Modern Usefulness of a Single Shot Break Action

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huntsman said:
If it’s got an exposed hammer that requires manual cocking it’s capable of an AD, that in itself is an issue.

I hunted with one until I could afford an old SXS which is a major upgrade and all I need for hunting
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Transfer bar eliminates AD should one lose control of the hammer. There are boatloads of single action revolvers that have exposed hammer and require manual cocking. Not really an issue IMHO
 
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I started out with a single shot, never developed a fondness for one. Ours was mostly pheasant hunting and jack rabbits. There were times during the soil bank years in Kansas that 5 shells in a shotgun was hardly enough. Besides, I wasn't that great a shot anyway.
 
A friend keeps an old 20 gauge single shot by the back door for critters and venomous snakes. I remember it cleanly cutting a copperhead into 2 pieces. Said snake was right by the grandkids playhouse in the back yard and needed to be dealt with, and a load of number 6 birdshot did just that.
 
Barbaroja said:
I don’t quite follow your logic here. Care to elaborate?
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If your thumb slips when decocking gun will fire, if hammer is accidentally banged up against something pulling it back gun will fire.

I witnessed AD at least 3 different times with single shots.

Winchester md 37 is what I used and the action is different than say a Stevens or Savage.
 
They seem to be adequate for the uses I have that only require one shot. Kind of like my over/unders and side by sides work for things that only require two. Ones that hold 3 work for lots of stuff, often remaining compliant with hunting law. Long tubes or mags are fun too, much better at turning money into noise, than the others.
 
huntsman said:
If your thumb slips when decocking gun will fire, if hammer is accidentally banged up against something pulling it back gun will fire.

I witnessed AD at least 3 different times with single shots.

Winchester md 37 is what I used and the action is different than say a Stevens or Savage.
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I don’t consider that a real problem in my eyes as that’s all user error. Also wouldn’t be a problem for me as my only single shot has a transfer bar to prevent that. And while it can pose an issue , I feel like it can be easy to prevent should you have a gun without a transfer bar.
 
We have 3 - a 20, a 16, and a 410. The 20 lives in the shed for dealing with snakes in the yard. The 410 rides on the 4 wheeler during pre deer season prep for the same purpose (while tree trimming, setting up stands, feeders, and blinds, etc.- its Fl., so no shortage of reptiles in the fall) The 16 doesn't do anything. It and the 410 were farm guns that belonged to Mrs Fl-NC's late father, so they aren't going anywhere.
 
Like the "liberator" pistol, a single shot shotgun may be used in desperate times to "acquire" a better weapon. That said my .410 Stevens is built like a tank and has decades if not centuries of life still in it. During squirrel attacks one or 2 extra shells carried between fingers of left hand can be "handy".
 
As others have said they are cheap and easy to use. I have killed more things with my Winchester 37 in 410 than any other shotgun I have. It and a 22 stand in the corner by my back door but I also live in the woods.
 
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My first was a Western Field (Savage) SB100B, 3" 12 gauge, 'long tom (3/4" muzzle clearnace from top of gun cabinet) ' with full choke.

That thing was dangerious at both ends with its old hard fosselized rubber butt.
That was in the days before I knew Numrich & Brownells existed.

Shotgun recoil pads are like underwear, change them out every once in awhile people, treat them to a fresh one every so often, instead of letting it rot off.
 
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single shot shotguns are pretty much legal and p.c. anywhere. unloaded folders can be secured in a gym bag and make a handy, unobtrusive car long gun. the nonfolder singles autoeject spent rounds and can be run fast for protection, without fear of short stroking, in inexperienced hands. manual of arms’ learning curve is fast and intuitive, especially comforting for non shotgunners.



i keep a h&r 20ga, 20” with recoil pad and buttstock shell holder carrying #5 gameshot under my bed. i wanted/needed fast a one-size-fits-all long gun a couple of days after i returned from overseas in 2012 during b. hussein’s firearm drought. $100 for the piece, $5 each for recoil pad, buttstock shell holder, sling, a couple of boxes of ammo. it struck me that i had acquired protection in 30 minutes that 90% of the world will never enjoy in a lifetime.
 

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Milkmaster said:
Mine has a hammer block on it unless you are pulling the trigger. Not sure what the concern would be if you obey safe practices and keep your finger off the trigger.
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NO shotgun even the high end ones, are drop safe; if you are cocking the hammer and your finger skips off the hammer, that could become an issue.
 
George P said:
NO shotgun even the high end ones, are drop safe; if you are cocking the hammer and your finger skips off the hammer, that could become an issue.
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Well I can say you made me look again George. My new Henry .410 will not let the hammer move against the firing pin without the trigger being activated. Even if you are cocking the hammer and accidentally let it go, the hammer block is in place to stop it from hitting the firing pin unless you have the trigger pulled. It has a rebound trigger that doesn't rest against the firing pin at idle. Be difficult to see how it would hit the firing pin even when dropped unless the whole firing mechanism is broken during the fall. Am I missing your point ?
 
Drop that on the floor on the butt plate; NO shotgun maker warrants against drop protection
 
How exactly will dropping a weapon be it shotgun or revolver with an external hammer and transfer bar design result in the gun firing? When hammer is down, I just cannot see any way it can happen. And with the hammer cocked, I cannot see how it can happen without the trigger being pulled.
 
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Boattale said:
How exactly will dropping a weapon be it shotgun or revolver with an external hammer and transfer bar design result in the gun firing? When hammer is down, I just cannot see any way it can happen. And with the hammer cocked, I cannot see how it can happen without the trigger being pulled.
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It was my understanding that the above was true. Has something changed recently?
 
jstert said:
single shot shotguns are pretty much legal and p.c. anywhere. unloaded folders can be secured in a gym bag and make a handy, unobtrusive car long gun. the nonfolder singles autoeject spent rounds and can be run fast for protection, without fear of short stroking, in inexperienced hands. manual of arms’ learning curve is fast and intuitive, especially comforting for non shotgunners.



i keep a h&r 20ga, 20” with recoil pad and buttstock shell holder carrying #5 gameshot under my bed. i wanted/needed fast a one-size-fits-all long gun a couple of days after i returned from overseas in 2012 during b. hussein’s firearm drought. $100 for the piece, $5 each for recoil pad, buttstock shell holder, sling, a couple of boxes of ammo. it struck me that i had acquired protection in 30 minutes that 90% of the world will never enjoy in a lifetime.
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You are correct sir, and a more versatile and effective piece you'll never find.
 
Poverty! They're super cheap, that's their chief virtue. If you can afford nothing else a single shot break action 20 or 12 will get the job done for most tasks. It sure wouldn't be my first choice particularly for defense but it's still a potent firearm with the right ammo.
 
Phaedrus/69 said:
Poverty! They're super cheap, that's their chief virtue. If you can afford nothing else a single shot break action 20 or 12 will get the job done for most tasks. It sure wouldn't be my first choice particularly for defense but it's still a potent firearm with the right ammo.
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When did the "budget" single shot really come into the scene in the US ?
 
Phaedrus/69 said:
Poverty! They're super cheap, that's their chief virtue.
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Totally agree. People talk about them being good beginner’s guns, but in 12ga, being light, they recoil heavily, which might discourage a beginner.

In .410, pretty hard for a seasoned shooter to hit anything, let alone a beginner.

Many people start with one, but inevitably they move up. Lots of reasons for that, but lack of follow up shot may be primary.

One shot does not make a good defense gun.

They may have some value, but as stated, price seems to be their main one.
 
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