Break action single shot 12ga

[Reefinmike]

School me on $100 pawn shop singleshots please!

As of a few days ago its been 9 month since ive bought a gun and im really really getting the itch again but am on a budget. Im thinking shotgun again but I always end up selling or trading shotguns for pistols. Honestly I want a shotgun so I can reload for a shotgun. I got a whole lot of mystery lead thats not working for my handgun loads that would be perfect for casting into one ounce slugs and buckshot!

I went to a pawn shop this weekend to browse shotguns and checked out a stevens single shot with an extremely clean and straight bore with just the perfect extreme metal finish wear to top it all off. Like its seen a whole lot of love but not much shooting.

Anyways, im new to this, What models are good shooters, reliable and with available replacement parts. What are common models and where do you find the model number on a single shot shotty? What models are stronger than others? Im not looking to load up hot 3" magnum loads, im perfectly fine with a 2 3/4" standard pressure slug.

 

[evan price]

The harrington & richardson/NEF toppers & pardners are good choices. Older models are all steel, newer ones have plastic triggerguards.
Savage/stevens also good, I avoid the ones with Tenite plastic stocks because they get brittle and crack, also they are too light and flimsy imho. They made them for sears, kmart, monty wards, etc so you can find them with those names.
Winchester 37 is nice too.
Wont find a browning bt99 for that price but very nice singles.
Theres lots out there. Numrich/egunparts is one of the best places to find parts, see if your model is lusted. Stick with the ones I listed and parts are common.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

They are solid guns.

 

[oneounceload]

The harrington & richardson/NEF toppers & pardners are good choices.

....if you like getting the snot beat out of you from the recoil, especially from slugs and buckshot loads.............

I'm not going to risk a detached retina or an earlier need for shoulder repair work, but feel free...

 

[Panzerschwein]

School me on $100 pawn shop singleshots please!

As of a few days ago its been 9 month since ive bought a gun and im really really getting the itch again but am on a budget. Im thinking shotgun again but I always end up selling or trading shotguns for pistols. Honestly I want a shotgun so I can reload for a shotgun. I got a whole lot of mystery lead thats not working for my handgun loads that would be perfect for casting into one ounce slugs and buckshot!

I went to a pawn shop this weekend to browse shotguns and checked out a stevens single shot with an extremely clean and straight bore with just the perfect extreme metal finish wear to top it all off. Like its seen a whole lot of love but not much shooting.

Anyways, im new to this, What models are good shooters, reliable and with available replacement parts. What are common models and where do you find the model number on a single shot shotty? What models are stronger than others? Im not looking to load up hot 3" magnum loads, im perfectly fine with a 2 3/4" standard pressure slug.

Yes, get an NEF or H&R pardner. You know I had just the same "ordeal" as you when I bough my pardner. I hadn't bought a gun in a long time and I just wanted something! I was very pleased with mine, it's a joy to shoot and "plink" with. So fun to load. I had mine cut down to an 18.5" bbl. Talk about a compact package, very light. Keep in mind these guns have some stiff recoil. All in all, I would buy one. You really can't go wrong. If you don't like it sell it and you're maybe out $20 on the resale value, maybe out none at all. Highly recommended as a "fun" gun.

 

[Onmilo]

I have Harrington Richardson single shots in .410 and 12 guage.
I actually use them more for hunting than I do my pumpguns

 

[USAF_Vet]

Couple years ago, I picked up some no name single shot 20 gauge for $79. Its proven itself to be a quality gun, and has paid itself off by exterminating gophers in my yard. Its also my wife's deer gun. Don't know who made it or when, but its just a fun gun. Even shoot a few clays with it every now and then.

I rarely see H&R or NEF single shooters for that cheap, but I do agree with the brutal recoil. Had a .410 trapper for my boy, and it recoiled so much even with target loads that he wanted nothing to do with it. Traded it for a single shot .22 and was content.

I am a big fan of single shot long guns. I'm considering the Rossi single shot in .44 magnum.

 

[allaroundhunter]

I wouldn't pay $100 for a pawn shop used single shot 12 ga. For one, you can get a new one for about that price. For two, their recoil is bad. I hate shooting them, and it retain key isn't worth me saving a little money over another gun that won't beat me up as badly.

 

[Onmilo]

Recoil in a single shot isn't bad if you use a bit of common sense. A slip on Kick-Eze recoil pad is a good investment and not shooting the heaviest load you can find is always wise.
I don't need anything heavier than 3 3/4 dram equiv 1 1/4 oz loads in the 12 guage and really, the .410 recoil isn't noticible to me, even with 3" max loads.

 

[mac66]

The nice thing about the H&R/NEF singles is that you can change the barrels on them and find all kinds of accessories and parts. I bought 12 ga at a garage sale last year cheap, found a 20 ga barrel cheap in a local ad, then swapped for a .357 mag barrel the guy had cut down too short. I fixed it and fitted it to my receiver. Now looking for a cheap 30-30 or 35 Rem barrel.

And yeah, the 12 ga with buck or slugs has a pretty stout recoil, but who is going to go out shooting more than a couple of them at a time. The 20 ga on the other hand is pretty good even with slugs. I should mention that I generally cut the barrels down to make them handier to carry and pack away.





BTW, I just picked up another 20 ga H&R at a yard sale last weekend.

 

[rodinal220]

Either of these work well.The Small is the size you need.The recoil is stout with the factory plastic butt plate and full length barrel,more so when cut down to 18.5-20". These simple slip-on pads help make recoil manageable.Only down side is increased LOP.

http://www.pachmayr.com/home/deceleraton-slip.php

http://www.limbsaver.com/firearms/recoil.php#slip

 

[allaroundhunter]

The nice thing about the H&R/NEF singles is that you can change the barrels on them and find all kinds of accessories and parts. I bought 12 ga at a garage sale last year cheap, found a 20 ga barrel cheap in a local ad, then swapped for a .357 mag barrel the guy had cut down too short. I fixed it and fitted it to my receiver. Now looking for a cheap 30-30 or 35 Rem barrel.

And yeah, the 12 ga with buck or slugs has a pretty stout recoil, but who is going to go out shooting more than a couple of them at a time. The 20 ga on the other hand is pretty good even with slugs. I should mention that I generally cut the barrels down to make them handier to carry and pack away.





BTW, I just picked up another 20 ga H&R at a yard sale last weekend.

Are all of those barrels 18.5"?...

 

[YZ]

The H&R is a proven good choice. I love how it positively ejects on a break, just do it away from your face. Sure it will kick, but that's what neoprene/silicone buttpads are for. Condom your buttstock and forget it. A used one is typically a good deal, because there isn't much to break.

I was impressed with the handling of a new T/C slug gun (name?), but haven't fired one. It costs more.

 

[oneounceload]

Sure it will kick, but that's what neoprene/silicone buttpads are for

Riiiigggggggghhhhhhhhhhtttttttttttt

More like that's why ortho surgeons drive Mercedes

 

[YZ]

No, seriously. It is not typically a skeet or target gun. You don't shoot long strings, that helps.

 

[eastbank]

the other year i bought this deluxe classic H&R 12ga 3" mag with choke tubes for 128.00 out the door as the store was closeing. i cammo the nickled reciever with a majic marker, this year i,m going to use cammoed bow tape. and it is my favorite shotgun for run and gun for turkey. it has a .640 carelson choke and with 2oz #6 coppered plated shot its a honest 40 yard turkey gun. eastbank.

 

[plumberroy]

You know I really get tired of "how much a singleshot kick whining" every time some one mentions a singleshot. Yes if you are shooting clay games or shooting doves in South America where you are shooting 100 plus rounds a day they with beat you up a little . For 98% of hunting they work just fine. Are our children that spoiled now that the recoil from a 5 1/2 pound 410 is to much ? At 14 I or any of my buddies would have shot as many rounds out of a 12 single as we could get. because the times you got to just "waste" shells where few and far between.
I am fat and getting old and have a bad back , But If I catch #2 steel 10 ga on the clearance rack I have no problem with firing a box in an afternoon at crows
Roy

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I love my single shot shotguns. Recoil not a issue for me.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

This is my BOOM stick!

Chopped my early 80s vintage H&R Topper 12 gauge today:



The original barrel length was 27.5", now it's 22". I also added a Pachmayr Decellorator slip on pad, studs for QD sling swivels and a Truglo fiber optic bead.

These early 80s H&Rs commonly have the barrel lug that you attach the forearm to shear off. It happened to this one and after years of being held together with duct tape a friend TIG welded it back together for me. Much better.

 

[CoRoMo]

My first firearm that I ever owned. Got it for Christmas when I was a kid. Killed countless pheasants, rabbits, you name it, with that 12 gauge.

Ever since I've added a soft shooting 1100 and especially my Beretta to the safe, that H&R single shot doesn't really get touched much anymore.

 

[VA27]

A C note for a clean Stevens isn't bad. A good, solid gun. Around here single barrels go for $115 or so for a used H&R, on up to over $300 for a minty Winchester 37. I saw an as new Stevens 410 at the LGS for $150.

Oddly enough, bolt actions are as cheap or cheaper than singles. I picked up a 12ga Stevens 124 'cross bolt' for $75 last week and a really clean Mossberg 183 in 410 was going for $135.

 

[gamestalker]

I honestly can't count the number of those popular single shot SG's I've owned over the years, most have been H&R or clones of, and every single one has eventually given up the ghost, 410's, 20's, and 12 ga. The best of the bunch so far is a Stoeger 20 ga I've had for about 6 or 7 years, and although it still operates, it's is getting very loose, and I had to repair the butt stock, cause it split during the first bird season, which I really don't attribute to a QC issue. In all, I've probably thrown 10 or 12 in the recycle bin over the last 40-45 years.

Despite their apparent inability to handle constant heavy use, like I've subjected my 870's too for decades, you can't beat them for the $. Every one of my kids were raised on one, as was I. But in my opinion, I've come to think of them as disposable SG's, and I'm fine with that. I started out repairing them when they broke, but I began to rethink that approach, being that repairs often cost close to as a new one, so I just started replacing them instead.

GS

 

[plumberroy]

I honestly can't count the number of those popular single shot SG's I've owned over the years, most have been H&R or clones of, and every single one has eventually given up the ghost, 410's, 20's, and 12 ga. The best of the bunch so far is a Stoeger 20 ga I've had for about 6 or 7 years, and although it still operates, it's is getting very loose, and I had to repair the butt stock, cause it split during the first bird season, which I really don't attribute to a QC issue. In all, I've probably thrown 10 or 12 in the recycle bin over the last 40-45 years.

Despite their apparent inability to handle constant heavy use, like I've subjected my 870's too for decades, you can't beat them for the $. Every one of my kids were raised on one, as was I. But in my opinion, I've come to think of them as disposable SG's, and I'm fine with that. I started out repairing them when they broke, but I began to rethink that approach, being that repairs often cost close to as a new one, so I just started replacing them instead.

GS

May I ask what failed? I have used H&R's for 40 years also and the only failures I have had were a couple springs fail. I know of a broken transfer bar . All less than $10 in parts and I could fix them myself in around 30 minutes
I have pushed a couple H&R rifles fairly hard and don't baby my 20 rifled gun or my tamer 20, the brenneke greenlighting generate serious recoil out of a 5lb tamer and I shoot home rolled full bore hardcast slugs out of my rifled 20 without a problem
Roy

 

[Reefinmike]

wow, thanks for the replies everyone, I forgot about the thread after the first reply and though it was one for the archives. guess I need to "subscribe" to my own threads!

Mac66- Awesome, great to see there are optional barrels, Id love to get a 357 barrel or even a 45 would be nice. It would compliment my normal range fodder.

Well, a few days ago I bought an elcheapo New england firearms pardner SB1... Im assuming its just a new H&R? serial# is NB2222XX. top rollmark is PARDNER-MODEL SB1 over 12GA 3"FULL(P). left receiver rollmarks read: NEW ENGLAND FIREARMS CO,INC over manufactured in Gardner Mass USA over serial. I was told the forend screw was "broken and you can probably take it to gander mountain and have them fix it cheap. turned out It was a broken weld. The forend is sporting a full wrap of masking and then electrical tape until I find someone skilled enough to weld on an oversized lug to fix what everyone seems to say is a common problem.

After shooting 25 rounds of birdshot through it, my shoulder is very tender. Im not recoil sensitive at all and started shooting trap in 4H at 13 shooting atleast 200 rounds in a competition with no problem. A combination of poor fit(to myself), light weight and plastic butt pad are what I blame. I cannot get a good cheek weld on the stock. I have to rest the tippy top of my cheek(close to where my head case sinks in for those lookey seeing things) on the ridge of the stock to get a good picture which usually means I have to raise the butt pad up on my shoulder, reducing contact area.

Broken forend lug, moderate-almost heavy pitting on receiver and barrel but bore is pristine, action is all in working order and tight and it was only $50! It is my project gun. There will be RAILS, RED DOTS, flash lights, LAZERS, bayonets, flash hiders. just kidding just going to get it in full working order for some work at the bench.

 

[goon]

If recoil is an issue, go with a 20 gauge. The 12 gauge NEF's will rock you pretty good with a 3" slug or 00 Buck load, but aren't bad at all with your average low brass hunting load. The 20 gauge is also pretty tame with regular hunting loads, but is a bit stiffer with 3" loads.
I'm on my second NEF 20 gauge right now. I had a youth model back in the day that I zeroed with slugs by filing the bead until I got them hitting POA at 50 yards. Sold it for what I had in it and now I an older one that belonged to my dad. Other than getting a recoil pad put on it (the one that's on it has hardened and cracked from age) I plan to use it as is.
They turn up for $75 to $100 and for utilitarian type guns or just something light to carry while you're hunting, they can't be beat.
I'd like to latch on to another one at some point and goof around with some brass shotshells and cast round balls as slugs. I've got a few pounds of mystery lead around that I smelted down from recovered bullets.