NEF Pardner 12ga

I have a Marlin Model 200 12 gauge, an NEF by any other name.

There's just something real old-timey about working with a single shot shotgun.
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Some years ago a Dad brought his kid to our gun club to shoot trap with his NEF,HR or Marlin (I don't know which or what gauge single shot), he must have been 8-9 years old. The kid killed those birds at the short line. Some of us spectators got together and bought him another round or two just to watch; he killed them too.
(His Dad wasn't bad either but we made him pay his own way.) Great fun.
 
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I read something once in regard to single shot shotguns.

The 1873 Peacemaker is often referred to as the Gun that Won the West.

The article I read said this was not so. It claimed the gun that won the West was the single barrel shotgun. Supporting this are the following facts,

1. Most settlers, during the period of wagon trains and after, were not very skilled with firearms.

2. Most settlers were not gunfighters and were looking to farm or ranch but they knew they needed a gun to hunt or defend themselves.

3. Most settlers had to put out a lot of money for other things they needed to start their life out West. A revolver was too expensive and a single barrel shotgun was the most affordable.
 
MutinousDoug said:
Some years ago a Dad brought his kid to our gun club to shoot trap with his NEF,HR or Marlin (I don't know which or what gauge single shot), he must have been 8-9 years old. The kid killed those birds at the short line. Some of us spectators got together and bought him another round or two just to watch; he killed them too.
(His Dad wasn't bad either but we made him pay his own way.) Great fun.
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One of the Trap boys I worked with shot with the only shotgun he had- an old Iver Johnson Champion that had been his dad's first shotgun. He shot 22-23 at the 16, only dropped one bird off that back at the 22. He was surprisingly good at Annie Oakleys, too. I shot a round with his IJ. It had a very full choke, (full chokes made for fiber wads equal extra full with modern wads) crushed the birds, as well as my shoulder, with it.
 
Never owned a 12ga. but lots of 20's and a couple .410's. Still have a 20 just for fun and it is that. No sore shoulders that I can remember.
 
I had a 410 with barrels for 28, 20, and 16. I think they have since ended the barrel program.

I also had a 12 gauge modified choke. I took a hog with it one time. I stopped by a management area after a job interview. I was just going to scout out an area to hunt later that weekend. Threw the single shot in the trunk to have something to carry with me. Best dressed shot I ever took, still wearing my slacks and dress shoes.

15 pellet 00 buck load. I think it hurt me more than the hog.
 
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My Dad got me my first 20 ga NEF at around 12 in 1988. It was barely used at the Denver gun show for $45.

I have subsequently worked to add examples of every gauge, and just need to get a 16 to complete the collection, already having various .410, 28, 20, 12 and 10 ga units. I also have Handi-Rifles in .22 LR, .45 Colt and .45-70.

We even have a 12 ga version cut down to a short LOP stock with thick Kick-Eez pad, sling studs, 18.25" barrel and front tritium sight. It's fitted with an ammo sling that holds a progression of rubber buck, rubber baton, buckshot and rifled slug for use in bear deterrence at our mountain home. I call it our "Bloop Gun" due to visual similarities with the early 40mm grenade launcher. It also can be broken down into a very compact road trip firearm

I love the H&R/NEF system, because a complete training session on the manual of arms can be conducted in 60 seconds. Try that with any other platform.
 
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I have a friend who has a 20 Ga. one by his back door for pest control. I have fired it a few times and it "stings" more than my Mossberg, but nothing horrible.

I also had a family friend with a few in various gauges due to them being cheap "loaner" guns for new shooters at his shotgun range. Lots of fun was had busting clays and walking the "trail of pop up targets."
 
I've said it before that I'm a single shot shotgun junkie. They are the majority of my total collection. I've got some new england, h&r, winchester, Springfield/stevens. But most are "hardware store" brands which was still made by the big companies just branded for the individual stores they was sold at. I find them in terrible shape at flea markets and such and I have to bring them home and atleast try to save them. If they can't be saved they still get used for parts to breath new life into other projects.
 
Armored farmer said:
Savage model 94 is a quality gun.
So is a Winchester...... .37?
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Don't count out the Old Savage 220 single shot guns. They use the same barrels as the Savage 94's, but they are hammerless with a top tang safety, making them much easier to use jump shooting. My starter shotgun was a 20ga 220.

The gun was called a 219 with rifle barrels. I have a couple for me and my now adult grandson I got when he was young. We both have a 30-30, and I have a 22 Hornet for mine.

I had a 410 and 16ga Topper, and I blundered into a great deal on Topper two barrel set, 410 and 30-30. It goes with me when I am booney-hopping.
 
Cvans said:
I'll bet that is a nice shooting gun. Could keep you smiling all afternoon.
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My old 219 30-30 with a Williams peep sight:
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The 219 Hornet:
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A 220 12 gauge:
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In this age of plastic autoloaders and giant scopes it's fun to use old guns that worked for us many years ago. It's why I like the OP's thread about a basic old gun that put a lot of meat on the table. :cool::cool:
 
357smallbore said:
Just something about this little 12ga I love.
Simplicity and just fun to shoot. Had this gun for many moons. Gave $79 for it when it came out. Never had an issue with it. I'll say shooting slugs out of it ain't fun though.
Any one else a single shot or NEF fan?
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My grandson started with the same gun I started with, the single shot Savage 220 in 20 gauge.
Single shots are light and nimble, and they make a hunter and shooter out of young Nimrods. ;)
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The transfer bar action in late model of NEF exposed hammer shotguns, makes it one of the very few drop-safe shotguns. This is true whether the hammer is at rest or is cocked.
 
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