Single shots for woods bumming (?)

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

SpookyPistolero

Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2004
Messages
934
Location
Central Kentucky
Howdy folks-

I've been on a small quest for a good woods loafing gun for quite some time! It needs to be light, well balanced, and handy. It needs to shoot slugs, birdshot, buckshot. It also needs to be compact. I'd like something around 19 or 20", but I think 22" is about a small as I can get factory.

This is apparently quite a tall order! So either I have to visit a gunsmith, or settle a little bit.

I've basically been looking into the H&R stuff because I have one of their .45-70's and like the quality.

I feel like a modified choke would be the most versatile, and I'm not sure I feel like dealing with screw in chokes. 12 gauge would be easy because of ease of getting ammo and how many types (and cost), but a 20 might get me less recoil out the door. I did get to handle a very plain-jane 12 ga Pardner that I liked, and it didn't even have the stipulated barrel length.

So what are y'alls thoughts on a lightweight field single shot? Caliber, length, make? What do you carry?
 
Remington Spartan (Biakal) was available at Walmart a year ago for 95 bucks, solid single shot shotgun. Remington isn't importing 'em anymore, but there may be some stock left out there.

I have an H&R and it's a solid shotgun, though mine's in 10 gauge. I had a 20 for the kid, recoil was rather stout, but lighter than the 12. The 12s are light and kick pretty good.

Rossi also offers a solid single shot shotgun and offers it in rifle/shotgun combos pretty cheap, too.

As far as I know, that's your choices. There's probably some obscure others out there. I had some Italian made .410 for a while, CVA imported. It wasn't a hammer gun. I kinda prefer hammer guns in single shots. I like how the H&R is set up, too, with the button release. It's fast to reload. I can often get two shots off with that 10 on geese if they're setting in to the spread on the first shot. By the time they get wound up and moving again, I'm reloaded and on 'em. I've yet to double, though. LOL

For woods bumming, I'd suggest 20 gauge. Ammo is lighter and smaller and you aren't going to be after geese or something. 20 gauge is all you need on small game and a slug is enough to 50 yards on a deer or hog. I have a little spartan SxS coach gun in 20 gauge I use for this. Interchangeable chokes and makes a good combo gun with a slug in one barrel, shot in the other.
 
Last edited:
I was on this quest for years with out major gunsmithing the tamer with the stocks changed I posted in the earlier thread is the best I have found. The problem with with a twelve is when you get down real close to 5 pounds ,(one of my main goals) anything but light loads are brutal . I built one with the same stocks and a 28 ga youth gun which I loved , but shells are high and buckshot and slugs are a make it youself option only. Only thing lighter I have come up with is a rossi youth gun 10/22 set. rossi builds it on a 410 sized frame with the 410 barrel it weighs 3.36 pounds 22" barrel and a modified choke.
Roy
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=487639&highlight=tamer
 
I liked that one a lot plumberroy, it's handsome. I'd all but decided on it until I saw the full choke. Any clue as to how cheaply/easily a smith could turn that into a modified choke?

Something that was brought up but I hadn't considered was the ammo size and weight, which is a fair consideration the way I travel.
 
MCgunner do you have a recipe to make canadian geese edible? I can kill a truck load of them but haven't found a way to cook them that I like. I got stamps and killed 8 or 10 a few years ago but could not find a way that I liked to cook them. The first two I killed were a double with my ten singleshot
Roy
 
I liked that one a lot plumberroy, it's handsome. I'd all but decided on it until I saw the full choke. Any clue as to how cheaply/easily a smith could turn that into a modified choke?
Click to expand...
That is a miss print on the web sight they are Modified choke
Do a search on Graybeards there are several threads on the specs saying full choke and the guns being modified choke
Roy
 
MCgunner do you have a recipe to make canadian geese edible? I can kill a truck load of them but haven't found a way to cook them that I like. I got stamps and killed 8 or 10 a few years ago but could not find a way that I liked to cook them. The first two I killed were a double with my ten singleshot
Roy
____
Click to expand...

We don't get many Canadas down here, very few. Mostly we have snows and specklebelly (white fronted) as well as other light geese, Rosses.

Specks are the mildest, snows a little strong. But, marinate 'em in butter mild and/or bacon wrap 'em and it takes the gamey out. Lately, I just bacon wrap 'em. Either grill or pan broil on the stove. The bacon fat seems to do the trick for 'em, gives 'em a milder flavor and they're great!

Grillin' 'em over charcoal or mesquite bacon wraped is a WAY good meal, too. Or, you can kabob 'em, but always wrapped in bacon.

I have some involved recipes, but I don't like typing that much, LOL.

Okay, theadjack over. :D

Oh, I forgot to mention, I just breast those geese out. I don't bother pickin' 'em anymore. Canadas are HUGE and you might rather pick 'em and roast 'em whole, don't know. But, the breast meat is still 90 percent of the bird.
 
That is a miss print on the web sight they are Modified choke
Do a search on Graybeards there are several threads on the specs saying full choke and the guns being modified choke
Click to expand...

Really! That's quite interesting indeed. How'd you find that out? Kind of makes my decision for me actually.
 
It has been discussed on the graybeard H&R shot gun forum plus I have one and it is marked modified. H&R has a toll free costumer service line you can call them Too
Roy
 
I owned a Rossi 12 gauge in the past; a good solid farm/woods gun. Rabbits, deer, birds, defense, etcetera and etcetera, are all within its domain. From everything I've read, the NEF is good too.

The only thing I didn't like is the long 28" barrel (whilst it might be good for clay shooting, that's not something I do). It's a shame they don't offer 20" barrels.

12 gauge is probably more versatile than 20, but both would work.

I'll probably get a single shot 20 gauge someday, and have its barrel cut down to 18 or 20 inches.

I just like and enjoy the rugged simplicity of single shots, and not even for "bumming" around, but serious use (people often look down on them due to their capacity of one shell, but you'd be surprised at how fast you can reload one).
 
I'm a big fan of single shot break open guns in general. They're simple, cheap, rugged, easy to clean. and dependable. They're also light to carry and quick to point at fast-moving game, and when the gun is broken open it's an immediate visual proof that the gun is in "safe" mode.

The two main drawbacks are that they are slower for repeat shots than other guns and their lightness makes them kick harder. Lots of practice will allow you to reload with quite amazing speed eventually and sticking to lighter loads helps with the recoil problem.

Quick follow-up shots are vital for some hunting scenarios and for games like skeet so the repeaters definitely have their place, but single shots are all a person really needs most of the time. I'd rather stay simple and spend the extra money on other things, but that's just me.
 
Simple light and rugged.

My solution:

NEF Pardner 12 gauge with a 22" rifle sighted smoothbore, cylinder bore.

At 5.25 lbs it is easy to carry. I've also added barrel band and stock swivel bases for a sling.

Sighted at 50 yards with low recoil 1 ounce/1200fps Winchester Ranger slugs it will hold sub-4 inch groups.

With 8 pellet LE Federal Flite-Control 00B (1 ounce/1200fps) it patterns into 4 inches at 25 yards to the point of aim.

With ounce / 1200 fps #7.5 target loads it will handle most upland chores to 25+ yards.

Notice all the loads cited throw 1 ounce at 1200 fps and all center to the sights when sighted in with the slug load.

Recoil: Easy to live with!
 
The two main drawbacks are that they are slower for repeat shots than other guns and their lightness makes them kick harder.
Click to expand...

A really light, short shotgun won't swing smooth, either, and will require much concentration on swing and follow through for passing shots.

I like the H&R design over some that extend the action over the grip area of the stock, though. The H&R can be shimmed for proper fit like a repeater. Some can't. The smaller frame H&Rs need shimming, too, for me. Everyone is different. Also, they tend to lack length of pull which a recoil pad can fix.

Fit is important and the H&R can be fitted with shims. That's a big plus.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
H&R Single Shots Disappeared!
Replies
8
Views
890
chad523
C
M
  • Locked
Hmm, which single-shot NEF to get?
Replies
10
Views
542
oneounceload
O
F
  • Locked
Single most versitle pump shotgun setup?
2
Replies
25
Views
968
throdgrain
throdgrain
J
  • Locked
Self Defense Single Shot Shotgun
2 3 4
Replies
76
Views
3K
Robert
Robert
J
  • Locked
I Love Single Shot Shotguns
2 3 4
Replies
81
Views
4K
Choctaw
Choctaw
Back
Top