Single Shot Rifles

[bullzeye8]

I never had too much interest in them but after seeing articles today on The firearm blog about the customized encores I sort of wanted one. Then I saw on TTAG that in Henry's infomercial they showed a single shot rifle they were coming out with in January (along with a single shot shotgun and a lever action .410). That brought my interest in them even greater. I don't necessarily know why I have some interest now they just seem like they might be fun.

So, how do you guys like single shots? What do you use them for? Accuracy? How are the triggers on T/C Encore? Worth the cost?

I have time to wait so if I do decide I'm interested I will probably wait to see some specs on the Henry's but interested to get others opinions to see if the break action single shots are worth pursuing. Use would just be target shooting.

 

[WestKentucky]

I have a tc contender. It is one of the most accurate guns I own. The encore is supposedly pretty similar only a lot stronger which means it's heavier too. I use it for longer range pistol shooting and I hunt whitetail with it. The beauty of that gun though is not the good trigger or the accuracy which are both great, but I like wierd. Wierd means cartridges not in production anymore, or doing something different with one than most folks do. That absolutely means that I reload and tailor my rounds to the gun to get a lot of accuracy. Single shot also means I'm slowing down and making a concentrated shot each time I touch the trigger. An hour with my contender is usually about 1 round a minute. Shoot, spot, unload, put empty shell in the brass bucket, reload, aim... whereas with my AR or any of my other repeaters I'm shooting more rounds, being sloppy about it, and not getting as much satisfaction out of whacking a target each shot. When I get bored with that I swap barrels and do the same thing in another caliber.

 

[Hookeye]

Last two seasons I ran a Super 16 Contender in .35 remington.
Shot great, went 2 for 2.

[/IMG]

 

[Hookeye]

But I grew up shooting a Ruger #1 B on chucks.
The Super 16 Contender was just a little too short IMHO...........would have kept that bbl if it was 18.5". Sold it just because of the looks.

Decided I'd rebarrel a used #1 to .35 Rem. Got one, but then my state regs changed so Im going to run it in original form. Shoots good enough.
Still want one in .35 rem down the road, have to find another used one LOL.

[/IMG]

No break open, stronger action. Good looks.

I could borrow my dad's Encore, or his TCR Hunter. But I'm just not cool with a break open deer rig. Tolerated it.........worked fine, just think I'll stick with my Contender in rifle form being a .22 lr.

Did take my other Contender frame and set it up as a handgun, .35 rem (like the cartridge). Super 14 has no taper.........looks proper in handgun form. Did not like the Super 16 in handgun form (looks).

 

[cfullgraf]

I have a couple first generation Contenders with the adjustable triggers that I have turned into carbines and I like how they shoot and their accuracy. One is a 22 Hornet using a Thompson barrel and stock, the other is a Bullberry 221 Rem. Fireball barrel with Bullberry stock and fore end.

I bought an Encore rifle a few years ago so that I could get a barrel in an obsolete rifle cartridge that I was interested in. Thompson deleted the adjustable trigger and it did not shoot as well as the first generation Contenders. I eventually did some trigger work on the Encore and it shoots better.

I'd highly recommend a first generation Contender. The Encore (2005 or so vintage), not so much.

I'd love to try a Ruger no. 1 or No. 3 but have not stumbled on the right chambering yet.

I'm in the process of building a single shot rifle built on the Savage Target bolt action. I am hoping for great things. 22 Bench Rest on a tube chassis for 500+ yard prairie dogs. Not exactly what the OP is looking for but it is a single shot rifle.

 

[LoonWulf]

I also have a contender pistol in 7-30 waters. Wonderful gun, id like to get a carbine barrel and stock set for it. I also might just get a cva apex as im looking for a new muzzleloader also, and the whole gun will likely cost what a barrel and stock set will for the.contender.

 

[Cannibul]

I'd be all over a decent quality single shot rifle if the price is right.

 

[Olympus]

I'm a huge single shot fan. Ruger No1 for me all the way.

 

[dh1633pm]

I am a Roller Fan. This one in 45 Colt with a 16 inch bull barrel. Only thing left is a sling. I am making an attachment for the barrel so i don't stress the forearm. Maybe not as useful as a Ruger No 1, but certainly a pretty design.

 

[Jimster]

I love my single shot rifle. Pedersoli Sharps in 45-70. Black powder of course.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I'd love to have a C Sharps 1885 highwall in .405 Winchester.

 

[Axis II]

I don't have any of the high dollar single shots but I am beginning to like them. they cut down on a little of the weight for hunting purposes and the ones I have are very accurate. triggers are decent on the H&R I have.

 

[Chuck R.]

I like singles shots!

Not the best pictures, but you get the idea:

Shiloh Sharps #1 in .45-100 2.6" case:


Ballard Rifle & Cartridge 1885 WIN in .45-90 2.4"


Ballard Rifle & Cartridge 1885 WIN in .40-70 2.4" English walnut


Austrian Scheutzen rifle based on Martini action in 8.15x46R


My favorite, Ballard Rifle & Cartridge 1885 Low-Wall WIN in .22LR




Chuck

 

[Jimster]

Beautiful rifles.

 

[BCRider]

I love my single shot rifles because when I'm shooting for accuracy I'm not in any hurry.

One of my singles is a TC Encore. I had two for a while but the one with the short barrel in 500S&W used primarily as a shoulder thumper lost it's appeal and I sold it. That has left me with a full length model in 7mm-08. I did a trigger job on it myself but only went half way. As a result it still has a rather "safe" trigger pull of up around 7 to 10 lbs. Out of the box the triggers were both quite heavy.

It's a lovely rifle to shoot but for off the bench the break action results in it being rather unwieldy. I either need to prop it up on a tall bag and block so it can open vertically or I need to lay it on its side where it takes up a lot of room.

For a gun used from standing none of this matters. It is also a lighter sort of gun and somewhat shorter for not having a long receiver like a bolt action. So it's compact and would be very easy to carry if used as a hunting rifle.

Accuracy gave me some big issues. First off the scope kept moving in the rings. That took a while to figure out. Then I found that the barrel was heating up and stringing the shots vertically. Milling some cooling slots in the fore stock and spacing the forestock slightly off the barrel with leather washers fixed that. At the end of my batch of ammo I was getting 1.5 inch size groups at 100 yards. And that was with my "first" reloads on new brass and with a couple of different bullets. I never did get around to developing a good load for the gun.

By that time my original batch of ammo reloads were used up. I've since discovered that I prefer older antique single shots or replicas of them. So much of my focus for the past couple of years has been towards an old rolling block and a newer High Wall replica. The Encore sitting in the back of the safe.

But if the day were to arrive where I decided to go hunting the Encore would be the one I reached for.

It costs to get the Encores tuned up if you can't do your own work. So in the end if you can buy a used one with the tuning done I think you'd be further ahead.

 

[aarondhgraham]

I like single-shots because they are leisurely elegant.

I like single-shots because they are leisurely elegant,,,
No hurrying to get that next bullet down-range,,,
Just take your shot and enjoy the experience.

I'm primarily just a recreational shooter
I can take any of my several single-shot .22 rifles,,,
And spend a few relaxing hours at the range with 100 rounds max.

In fact,,,
I like them so much,,,
I bought single-shot adapters for my mag fed bolt rifles.

My H&R Handi-Rifle in .357 Magnum is a joy to shoot,,,
There is something satisfying about launching the empty back over my shoulder.

I own two high-quality semi-auto .22 rifles,,,
And I do enjoy shooting them as well,,,
But my single-shots are my true joy.

Crickett
Savage 3B
H&R Sportster
Henry Acu-Bolt
Mauser ES340B
WZ-48 Polish Trainer
Savage Mk-IIF (adapter)
Mossberg 340-KC (adapter)
CZ-452 Military Trainer (adapter)

Aarond

.

 

[bannockburn]

If I could have just one single shot rifle it would be a Ruger No.1 International in 6.5x55mm. Swede.

 

[LoonWulf]

If i could FIND one of those internationals id have one!...those things look so cool!

 

[PO2Hammer]

Im pretty happy with my old NEF Handi rifle in 30-30/357 mag/.410 bore, super accurate and it has an ejector, not just an extractor.

 

[Don McDowell]

Hunted with a Ruger #1 for about 30 years. Great little rifle.
The last 15 years or so I've turned to the bpcr competitions, and have a real fondness for Sharps, 1885 winchesters, and the Stevens 44 1/2 rifles from CPA.
With the bpcrs shooting 2 moa at 1000 yds, isn't unheard of but the wind can play havoc with those big bullets..
Have a handirifle in 223 with the heavy barrel that's simply a tac driving prairie dog killing machine.

 

[BullRunBear]

Love the single shots! I have an old Navy Arms rolling block and an H&R Buffalo Classic both in 45-70. Then there are a bunch of calibers for original Contenders. They are all accurate and a pleasure to shoot. I don't hunt anymore, so this is just for recreation. I enjoy the relaxed pace so much I normally use my mil-surp bolt actions as single shots. It lets me concentrate on the target and, anyhow, I'm in no hurry to shoot up my ammo. It's also easier to clean and maintain the break action stuff. And if you like to play with reduced power cast bullet loads, the single shots are the cat's pajamas.

Jeff

 

[DPris]

I think you'll like the Henry single-shots, if you like breaktops.
Nicer than the H&Rs.
Denis

 

[eastbank]

lets see, handy rifle-30-30, thomson contender-25-20, baby sharps-44-40-sharps 74,45-70. browning 85-260rem, winchester 85 short rifle 45-70 and three carbings 30-40krag, 38-55, 45-70. six ruger single shots, #3 45-70, five ruger#1,s, 223B, 3006rsi, 300Bwin, 35whelenA, 458topical win. last fall i sold five ruger#1,s. i think i like them. eastbank.

 

[Sav .250]

One shot-------------one kill. It`s all in the challenge.

 

[jmorris]

I like the contenders because it's pretty easy to make the thing whatever you want, that it's strong enough for.

Machine a hunk of 1/2" steel to the right shape.



Weld said hunk to a barrel blank.



Then chamber and machine for extractor and go shooting.