20 gauge single shot questions
- Thread starter BrittB
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oneounceload
Moderator
Mike Irwin
Staff
I've got an Ithaca 66 Super Single in 20 gauge that was my Father's.
It's what I learned to shoot on.
Kicks like a damned mule.
Single shots are fine for general hunting/foraging.
It's what I learned to shoot on.
Kicks like a damned mule.
Single shots are fine for general hunting/foraging.
Shane Tuttle
Staff
I'm not a real knowledgeable in the realm of shotguns. I own a Stevens single shot 20ga. that I believe doesn't have the same actual recoil as a 12ga. It is much lighter than your typical 12ga. and probably induces a sharper felt recoil using heavy loads. It still isn't much of one for me anyway using factory loads. With that, these are my points/counterpoints to the discussion:
1. They're usually so inexpensive that it's hard to turn down buying one, especially if you're on a tight budget and/or just starting out.
2. As said before and mine as well, it's very light. For those in the know regarding skeet, trap, hunting, etc, I'm thinking this could be a blessing or a curse. I find it a blessing for the beginners and kids. I think trying to heft weight around causes fatigue to set in for this demographic. They already have enough to worry about. It's a distraction that isn't needed at this point.
3. If you're a reloader, the argument of it being as much recoil as a 12ga. can be quelled...sort of. The same argument can be made on reloading for 12ga. as well. My point is you can tailor to your needs/wants by reloading which goes without saying.
4. It can compete with a 12ga. on most fowl and varmints up to the size of a coyote. Not saying all game nor is it better. Just saying it can do more than most think...
5. And last, yet most important in my book: SAFETY. No matter how much you think you taught your kid or beginner on safety, they just might not have that ingrained in their head. No matter what, once that first shot is spent, it's not going to go off again if they forget about trigger control. Had a friend that took his son out to learn how to shoot a shotgun for the first time. Handed him a semi-auto (don't remember the model). He aimed at the target, shot a great pattern, and with pleasant surprise the kid turned around with a surpised/excited look on his face from a job well done. Well, as he turned around, so did the shotgun. Fortunately, it was only half-way around before he performed a negligent discharge and he had it pointed down. Kid had enough punishment, though. Had to eat through a straw for the next 4 months while his mouth was wired shut.
1. They're usually so inexpensive that it's hard to turn down buying one, especially if you're on a tight budget and/or just starting out.
2. As said before and mine as well, it's very light. For those in the know regarding skeet, trap, hunting, etc, I'm thinking this could be a blessing or a curse. I find it a blessing for the beginners and kids. I think trying to heft weight around causes fatigue to set in for this demographic. They already have enough to worry about. It's a distraction that isn't needed at this point.
3. If you're a reloader, the argument of it being as much recoil as a 12ga. can be quelled...sort of. The same argument can be made on reloading for 12ga. as well. My point is you can tailor to your needs/wants by reloading which goes without saying.
4. It can compete with a 12ga. on most fowl and varmints up to the size of a coyote. Not saying all game nor is it better. Just saying it can do more than most think...
5. And last, yet most important in my book: SAFETY. No matter how much you think you taught your kid or beginner on safety, they just might not have that ingrained in their head. No matter what, once that first shot is spent, it's not going to go off again if they forget about trigger control. Had a friend that took his son out to learn how to shoot a shotgun for the first time. Handed him a semi-auto (don't remember the model). He aimed at the target, shot a great pattern, and with pleasant surprise the kid turned around with a surpised/excited look on his face from a job well done. Well, as he turned around, so did the shotgun. Fortunately, it was only half-way around before he performed a negligent discharge and he had it pointed down. Kid had enough punishment, though. Had to eat through a straw for the next 4 months while his mouth was wired shut.
Got the same thing in 12ga. It was my first deer hunting shotgun as a kid.
Always shot Rem. 2 3/4" Sluggers out of it.
Well, about 11-12 years ago, my brother came down the day before deer season and decided to stay for opening day. Spur of the moment kinda thing. I had plenty of 2 3/4" Sluggers but he insisted you could only kill deer with the 3" so off to town he goes getting the 'super killers'.
My other brother and I, knowing how this thing kicked with the 2 3/4", told him to get 5 or 6 boxes as he would have to re-zero for the 3"ers.
He brings 10 boxes of 3'ers back. He fires one rd. and turns to us with his mouth hanging opened. We insisted he wasn't holding the gun right and convinced him to shoot two more rds. By this time we are on the ground laughing so hard the tears were flowing.
What are brothers for!
He ended up hunting with the 2 3/4"
All the single shots,including those 20s, shine where they're carried a lot and shot a little. Woods running, trapping, backpacking etc.
Universally, they fill a need for a utility shotgun, inexpensive and reliable.
Universally, they kick like heck. Modest stock dimensions, bad fit and light weight all contribute to the shove.
The upside to the lightness is they can, with suitable light loads, be handled by small,frail and inexperienced folks who may have trouble with a heavier gun.
A 5.5 lbs single here is on loan to a 10 year old a,long with some 3/4 oz handloads. He shoots it without trauma but not without fun....
Universally, they fill a need for a utility shotgun, inexpensive and reliable.
Universally, they kick like heck. Modest stock dimensions, bad fit and light weight all contribute to the shove.
The upside to the lightness is they can, with suitable light loads, be handled by small,frail and inexperienced folks who may have trouble with a heavier gun.
A 5.5 lbs single here is on loan to a 10 year old a,long with some 3/4 oz handloads. He shoots it without trauma but not without fun....
I have used a 20 ga for over 30 years for grouse, rabbits and yes trap. For grouse I use 1oz of 6 or 71/2, rabbits 3/4oz of 5's and for trap 1oz of 7 1/2 or 8's, always nice on league night at the trap range to pull out the Rem 870 20ga field with the straight English grip, 21" barrel and shoot a 23-25 with it and look at the faces with the guys with their $2-3000 trap grade 12ga O/U's faces. Next favorite 20 was the Rem 1100 in that version, wieght a 1/4lb more, 6 1/4lb but the weight was in the for end so it had a nicer swing, damn son grabbed it up on me after they quit making them.
Bob
Bob
I was given a Winchester Model 37 way back about 1955 when I was a mere child. I learned to hunt with that and used it all the way through high school. I'll tell you one thing, with a single barrel you learn to make every shot count. Too often you don't get a second shot except the occasional squirrel way up in a tree. Doves, rabbits, and quail are one shot and you're done. By the way I still have that shotgun although I haven't shot it in probably 50 years. I suppose it'll go to my son one day. Maybe he'll enjoy it as much as I did although he already has several very nice pumps and automatics already.
oneounceload
Moderator
That's called "proud" and it allows the stock to e refinished once or twice - on very good guns, it is expected
This is mostly repeating what others have said, but for benefits of a single shot,
...
- their light weight and shorter overall length (compared to pumps/autos with same barrel length) make them nice to carry and more maneuverable in dense woods and brush.
- simple design with few moving parts means fewer things can potentially go wrong. I'm sure there are exceptions, but H&R's single shots generally have a good reputation for being reliable.
- this is more of an intangible benefit than a real selling point, but there is a certain satisfaction that comes with taking game with your one shot. The one shot also forces shooters to use a little more discipline when hunting.
As for drawbacks, I don't buy that all single shots kick so hard... especially when shooting common 20 gauge loads. A basic 7/8 oz. load at 1200 fps will have about 16 ft. lbs. of free recoil out of a 6-pound gun (which is what a lot of single shots weigh).
By comparison, a common 1-1/8 oz. load at 1200 fps in a 7.5 pound 12 gauge will have about 20 ft. lbs. of energy.
This does NOT take into account how gun fit or recoil pads affect felt recoil, but the fact is that a single shot is not going to pound anyone into the ground just because it's a single shot. Many factory 20 gauge ammo offerings are light enough to keep recoil very manageable. Some single shots DO have decent recoil pads or pads can be added, and I suppose these guns DO fit some people fine.
...As for more legitimate concerns (IMO), the lack of a vent rib on most of them can make it harder to get a consistent sight picture. And, as others have said, the balance can be sketchy (most seem muzzle light to me).
...
- their light weight and shorter overall length (compared to pumps/autos with same barrel length) make them nice to carry and more maneuverable in dense woods and brush.
- simple design with few moving parts means fewer things can potentially go wrong. I'm sure there are exceptions, but H&R's single shots generally have a good reputation for being reliable.
- this is more of an intangible benefit than a real selling point, but there is a certain satisfaction that comes with taking game with your one shot. The one shot also forces shooters to use a little more discipline when hunting.
As for drawbacks, I don't buy that all single shots kick so hard... especially when shooting common 20 gauge loads. A basic 7/8 oz. load at 1200 fps will have about 16 ft. lbs. of free recoil out of a 6-pound gun (which is what a lot of single shots weigh).
By comparison, a common 1-1/8 oz. load at 1200 fps in a 7.5 pound 12 gauge will have about 20 ft. lbs. of energy.
This does NOT take into account how gun fit or recoil pads affect felt recoil, but the fact is that a single shot is not going to pound anyone into the ground just because it's a single shot. Many factory 20 gauge ammo offerings are light enough to keep recoil very manageable. Some single shots DO have decent recoil pads or pads can be added, and I suppose these guns DO fit some people fine.
...As for more legitimate concerns (IMO), the lack of a vent rib on most of them can make it harder to get a consistent sight picture. And, as others have said, the balance can be sketchy (most seem muzzle light to me).
So I shouldn't worry about a proud stock. I just haven't seen one that fat before and it just looked to me like the new guy was doing the fit up that day. It would someday be handed down to my grandson who is about three weeks old now. I have some time to age it before he gets it!
Catfishman
New member
My brother bought his kid a Youth Model Rossi single shot 20 gauge. He claimed it is the worst recoil he has ever felt.
That said, a quality single shot shotgun is very useful. Around here everyone grew up with a single shot shotgun and a bolt action .22
That said, a quality single shot shotgun is very useful. Around here everyone grew up with a single shot shotgun and a bolt action .22
I still have my Ithaca .20 gauge M66 youth model from the 1960's. I have not shot it more then 10 times since the late 1980's, & that was just for some plinking. I'm not a hunter, would not pick this shotgun over my main home defense weapons but still, I can never see me parting with it. Too much sentimental value.
All my guns will go to my kids when I die. Hopefully by then, one of the grandkids can have some use for it.
All my guns will go to my kids when I die. Hopefully by then, one of the grandkids can have some use for it.
leathermarshmallow
New member
I still have my Old Model 37 in 20 gauge that my dad bought me when I was a boy. I have killed hundreds of squirrels and rabbits with it along with a few ground hogs. It is the same shotgun that my three sons learned to hunt with.
Bubba in c.a.
New member
Kiss
Some of my favorite guns are single shots--they are simple. reliable, and good trainers for other people. For years i had an H&R 12 gauge with 18inch barrel for home defense and camping. I`ve since moved up to more firepower, but I`m glad I had this gun when money was tighter.
One option to consider is to buy a matched set--one gun with 2 barrels (shotgun and rifle). i currently have a Rossi in 20 ga. and .223. It shoots OK but if I had it to buy again I`d go for a NEF.
Some of my favorite guns are single shots--they are simple. reliable, and good trainers for other people. For years i had an H&R 12 gauge with 18inch barrel for home defense and camping. I`ve since moved up to more firepower, but I`m glad I had this gun when money was tighter.
One option to consider is to buy a matched set--one gun with 2 barrels (shotgun and rifle). i currently have a Rossi in 20 ga. and .223. It shoots OK but if I had it to buy again I`d go for a NEF.