[Ullr]

I'm looking into buying a rifle for all my hunting needs (mostly deer, but I may be heading out West one of these days). I prefer still or stalk hunting, so lightweight is a big plus. Being left-handed, I've been considering a Savage and a Tikka, both in .308 Win. Then I made the mistake of fondling some guns at a show, and really liked the feel of an NEF Single Shot.

So, who loves them? NEF, Ruger, what should I look for? I've got a big pile of surplus .308 Win sitting around, so that's the caliber I'm looking for. Any advice? Am I losing much by going single-shot over repeater?

[Smoke]

NEF is a good bargain. I would still lean towards one of your first choices if the money is available. A follow up shot is always nice to have when hunting. Target shooting it is a non-issue.

I have a NEF in 45-70. It's my truck gun because I don't mind it showing a little rust or nicks and scratches. Its accurate out to 200 yards with quality loads.

Do a search on the NEF you will find a lot of people that like them and some that don't also. Traditionally triggers are poor on them. They can be fixed (so I've heard)

Ruger #1's are nice guns also if you like the single shot, better quality than the NEF.

A good Savage bolt gun will have a better trigger, be very accurate and have multiple shots available. I've never shot the Tikka but have heard good things about them. .308 is a great platform. Happy shooting.

[cdbeaver]

I have two single shots, a Ruger No. 1 in .22-250 and a .45-70 by NEF. I like them both.

The NEF is the newer of the two, and I'm working on the proper handload for it. The Ruger (with an after-market trigger) is going prairie dog hunting with me next month.

I'm also a southpaw, have one bolt rifle (.30-06) that is left-handed as well as a right-handed .222. I have no problems shooting either one. My .22 RF ground squirrel rifle is a Winchester 62A slide action.

I recently acquired a used four-power Leupold scope for $125 that I mounted on the .45-70. It's a real jewel with absolutely no marks on it.

[aerod1]

I have 4 single shot rifles that I hunt with, a Ruger #1 in 30-06 and 3 NEF Handi-Rifles in 45-70, 223, and 243. I like them all. True the Ruger is a little better quality but the NEF is a great value for he money. I love hunting with my NEF Handi-Rifles. I have all of them scoped.
So far as not having a backup shot? That's ok because that is part of the challenge. You make sure of your target before you pull the trigger because you know one shot is all you have.
That is my kind of hunting.
BTW, I also like bow hunting, and muzzleloading.
Jim Hall

[Matthew_Q]

I think the single shot rifles are pretty interesting...

Except there's only one I want... a Sharps Shiloh Heavy Target (or copy thereof) in .45-70.

Someday I'll have one.... oh yes... someday I will have one....

[rock jock]

I have a Ruger No. 1 in .243 Win. A great deer rifle. I can reload a second shot almost as fast as I can with a bolt-action; however, I have never had to do that since the first shot has always done the job. There really is no advantage to a single shot; they just offer classic styling and announce to the world your confidence as a hunter and shooter.

[Shalako]

I like that.

I will be announcing to the world my confidence when my meager savings plan reaches a sufficient level to obtain a H&R Ultra Varmint in .223. Oh yess......

It will be an ideal training rifle as well. "Make every shot as if it were your last..."

Dang, I really want one.

[waynzwld]

You all left out the "other" choice, a T/C Encore! then you not only have a single shot, but you can also have almost ANY caliber you want to go with it for just a couple of hundres dollars. And by the way, T/Cs are very accurate, especially if you use a custom barrel maker.

[9mmepiphany]

i have an on-going fantasy with the ruger #1.
on-going because i've wanted one since they were introduced and i was 16.
fantasy because there is always i handgun i need before i can save up enough for one.

bill ruger designed the #1 to be the ultimate single-shot (in his vision) and i think he reached that goal. (although i wish he had included a cheekpiece with a shadow line)

the main advantage of the single shot is it's reduced lenght with a full lenght barrel. without the concerns of feeding from a magazine, i find it ideally suited to longer cartridges (like the .375 H&H).

i want a heavy sporter in .375 H&H improved magnum and a light sporter in 6.5x55mm

[Bruce H]

I Have two NEF's, a.22 and a 45/70. I also have a Browning highwall in 7mm rem mag. My latest iis a Pedersoli sharps replica. All shoot very will.

[Intune]

Ruger #1 30-06 B&L 4200 scope. Carries like a dream. I've held the second round between my fingers for years now, never needed it. If you don't have a killing 1st shot don't take the shot. Know your rifle, know your quarry and know your limitations.

[dude]

the ONLY thing more fun and a better value than a NEF bull-barrel .223 is a .17HMR. The .223 is more useful for hunting & stuff bit nothing beats the .17 for pure showing off with your friends at the range/open country varmit-time out to 250 meters or so.

It spools the guys with the 22.250 Rem700s-ultrs $$$ thighter than a $3 watch!

[Hand_Rifle_Guy]

Leastways I don't have to stop shooting to load magazines, which has little relevance to a hunting question. The first shot is the one that matters, as I understand it.

However, pay me little attention. I don't hunt. :o

But I do love a fine single-shot. Mine is Trapdoor Springfield-flavored, built in 1882 as the original plarform for the .45-70. It is my favorite rifle, period. It wieghs in at about nine pounds, but it balances nicely, and has a sweet trigger.

Closest thing I've got to an NEF is a Monkey-Wards "Hercules" 12-guage from about the forties, I think. It's a bear with buckshot mags, but it's solid as a bank vault, the ejector snaps with authority, and it's the only shotgun I can actually hit stuff with. (I'm new at this scattergun business. Ask me about rifles. ;) )

'Sgot a nice trigger too, and that sweet slim-gun balance. I feel well-served by my 70-ish dollar investment, and it's worn finish says "lived-in" to me.

Other singles on my gotta-get-it list are 1885 Winchesters, Hi- and Lo-wall in .38-55 and .218 Bee respectively (Or maybe .225 Winchester.) , a Sharps replica or two, and one of those Martini-Henry falling-blocks like Tamara's got. Ruger # 1's are on my list also. Then there's also muzzle-loaders to think about, too. Hard to argue with a .58-caliber front stuffer with a hundred grains of black and a three-hundred grain soft lead slug.

The only way to beat a good single-shot is with a fine double rifle, in the longest stretches of wishful thinking. Like two of the same thing on one stock for twice the fun. That I should be so rich...:)

[DMK]

My only single shot is a .22LR that I bought for it's unique look, but to my surprise, it's among my favorite shooters.

http://home.mchsi.com/~davidkoch/myarms/Pole22.JPG

[foghornl]

DMK:

Is that a .22LR cailber trainer along the lines of the Mosin-Nagant series? Didn't know the M-N trainers were made.....oh, well...something new I learned today from THR.

Great looking rifle, regardless.

[stevelyn]

My girlfriend bought me a Ruger #1 RSI in .30-06 last Christmas. It's shoots better than I can w/ open sights and managed to take a moose with it this past fall.

[DMK]

Thanks foghornl! It's a Polish Model 48 Trainer. I believe it was used to train boots how to shoot before giving them Mosin-Nagant M-44 Carbines.

I got this one at a gunshow a while back, but J&G (http://www.jgsales.com) has them right now.


Here's a pic (http://home.mchsi.com/~davidkoch/carbines/Carbines03.JPG)of it next to my Mosin 91/59 carbine just for comparison sake.

[techmike]

I have a Handi-Rifle in .243 that I wouldn't trade for anything. A great "Deer Gun" for the conditions I hunt in and doubles as a short Range (Under 300 yards) varmit gun. I tend to do well with single shots...makes me slow down and pick my shots.

[Bainx]

you need to hurry-up and ask that girl to be your wife!;)

[Robby from Long Island]

Years ago I was lucky enough to pick up a pair of Sako single shots. They are heavy barreled varmint/target Sako Vixens in .22PPC and 6PPC.

Both are the most accurate varmint rifles I ever owned, with the 6 being the more accurate.

Safe shooting.

[stevelyn]

Bainx,

I did ask her when she bought me the Dillon AT-500. She said yes.:D

[skippie]

I have 3 single shots, a brace of ruger #1's one is a 45-70 the other is a stainless lam. in 25'06, and my fav is the encore. It is my most used hunting pistol/rifle/target rifle/shotgun/blackpowder rifle/blackpowder pistol/blackpowder shotgun that I use...
Want to hunt a new critter, $249.00 in almost any caliber you want, does it get any better??????:D

[Gordon]

Get the Encore in .308 to start. You can add anything! No offense but they are in a whole nuther class above NEF stuff. A Ruger #1.308 is a rare bird and dedicated. Mossberg made a single for a while and you can get them cheap and they look good, but I never saw a .308 one yet. I have about 27 single shots not counting pistols so I really like em!

[COHIBA]

i have the $1 RSI in 7mm mauser. i wish i could find one in 308.