break-open action single-shot rifle, what's the point?

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superpunchy

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I notice that Harrington and Richardson sells an extensive line of break-open action single-shot rifles and shotguns. My question is; what's the advantages and disadvantages to a break-open style action single-shot rifle vs. a bolt-action rifle?
 
The break open rifles are lighter, less expensive to make and have a shorter overall length with the same barrel when compared with bolt rifles. With practice repeat shots can be surprisingly fast.

While there are exceptions, and I am sure someone will post pictures to prove me wrong, they are generally so so on accuracy.
 
They're cheap.

They're very simple.

They're easy to clean.

They're light.

They're short for a given barrel length, so you can have better ballistics in an easier-to-tote rifle.

They can be set up easily for all sorts of calibers, since they don't have a bolt face to worry about.
 
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Low cost, light weight, capable of having multiple barrels fitted in different calibers.
 
all the above and I have heard the accuracy is pretty excellent as well.. a lot of aftermarket customizing options as well.. a friend of mine has one in .223 that he has added a bipod, 6 position collapsible stock, laser and tactical light all in the spirit of fun... gets more attention than any single shot should...
 
Sometimes all you really need is one bullet.

My deer huntin' friend only leaves home with 3 bullets. Helps him to wait for the best & right shot.
 
The H&R single shots are easy to use to train young or new shooters. For knocking about in the outdoors they are hard to beat. They can take a lot use and abuse without so much as a hiccup. I have no problem take one out in a rain or sand strom, where a would not take a finer firearm.
 
Its all about the cost/accuracy ratio.

There's single shot guns out that will out shoot bolt guns at a cost of pennies on the dollar.
 
I trained with a single barrel break with a friend. That thing you can do probably everything equal to if not faster than I do with the Rem 870 due to my overly cautious nature with the pump.

Bust it open, drop old shell, flip a new one in and "Phoink!" it's ready.

Poink, BOOM, clank,poink BOOM etc.

Cleaning? Easy.
 
jrm40 said:

While there are exceptions, and I am sure someone will post pictures to prove me wrong, they are generally so so on accuracy.
Click to expand...

:) Thompson/Center's Contender pistol has held the world record for about 20 to 25 years. The group was fired at 500 yards, using iron sights. I believe the group measured .75" X 3.5". For what it's worth, ALL T/Cs come with an MOA guarantee...handguns, carbines and rifles.

Re: the advantage of any single-shot, when you have one shot, and you know you have one shot, you practice, and build your confidence. Confidence. : ) That's the advantage. Patience. That's another.

I have heard many good comments of H&Rs. I have not personally fired my own .30-30 that I bought LNIB. She's sure pretty. Nice classic lines and takes my mind back to days when I was 8 Y.O. and hunting with single-shots. Wow, those are some great memories.

Geno
 
Well if I could I'd get my R700 to go ss only, but for now I only put one bullet in the gun and 2-5 in the stock pack.

Wow I didn't know contenders were that accuate, but are they more accuate than an HS Precision pistol
 
The H&R handi-rifle in 45-70 sells like hotcakes down here in MS and LA. It is legal to use it as a primative weapon in primative weapons season here and effectively adds 4 weeks to deer season.

I'll be picking up one before next November.


-- John
 
I owned a Handi Rifle in .223 but was not impressed. I never got it to shoot better than 2 MOA. A lot of people have good luck with them, though.

That being said, I love single shots in general. I'm a big fan of the falling block action. It's strong and accurate. Shooting a single shot is relaxing and fun.
 
My NEF is topped with a fixed 4X Leupold and has seen more action than any one of the classier arms in my hunting collection. When I have to crawl through a briar patch with a rifle that I fired from a climbing stand that I had to hoist with a string, it helps to have something short and rock-solid. It's somewhat funny to see all the folks jumping on the "primitave arms" bandwagon in LA like Jwarren said; some of us have been ahead of that wagon for years.:neener:

...and by the way, I have yet to fire my rifle while hunting and wish I had more than a single shot.
 
Thompson/Center's Contender pistol has held the world record for about 20 to 25 years. The group was fired at 500 yards, using iron sights. I believe the group measured .75" X 3.5". For what it's worth, ALL T/Cs come with an MOA guarantee...handguns, carbines and rifles.

Re: the advantage of any single-shot, when you have one shot, and you know you have one shot, you practice, and build your confidence. Confidence. : ) That's the advantage. Patience. That's another.

I have heard many good comments of H&Rs. I have not personally fired my own .30-30 that I bought LNIB. She's sure pretty. Nice classic lines and takes my mind back to days when I was 8 Y.O. and hunting with single-shots. Wow, those are some great memories.

Geno
Click to expand...

What world record would that be? Just wondering what class you are talking here.
 
benzy2:

Give T/C's customer service a call and ask them the details. They had it in their advertisements for years. I called them and confirmed it some years back. They'll have the detail.

http://www.tcarms.com/
603-332-2333

Geno
 
The H&R will save you a lot of coin, compared to a nice vintage Farquharson.

500ne-1.jpg
 
Yay something else to google

Let's see some pics of that "tactical single shot" am so curious it's just killing me.
Click to expand...
NEF used to catalog one; there is a picture of it in this other board's thread:
http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=47321

ATI can hook you up as well:cool:: http://atigunstocks.com/products.aspx?category=5

I like mine a little more vanilla:
o6jklw.jpg

If any are interested in this type of rifle, there is a lot of good info to be found here.

Regards,
Greg

That Farquharson is a beauty:)
 
I had one of the 45-70's and liked it. I ended up giving it to my wife's nephew as a gift, not because of the performance but because of the high cost of 45-70 ammo. The Handi-Rifles have a kind of elegant simplicity about them.
 
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Here's Ruger's version of a Fahrquarson action (the No. 1) -

RugerNo1s.jpg

These both have 22" barrels, which is a good length for .30-06 and .243, and are just a little over 36" long overall.

Very easy to carry and quick to point.
 
Many years ago I dated a very beautiful, extravagantly stupid girl. She lived in a remarkably sketchy neighborhood of a certain city where handguns were (are) prohibited. I bought an NEF Pardner 20 gauge at Kmart for, I think, $79 and left it and a box of shells at her place with my toothbrush in case an unanticipated 4th floor walk-up invasion occurred at a time while I was away from her place (not a frequent occurrence, but still).

Try and name a more idiot-proof gun.
 
Absolutely. That's why they are commonly "issued" to kids as first hunting rifles.

I have heard about recommendations of the break-action as self-defense weapons (in shotgun form) for the elderly, who may have trouble with more complex manuals-of-arms in semi-auto pistols, etc.

It's true they offer only one shot, but that is better than something so complex or difficult to operate that it is ineffective.
 
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