Single-shot Shotguns as gifts

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Well I feel like we have beat a dead horse here. Some of us like myself grew up on single shot shotguns. And some of us didn’t. I feel blessed now that I am older I have afford and own any shotgun. I still think gift wise it is a good gift for the OP. I would love a box of ammo as gift more than a shirt or Starbucks gift card. (And no I don’t want to start a coffee war here). I just wish I had the time to go hunting like I did when I was younger with family with any shotgun. Very good memories. Merry Christmas to all of y’all.
 
Bet that a lot of us grew up on single shot shotguns. I was given my dad's old 16 ga. single shot at age 17 after it had been through a couple older cousins for almost 10 years, per my earlier post .. Still have it and enjoy it even though I have several other higher end and specialized shotguns; like a Browning Citori for sporting clays and a fully rifled, scoped 870 Remington dedicated slug gun. But it's a step back in time to re-live good memories of the joys of a light, fast handling, single shot shotgun that's so light and easy to carry. For me it was a great gift that I've come to truly appreciate over the years and the best part was that I didn't have any younger cousins interested in it so I got to keep it permanently, LOL.
 
I have zero love for the utilitarian single shots. Exposed hammer shotguns me no like.
Savage made one that did not have an exposed hammer.
For not much more $ one can score an 870 Express used.
After hunting seasons, folks needing $ to pay off Xmas debt..........is the time to buy.

FWIW I do know H&R had a walnut, checkered, vent rib w choketube "target" model briefly. KInda neat looking.........but w the exposed hammer was still a no go for me.

BTW, my first shotgun was an Ithaca 51 20 ga pimped by Simmons. That thing snagged my glove one too many times rabbit hunting (loading).
I swapped it for a like new Wingmaster 12.

There is a spot in my safe for a 20 ga..............either an 870 Special Field or an SKB double.
 
Semi autos (gas) usually are heavier, and that along with distributing the recoil over a longer period of time, make them soft shooters.
Too many think there to be some gas "bleed off" that does it.
IMHO hard to beat an 1100 LT 20.

I bought one yrs ago for the Mrs. She didn't like it (for whatever reason). I think it went bye bye paying for divorce attorney.
No wonder 1100's I like so much ;)
 
Sounds like you may get insulted quite easily. We live in a different world. My fist car was a VW I paid $300.00 from the money made working after school and during the summer. Now, you see high school kids driving new Jeeps, Mercedes, BMW's etc. Funny thing is, I doubt the high end gifts do not bring as much love as I had from that Old VW, Took it hunting, fishing, first Kiss in that car. Wish I still had it. If someone, a friend or family came over and gave me a single shot shotgun, I would feel honored and thankful. Of course my friends do not have the money to go out and buy shotguns as gag gifts.
And any kid that would feel insulted, needs to find a job and buy his own gun.
We do live in a different world. You give a kid of today a single shot shotgun, they'll likely fire it once and never fire another gun in their life. We (I am about a year younger than you) were ready and game to shoot any gun handed to us. I still am. Once. ;) You could have handed me an 8 ga. at 12 years old, and I'd have shot it. And acted my best that it didn't hurt. But the kids of today don't have the same outlook on it that we did back then. If we winced when we shot that H&R Topper 12 ga, (and I did) we were told to "Grow a pair." Do that today and see what it gets you. Most likely an anti-gunner. I have to try to convince kids that said they wanted to try out Trap shooting (I help coach a HS team) that isn't that bad but Dad's duck gun probably isn't the best gun to use, and how about trying a gun that fits like a 20 ga. (there are a couple there for them to try) semi-auto.?

I will confess the first shotguns both my sons shot were single shots, the older one at 8, who ran in the back door yelling, "There's a woodchuck in the log pile, can I shoot it?" I said yes, thinking he'd grab the .22, which he'd shot before, but he grabbed the .410 single, and as I ran after him, he stopped at 10 yards, drew a bead, and popped the chuck in the head. His first "game" shot, and I couldn't even be mad at him for grabbing the .410.:) My younger son "claimed" the Win 37 12 ga. I got cheap at the gun shop I was working at when he was 8, but didn't get to shoot it until he was 12. He'd carved his name in the forestock when he was 9 :fire:, but by the time he shot it, he was 5'6", and a solid 250 #. It didn't even faze him. He's 6' and 375 now, he could shoot some heavy stuff.

I would say that for the right kid, yes a single-shot shotgun might still be a good first shotgun, (mine was actually a 20ga. bolt action; the Topper was my second) and yes, for an adult they're usually fine, but there are other, usually better choices.
 
Bet that a lot of us grew up on single shot shotguns. I was given my dad's old 16 ga. single shot at age 17 after it had been through a couple older cousins for almost 10 years, per my earlier post .. Still have it and enjoy it even though I have several other higher end and specialized shotguns; like a Browning Citori for sporting clays and a fully rifled, scoped 870 Remington dedicated slug gun. But it's a step back in time to re-live good memories of the joys of a light, fast handling, single shot shotgun that's so light and easy to carry. For me it was a great gift that I've come to truly appreciate over the years and the best part was that I didn't have any younger cousins interested in it so I got to keep it permanently, LOL.

"So Light and Easy to Carry" and yes so fast and easy to go to target. I have already proven to myself that the Little 4 .3 lb shoots well in 12 ga. I hunt often and you can bet I will taking this gun with me. I do a lot of walking. Part of why I like deer hunting. I do not use stands very much anymore. I like to walk and wait. I like to use the time to scout and discover. Forget the boy for a minute, but for me a grown man this gun will work out just fine. 99% walking, 1% shooting. And the recoil is absolutely no problem last Sat, 25 rds of birdshot and 15 rounds of 00 buck the first day out was NOT a problem. And any Kid around 16 yrs old should not have any problem at all. Of course I am not talking about a 8 year old.
Last year, I got myself caught in a swampy cutover, full of briars etc. Took me hours to get out. Swore that day, I would never bring a heavy shotgun again. (I live in the South and we can only use shotguns and most deer are shot very close). Squirrel rabbit, whatever, this light weight shotgun will be going with me. Already plan to buy another. Most likely a 20 ga. ( Midland Shotgun)
You need a heavy gun for hunting go for it. You need a Military grade shotgun go for it. Top of he line rifle go for. I am happy with the little Simple Single Shot. It seems it is the Adults here that are more concerned about recoil for themselves than any kids.
 
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