Who hunts with a single-shot rifle?

Ugly Sauce said:

My first deer, I shot at it four times with a SMLE, just to have it jump behind a bush. Bullet proof deer? I looked behind the bush, and there was a dead deer with four holes in it!!

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I've got you beat. My first deer, a doe mule deer, I shot five times through the chest with a Model 100, .308 Winchester semi-auto because:
1. I didn't have the knowledge or experience to know that I'd hit her hard with my first shot.
2. I'd been told by "old timers" that unlike the 30-30s they "used to have," a .308 Winchester would "knock a deer down."
3. I'd been told by those same "old timers" that a deer "always" runs downhill if they're hit. And that doe ran a good 50 yards uphill while I kept putting bullets through her chest.
Luckily, she stopped running and just stood there while I was trying to shove a fresh magazine full of ammo into my rifle. Then, just as I was about to shoot her a sixth time, she tipped over, and slid back downhill a few yards.
You could cover all six of the bullet holes in the right side of that deer's chest with your hand. The other side of her chest however...what a mess!
At any rate, I'm an "old timer" now (74), but you'll never hear me spewing such nonsense like the 3 listed above.
BTW, I also have a 30-30 that I killed a doe mule deer with. It didn't "knock her down" (just like those "old timers" said), and she did run about 80 or 90 yards downhill before collapsing after being hit in the side of her chest. But I was about 40 years old by then, had killed quite a number of mule deer, and had enough experience to know when a mule deer has been hit hard.

Nature Boy said:

Fellas, think back on your past hunting experiences. How many times did you need more than one shot?

I’ll bet it’s not many.

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Even not counting the old deer drive days, a surprising number of times. Not the majority mind you, but a solid 30% depending on how you define "need".

I've only ever had one that might not have expired a reasonable distance from the first shot. This one was due to a "weird" bullet performance combined with a deer that moved on the trigger break. This one took a snap shot on a running deer after a 200+ yard blood trail to anchor. I would have fired more the first time, but she was gone in the timber before I could cycle the bolt. I guess technically both shots were singles a good time apart, so a single shot firearm would have produced the same outcome. I have had a bunch that might have made it across a property line or into a very difficult area to retrieve without a second CNS shot. Despite popular rumor, they will often jump up and go through the woods even after a shoulder hit from a high powered rifle. The second one in the brainstem guarantees DRT. I've also had a few where I did not trust the first shot due to perceived target movement at the shot or the action of the animal/possible bullet deflection, and shot until they were down.

I've also put down a few known wounded deer for other hunters (I have a reputation as "the blood trail guy" and enjoy trailing a deer, so I'm often drafted for this duty) that required from 1 to 4 shots on the run while breaking cover before assuming abient temperature. I was quite proud of the neighbor's 10 pointer I put down across his hayfield even though it took me 3 rounds and the first 2 hits were shall we say less than perfect. Slowed him down a bunch though. Running offhand at 175-200 yards, I'll take it.

When I started using the Hornady 265 grain JSP in my .44 carbine, which was designed for the .444, that was a real knock-em-down bullet. I shot a big Mule deer Buck with it once, and even though the range was pretty short, that big dude dropped right where he stood. Those bullets always passed completely through, leaving a nice big, but clean bullet hole/wound channel. Wonder if they still make that, I don't know how it performed in the .444, but it sure was an excellent .44 Mag bullet.

I don’t hunt with a single shot because I’m worried about unpredictable accuracy and have read mixed reports with TC and Ruger.

Nature Boy said:

Fellas, think back on your past hunting experiences. How many times did you need more than one shot?

I’ll bet it’s not many.

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Not many at all. Most of the time when I thought I needed a second shot I didn't.

hawg said:

Not many at all. Most of the time when I thought I needed a second shot I didn't.

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I can only think of 2 myself.

The primary reason I went with a single shot in my custom build is to not to be limited by the magazine length in load development.

I use a 45-70 CVA hunter. It is dead on at 100 yards but drops rapidly after that. I use 405 bullets.

Nature Boy said:

Fellas, think back on your past hunting experiences. How many times did you need more than one shot?

I’ll bet it’s not many.

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A couple times by necessity:

Chamois in Austria, put the 1st round right over his back. Should have listened to the Jagermeister, but it looked further than he said, fixed that mistake with the 2nd round.
5x4 Roosevelt Elk in WA, because he didn't even react to the 1st hit. Could have covered both holes with a coffee cup saucer.

The other times it's been multiple does, so I'd double or triple up on them. My record so far is 4 at one time. Not the brightest animals on the planet and the shots echoing from the woods behind confused them even more.

Two years ago I got a double on two does with my H&R 243 Handi-Rifle.
I could of taken a double last hunting season but only took one doe out of the group of five.
Once I see what my new Traditions 350 legend likes I'll reload for it and get it right on the money.

I would ... if I had one !
For some reason always wanted a single shot like a Sharps , or Ruger #1 or High-Wall or Rolling Block . Don't know why .
But from first squirrel hunting trip Dad would give me 1 - 22 LR and say "you make this one count and I'll give you another ... miss and you don't get any more ammo . Make every shot count !"
I've learned and till this day I don't go blasting the hillside with wild shots ... a good hunter takes one shot and makes it a killing shot ...or you wait for another chance .
Gary

This is the way all kids should be brought up.
The first shot it the one that counts.
Every year out deer hunting I hear guys emptying their rifles at running deer.
How stupid and ilresponsable.
Most of the time you end up with a gut shot deer that becomes coyote food.

Most of my hunting is with a TC contender, Encore, or bow. I have an old double barrel 12 ga I use for rabbits, rarely do I every remember I have a second round to use. I have always tried to make the first one count.

When I lived in Ohio, I deer hunted exclusively (during gun season) with a NEF .44 Mag single shot. Ideal rifle for that environment, IMO. Once I moved west, and needed/wanted something that could reach further, I switched to a bolt action. Most affordable accuracy, basically. Still have my .44 and I'll probably use it as my kids first deer gun.

You could say I’m a Ruger No. 1 fan. Also, I probably single handedly drove up the price of Ruger No. 1s in 2020.

You can't argue with success.
Nice set of photos.
Keep up the good work.

Always wanted one of those Ruger No. 1's. Never even handled one though. How's the accuracy?

I like the ruger rifles but not for $1,100 or more for a single-shot.
I have a H&R Handi-Rifle in 243 and just bought the Traditions Outfitter single-shot in 350 legend.
I generally shot five deer a year with the H&R Handi-Rifle.
I got a double on two does a couple of years ago and could of taken another double on a group of five does last deer season.
You don't need magazine fed bolt actions or semi-autos to take doubles on deer, just patience and accurate aiming.

One thing. for sure. Those that do don`t take lousy shots. Props on that count.

Highland Lofts said:

I like the ruger rifles but not for $1,100 or more for a non-resident single-shot.
I have a H&R Handi-Rifle in 243 and just bought the Traditions Outfitter single-shot in 350 legend.
I generally shot five deer a year with the H&R Handi-Rifle.
I got a double on two does a couple of years ago and could of taken another double on a group of five does last deer season.
You don't need magazine fed bolt actions or semi-autos to take doubles on deer, just patience and accurate aiming.

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I'm not familiar with the term "non-resident single shot". What is that? Certainly agree on the doubles part. I've killed several deer in a row multiple times with a single shot. Did it with a muzzleloader once even.

marksman13 said:

You could say I’m a Ruger No. 1 fan. Also, I probably single handedly drove up the price of Ruger No. 1s in 2020.View attachment 1107376View attachment 1107377 View attachment 1107378View attachment 1107379 View attachment 1107380View attachment 1107381

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Those international stocked #1s are beautiful piece of iron!

bearcreek said:

Always wanted one of those Ruger No. 1's. Never even handled one though. How's the accuracy?

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They are probably the most fickle rifles in the world. I’ve had a few that were absolute garbage with no hope of making them better. I’ve also owned one that was as accurate as any rifle I’ve ever owned. The rest were somewhere in between with plenty acceptable hunting accuracy, but not blowing anybody’s socks off.

This 1B in 257 Weatherby Mag is one that I wish I had never sold. A buddy of mine had to have it and I’ve been trying to get it back for over a year.


This three shot group from my 22 Hornet is about as good of a group as I’ve seen from a 1A.

Bazoo said:

Those international stocked #1s are beautiful piece of iron!

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The Internationals have always been my favorites.

Highland Lofts said:

I like the ruger rifles but not for $1,100 or more for a single-shot.
I have a H&R Handi-Rifle in 243 and just bought the Traditions Outfitter single-shot in 350 legend.
I generally shot five deer a year with the H&R Handi-Rifle.
I got a double on two does a couple of years ago and could of taken another double on a group of five does last deer season.
You don't need magazine fed bolt actions or semi-autos to take doubles on deer, just patience and accurate aiming.

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$1100 would be a good deal on any No. 1 at this point. Prices have been on a steady climb since 2020 when Ruger paused production on the No. 1s. I honestly don’t expect to see Ruger build another No. 1. I hope they prove me wrong.

marksman13 said:

They are probably the most fickle rifles in the world. I’ve had a few that were absolute garbage with no hope of making them better. I’ve also owned one that was as accurate as any rifle I’ve ever owned. The rest were somewhere in between with plenty acceptable hunting accuracy, but not blowing anybody’s socks off.

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I've also owned a few, and I also have had the same experience as you, they mostly just had "hunting" accuracy but that's OK for a hunting rifle.

DM

I sight my deer hunting rifles in at fifty yards. That is the average distance I shoot deer at. At this stage of the game my long distance shooting is over.
Occasionally I'll shot a deer out there at a hundred yards or so, but that the top for me. To old to be dragging deer to far.