Single shot hunting shotgun
- Thread starter johnwilliamson062
- Start date
Old guys' gun
Many of us old guys learned to hunt with a single barrel.
I have several pumpguns. But I still have an old NEF, 12 ga. single I picked up, maybe 20 or more years ago. It was about $79.00 NIB.
I still put a handfull of # 4's in my pocket & go walking over the hills.
It's good enough for a rabbit, or two, or a gray or fox squirrel sometimes.
And I have the old 16. ga. Essex, single, that was my Dad's first shotgun, back in 1929. I'm 69 yrs. old now.
I prob'ly wont ever part with either one. My boys, will get them one day.
I have a copy of an article saved, written on this Forum, about "Single barrel shotguns in the old days"......I think about 3 or 4 years ago.
Can't remember who wrote it.
Many of us old guys learned to hunt with a single barrel.
I have several pumpguns. But I still have an old NEF, 12 ga. single I picked up, maybe 20 or more years ago. It was about $79.00 NIB.
I still put a handfull of # 4's in my pocket & go walking over the hills.
It's good enough for a rabbit, or two, or a gray or fox squirrel sometimes.
And I have the old 16. ga. Essex, single, that was my Dad's first shotgun, back in 1929. I'm 69 yrs. old now.
I prob'ly wont ever part with either one. My boys, will get them one day.
I have a copy of an article saved, written on this Forum, about "Single barrel shotguns in the old days"......I think about 3 or 4 years ago.
Can't remember who wrote it.
Last edited:
Old John - was it this thread started by Dave McCracken? If so, I saved it also.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...hlight=single+barrel+shotguns+in+the+old+days
http://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...hlight=single+barrel+shotguns+in+the+old+days
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
My local shop has an Ithaca model 66 in stock for $95. SOme finish wear and the stock isn't perfect, but it seems to lock up well. THe problem is the receiver has a bit of a hump on it that would naturally lead into a vent rib on the barrel, but there isn't a barrel, there is only a bead. When I shoulder it naturally I can hardly see the bead. I have to get more of a chin weld to see it and I imagine it shoots super high at that point. I sort of like the lever break, even if it is not very refined.
Also a Win 37 with some pitting in the barrel but otherwise good shape for $219.
I haven't been able to find one of those Berettas for sale yet.
Also a Win 37 with some pitting in the barrel but otherwise good shape for $219.
I haven't been able to find one of those Berettas for sale yet.
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Encore
What settle for just a 20 or 12?
Get an T/C Encore and have both. I have a VR20 with a Turkey choke on mine.
Goes nice with the 50cal ML barrel. Looking to top it off with a 45-70 for Christmas.
Nice looking and you can pick you style of stock you want.
As a kid I used my HR 20 gauge for anything in season starting when I was about 12.
Doug
What settle for just a 20 or 12?
Get an T/C Encore and have both. I have a VR20 with a Turkey choke on mine.
Goes nice with the 50cal ML barrel. Looking to top it off with a 45-70 for Christmas.
Nice looking and you can pick you style of stock you want.
As a kid I used my HR 20 gauge for anything in season starting when I was about 12.
Doug
I vote for the Model 37, although the only one I have is a .410.
"I have the old 16. ga. Essex, single,"
My father had a 16 ga. Essex SxS back before WWII and he gave it to his younger brother when he left for flight school. The gun had been used a whole lot and soon loosened up badly and got traded off. They bagged a lot of game with it before they wore it out.
John
"I have the old 16. ga. Essex, single,"
My father had a 16 ga. Essex SxS back before WWII and he gave it to his younger brother when he left for flight school. The gun had been used a whole lot and soon loosened up badly and got traded off. They bagged a lot of game with it before they wore it out.
John
I have no ideal whats the best. I've had a couple H&R Toppers, they worked. I had an Ithica single barrel trap gun that was great.
BUT I still have the best (in my opinion) for me. I have no ideal who made it or how old it is. Its a 16 gage that belonged to my grandfather. It kind of rattles (do to having been shot by too many smokeless shell when it was designed for black powder) Somebody, long before I was born stuck it in the mud and fired it, causing my GF to cut a couple inches off the muzzle so it dosnt even have a bead sight. I killed my first deer with it when I was about 8 years old. I spent $.25 for three shotgun shells for my first hunt. When you fired it, you had to pry the hulls out with a knife. When I shot the little buck he got up and kept coming toward me, I thought I was dead, ever see a scared little kid, trying rapid fire at a (what I thought was a charging) deer, when he had to pry the hulls out of a single shot 16 ga.
To me this is the best single shot shotgun made, (though I dont shoot it now)
BUT I still have the best (in my opinion) for me. I have no ideal who made it or how old it is. Its a 16 gage that belonged to my grandfather. It kind of rattles (do to having been shot by too many smokeless shell when it was designed for black powder) Somebody, long before I was born stuck it in the mud and fired it, causing my GF to cut a couple inches off the muzzle so it dosnt even have a bead sight. I killed my first deer with it when I was about 8 years old. I spent $.25 for three shotgun shells for my first hunt. When you fired it, you had to pry the hulls out with a knife. When I shot the little buck he got up and kept coming toward me, I thought I was dead, ever see a scared little kid, trying rapid fire at a (what I thought was a charging) deer, when he had to pry the hulls out of a single shot 16 ga.
To me this is the best single shot shotgun made, (though I dont shoot it now)
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
I actually have an Encore frame and have considered this. The shotgun barrels are $4-300 a piece so I wouldn't be saving any money. The Encore also seems a bit heavier than the alternative guns.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
How about an old "folder" ??? I was looking along the same lines as the O.P. & wanting a truck gun... the Italian folders do not fold as tight, but often I see an H&R folder in .410 & 20 ga, & occasionally ( like mine ) a 12 ga, even once saw a 16 ga on Gun Broker... ( I bought mine for $125.00 & it needed some easy stock work )
this is a pic of what mine looked like when I bought it, I shortened the barrel to the same length as the stock, ( for more compact foldability ) added a poly choke for versatility, added a recoil pad the same thickness as the compact poly choke, added a fiber optic front bead & the gun is currently going to the plater to get a satin nickel plating ( for corrosion resistance )...
my thoughts with this project, was to use this like a colapsable fishing pole, something I could easily leave in my truck, & could use to hunt nearly anything, if an unexpected chance to hunt came up ( I have more specialized hunting pieces at home ), but with this, I could hunt anything from doves, to ducks, to deer, with a handfull of each variety of shells tossed in the bag...
H&R Folding 12 ga ( before mods )
here is an Italian 12 ga, currently listed on Gun Broker..
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=149764820
this is a pic of what mine looked like when I bought it, I shortened the barrel to the same length as the stock, ( for more compact foldability ) added a poly choke for versatility, added a recoil pad the same thickness as the compact poly choke, added a fiber optic front bead & the gun is currently going to the plater to get a satin nickel plating ( for corrosion resistance )...
my thoughts with this project, was to use this like a colapsable fishing pole, something I could easily leave in my truck, & could use to hunt nearly anything, if an unexpected chance to hunt came up ( I have more specialized hunting pieces at home ), but with this, I could hunt anything from doves, to ducks, to deer, with a handfull of each variety of shells tossed in the bag...
H&R Folding 12 ga ( before mods )
here is an Italian 12 ga, currently listed on Gun Broker..
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=149764820
Attachments
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johnwilliamson062
Moderator
The Beretta is very similar. I really like that design and am looking for one. The brand is not too important to me. They are not easy to find though...
fisherman66
New member
I saw a Martini that was converted to shotgun (12 gauge if memory serves). That was one cool shotgun. Quilted Maple and very good metal. The lever was redone in a tasteful manner. It was posted for sale here many moons ago.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
BTW... CZ also offers some single shots that are pretty nice...
here is a folder in .410...
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=150906464
here is a folder in .410...
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=150906464
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
My initial thought was, "Damn your girlfriend is an amateur gunsmith, what a lucky SOB," then I realized you meant your grandfather. Great looking gun there. My grandfathers shotgun was turned into the county sheriff as it was an SBS and he didn't think it was worth the tax.
I would really like to stay with 12 ga. All my shotties are 12 now and it is convenient. I may have to give that up though.
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
Well, I went and did it.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=149764820
I almost went with buy it now since it was only $10 more than the min bid, but decided if someone wanted it more than me they could have it.
End of the barrel is not perfect, but I want to chop it down anyways, so I won't feel bad about it and I might if it was a Beretta in good shape. May even see about getting it remchoked or polychoked.
Took my brother with me to the local shop last night. He asked me what I was looking at single shots for and I told him. He immediately expressed an interest in my H&R so he could get into hunting(currently a pistol shooter only), so I may be able to sell that one without worrying about later regrets also.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=149764820
I almost went with buy it now since it was only $10 more than the min bid, but decided if someone wanted it more than me they could have it.
End of the barrel is not perfect, but I want to chop it down anyways, so I won't feel bad about it and I might if it was a Beretta in good shape. May even see about getting it remchoked or polychoked.
Took my brother with me to the local shop last night. He asked me what I was looking at single shots for and I told him. He immediately expressed an interest in my H&R so he could get into hunting(currently a pistol shooter only), so I may be able to sell that one without worrying about later regrets also.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
Good luck...( on the auction )... I went with a compact poly choke I bought on Gun Broker used, but like new on a stub of 12 ga barrel, & my local machinist removed it from the stub & installed it on my gun... ( by cutting off the end of the barrel, you remove the existing choke, so something else is needed )...
this style of choke ( internal thread ) is tougher to get true, & requires a good smith to install... mine was external threads, & my guy trued the outside of the barrel to the bore, then threaded the end... but here is a new old stock poly just a little longer than mine, if you are willing to send it to a smith that intalls choke tubes...
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=150081882
BTW... if you compare the pics, between mine & the one on G.B. you'll see how much tighter the H&R folds... it was important to me anyways...
this style of choke ( internal thread ) is tougher to get true, & requires a good smith to install... mine was external threads, & my guy trued the outside of the barrel to the bore, then threaded the end... but here is a new old stock poly just a little longer than mine, if you are willing to send it to a smith that intalls choke tubes...
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=150081882
BTW... if you compare the pics, between mine & the one on G.B. you'll see how much tighter the H&R folds... it was important to me anyways...
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
BTW... that gun has been listed several different times, so I hope it holds for you...
Here it is, as I saved it.... From Steve
My apologies to Steve, a "TFL Alumni". It's just a really good post.
Single Shot Shotguns.
Dave's Fault; his thread about SxS got me thinking, daydreaming, remembering...
Yes I admit to having "this thing" about the Single Shot Shotgun.
Growing up when I did, and how raised - everyone had a single shot. For some this was the ONLY gun they had. Served to put food on the table, take care of varmits, and since folks back then learned to shoot, they never felt undergunned if two legged varmits intruded. Add….money was tight, so one hit what pointed at - didn't waste ammo.
I recall my Mentors & Elders being concerned about the "state of affairs". Gubmint was going to put a stop to sending in postcards from back of magazines and ordering guns and having them delivered to your door COD by the postman.
Missiles from Cuba being pointed toward the Continental US, Riots, Ongoing Concerns of Communism, Civil Defense training, drills...
Fellow be smart to hoard up Single Shot Shotguns, Single Shot .22 Rifles, and a Medium Frame Revolver. Have plenty of .22 ammo, a single stage reloader and components for reloading shotshells and them .38spls.
See, the Medium Frame Revolver most used and carried by Police, was the S&W Model 10. Folks were buying up and hoarding them Lee Hand-Held Reloaders too.
Now some folks had a "bit more money", so Lever Action Rifles like the Model 94 in 30-30, the Bolt Guns like Model 70 in '06, Ruger MKI in .22lr, Gov't Model of 1911 and Browning Highpowers were ALWAYS included.
Folks wanted Reliable, Proven firearms. Might not be a gunsmith, or be in a positon to get parts...
One never knows the where or when of next encounter - CRSam
Single Shot Shotguns were at the top of this list, truth is, still is for some folks...
Versatile, Proven Reliability, Proven in Taking care of what needed taken care of from "right here" to "out yonder a bit".
---
Too many kids learned to shoot single shot shotguns. Too many kids took their first dove sitting on the ground, safely handed the gun to an adult and tried to outrun the dog to get their "first bird". Allowed only one bird taken off the ground...well sometimes "egg money” or "barter" got that bird mounted.
Too many deer felled by kids on first hunt with a single shot and a slug, even from a lowly .410. No matter how much venison a person eats, it just never seems to taste as good as that first deer felled by a single shot.
You had "half" of a Double Gun, I mean that extra shell in fingers,
fire, pop that latch, spent hull pops out, insert that other shell, ...you get right good with a "half double gun"...so the Dangerous Game was only a Rabbit running at you...matter of correct basic fundamentals is all...
--
Pick-Up trucks just ran better with that single shot shotgun in a gun rack...
Family Sedan always more "comforting" with a single shot shotgun when the ladies ran to town, on a road trip, picnic for the kids at church, school...family reunion...
---
The back door in the kitchen was ...well it was supposed to have a single shot shotgun in the corner behind it...
Fireplaces always put out more heat with a single shot shotgun above the mantle...
The breezes always more steady and cooled better with the windows raised and that Emerson Window fan in a window...
Single shot shotguns are responsible for this too, ask anyone - has to do with one of these shotguns being behind that kitchen door, above the mantle...
--
Nothing in the world feels so good and smells so great as sheets just off a clothesline that have been out in the sunshine...
Bird Droppings are not welcome on them sheets...the doves for supper are ...
Women just naturally kept some shells in the clothes-pin bag,...the single shot shotgun next to the line, just in case a critter needed attention...
--
Pa out chopping wood , well a "whack" might be replaced with a "bang" or three .... Might be a snake, better if'n a rabbit, or squirrel, or maybe that deer he'd been noticing...
...if a critter wants to invite themselves for supper...be hospitable...
--
Rite of passages - yeah it was okay to have your little body heave, sob and tears saturate your feet when you stuck that muzzle at the base of family dog's ear and slapped that trigger...
Adults would take back the shovel you had dug a hole with, covered up the dog with dirt. Words were said, and the single shot was handed back to you.
You fired off a round in Respect, each in turn did so...natural order of things...
--
A new puppy just has to get into the Hills Bros Coffee can, and dump out the shells. Feet too big the puppy manages to get a paw in the can and the other front paw gets out from under him because he slipped on a shotshell...
Momma wipes tears of laughter from her eyes with her apron, Pa done spewed his coffee, and a kid bops his head on the coffee table...
Supper was not burnt, just the way new puppies and shotshells fixes supper is all...
You get a bit bigger. And, rabbits in the snow, that puppy is now a dog with a red bandana around its neck.
Rubbing two "two-bits" together gets a squirrel come around that tree...
Then one day you find yourself holding a kid and talking about "this" single shot shotgun...
With "popcorn' loads that kid announces they got the Pigeons out of the barn...
They didn't have to say a word, stupid grin from ear to ear, Pa with a swelled out chest, and Ma just a beaming with pride.
Ma don't fuss when Pa and the kid are a bit late...grin tells Ma there is venison in the bed of the truck..."Ma, he was out there....and I saw him...and I...
"With this one here...". That spent hull gets a special spot on the mantle...
--
Where did the years go...?
Now you got a Grandkid, if you had known how much fun these were, you would of had them first. Oh well, paybacks are hell, spoil 'em like crazy and then send 'em home to their parents.
That Grandkid gets lessons, shoots that balloon, grinning, excited, still safely opens the gun and spent hull pops out. Grandkid hands the gun back, Grandparent says " keep it - it is yours now".
Parents must have allergies, having to wipe them eyes...but that grandkid has a big smile and excited eyes...
Yes you are supposed to laugh at the phone when told grandkid just put every box of that single shotgun ammo into the basket at the store. Funny thing about kids, takes them 3 days to pick up a pair of dirty socks...they can fill a shopping cart in 3 seconds with "their" shotgun loads...
--
Folks at the gun shows, pawn shops, gun stores...no they ain't looking at the new offerings...they see these single shots over in a spot to themselves, worn bluing, scratched up stocks...folks given them strange looks as they shoulder, grin, wipe a tear and leave with 'em.
--
Now the fella could of chosen from a selection of shotguns to tote, instead he chooses that old single shot. Dog gets excited seeing a gun in hand, and just knows there is some peppermint in that fella's pocket, also knows there is at list one stick of Beef Jerky ...
Heads down the property, dog , single shot shotgun...oh the gun will work, fella can tell what he sees...
Just sometimes better to just tote and take it all in...tossing a peppermint to the dog from time to time...
Single shot shotguns just seem to do this better too...
Steve
__________________
Use Enough Gun
TFL Alumni
My apologies to Steve, a "TFL Alumni". It's just a really good post.
Single Shot Shotguns.
Dave's Fault; his thread about SxS got me thinking, daydreaming, remembering...
Yes I admit to having "this thing" about the Single Shot Shotgun.
Growing up when I did, and how raised - everyone had a single shot. For some this was the ONLY gun they had. Served to put food on the table, take care of varmits, and since folks back then learned to shoot, they never felt undergunned if two legged varmits intruded. Add….money was tight, so one hit what pointed at - didn't waste ammo.
I recall my Mentors & Elders being concerned about the "state of affairs". Gubmint was going to put a stop to sending in postcards from back of magazines and ordering guns and having them delivered to your door COD by the postman.
Missiles from Cuba being pointed toward the Continental US, Riots, Ongoing Concerns of Communism, Civil Defense training, drills...
Fellow be smart to hoard up Single Shot Shotguns, Single Shot .22 Rifles, and a Medium Frame Revolver. Have plenty of .22 ammo, a single stage reloader and components for reloading shotshells and them .38spls.
See, the Medium Frame Revolver most used and carried by Police, was the S&W Model 10. Folks were buying up and hoarding them Lee Hand-Held Reloaders too.
Now some folks had a "bit more money", so Lever Action Rifles like the Model 94 in 30-30, the Bolt Guns like Model 70 in '06, Ruger MKI in .22lr, Gov't Model of 1911 and Browning Highpowers were ALWAYS included.
Folks wanted Reliable, Proven firearms. Might not be a gunsmith, or be in a positon to get parts...
One never knows the where or when of next encounter - CRSam
Single Shot Shotguns were at the top of this list, truth is, still is for some folks...
Versatile, Proven Reliability, Proven in Taking care of what needed taken care of from "right here" to "out yonder a bit".
---
Too many kids learned to shoot single shot shotguns. Too many kids took their first dove sitting on the ground, safely handed the gun to an adult and tried to outrun the dog to get their "first bird". Allowed only one bird taken off the ground...well sometimes "egg money” or "barter" got that bird mounted.
Too many deer felled by kids on first hunt with a single shot and a slug, even from a lowly .410. No matter how much venison a person eats, it just never seems to taste as good as that first deer felled by a single shot.
You had "half" of a Double Gun, I mean that extra shell in fingers,
fire, pop that latch, spent hull pops out, insert that other shell, ...you get right good with a "half double gun"...so the Dangerous Game was only a Rabbit running at you...matter of correct basic fundamentals is all...
--
Pick-Up trucks just ran better with that single shot shotgun in a gun rack...
Family Sedan always more "comforting" with a single shot shotgun when the ladies ran to town, on a road trip, picnic for the kids at church, school...family reunion...
---
The back door in the kitchen was ...well it was supposed to have a single shot shotgun in the corner behind it...
Fireplaces always put out more heat with a single shot shotgun above the mantle...
The breezes always more steady and cooled better with the windows raised and that Emerson Window fan in a window...
Single shot shotguns are responsible for this too, ask anyone - has to do with one of these shotguns being behind that kitchen door, above the mantle...
--
Nothing in the world feels so good and smells so great as sheets just off a clothesline that have been out in the sunshine...
Bird Droppings are not welcome on them sheets...the doves for supper are ...
Women just naturally kept some shells in the clothes-pin bag,...the single shot shotgun next to the line, just in case a critter needed attention...
--
Pa out chopping wood , well a "whack" might be replaced with a "bang" or three .... Might be a snake, better if'n a rabbit, or squirrel, or maybe that deer he'd been noticing...
...if a critter wants to invite themselves for supper...be hospitable...
--
Rite of passages - yeah it was okay to have your little body heave, sob and tears saturate your feet when you stuck that muzzle at the base of family dog's ear and slapped that trigger...
Adults would take back the shovel you had dug a hole with, covered up the dog with dirt. Words were said, and the single shot was handed back to you.
You fired off a round in Respect, each in turn did so...natural order of things...
--
A new puppy just has to get into the Hills Bros Coffee can, and dump out the shells. Feet too big the puppy manages to get a paw in the can and the other front paw gets out from under him because he slipped on a shotshell...
Momma wipes tears of laughter from her eyes with her apron, Pa done spewed his coffee, and a kid bops his head on the coffee table...
Supper was not burnt, just the way new puppies and shotshells fixes supper is all...
You get a bit bigger. And, rabbits in the snow, that puppy is now a dog with a red bandana around its neck.
Rubbing two "two-bits" together gets a squirrel come around that tree...
Then one day you find yourself holding a kid and talking about "this" single shot shotgun...
With "popcorn' loads that kid announces they got the Pigeons out of the barn...
They didn't have to say a word, stupid grin from ear to ear, Pa with a swelled out chest, and Ma just a beaming with pride.
Ma don't fuss when Pa and the kid are a bit late...grin tells Ma there is venison in the bed of the truck..."Ma, he was out there....and I saw him...and I...
"With this one here...". That spent hull gets a special spot on the mantle...
--
Where did the years go...?
Now you got a Grandkid, if you had known how much fun these were, you would of had them first. Oh well, paybacks are hell, spoil 'em like crazy and then send 'em home to their parents.
That Grandkid gets lessons, shoots that balloon, grinning, excited, still safely opens the gun and spent hull pops out. Grandkid hands the gun back, Grandparent says " keep it - it is yours now".
Parents must have allergies, having to wipe them eyes...but that grandkid has a big smile and excited eyes...
Yes you are supposed to laugh at the phone when told grandkid just put every box of that single shotgun ammo into the basket at the store. Funny thing about kids, takes them 3 days to pick up a pair of dirty socks...they can fill a shopping cart in 3 seconds with "their" shotgun loads...
--
Folks at the gun shows, pawn shops, gun stores...no they ain't looking at the new offerings...they see these single shots over in a spot to themselves, worn bluing, scratched up stocks...folks given them strange looks as they shoulder, grin, wipe a tear and leave with 'em.
--
Now the fella could of chosen from a selection of shotguns to tote, instead he chooses that old single shot. Dog gets excited seeing a gun in hand, and just knows there is some peppermint in that fella's pocket, also knows there is at list one stick of Beef Jerky ...
Heads down the property, dog , single shot shotgun...oh the gun will work, fella can tell what he sees...
Just sometimes better to just tote and take it all in...tossing a peppermint to the dog from time to time...
Single shot shotguns just seem to do this better too...
Steve
__________________
Use Enough Gun
TFL Alumni
