Modern Usefulness of a Single Shot Break Action

[Mr. Mosin]

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.

I killed everything around here that could reasonably be killed with a .410, with an ancient Stevens single shot .410- birds, bunnies, coons, most everything *except* whitetail and hog.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

When Dad took the family from the city to visit relatives and neighbors who still lived on the mountain, every family there had at least one .22 usually a bolt action, and one shotgun usually a 12 gauge single shot break action. The guns were used to hunt game for food and to defend livestock from predators. Most were single shots, few repeating rifles, few double or repeating shotguns. You miss a game animal or predator with the first shot, they disappear into the undergrowth. Repeaters were seen as expensive high maintenance items and shooting follow up shots at disappearing game or predators was seen as a waste of ammo. My Dad did teach me to shoot with the Brown family rifle, a Marlin tube magazine bolt action that stayed at Mamaw Brown's home in the city. I remember we borrowed a Remington 24 (cousin of the Browning Semi-Automatic .22) from Uncle Lawrence at least one outing, but I was expected to hit with every single shot fired.

Protection from other people was never brought to discussion maybe because that was for adults only, but I could imagine that even today a farm house with multiple residents with single shot firearms they used as part of their livelihood - to put food on the table and keep foxes outta the hen house - would not be an easy target.

Right now I have three break action firearms: an NEF 12ga fairly new with the receiver vetted for use with rifle barrels, old Savage 94 long barrel with WWII-era Tenite plastic stock, and a M6 Scout .22/.410 survival weaon. The NEF and the Savage 94 occasionally get out to turkey shoots. The .22-.410 folds to 18" so it often goes with me to the mountain if I am taking no other firearm(s).

If the modern use of a firearm is to waste a 200 round battle pack blasting bowling pins or banging steel plates, yeah the single shot break action is not useful.

I have seen too many modern single shot break action rifles - H&R 1871 Handi-Rifles and Thompson-Centers - used by their owners for hunting or pest control, "One shot, one kill", to ever question Modern Usefulness of a Single Shot Break Action

 

[Mr. Mosin]

When Dad took the family from the city to visit relatives and neighbors who still lived on the mountain, every family there had at least one .22 usually a bolt action, and one shotgun usually a 12 gauge single shot break action. The guns were used to hunt game for food and to defend livestock from predators. Most were single shots, few repeating rifles, few double or repeating shotguns. You miss a game animal or predator with the first shot, they disappear into the undergrowth. Repeaters were seen as expensive high maintenance items and shooting follow up shots at disappearing game or predators was seen as a waste of ammo. My Dad did teach me to shoot with the Brown family rifle, a Marlin tube magazine bolt action that stayed at Mamaw Brown's home in the city. I remember we borrowed a Remington 24 (cousin of the Browning Semi-Automatic .22) from Uncle Lawrence at least one outing, but I was expected to hit with every single shot fired.

Protection from other people was never brought to discussion maybe because that was for adults only, but I could imagine that even today a farm house with multiple residents with single shot firearms they used as part of their livelihood - to put food on the table and keep foxes outta the hen house - would not be an easy target.

Right now I have three break action firearms: an NEF 12ga fairly new with the receiver vetted for use with rifle barrels, old Savage 94 long barrel with WWII-era Tenite plastic stock, and a M6 Scout .22/.410 survival weaon. The NEF and the Savage 94 occasionally get out to turkey shoots. The .22-.410 folds to 18" so it often goes with me to the mountain if I am taking no other firearm(s).

If the modern use of a firearm is to waste a 200 round battle pack blasting bowling pins or banging steel plates, yeah the single shot break action is not useful.

I have seen too many modern single shot break action rifles - H&R 1871 Handi-Rifles and Thompson-Centers - used by their owners for hunting or pest control, "One shot, one kill", to ever question Modern Usefulness of a Single Shot Break Action

My sister's husband's uncle had an infestation of cats. Her husband was given an H&R break top .410 to use, and $0.50 for every cat he killed. He got *good* at running that top break .410

I was given a handful of shells, and expected to either bring back that exact number of shells, or that exact number of game taken.

 

[lckdnldd]

I learned to hunt with an Ithaca M-66. I killed a lot of tree rats with it. M M M squirrel n dumplings. Now days I would say a 12 ga. single shot is good for load testing amongst other things.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

When did the "budget" single shot really come into the scene in the US ?

I can't say but it was a loooooong time ago. My dad had one when he was a boy and a Stevens 20 ga single was my first shotgun as a kid (probably age 9 or 10 and I'm 52 now).

 

[ThomasT]

I have 5 single shot shotguns. Two of the Topper 410s, a Savage 20ga and an NEF Tamer 20ga, a Gaucho 12ga made in Brazil and last a 12ga NEF with 22" barrel and full choke with a National Turkey Foundation emblem in the stock. Also a Mossberg 410 bolt action that has a 2 shot mag but is so awkward to use that I treat it like a single shot.

Both my sons grew up hunting with the Savage 20ga and did really well with it shooting doves. When they got older I bought them better guns but still keep the old Savage. Its light weight and was easy for an 8 year old to carry around. My other 20 is an NEF Handi model called a "Tamer". It was made to look like an old Snake Charmer with a short hollowed center buttstock that held 3 rounds. With an 11" LOP it was useless to me. So I bought a standard buttstock for it. It also came with a satin nickle finish that makes it weather proof. Now its my favorite shotgun to walk the woods with. I have knocked down just as many doves with it as I have my Winchester pump. Nothing at all wrong with a single shot shotgun.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

A single shot shotgun is not to be underestimated. I can reload mine very quickly using a stock mounted shell holder.

 

[Boattale]

When Dad took the family from the city to visit relatives and neighbors who still lived on the mountain, every family there had at least one .22 usually a bolt action, and one shotgun usually a 12 gauge single shot break action. The guns were used to hunt game for food and to defend livestock from predators. Most were single shots, few repeating rifles, few double or repeating shotguns. You miss a game animal or predator with the first shot, they disappear into the undergrowth. Repeaters were seen as expensive high maintenance items and shooting follow up shots at disappearing game or predators was seen as a waste of ammo. My Dad did teach me to shoot with the Brown family rifle, a Marlin tube magazine bolt action that stayed at Mamaw Brown's home in the city. I remember we borrowed a Remington 24 (cousin of the Browning Semi-Automatic .22) from Uncle Lawrence at least one outing, but I was expected to hit with every single shot fired.

Protection from other people was never brought to discussion maybe because that was for adults only, but I could imagine that even today a farm house with multiple residents with single shot firearms they used as part of their livelihood - to put food on the table and keep foxes outta the hen house - would not be an easy target.

Right now I have three break action firearms: an NEF 12ga fairly new with the receiver vetted for use with rifle barrels, old Savage 94 long barrel with WWII-era Tenite plastic stock, and a M6 Scout .22/.410 survival weaon. The NEF and the Savage 94 occasionally get out to turkey shoots. The .22-.410 folds to 18" so it often goes with me to the mountain if I am taking no other firearm(s).

If the modern use of a firearm is to waste a 200 round battle pack blasting bowling pins or banging steel plates, yeah the single shot break action is not useful.

I have seen too many modern single shot break action rifles - H&R 1871 Handi-Rifles and Thompson-Centers - used by their owners for hunting or pest control, "One shot, one kill", to ever question Modern Usefulness of a Single Shot Break Action

There's this to consider too. A kid with a first deer rifle that gets some respect at deer camp. .243, not a shotgun but still a modern break action single shot. Safest action there is, accurate, and not all that bad looking either.

 

[Meeks36]

I grew up using a single shot 410. Took my fair share of squirrel with it. Love me a. I’ve single shot. Taught me to make my one shot count. Got my daughter a single shot 22 rifle. And when she gets good enough Ill get her a box magazine bolt rifle. Then a semi auto when she can out shoot her old man.

 

[geologist]

If they are cylinder choke they are good for launching flares, crack shells for scaring bears etc.

 

[Boattale]

Break action single shots are also fully ambidextrous.

 

[defjon]

Single shot anything might become more "in style " if this ammunition situation continues.

They force you to make your shot count. They are intuitive and easy to train anyone on. They are by virtue light to carry, so easily come along with a shell carrier on the stock.

We shot one over 4th of July and it's surprising how fast they can be reloaded if necessary.

Serious thought to a 410 single shot with 3 inch federal buck for a "house gun" anyone over ten could be trained to safely use if necessary.

They are, in a variety of gauges a very handy working gun for property /farm, in the way 22 single action revolvers are.

 

[defjon]

I've really enjoyed reading this thread!

I also subscribe to the "Indian not the arrow" theory and agree with the person who said a family well versed in depending on a few single shots for life and limb would be a serious hurdle to bad guys.

 

[theotherwaldo]

One of the few times that I've had to protect house and home, the weapon that I had at hand was a Topper 12 gauge.
I'd love to find another one.

 

[Ranger99]

I'd love to find another one.

You will if you keep looking
Tens of thousands of them out there

 

[jstert]

You will if you keep looking
Tens of thousands of them out there

a few years ago while heading out of a gun show at closing time i stopped by a table for a last look. a decent, lonely, h&r 20ga 24” single was laying there. i lingered over it just long enough for the vendor to offer it to me for $80 cash. it felt nice and tight, so i bought it though i already had one and really didn’t “need” another. i took it home, broke it down to clean and found dried hay under the forearm. a truly honest piece.

 

[Boattale]

When did the "budget" single shot really come into the scene in the US ?

Times were hard back in the 1930's. But. My guess is single shot shotguns were popular way before then.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Times were hard back in the 1930's. But. My guess is single shot shotguns were popular way before then.

Well... judging by how things are headed, all these Tacticool Tommies will trade in their uber-AR's for Ye Olde Single Shot Shotguns... probably be better shots for it, too.

 

[George P]

A single shot shotgun is not to be underestimated. I can reload mine very quickly using a stock mounted shell holder.

But nowhere close to how fast my semi operates

 

[Mr. Mosin]

But also infinitely more reliable than your semi

But nowhere close to how fast my semi operates

 

[George P]

But also infinitely more reliable than your semi

Not hardly; my Beretta hasn't had a malfunction with any factory load

 

[Deanimator]

Outside of hunting and nostalgia, what're the remaining usage of said shotgun(s) ?

I wouldn't want one as my primary self-defense firearm, but in an immediate deadly force situation, it's certainly better than a baseball bat or relying on the police.

Shooter training, meat hunting and pest control are tasks to which it's perfectly suited.

I have a Harbor Freight jigsaw. It cuts modestly sized stuff. I don't expect it to mix paint, unclog drains or set rivets.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Not hardly; my Beretta hasn't had a malfunction with any factory load

*Yet*

 

[Deanimator]

*Yet*

Anything can fail, for an infinity of reasons.

Simple logic and observed reality say that the more complex a mechanism is, the more likely it is to fail.

I wouldn't choose an H&R single shot 410ga. as my primary home defense weapon unless there just wasn't a more capable firearm available.

On the other hand, if I hunted rabbits, I'd vastly prefer one to a 15th century "handgonne", which is as simple as a firearm can get.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Logic also dictates that less parts = less chance to fail

Anything can fail, for an infinity of reasons.

Simple logic and observed reality say that the more complex a mechanism is, the more likely it is to fail.

I wouldn't choose an H&R single shot 410ga. as my primary home defense weapon unless there just wasn't a more capable firearm available.

On the other hand, if I hunted rabbits, I'd vastly prefer one to a 15th century "handgonne", which is as simple as a firearm can get.