Do you like single shot guns?

[Chev. William]

My fun with 'single shots' is and has been limited to Stevens "Favorite" and "Model 44" types with a pending project or two on a M1 Carbine receivewr to be a Straight pull single shot rifle of 23 inch barrel length. By blanking off the gas ports (not drilling them) in the new barrel and leaving off the gas cylinder block, i am able to make a 1.1" diameter b;lank barrel work.

two are pending: a .45 Win Mag version and a .30 Carbine one.
Both arer at my gunsmith's waiting for him to get around to them.

The Favorites are for experiments wit .25ACP conversions and wildcats in CF mostly. The Model 44 action is for my longer bodied .25 Wi;dcats all of which are using .250"-.251" diameter bullets, both Lead and Jacketed types.

I also have both a revolver and a semi Auto pistol converted to .25ACP and the revolver is set up with interchangable cylinders for other .25 CAL cartridges.

Chev. William

[marlinman93]

I can't help but wonder about this question posted in the single shot area of this site? Would anyone really be here if they didn't like single shots?

[uscra112]

Well, it does give people a chance to boast.

[sharps4590]

It all started with a J.C. Higgins single shot 22 on Christmas Day, 1958. Mom and Dad scraped together the $13.00 it took to buy it. It was the kind you had to pull the striker back to cock it and it was all I could do with my little fingers. I loved that rifle as only a 5 year old boy could. I haven't changed my mind since. There's a couple Shiloh's, a Cody Rifle Works Ballard, a W. J. Jeffery, Johann Outschar, Jacob Friedrich Bartles, the obligatory Ruger #1, two Haenel/Aydt Schuetzen rifles and probably a few I'm forgetting and a plethora previously owned. Cartridges run from 25-20 in the Jeffery Rook Rifle to 450/400 NE in the Ruger. The Shiloh's, the Ballard and the Outschar have NEVER seen smokeless powder and never will as long as I own them. Some of the others do equally well with BP or smokeless and others are smokeless only.

Yes, I like them. The only rifles I like better are my doubles.

[Cargo]

I grew up running the woods with an H&R Topper 20g and took plenty of game with it. Forty years later I still have a few here and there and now my kids are using them.

[Brett Ross]

My father had the idea "you start with a single shot" this was like others have stated, so you slow down and pick your shot. 50 years later I have autos, bolts, doubles along with my various singles. I do find 80% of my hunting is with my singles and doubles, just like the way they point.

[dtknowles]

I say horses for courses. I love nice guns. My nicest guns are single shots. I have some other very nice guns too.

Tim

[Texas by God]

I grew up running the woods with an H&R Topper 20g and took plenty of game with it. Forty years later I still have a few here and there and now my kids are using them.

Me too, except fifty years later. My three grown children all have their own Toppers as well.There is a Topper 20 gauge in my Mule 24/7/365- unless its being serviced- the Mule, that is. I don't have any fancy single shots, but my Remington 510, my custom Topper 44-40, two Topper Jr. 20 gauges, a Topper 158, Yildiz folder, and Rossi .410s- are all good ones. The Rossi also has an amazingly accurate .22 barrel. I could live off the land with any of them. Perhaps someday I'll get the Hi wall or Rolling block I've always wanted, time will tell.

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[Baltimoreed]

My first love. I started out with ml’s, built a few. My first .22 was a Winchester 67. I’ve had several .45-70 rollers, a 25-06 Ruger #1V. Currently I’ve got two Martini Cadets, still have the 67 for the grandkids. Single shots will make you a better shot as it forces you to take your time, breath and really study the sights before pulling the trigger. Bolt guns will improve it to.

[brstevns]

Love the Remington Rolling Blocks

[koger]

I am with Marlinman, why ask this question, on this forum. I wont delve into my meager collection of rifles, that I have, but I will say that I am a sucker for any good quality single shot. I love Remington Rollers, from big heavy 45/70's, to light trim 8x58Rs, and to my way of thinking, the Hi Walls are about perfection, when it comes to American single shots, from .219 Donaldson to .40/82. Sharps are in a class all by themselves, deservedly so. And dont forget the trapdoors, often maligned and unappreciated, but in my experience great shooters as well. A handier carbine you wont find. My only current single shot in .22LR is a Stevens 44, with original wood, and a 26" heavy round barrel, just back from CPA and having a 1/2" shaved off the chamber in and rechambered. It is tight as all get out, has a mirror bore, and may get hot blued as all of its bluing and case hardening are all gone. I have not had the chance to get a Ballard as of yet, but a .22lr is one my to do list. All of my experience is with American made single shots cartridge guns, and ML's as well. My finances as of yet have not allowed me to venture into the German/Swiss type single shots, but hope springs anew with each gunshow or online auction. I have converted a sizeable collection of a lifetime of guntrading/gunsmithing, into a few single shot rifles, and have found the exchange one of the best decisions of my life, starting a few years ago. I get so much more enjoyment from shooting/handling/casting/reloading these rifles of a bygone era, than all of my custom bolt actions bug holers I have built myself over the years. And one thing I like even more, is introducing a newby to them, and watching their eyes light up when they find out they can hit with amazing accuracy, using different iron sights and peeps. And they way they delight in the different types of actions, and how they work. I am currently on several wives naughty lists, for introducing their husbands to the attractions of single shots, and all the items associated with them and helping them procure them, in the past year or so. So yes, I guess you could say I like, even love single shot rifles.

[robg]

always liked martini action rifles but being a lefty its only taken me 40+ years to get an international BSA lh one .still manage to get through a lot of ammo almost as much as when i use my 1022.

[bangerjim]

I shoot singles, doubles, semi-autos, and pumps. In all gauges.

What is not to like about firearms!!!!!!!!!!!

[cabezaverde]

I have a weakness for Ruger #3's, but use my Encores and Contenders more.

[Edward]

I have a bunch of Handi rifles and the best part is there all handi (45/70) is a favorite ! Ed

[Hossfly]

I went from auto to bolt to single shot Thompson pistol and Encore rifle, have killed more deer with single shots hunting alone than any autos. One shot one kill and ammo loaded now will out last me. No shortage here.

[donald duck]

Ed in North Texas,
I like your comment about need. In the fall and winter of 1998 I worked in the gun, fishing, and camping dept. of Gart Sports here in Colorado Springs. Many times I would be showing a firearm to a potential customer accompanied by his wife. She would ask him, why do you need that particular piece. My reply was always, " What does need have to do with it?"

[barrabruce]

Huh I don’t like them.
They are only 3rd rate guns for hopeless and uneducated people.
Sure you can kill something if you can hit it with one but they are pretty inhumane.
I mean by the time it takes to load another round you could have decimated a whole sounder of pigs with a real gun.
Everyone knows you need a real good crimp on your cases to get the powder to burn properly.
Ha
Most don’t even have a safety.
Lead bullets, man you have to be kidding me.....maybe if you are just 15 yards or something ..........and so it goes on......

I dream of a ultra short semi auto 30-06 with a flash hider/ muzzle break.
You can see and hear the power just coming out of it ...especially at night.

[Stephen Cohen]

barrabuce, did you get my PMs today. Regards Stephen

[Milky Duck]

I learnt to shoot with a toz .22lr with no magazine...then graduated to winchester .410 single barrel shotgun..then a .12ga astra cyclope which 45years later I still use....
latest rifle to be purchased is a bakail single break open .222 remington...so YES SIR I believe I do like single shot guns.