Crazy Question - What is a good single-shot shotgun?

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Kestrel

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Feeling kinda nostalgic, I guess, but what is a good quality single-shot shotgun (12ga.)? I'm not talking about a high grade trap gun, or anything, but a SOLID, high quality gun.

NEF? H&R? Any others? (Do the NEF models have a manual safety? Hope not...)

(I can almost feel the crisp, winter weather as my dad and I and some uncles would go squirrel hunting when I was a kid.)

Thanks,
Steve
 
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NEF
Keep in mind NEF makes combos, for when you want nostalgia with something other than a scattergun. Additonal bbls avail also. Rimfire, centerfire, shotshells...place for all things that go bang.

Search the Rifle forum for "Handi Rifle". by NEF
 
Lots of us cut our shooting teeth on old H&Rs, Iver Johnsons, Winchester 37s and hardware store no name singles.

For woods running and pure fun these are hard to beat.

The NEF "Partner" I got for Son is a decent piece. At 5 lbs, 9 oz it's not for Maggie Numbs,even though it's got a 3" chamber.

The Winchester 37(Not to be confused with the Ithaca 37 pump) is the best of the breed. It had a steel receiver instead of softer iron and holds up well. The card shooters and turkey fanatics have pretty much snapped them up, and prices have climbed.

ATA Hall Of Famer Arnold Reiger got there shooting a 37.

Some older H&Rs have pretty lumber and better finish than others. All of them, assuming they've escaped the Curse of the Short Chamber Demon, are fine shooters and good knockabout shotguns.

Don't discount nostalgia. Many of us like to let the boy inside out to play sometimes.
 
Seems like this post makes it's way around every month or so, we all miss that simpler time. H&R or NEF, you'd be hard put to tear one up. I've got a Sears and Roebuck .410 (who knows who really made it) that the wife absolutely loves. I'm going broke buying ammo for the thing. My favorite is a Western Field 16g that I took a hacksaw to when I was in my teens. I used to hunt rabbit and quail in some very thick brush and got tired of trying to swing my double in there.
 
New England

New England Makes a single shot 10 guage that is not expensive and patterns EXTREMELY well. Love it! (If you don't mind a little kick):p
 
I talked to NEF today. They said I could buy a Handi-Rifle and send it to them and have a 12ga. shotgun barrel fitted to it, also. They said they can't fit rifle barrels to the shotguns, because they aren't hardened.

I started thinking about a Handi-Rifle in .45-70 and adding a 12 ga barrel... but that's really getting into more money than I wanted to for this little venture. Something about it being under $100 makes the single-shot shotgun more appealing to me.

I stopped in a Sports Authority today and the guy said they just sold their last NEF shotguns for $49.95 - blowing them out because they weren't going to carry them anymore. Arrgghhh. Too late.

Steve
 
EAA imports a good Russian single-shot too.

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Steve;

This type of gun is exactly what you find in garage & estate sales. I also agree that the Winchester model 37 is the best of the batch. The 37's are selling for around 175 - 200 here, too high. But that's in the pawn shops & gun stores.

I'm willing to bet, that if you want to invest the time, the widder whobus? will take $75.00 for whatever it is you find. Besides, the wife'll love you for spending time with her. It's a win-win situation I'm telling ya.

Good luck & have fun.

900F
 
I have a Topper 88 in 12 ga. that I cut down to 18 1/2 inches...the bbl. that is. I put a sling on it and a 5 round butt cuff. It sits by the front door as a weapon to repel unwanted boarders. It also doubles as my truck gun when I'm out in the country.
 
I like the NEF transfer bar safetys. Works just like 'normal' except you let the hammer down on an empty chamber and it doesn't touch the firing in. Nice shotgun for cheap.
 
Oldest brother has it now, but the first shotty I ever fired was "Pops" (grandfather's) Stevens/Savage Mdl 94B is 16Ga. Took dove, quail, squirrel, rabbit, and several ducks with said shotty.

The NEF's parent company is now Marlin, IIRC. Shooting buddy has a 5-year old NEF in 12Ga...pretty good quality for a sub-$100 weapon.
 
The Ithaca Super Singles are interesting single-shots.
Not everyone has one, but they still turn up from time to time.
There's a .410 for sale a few towns away, but we have a 20 and a 12 hanging around here, so I'm passing on it.

They open with a lever underneath the grip and have a hammer that must be cocked to fire. My brother took his first grouse with the 20 gauge Ithaca. My 11 year-old will start hunting birds with it next year.

Might be worth looking into.
 
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