am i the only one who uses singleshot shotguns to hunt with??

This thread begs the question: "Does 'midland man' own a Midland Backpack Fold-up single shot shotgun?"

I like the single 20 ga for grouse and rabbits. Short, light, and fun to load/reload

I don't usually hunt, but the last time I went squirrel hunting I brought an 870. My friend brought a single shot 12 gauge. After a few hours with no game, I really envied that single shot for the weight difference.

I have an old stevens 20 single I have used for squirrels. Otherwise, I use my auto or pumps for everything else.

I hunt turkeys with my H&R 12ga. Lightweight, simple, rugged . ....and deer with my H&R slug gun

Does a flintlock fowler count..?

I use a TC turkey encore when I,m run and gunning.

I used a H&R 20 gauge on my last two bird hunts....didn't feel disadvantaged at all. I have a nifty new H&R 28 gauge that I'm looking forward to using on my next hunt this fall.

I have that same Pardner turkey gun, camo synthetic stock right? It is brutal with 3 1/2 turkey loads in it but I do use it for hunting turkey and squirrel, I'm actually quiet partial to it for some reason. Any bird hunting and I want something with faster follow up shots.

I spent a lot of my youth toting a Winchester md37 in the woods, after I started working I upgraded to a SXS for upland birds.

Now I use an ultra slughunter for deer.

I delight in keeping things simple, and going in light.
I have been known to stick my hunting wallet in my pocket, grab my H&R and go.
5 shells, pocket knife, work clothes, permit.
It drives my under armor, backpack full of gadgets carrying, camo clad son crazy.

There is something really nice about simple basic gear and a simple single shot for a hunt. Really enjoyable.

IlikeSA said:

I don't usually hunt, but the last time I went squirrel hunting I brought an 870. My friend brought a single shot 12 gauge. After a few hours with no game, I really envied that single shot for the weight difference.

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I have not hunted in years, but I cut my teeth pheasant hunting at age 12 with a Springfield Arms (later bought out by Savage/Stevens) 20 gauge 28" mod choke single shot. My first year in the field I was allowed to carry it with no ammo, as my job was to be the bird dog and flush birds out of the nastier places for the adults to shoot, with all of the men watching my gun etiquette and handling. Very light to carry all day even for a young kid. When I got my 870, my Dad retired it for bird hunting and bought an 18" Rem .357 Max barrel from Numrich around 1970 for it as his light-to-carry whitetail rifle.

Single shot shotguns are a great discipline because you have to make the first shot count.

Jim

When I hunt with a shotgun it’s a single shot 12 or 410 with a revolver on my hip

With the amount of SS break opens that H&R made before they closed shop I am sure you have a very large group of hunting "brethren" that use single shots to hunt with.

My first shotgun at age 17 was the old Iver Johnson "Champion" single shot 16 ga. that my dad acquired circa 1940-41 and became his primary pheasant gun. It also passed through a couple older cousins before I got it so its got some family history. Perhaps I developed a fondness for single shots because that's what I started with and I've still got it and even had it re-blued and case hardened. Like expat alaska mentioned; they are a great discipline and you really learn to make that first shot count, in addition to being light which makes them easier to carry for extended periods. I think nowadays that single shots are becoming more fashionable because they have that "retro" coolness factor, IMHO.

Sometimes derided as "boy's gun", I think many adults are remiss in their ignorance of the single shots. Whilst I've yet to hunt with one, I've got several and a couple of them cut down as "kitchen door guns" in a sense.

A lighter, handier, simpler shotgun cannot be found, I'm here to tell you. They do have some recoil, though!

midland man said:

well I love singleshot shotguns and I own a h&r pardner turkey 12 gauge 3 1/2in chamber fixed full choke and a regular h&r singleshot 12 gauge 3in chamber fixed full choke and a hatfield sgl 12 gauge 3in chamber singleshot shotgun and are planning on the new henry 12 gauge singleshot shotgun in the steel model so with all that I use these to hunt squirrels, rabbits etc! so does anyone still use only singleshot shotguns to hunt with??

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I have shot countless numbers of rabbits & squirrels, and lots of pheasants; also plenty of quail, turkeys, ducks, deer, racoon, etc. with my real old New England Firearms brand 20 gauge single shot with modified choke; than with all the other shotguns combined. I have shot many other shotguns that are supposed to be better, and gun experts say they are better; but for some strange reason I prefer that cheap old single shot with a hammer that I have to cock before I shoot. That gun points so natural and easy, like it is a natural extension of my body. And I can reload it real fast.

I've taken an H&R Topper model hunting.

The light weight and hard plastic buttpad make it miserable to shoot, but nice to carry.

I have an H&R single shot, 12ga 3 inch, 28 inch full choke single barrel that I bought.
I have a Savage 94 single shot, 12ga 2 3/4inch, 30 inch full choke single barrel that was gifted to me.
Mostly get used at turkey shoots these days. For woods walking, though, they would be a good partner.

I hunt with a H&R single shot regular. I have them in 410, 28, 20, and 10 gauges. My 12 gauge is a Stoeger Uplander SxS, and a Legacy Sports short barrelled O/U. 28 and 20 are my favorites, but I like the Legacy for rabbits, Bob Whites being non existent around here now. The 10 for ducks and turkey, but I have used the 20 a bit, especially for turkey. The 28 and 20 are the choices for those days my chiweenie ( Daschund/Chihuahua cross) is finding skwerlz for me. Also use those two for doves, although doves usually mean my 20 gauge pump. The 410/45 Colt H&R Survivor is my truck/tractor gun.

Huge fan of single shot rifles and shotguns here. My "standard" hunting battery consists of the H&R Handi Rifles in 45-70 and 30-30. The H&R Sidekick 50 caliber muzzleloader, and the Pardner 20 gauge shotgun. The H&R Sportster in 22 Magnum tales care of my rimfire needs.

A also am on the lookout for the Henry Single Shots, but I want them in rimmed cartridges. I'll take a rifle in 45-70, 30-30, and 22 Hornet, and the shotgun in 20 and 12 gauge please.