrel for the shotguns. Just muzzleloader and other shotgun barrels. But if you buy the rifle you can get a shotgun barrel for it. Weird I know!

[Rex in OTZ]

Local dealer cannot keep the H&R Pump 20's on the shelf, same goes for the Mossberg 500c 410 pump's, folks are spongeing them up as fast as he can stock the racks!