Single shot 12 gauge?

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Hmm when I was a kid, I had a single shot .410 (that I still have) . I was hunting with my dad. We came across a squrrel in a tree. So, quick as lightning I threw up my gun, cocked the hammer and blasted it away. There was my first squirrel. About a second later we realized there was another one in the tree. It took me about 4-5 seconds to reload and pop the other squirrel before it ran off. first two squirrels in the same day in a time frame of 10 seconds with a single shot .410. Yep. And when I go rabbit hunting, EVERYONE has a H&R Pardner or Topper single shot, or even a rossi, mostly in 12 or 20 gauge. That's why I want one.
 
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Location: Republic of Texas, SE Sector
Posts: 322 Quote:
Originally Posted by A Person
Is there really a need for having a 10 gauge? I've never found any practical uses for one.

More so before the introduction of the 3-1/2" 12-gauge rounds...

http://www.chuckhawks.com/10_gauge_obsolete.htm
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B... S... anything A 12 ga 3 1/2 tries to do a 10 does better with less recoil. A 12 ga 3 1/2" shell takes 2500 psi to get close to the 10 gauge. Less cushion and longer shot columns in the 12 make chokes to make it pattern right more difficult. Do most poeple really need that much power ...no but when when you need the maximun Big shot on a target nothing made today does it better than a ten ga!!!
 
I bought a used H&R 12 ga about 5 years ago. I got it because I needed a home defense weapon and I only had about $100 to spend, and picked it up from a local gun show for $70. (When I got some extra money I picked up a Rem 870 for home defense)

I haven't had a single problem with it using small game loads, but while running though 00 and slugs I ran into extraction issues after about 6 or so shots back to back... I'm pretty sure it's because they heated up more than light loads. Not a big deal for hunting purpose but not acceptable for defense.
 
Winchester 37 was one of the first single shot single barrel shotguns with a high quality steel receiver at a time when the single shot market was dominated by cheap iron frame shotguns. The collectors in this neck of the woods are crazy about them and try to get one of each gauge. The prices are through the roof.

As far as I am concerned, the H&R/NEF are good guns at reasonable prices on the used market. Winchester 37s are priced as collectibles, at least around here.
 
The NEF/H&R guns are great hunting guns. They're effective, light, and can be had for about $75 if you look for a used one. The 12 gauges can kick a bit hard with 3" loads or with buck and slugs, but are totally manageable with 2.75" loads. I prefer the 20 gauge in a single shot though.
 
M-66

Went by fav pawn shop and found M-66 Ithaca 20ga.Never saw one 'fore.Probably over paid @$175 but had to have it!The lever opener fascinated me.Mechs and metal damned good ,but wood looked like a shagbark hickory tree!Under all that gunk was a nice piece of what looks like maple.Very light,almost blond.My advise on a single is to look around and find something different and old.I don't normally buy singles,but the M-66 raises alot of interest and is a gun you can carry proudly.
 
IN an attempt to get this thread on track...

You cant make a purchase until you fondle a Remington Spartan. (Story Incoming)

Me and the shooting buddies decided that the best practice for our home defense guns was bustin' some clays. We all showed up with our 18.5in pump guns. We were shootin pretty well when I noticed the old man of the group had one gun case too many. I inquired, and he produced a 20ga Remington Spartan. I honestly didn't know a single shot could have features. Dis assembly is done at the flip of a lever, loaded shell indicator, extractor to ejector swap at the flip of a switch, safety, and the break lever is extremely ergonomic.

By the end of the day we were digging to the bottom of our range bags for more 20ga shells :). Needless to say I shopped around the next day, and a 12ga Spartan is the proud owner of a new safe spot. All for the low price of $125 out the door.
 
Remington Spartans are repackaged Russian made Baikal single shots which are copies of the old French made Manufrance guns and I don't believe Remington is carrying the line any longer.
On the plus side, European American Armory is again carrying the line of Baikal guns and more and more are trickling in.

The Baikals are very decent guns for just a bit more money than what an H&R will set one back.
 
I've got one of the Baikal trap singles. From what I can find with a quick check the Spartan looks just like the trap model I've got. On that basis you would really like it for what you're talking about doing. Mine came with a set of screw in chokes and the barrel also has a muzzle brake to aid in controlling the recoil and muzzle lift. A VERY nice shotgun from all I've seen with it so far.

But it's not the lightest thing around. For that I'd say the H&R/NEF options already mentioned would take the prize. But I'm not sure I'd want to shoot 4 or 5 boxes of shells at clays with an H&R/NEF gun compared to the slightly heavier Spartan/Baikal that comes with a decent recoil pad to boot.
 
I have an H & R 12 ga my grandfather left me, don't know the age but I know it's at least 60 years old. When I was a kid I blasted away with it all day, who knows how many pigeons and blackbirds it took out. Not to mention the pheasents, ducks, rabbits and a few geese. It was the only choice I had and I never complained because it always did the job. I haven't shot it in a while and I think i'll drag it out tomorrow to make sure it still works ;)

I haven't seen many single shots that worried me as far as reliability other than the ones with repairs done with bubble gum and duct tape. And these guns are simple enough to sort those out at a glance.
 
Most single shot break-opens are designed on H&R pat. So that should say something! They are a good gun and they do stand the test of time.
 
But as we all know there are more types of shot out there all the time and eventually the 10 ga. is likely to fade away again because people don't need the extra power and they don't want to carry the extra weight.
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Not denying that the 10 ga is dying and it is heavy but lower pressure help on recoil too! there will always be a few old curmudgeons that keep one around for when they need a heavy shotgun A ten gauge patterns better. yes with a superchoke you can get super patterns I have shot both I don't like a 12 ga 3 1/2 loads . As far as a 12 ga doing any thing one needs . A 20 ga will do that. I don't have aproblem turkey hunting with a 28 ga or 410
Roy
 
Single shots are awesome. They have a certain nostalgia. I don't often miss a rabbit or pheasant when I use a single shot. I think that it is really about self-discipline more than anything else.

H&Rs are nice. :D Also, look into T/C Arms.

Geno
 
plumberroy said:
Not denying that the 10 ga is dying and it is heavy but lower pressure help on recoil too!
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There's absolutely no correlation between pressure and recoil! Felt recoil is a function of payload speed, payload weight, and weight of the gun. Pressure isn't even a consideration in the equasion.
 
There's absolutely no correlation between pressure and recoil! Felt recoil is a function of payload speed, payload weight, and weight of the gun. Pressure isn't even a consideration in the equasion.
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this could be true But is also true that matching shot type and size on a very top end of shotgunning A ten will out preform a 12 in speed and patterning at a lower pressure than a twelve. Sure a 12 is more versitile no denying that . where do you really need 3 1/2 " 12 ga ? I kill turkeys with a muzzle loading 12 ga single shot. To many times. people buy more gun instead of improving there hunting skills. I have a ten for one reason .... because I wanted one and can shoot a box (25) shells in a setting with out effecting me . 12 ga 3 1/2's start hurting after a few shots. and then there is the H&R choate stock 24 ' barrel :what: I'm a big H&R fan but the dumb #$$ that thought that was a good idea should have to shoot it 25 times a day for the rest of his life. :cuss:
Roy
 
IMHO it is essential to have a safety on any hunting shotgun with external hammers. I own 3 and no longer use them in the field due to safety concerns. For an extra 50 bucks, a pump has several important advantages: safer, follow upshots, less recoil, and better pointing.
 
I typed a long reply then deleted as not to offend . I am 50 years old this week . I started hunting at ten. My Dad, my teacher was an old school Hillbilly . I was told don't even think about a repeater until I was safe and proficient hunter with a single shot.

tactikel : you are mistaken on one point a single or double barrel break action gun is all ways safer, open it up and look down the tubes it is easy to see if it is loaded or not . there are no internal places for a shell to stick then work loose the next time you cycle the action .
 
tactikel said:
IMHO it is essential to have a safety on any hunting shotgun with external hammers. I own 3 and no longer use them in the field due to safety concerns. For an extra 50 bucks, a pump has several important advantages: safer, follow upshots, less recoil, and better pointing.
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I would be more concerned with a shotgun with internal hammers not having a safety...
 
Just to clarify,
Most all modern single barrel shotguns have safety features in the form of a rebounding hammer and a transfer block which will not allow the hammer to come in contact with the firing pin until the trigger is pulled to the rear allowing the hammer block to drop down which then allows the hammer to hit the pin.

Rebounding hammer prevents the firing pin from protruding into the chamber when the hammer is at rest and combined with the transfer bar make modern single barrels VERY safe firearms to carry in the field hammer down and full loaded.
 
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