[Devonai]

I'm trying to decide which single-shot breech loader to buy. I'm not planning on hunting with it anytime soon, just for fun. Perhaps in a few years. So far I've seen the following brands:

Excel
Eastern Arms
New England Firearms
H&R
Savage

I'm still not sure which gauge I want either, whether it be 12/16/20.

The features I want are a vibrant auto-ejector, the ability to take 3" shells, and a choke that is compatable with slugs (such as modified... is that the only one?).

Any suggestions? Any reason why I should pay more than $100 for a used specimin?

[OEF_VET]

Both the H&R and NEF are fine choices. They are in fact the same company. I've had a H&R 12 ga. and two NEF's, a 12 and a 20 gauge. If you do shoot 3", just keep in mind, they are very lightweight shotguns, which translates to a lot of recoil. Not that I know that from learning the hard way or anything. :D

Back in '96, a friend of mine was told by his wife that he had to sell his shotguns if he wanted to move back (temper and alcohol problems). He planned to take them to Kittery Trading Post to sell. Knowing KTP as well as I do, I offered him $100 for the pair, which was about $10 - $20 more than KTP would have given him. He said sure, and then told me that he had some ammo at the house as well, which I took to mean probably a partial box of each caliber. As it turns out, it included 100 rounds of birdshot and about 20 rounds of buck shot for each caliber, and 15 rounds of 3" Magnum slugs for the 12. He also threw in the two soft cases the guns were in. Not a bad deal for $100, I guess he really wanted to get back with the missus.

I gave the 20 to my BIL for a 14th B-day present, of course he was happy. Since I was leaving for Basic soon, we took the guns to the range and shot all the ammo off in one day. Ouch, my arm was sore! The Drill Sergeants were quite curious as to where the eggplant on my shoulder came from. HeHe.

Frank

[Dave McCracken]

The NEFs are great, lots of gun for the money. Some H&Rs are getting a little rickety, and it may be hard for you to gauge the age. Oldest H&Rs may have chambers too short for modern ammo, and certainly not 3" capable.

Savage singles date from before WWII, IIRC. Th eothers are not recommended.

Open chokes,like Improved Cylinder, Cylinder or Skeet, will work with a slug. Modified is the best all around choke, and with the Forster Style slugs, even Full can be used without harm, though accuracy may be degraded.

HTH...

[Gordon]

Find a Greener GP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Soap]

Single shots rock. I have an NEF single barrel and I've been nothing but pleased with it. For $95, you have to have one!

[5ptdeerhunter]

If you buy the NEF you can get a variety of new shotgun barrels for a very cheap cost. I highly recommend the NEF I have a rifled 20 gauge I paid $50 for and after $130 more I have a new muzzleloader and a smooth bore 20 gauge.

[only1asterisk]

An old Winchester 37 is a great old gun for around $100.

NEF and H&R are the same gun.

Buy a H&R Handi Rifle and then you can get both rifle AND shotgun barrels fitted.

Lots of used single shot around, and they are the best gun to buy used.


David

[Devonai]

How much, do you think, replacement rifle barrels cost?

I'd love to get a 12 gauge with a spare barrel in .30-06.

[only1asterisk]

Buy a H&R Handi Rifle in 30-06, send it to Marlin with a check for $48. They will send you back your rifle witha new 12 gauge barrel.

The details can be found here:http://www.hr1871.com/barrelAcc/index.htm

David

[fallingblock]

The Greener G.P. is probably the single most rugged single-shot shotgun ever produced. They are surprisingly well-balanced and simplicity itself to operate. Not very common in the U.S., though:(

I'd suggest having a look at the Russian-made Baikal single barrels sold by EAA. The Baikal action is an internal hammer design which has a decocking feature and is extremely rugged. They are very good value for the price.

http://www.eaacorp.com/firearms/longguns/singlebarrel/izh18maxd.shtml

[Mannlicher]

Go down to the gun shop, or the pawn shop, and find an old Winchester, Stevens, or Savage single shot. Can't get much better than that.

I started with a Stevens 20ga. Probably shot more game with that single barrel than with any other gun. Still have it.

[Devonai]

Well, I found a H&R 12 gauge single-shot for $50. The bluing is gone but the workings are solid. I called H&R to inquire about it, they told me it was made in 1940. While having a 3" chamber, they recommended only using 2 3/4". I can't wait to try it out. Thanks for all your input.

[Detritus]

Savage singles date from before WWII

I thought maybe he was refering to the Savage model 24s, the O/U combo guns, that have a 12 or 20ga barrel slung under a rifle barrel (22LR, .22 Hornet, 223, and 30-30 being available) seem them marketed under the name "predator"