Advice on Single-Shots

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callsign.BULL

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I need some advice/input.

While getting well along in life, I have diligently maintained my sustainment training on two of my former force protection weapons – the .45 ACP (now an officers model) and the #00-loaded, tactical 12ga. I see no need to include the M-1 or M-14/M1A at this point. Anyway, it is not leisurely shooting – it is a necessary trial (at least the shotgun) – and thoughts of its ultimate usage are often depressing.

I have recently bought my grandson an unused, 2001, primo-never-shot, Savage Mark I GY, bolt-action, single-shot, .22 S/L/LR rifle. In looking it over and bringing to shoulder and the feel of it and whole idea of it, my interest in a just-plain “fun gun” to shoot has been piqued. No worries about its purpose, nor its tempo of employment. I enjoy the elegance of simplicity and effectiveness-of-purpose, and I now do covet an inexpensive, .22LR single-shot of my own. I think I have the feel for a Savage Mark I G (full adult version), but am also aware of the single-shot, break-action, H&R Sportster.

Any comments about those two, including quality, accuracy, reliability, dealings with factory service, etc.?
 
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My humble suggestion would be to keep an eye out for an old Savage 24 in .22/.410 gauge. They have that charming single-shot simplicity you seem to desire, and the .410 is fun to mess around with and nice to be able to turn to in the same gun. Handy for pest control or even small game hunting if you want.


Would probably cost about $350-ish nowadays for one in good condition. Give it a look.
 
I traded away a beautiful old Savage 24D (like a fool) back in the 80s. I was carrying it into a gun show to sell and sold it in the parking lot before I even got to the door. Didn't get 20 feet from my truck. If you can find one in good shape, buy it. That thing was a tackdriver in .22 LR mode. It was the Ultimate Squirrel Gun. Single shots are interesting and eloquent guns. Wish I had a time machine.
 
Yeah, I like the one I inherited. Both barrels are surprisingly accurate. I appreciate it for what it is.


Savage now makes the model 42 - but it doesn't hold quite the same allure for me. That being said, I hate to badmouth something I have no experience with so I'll reserve judgment on it and give it a chance.
 
Savage Stevens Favorite is a sweetheart.

A new one that just came out is the fold up Chiappa Little Badger and it reminds of the old bicycle gun but somewhat tactical; handy for eyesight issues and needing optics.
 
tubeshooter said:
My humble suggestion would be to keep an eye out for an old Savage 24 in .22/.410 gauge. They have that charming single-shot simplicity you seem to desire, and the .410 is fun to mess around with and nice to be able to turn to in the same gun. Handy for pest control or even small game hunting if you want.


Would probably cost about $350-ish nowadays for one in good condition. Give it a look.
Click to expand...

If only BOTH bbls shot to the sights at the SAME TIME!

Most 24's don't, so you end up holding off with the shotgun to center the pattern... NOT something i can live with, and i've owned several of them!

FOR SURE not something i'd want a new shooter to be learning on!

DM
 
gbran's Thompson-Center is one of the holy grails...thanks for making me drool.

Of the two you mentioned (Savage versus H&R), I have not owned either one. But I suspect the Savage has the better trigger, and few things make an inexpensive .22 more agonizing to shoot than a lousy trigger. Try them both, and pick the one with the lightest smoothest trigger.
 
J-Bar, you are right, it all comes down to the trigger. I spent $125 on trigger and action work on the TC, It was horrible. I've heard the Handi rifles don't have the best trigger. I have 3 Savage rifles in different calibers, all with the Accu-Trigger, they're sweet.
 
I've had a grin on my face for the past few months fine tuning my daughter's Savage Rascal (with Accutrigger). I've long considered my Marlin bolt action a keen choice in the squirrel woods but that wee Savage has me wanting one of my own. Short, feather light, sub- 3 lb. trigger and I'm 6'2".

Shoulder a few and find one that makes you smile.
 
I have a Stevens 15-B that was made in the early 1950's. It's a single shot, bolt action .22 that will shoot shorts, longs or LR's. And it is extremely accurate. The best part is I've seen them for sale for under $50 at times. Usually they're more but not always. They are easily the best shooting gun you will ever find for the money although Stevens made some other models that were also very good. The only downside to the 15 series is there is no way to mount a scope on them but other models from that era will take scopes.

Stevens and Savage are the same company BTW. You can buy several Savage .22's that will take the single shot adapters some make and sell as aftermarket parts. They are most often used in competitions. I have quite a few .22's and none of them can match my Savage MkII BTV for accuracy. My CZ 453 comes very close and is a nicer rifle but it costs more too.

There are quite a few single shot models on the market. The thing about a single shot is that it has more steel around the chamber which means less flexing when you fire which means better accuracy. And yes even .22's will flex when you shoot them. Some of them will flex a good bit. That's the same reason a bolt action is preferable to a break barrel model. They are stiffer where it counts and that means better accuracy.

There are several ways to go here. It depends on your budget and your intended use for the gun as to which is the best route. If pure accuracy in plinking is your goal and you don't want to spend much money (on the rifle - ammo is another story) then I'd suggest looking for an old Stevens rifle. If money is no object there are many examples of great shooting .22's around. Your budget will determine which is best for you.

I'd look for a bolt action rifle with a sturdy stock and a good trigger. CZ did makes a single shot rifle too BTW but I think they discontinued it and it wasn't a .22 either or at least the one I know about wasn't a .22. It was a Brno Effect that I'm thinking about. They make excellent rifles but again I think they only made single shot adapters and not true single shot .22's.

Anschutz is probably the best way to go. If you're looking for a larger caliber then Savage makes an excellent rifle. If you want a collectible rifle that shoots super accurate you might look for a stalking rifle which are generally custom made rifles coming out of the Suhl region of Germany. Some US companies made rifles of that type. They were made to shoot off hand and they were made to shoot super accurate. Expect to pay a lot of money for a rifle like that. Some were made for royalty if that tells you anything.

Again budget and intended use are the guidelines for what you might want. Going by your choices you mentioned I'd suggest looking for the Savage or possibly a MkII version (it comes with a heavy barrel for better accuracy). You might want to step up to a CZ too. There are single shot adapters for most CZ rifles but that isn't quite the same as a true single shot because you don't get the added stiffness. But many people believe a single shot adapter makes for better accuracy because you can be sure the round feeds perfectly with a single shot adapter.
 
Thanks all. I appreciate the fast input and have looked into the various models proffered as best I can online. Not being a particularly “gunny” person, I’m a little ill-equipped to go out on the used market without a personal expert guide. I just happened to have one when we found the like-new 2001 Savage Mark I GY; I don’t know when that may happen again, and I’m not likely to try for a used gun online and un-seen. I’ll settle for new online or new in hand. I limit myself to =/<$250, including transfer fees. CZs and “Anschützen” are out of my league.

From your comments on bolt-actions, flexibility of receivers, triggers, etc., the Stevens seems best, but I won’t count out the H&R until I’ve handled one. I know that this Savage, even though it is a youth model with a 12-1/2” LOP, comes to bear quickly and right on sight. My only qualm is that I cannot paste my cheek firmly on the MkIGY’s standard stock as I am used to doing with the shotgun without getting away from the sights. The current production MkIG’s Monte Carlo-type stock may or may not be different.

For me, a repeater and/or scope would take away from simplicity and deliberateness. As a pure fun-gun, my accessories might include a lawn chain, an umbrella and a fine Arturo Fuente perfecto between 5-round strings. [If I said that my favorite photographic gear is an analog, cherry & brass view camera, perched on a wooden tripod (black cloth included) one ought not be surprised.]

Thanks again.

BULL sends
 
if you really want to put some effort in your search, you mite look at some of the old remington, full size single shot bolt action 22 rifles they offered in the 50's and 60's.i disremember the model numbers at this time. my mom has one she got as a kid and it is just a absolutely awesome rifle. full adult size,good quality of manufacture,simple and sturdy. and waaay more accurate than you can shoot it.i would guess a prime example would go for around 250$
 
i think the gun i was just posting about is the 514 model. i believe they came in sportmaster,targetmaster and scoremaster variations.
 
Uberti makes a modern copy of the Remington Rolling Block in .22. In my opinion the rolling block design is the pinnacle of single shot simplicity and grace, you just can't get any more basic or simple in the action with fewer moving parts unless you go back to muzzleloaders. Pull back the hammer, pull back the breach block, insert cartridge, push breech block forward and aim and pull the trigger to fire. Anyone with an IQ of over 40-50 can operate one. I have an original in 43 Spanish and it is still shooting and it is at least 135 years old. Although I wish the Uberti .22 version cost a bit less than what they are selling them for.
 
+1 for a Contender (non-G2). That version of Contender pistol has held the world record for iron sighted pistol for over 25 years. The group measured 3.5" x 0.75" at 500 yards.

Get yourself the first gen Contender pistol, then buy the rifle barrel and buttstock. All legal, and two birds killed with one firearm receiver. :D

Geno
 
Thanks for the Info

Thanks all for your info. In the end, I opted for the break-action, H&R Sportster in .22LR, partly based upon price and availability. But in the unlikely circumstance that I need to take on small mammals, I can send it in to H&R and have it re-barreled to .22WMR or .17HMR.

Cheers,
BULL
 
Bull, now that you've come to realize that there's some good old fun to be had from popping off .22's at targets you open up yourself to a lot of other options.

I help out at my club's Jr .22 weekly evening shoots. I tend to take along a rifle of my own that is different from what the club owns just to give the kids some variety. Of the lot by far the one that they all ask for is my Henry H001 lever rifle. It's at the point where if I bring along anything else regardless of how nice it is that they are a little disappointed.

So don't just take it from us. Take it from the kids. Check out a Henry lever.
 
Congratulations Bull. In the interim, I picked up a Cub Thumbhole (based on the Savage Mark I action) for my son. I hope you are enjoying the H&R as much as my son is his new rifle.
 
Kinda' like what BCRider has alluded to, I suspect I will have a hidden smile on my face when I step up to the gunline at the USMC Camp Allen weapons range alongside the young bucks with their decked-out, issued or private M-4s and ARs, and break-open the barrel of the H&R and reach into my pocket for a round. Fun comes in funny forms.

BULL
 
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