Single shots. Why?

I don't think it's a question of advantages so much as feel and that elusive quality called cachet. And nostalgia. I heft my M1888 rod bayonet Springfield and I am at the foot of San Juan Hill on the morning of July 1, 1898 :D
People are still buying single action revolvers, the number of black powder revolvers in existence today is probably 3x the number they had "back then".
IMHO 22LR single shots are the best way to train new shooters-of any age, the only real "advantage" I see to single shots would be for cartridges larger than say 458 Winchester Magnum/460 Weatherby where a bolt action would be too heavy, too bulky and too expensive.
 
Well, the Ruger #1 rifle I like the most is the medium sporter and it took me many years to even find one. I started looking when Ruger first brought the #1 out. My first was a #1B in 30-06. Since that slow start I've acquired a small collection of them and I've hunted with most at one time or another. Calibers run from the .22 Hornet to the .416 Rigby. These days I no longer hunt with them due to a bad knee that likes to go out on me at the worst times, and usually does it several times in a day. I do hunt but from a truck, not my favorite method BTW, and the ranch I hunt does not allow the use of singl shot rifles. Funny thing is, I've taken three elk off that place in the last four years. Each and every kill one a one shot, one kill elk.
With a minor amount of practice, one can do a fairly rapid reload should a second shot be needed. I think that one can just about keep up with the average bolt action shooter in getting off a second AIMED shot at game, the key word being "aimed".
Hunting with a single loader is not the handicap most people think it is.
Paul B.
 
I've heard that the Ruger #1's groups have a tendency to walk when the barrel/receiver heats up.
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That was before the rifle was redesigned with a floated barrel. the forend used to be attached to the barrel and now it is attached to a rod and then the action.
 
"That was before the rifle was redesigned with a floated barrel. the forend used to be attached to the barrel and now it is attached to a rod and then the action. "[QUOTE][/QUOTE]


Brian: Do you know about what year this took place? My #1 .270 was bought around 1988. Thanks.

JB
 
As to accuracy, single shots (at least hinged receiver models) do have an inherant weakness when compared to bolt action rifles. That hinge can never be so perfectly machined that there is no movement. Movement means a less accurate rifle.
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Movement means a less accurate rifle? I can buy that, in principle, but in practice other factors seem to matter more. Based on what I have seen with my Contenders, I'd say that the fact that the sights/scope are mounted on the barrel overcomes the "inherent" weakness of the hinged receiver as far as accuracy is concerned. OR, more properly, as far as the accuracy I can use.

Single shots come in a variety of actions and levels of quality. However even the less expensive ones have been known to shoot well, when they put quality into the barrel.

And that is what a single shot is mainly about, the barrel. And one shot. yes, reloads are slow, but a practiced man with a single shot can be faster than the fellow bolt, pump, or lever who takes his rifle off his shoulder to work the action.

I have Ruger single shots, No.3s in .22Hornet, .30-40 Krag, and .45-70. Also a No.1 in .375 H&H. I also have a couple of Contenders and while I keep them as handguns, they would also make fine carbines.

Nostalgia, and the personal sense of accomplishment you get from using a single shot and getting the job done is the appeal for most of us that use them.
 
IMG_0232.jpg


here is a photo of the hanger. I have no idea when it was changed,but I believe that it took place somewhere in the early 80s. Your rifle may be the new design. I looked and couldn't find information.

Do you have inaccuracy problems, shot stringing up and down, or changes in zero? This can be worked on. If you don't have any of those problems, and regularly get 1" or so groups without stringing, or changes in zero over time related to wood shrinkage, you are just fine.

http://www.varminthuntinginternational.com/accurizingnoruger.html

good luck with it. I love those guns.
 
With me, it isn't "either/or", it's "and/also". So the "why" in my case, boils down to whether I have had, or enjoyed the experience of that rifle type.
Here's an old one, 1872 .577 Snider---

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Something a little newer, '72 Martini with a conversion to .303 in 1899---

405545702.jpg


-----krinko
 
ruger #1 in 270 win-
130gr nosler ballistic tip with imr4320 .3" at 100yds
150gr nosler ballistic tip with imr4350 .2" at 100yds

tc encore in 6.5 creedmoor(16 1/4" mgm heavy factory barrel)
120gr nosler ballistic tip with superpreformance .3" at 100yds

tc encore in 20 vartarg(16 1/4" mgm heavy factory barrel)
32gr nosler varmageddon with h4198 .2" at 100yds

tc encore in 444 marlin(23" mgm heavy factory barrel)
265gr hornady flat nose with h4198 .4" at 100yds

tc encore in 22-250 ackley improved(27" mgm heavy factory barrel)
60gr nosler ballistic tip with varget .1" at 100yds

tc contender in 7x30 waters(14" barrel with a muzzle brake)
115gr speer hollowpoint with imr4895 .2" at 100yds


these are all single shots. why, i like single shots, more than anything else(bolt, pump, lever, semi). i don't see them as inheritnly bad accuracy, all are sub minute. one deer/black bear/ groundhog=1 kill, remember the old army saying, one shot, one kill.
i shot everything, from levers to pumps to bolts, i still have them. but there is nothing like a single shot rifle!
 
nice

SaxonPig, those are nice Rugers. But a stubby '06 (the RSI) never made sense to me. Course I own an '06 w/ 20" tube, but wish it was .308.

In sngle shots, The shorter overall length, versus the full length barrel in quality single shots can milk the most velocity out of the given cartridge. A ruger No 1, with 26" tube , will be as short or near to, a 22" bolt gun. (estimating, no scorches please). That will boost the .270 and similar cartridges to good velocity.
 
OK, so these are all valid reasons but mostly seem to centre around an issue of personal preference rather than concrete areas where a single shot is more suited.

I take away from this that in that latter category it seems that weight and OAL to barrel length ratio is the best aspect of single shots.
 
Truthfully, I can make that "one perfect shot" with a bolt action repeater just the same as with a single shot(maybe better). The REAL (not break open wannabees) single shots like the Ruger #1 have a look about them that is very elegant and I certainly wouldn't turn one down if Santa brought it. Most have some accuracy quirks that I don't want to have to mess with.
 
tdokya, I think those 1/10th to 4/10ths inch, 100-yard groups you mention are the smallest shot; right? Any rifle can do that once in a (great) while. I think your rifles shoot bigger groups; what sizes are the largest of each rifle mentioned?

Regarding the issue of stock cutouts for box and detachable magazines; they're equal with no significant difference between either. The floorplate on internal box magazines does nothing regarding the stock's stiffness.

For what it's worth, there's no proof that single shot bolt action rifles shoot more accurate than box magazine ones. Just because the single shot ones are favored by competitors means nothing. The best accuracy performance at 600 yards I know of was made by a box magazine rifle. They've tested equal to any solid receiver single shot ones for decades.
 
concrete areas where a single shot is more suited.
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If you are looking at modern single shots vs. modern repeaters (primarily bolt actions) there are few situations where the single shot is actually better suited.

The main ones would be anyplace where there are legal restrictions (naturally), and the other is essentially, where you want the same barrel length but a shorter overall rifle, and are willing to give up "onboard ammunition storage" (magazine).

Or, conversely, you can have a single shot with a longer barrel and the same overall length as a bolt action, gaining some velocity without increasing the load's pressure.
 
Some posts here mention break open single shots as being week. If you go to the Barrets website you will find hot-loaded 45-70 ammo. They also list the guns they are to be used in. New England and H&R are included in that list. Week indeed!
 
I have had two Ruger #1's for over 35 years. One is a 6mm Remington with a 26-inch barrel that has been used extensively for prairie dogs - rapid fire makes no difference so there is no advantage to a bolt action or semi-auto rifle.

The second #1 is a custom 30-338 with a Douglas Premium Grade, medium-weight 22-inch barrel. I have a custom saddle scabbard for it and it is far quicker from the scabbard to the shoulder than a bolt action rifle simply because the rifle is so much shorter with the falling block bolt rather than a horizontal bolt and longer receiver.

The Ruger #1 was one of Elmer Keith's favorite rifles. If you go to the Elmer Keith Museum at the Cabela's in Boise, ID you will see a number of Ruger #1's in both standard calibers and a variety of wildcat cartridges.
 
bartb,

each group(3 shots) is an average of the entire group. the 270 with the 130gr nbt goes .291", 319", and 356" gives an avg of .322" or .3". i have way more time than i need:);)
 
Although I will not argue that an opening in the stock for a magazine will not greatly effect the rigidity of the stock (I guess you could do a computer model of harmonics etc. like barrel vibration), nor that the cut out in a well built action will, but one thing that bench rest shooters want is very consistent ammunition and with all the time taken to built competitive loads, there is less chance of damage to the case / projectile etc. when loading one at a time as compared to running through a magazine. Also, with a solid bottom action, there is more baring surface for bedding the action.

Bob
 
tdokya, I think if all three 3-shot groups' shot holes were plotted relative to the point of aim, that 9-shot composite would be about .4 inch or bigger.
 
bartb,
don't know;) i just shoot!:D one group=3 shots, moved to another target, 2nd group=3 shots, moved to another target, 3rd group=3 shots.

everything i killed used just one shot. it didn't matter if it was a '06 or 7mm-08 or 6.5 creedmoor. now i have a had a stroke(right side) and i can no longer walk thru the woods. my usually set up is a chair with a bogg tripod or a primos 2 leg stick and a chair:D. all brought on my polaris utv;). my usual set up for trying new load is a bench with chair, either bulls x bags or a wooden type forearm set with a small sandbag. this year i hope to have a caldwell lead sled solo.

p.s. dont forget the past recoil pad(mag plus). i wouldn't have shot anything over 270 win. let alone the 444 marlin!!!:cool:
 
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T- .3" at 100 yards? That would be something to see.

B- A 20" '06 gives up 50 FPS or so from the more common 22" barrel...big deal. The 308 might have been a more logical choice but I saw this one. Bought it with a crazy idea. Wanted this model in 300 H&H so looked for any 30 caliber RSI to convert. Cost was ridiculous so it stayed a 30-06 and I bought a Medium Sporter in 300 H&H for barely more than what the smith wanted to do the conversion.
 
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