Single shots. Why?

Does barrel vibration really matter to the deer struck in the vitals with a bullet?

No but it does if you were aiming for the vitals, but the bullet went in its abdomen.

As I understand it, vibration has a potential effect on trajectory which is why a load that is excellent on one gun, may be a poor performer on another similar gun.
 
I have seen some beutiful built single shots built on falling block and Martini (spelling ?) actions . useualy in clasic cartridges like .22 hornet or 45-70 . Ruger #1's are great . If someone wanted one of the less expensive breakdowns made I would not recomend it unless you are ok with the transfer bar breaking and leaving you a trip to the repair shop . I have replaced these often when I worked in a Gun Shop its not the easist repair . I won't mention the manufactuer they have been sold under several names for the past few decades .
 
I'll tell you why I like the single shooters : Zen

The clean lines and 'nostalgia' are all part of the Zen, as well as the one-shot or nothing aspect.

Now, as to their being less expensive than magazine rifles, as was posted earlier, I hope someone lets the people selling Ruger No. 1 and Sharps rifles know about that, because they seem to be running about a grand and up. I've gotten some good deals on No. 1s, but never less than $600 in the last 5 years.

With two cartridges tucked between my fingers of the forward hand, I can reload my .416 Rigby No. 1 about as quickly as a bolt action can be worked.
 
Brian, why is it that 1.5" diameter untapered 30" long 14 pound barrels shoot just as accurate as one the same length but only 1.2" diameter inverse tapering to .8" weighing 5.5 pounds? The best of them shoot many shots inside 7 to 8 inches at 1000 yards. Long range tests are best to reveal all the variables in rifle and ammo.

The Brits proved over a century ago that whippy barrels can shoot ammo with huge velocity spreads very accurate at the longer ranges.

The 1K yd benchrest aggregate record for six 10-shot groups is 5.96"; biggest single group's a few inches larger. People testing Palma rifles with 30" five to six pound barrels equal that easily.
 
Sometimes with my revolver shooting...I tend to lose concentration on the last round --- so a single shot --- will tend to make you concentrate better.
 
Why not?
"...The fluted barrel is used for..." Decoration. Flutes have been proven to do nothing for accuracy or cooling. The amount of weight reduction is negligible too. There's a long winded and actually scientific dissertation about it on-line someplace. Haven't looked for it recently.
Heavy barrels are about how fast they take to get hot. Not vibration or anything else. Helps that they tend to be stiff too, but it's mostly about heat. Vibration is one of the easiest things to control anyway.
 
I believe most poor shots are due to shooter vibration, not barrel vibration.

I suppose therefore that all those people getting noticebly better accuracy just with variations in powder charge have been deluding themselves.
Wish I'd known: would have saved a lot on powder.

Did Teddy, Annie, or York worry about barrel vibration?

Do most people shoot like Teddy, Annie or York?

Bottom line here is this issue of barrel vibration is way off topic as far as single shots specifically go: I'm not kicking up a fuss as I find it interesting, but if you have no actual facts or experiences to add to that off-topic, feel free not to post...

On the other hand, if you have something concrete to add to that tangential discussion, or views on single shots, then contributions are welcome...
 
We've kind of gotten lost in this thread's original question: "Single Shots. Why?" It's gotten quite technical as to how to achieve optimal accuracy.

Maybe we need to have a discussion about "practical accuracy" and what it means to a person under various situations. Along with that is the definition of an accurate rifle/ammo/rest/shooter for various situations.
 
It is a matter of personal style and interpretation. Just like we flintlock shooters and hunters, one shot is enough if the shooter is good enough. The single shot shines in the bright light of personal accomplishment with self imposed limitations. In the field, if that is where you are going, the accuracy is not a factor as most rifles can outshoot their owners, other disciplines have many factors and design parameters that can make an individual rifle more accurate than another, but this is precise, clinical shooting not answered in simple terms.
 
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It is the only one allowed in the Boy Scouts

Not entirely true, but each individual council spells out individual rules and regulations.

The Boy Scouts specifically prohibit tube magazine fed rifles because it's much hard to eye verify whether or not they're empty on the firing line.

Furthermore, any shooting he does as a Scout will be with BSA owned property.

So my advice, as a shooter and Professional Scouter, is get him a .22 that he wants.

And push him towards Eagle, once the smell of car fumes and girl's perfume hits, wearing the khaki and OD ain't cool anymore.
 
WildBill45. I have Ruger #1 single shot 30-338mag also bolt action 30-338mag and hunting rifle first shot counts. After first shot from either rifle I always chamber another rd and shot I take with #1 be same I would take from other 30-338mag.

I've always chamber for follow up shot if need.
 
Single Shot.....why? I have several, a TC that has a 28" barrel and same hole accuracy potential if the shooter would cooperate and my favorite a 16" AAC Handi Rifle in 300 blackout....(I took a huge Texas hog with that one). The AAC has acceptable accuracy out to 100 but certainly is no match to the 28" .223, are they both a real hoot when on the range or out in the field? You bet! Would I like to trade my AR's for a single shot if I were regulated to just one rifle...no way! I do not concern myself with how much vibration one gets from the 28" as compared to the stubby little AAC and reserve that concern when in the field for "am I good enough?".
Many of these threads are started to get the statistical geniuses impressing us with their knowledge.....and the battle is on...my sharing is to tell of a once in a lifetime shot for an old guy with a neat little rifle and 125 gr bullet that stood between him and 350# of stinky Texas Boar!
 
I think I want a Winchester 1885. Or Browning. They are spendy, but I have had my eye on getting one for a while. Thinking .30-06, 270 WSM, 7 Mag. Maybe 300 H&H. :)
 
I don't know, there's just something about the classic single shot that speaks to me and since shooting is mostly a hobby for me, I don't have to rationalize owning them.

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50 yard 5-shot group with above rifle.
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I like them because I like them. No need to go further than that.

Objectively, there is little advantage except for shooting lightly crimped or un crimped rounds. Maybe it is easier to examine and clean the barrel. No need to remove a bolt or use a bore light to see the length of the barrel.

On the range, my EAB 97D gets a lot of attention, but when I shoot a .357 MAX in a 16 1/2 barrel with a full pressure load, the little demon that lives inside me claps and shouts when shooters two lanes left and right gasp at the muzzle blast and see their chronographs go haywire for a minute.:D
 
One Day.....

.........I'd really liken to get a(n) H&R Buffalo Classic just for kicks. Try some long range shooting. Thing is, I think I'd like to reload the shells with black powder. It just strikes me as one heckuva good time!
 
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