Any single shot survival/truck guns?

[lhartman89]

I don't think it should be too hard to drill and tap a hole for a bead. The hard part would getting it in the right spot.

 

[Texan Scott]

I wouldn't bother with the chokes either. Also wouldn't thin the wood or try to lighten it. They're already as light as you'd like for a shotgun right out of the box; taking 7 1/2 inches off the barrel adds enough kick-boom-flash as it is.

A 20 with #3 buck might be about ideal for that. You could probably do it yourself and come out around $100.

 

[improperlyaged]

I got mine from my Grandfather when I turned 16 I think. I just cut down the barrel 4-5 days ago and haven't got to shoot it yet. I also refinished the stock in old english and high gloss tung oil finish. I used to use it to go bird and rabbit hunting and skeet shooting with my Grandfather. From what I have read, it will have a decent spread up to 40 yards if that.

Mine has a an 18 inch spread at about 15 yards as the tightest pattern using Remington Express, now with winchester elcheapo, more like 25 inches at the same range.

 

[Dirty Bob]

Re: replacing the bead, I bought beads, drill bits, and a tap from Midway for not much money. The job was pretty easy. Hardest part was making sure I had the mark for the bead in exactly the right spot. Now my shortened .410 wears a new brass bead.

Before I cut, I tied a thread to the original bead and taped the other end at the center of the back end of the chamber. This thread worked as my "plumb line" to help me mark the spot for the new bead before I cut the barrel.

Si, se puede!

Dirty Bob

 

[lhartman89]

Mine has a an 18 inch spread at about 15 yards as the tightest pattern using Remington Express, now with winchester elcheapo, more like 25 inches at the same range.

Thank you for the info. I am going to be shooting Estate and Federal #7 1/2 shot from it when plinking. I want to make some wax slugs too. I keep a Federal rifled slug in it just in-case but I also have a Maverick 88 with 00 buck and my Glock 19 and Ruger SR22 loaded also lol. I hope to go shoot it soon. I think it would be pretty good with the wax slugs. I already made 25 wax slugs for my Maverick with Winchester Universal from Wally World. I'll have to see how it does with the Federal and Estate birdshot.

 

[Texan Scott]

Dirty Bob, that plumb line idea, that's usin yer noggin! I'm addin that to my book o tricks!

 

[mac66]

My H&R truck shotgun has cut down 18" barrels. Shown with a 20 ga with pouch (holds 27, 7 outside, 20 inside) and snap on fiber optic sight. The sight also clips onto the 12 ga barrel. Also shown with a cut down 16" .357 mag barrel. And yes the clip on sight will hold even under 12 slugs. It is also a bit adjustable side to side to sight in the pattern.



Takes down pretty easily with a dime. The pouch will hold twenty 12 ga shells (5 outside, 15 inside). It will hold a bunch 50+ .357s.

 

[swampcrawler]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions guys! Looks like at least a few people think like I do. Mac66, love the pouch! I believe that would be the best way to deal with keeping ammo with the gun.

So my largest issue now is to choke or not to choke.
Most seem to be against it, but it seems to me that bird shot from a cylender bore would drastically limit range. This can be dealt with to some degree with federal's flight control ammo, but I'm unsure if they offer bird shot with that wad. I know it would probably cost more than the gun but it seems a pollychoke (thanks, whoever suggested that) would really improve the range and thus the usefulness of the weapon. Hmm.

Also, any real reason to go 12 instead of 20? Maybe 12 guage ammo is a little not common but 20 is far from rare, and it seems it would be easier on the shoulder and just a little lighter. Again thank you gentlemen for all your thoughts and pics!

 

[kBob]

Mac66,

that is nice and just what I have been thinking. How long is the receiver and stock?

Stopped by my favorite pawn shop this AM and could find zero swingle shots. I asked and the guy said he gets them and they go out about as soon as he wipes them off and puts them on the rack.

I was tempted though by a Savage 24 12/.223, fortunately it was far to ugly (plastic furniture painted and receiver painted) for what they wanted for it.

I am informed by the spousal unit that there is a horse show this Saturday and so my chances of finding a single shot at a yard sale are approaching zero. I am about desperate enough to ask my Brother in law to look for one in his back closet.

-kBob

 

[jeepnik]

So, single shots are not tactically ideal for a defensive weapon, but an admittedly less than ideal caliber (.410) is a better choice? Too much opinion here.

Well yea, the OP is asking for our input. And, personally I'd rather have five .410 slugs than one 12 ga slug. Then again, I'm not perfect and sometimes I miss. And, then again, what if there is more than one target?

 

[mac66]

K-Bob,

This is my grab and go, woods walker, truck gun. Not fancy, not expensive but is kind of a just in case you needed a gun, gun. I did buy this one at a garage sale real cheap and cut the barrel down. I then found the 20ga bbl and cut it down as well. I got the 357 mag bbl cheap because the guy who owned it cut it too short to be legal. I had a friend turn the end down and silver solder on a drilled out AR15 flash hider to bring it over 16" . BTW, the pouch also holds ear plugs in case of an impromptu range or plinking session.

To be honest it is beast to shoot with 12 ga slugs and buck so I mostly carry and shoot the 20 ga barrel. Even with slugs and buck the 20ga is much easier to handle.

The shotgun barrel is a hair past 18". As you can see in the photo, the stock and frame are pretty close to the same length.

Also, not shown is the extra shells in the stock screw hole under the butt pad. I think it holds three.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I got my 20 gauge single shot for 40 bucks at a LGS. It is a M-88 H&R.

 

[Deer_Freak]

You say you have a budget of $200. You would be far better off to find a used pump and buy a decent hard case for it. You can't buy a single shot that is in any kind of shape and get the barrel cut down and threaded for under $200. Then you have to buy the chokes for the gun at $20 each or more.

 

[200Apples]

jeepnik

Single shots are fine for sporting purposes where missing is just a thump to ones ego. But for anything more serious, a multi-shot weapon is to be preferred.

jeepnik

Well yea, the OP is asking for our input. And, personally I'd rather have five .410 slugs than one 12 ga slug. Then again, I'm not perfect and sometimes I miss. And, then again, what if there is more than one target?

Clint Smith of Thunder ranch does not agree with you. <--- link

And, the OP had simply asked, "Any single shot survival/truck guns?"; nothing more.

 

[Hunterdad]

Not a single shot, but I keep my Stevens 520 under the rear tray in my Jeep GC

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I cut the barrel of my old 20ga survival/camping/backpack single barrel shotgun to be equal to the length of the stocked action, slightly over 19". I also had a 12ga version at 18.5". If I did it over, I think I would go for 20" to 22", still short when taken down for transport.

 

[rszwieg]

I've got a Magtech 151 12 ga with a 18.5" barrel. It's taken rabbits and a coon, a cheap and reliable beater.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

They are fun to shoot and are Anvil tough.

 

[jeepnik]

Clint Smith of Thunder ranch does not agree with you. <--- link

And, the OP had simply asked, "Any single shot survival/truck guns?"; nothing more.

Well, Clint is entitled to his opinion. Now, I'm not a professional gunfighter anymore,(professional meaning someone who's paid to do something). But from my long ago experience I can tell you I'd rather have more rounds available.

Clint's gun fighting experience is probably more recent, and maybe the world is different. Doubt it, but I could be wrong. I have been before. But, this is my opinion.

 

[Dirty Bob]

My guess is that Clint doesn't recommend single shots to his students, but rather he was showing how a single shot is not an automatic loser in an armed confrontation, provided you're good with it and determined not to let some bad guys reach your family. It's not the gun as much as the skill and will of the user, seems to be his point.

I'd much rather have almost anything else, but I suspect that those of us who like and shoot singles -- if we were ever forced to use one for defense -- would be doing so only because nothing better was immediately available.

The one place that I can remember someone choosing a single shot as a sole gun was as a backpacking shotgun, with a small stash of shells. I would probably want to back it up with a small .32 or .380 or .38 Special polymer-framed pistol of some sort, but in a confrontation, the first round I fired would be from the shotgun.

All my best,
Dirty Bob

 

[200Apples]

.
jeepnik! Please pardon my last post... I was in a mo0d.

jeepnik and Dirty Bob, I agree: I'd rather have multiple rounds in the tube below the breach, that's for sure. That's what my 33-yr-old Wingmaster is for.

I'm just lovestruck, currently, over my new, old H&R single... (shortened it, and got it to the range yesterday. Thing shoots straight as an arrow!) so I'm on a break-action, fast hand-reload-from-a-sidesaddle kick.

All I need now is a sidesaddle. Hee!

 

[Dirty Bob]

Just out of curiousity: does anyone besides me like a .410 single shot? My tiny Yildiz weighs in at around 3 pounds. Its 21-inch barrel was cut to that length so it's even with the butt when the gun is folded for pack carry or storage.

Light and small, but at ten yards it throws five 000 buckshot in a pattern smaller than the bottom of a beverage can. Birdshot patterns at short range are good, too. I like it!

All my best,
Dirty Bob

 

[200Apples]

.
Funny you should ask... I've my eye on a .410 single shot at the lgs...

'twould be my first.

 

[Dirty Bob]

You can "test drive" the .410 in a 12ga or 20ga single shot, with a Short Lane adapter. I've tried one in my 20ga. that lets me shoot .410 shells. Low recoil, good velocity, and good patterns for $25, and it lets you make use of .410 if that's what's available. My .410 buckshot loads penetrated the same amount of milk jugs of water, regardless of whether they were fired from the adapter or from a dedicated .410 single shot! I like it!

All my best,
Dirty Bob

 

[200Apples]

.
Oh, man... thanks for the link, Bob!

And there's also! a 12ga-to-.45ACP!