NEF SB1 Pardner 12ga

There is something I just love about a break open single shot 12ga. My NEF Pardner is just that gun. I have 8 shotguns in Pump, Double Barrel and Single Barrel. But I truly love this little thing. I love taking this gun out and plink targets, shoot a rabbit or squirrel. It's just a neat little inexpensive shotgun I've had for 25 years.
Goes bang every time and ejects the shells 3 feet. And it's a pretty accurate gun in MOD barrel.
Any folks feel similar?

 

Yes....
I've got plenty of nice shotguns, but I prefer to turkey hunt with my NEF pardner..

 

Had one of those years ago and wish I still did. I'm on the hunt for one in 20 gauge in fact. Wish they were still made. Savage has one that's almost identical, but they're made in China.

 

I like them too. They are easy to tote around in the woods and just plain fun to shoot.

 

I don't bring mine out very often but I took my first deer with an NEF Pardner 20ga single shot when I was 9. It still sits in the safe and I have occasionally taken it out squirrel hunting.

 

The (Savage) Stevens 301. I have this gun and really like it. Has been totally reliable and fits my 6'2" frame nicely. I find the 20 ga. to be a nice combination and actually prefer this gun over the H&R's I've had in the past. .410 would make a great youth gun. It does come with a safety but you don't need to use it.

 

I've never fired one but have handled them a couple times. Looks the same other than the safety. Why do you like them better?

 

I’ve got a 20ga I’ve used a lot it looks great and shoots slugs very well. I wish it was a full choked barrel for my squirrel hunting endeavors but I still like it. I’d like to find a 12ga.

As far as the savage 301 goes, I had one for a few months when I was working outta state, I really enjoyed it for what it was, and would still have it but sold it to a buddy which solved 2 problems 1)I didn’t have to fly it home out of Boston and 2)everyone should have a shotgun and my friend did not.
They Pretty much identical to an NEF/H&R with the exception of a safetyand it taking screw in chokes(mossberg 500 thread pattern) which is an awesome feature on a single shot.
If I was in the market for a break action I would first look for a h&r/ nef at a pawn shop but barring that, the savage 301 is a good option in the price range

 

Bought one way back. Came with a full choke, a rifled barrel and a take down case. I added a gun show modified barrel. Total outlay was about $160.
Hated that slug barrel until I got my own sabot slug mould and loaded some slow rollers at about 1100 fps. About like black powder 45-70

 

Screw in chokes and it just feels and fits me good. I'd buy another NEF/H&R without hesitation and probably should to try them side by side.
These tend to be pest control guns so get banged around more than normal and the synthetic stocks on the 301 looks like it could handle a lot of abuse without showing it.

 

I have an old FIE 20g like that. Bought it in 1986, I think. Had a lot of fun with it back in the day. Cut the barrel down a bit later for use as a truck gun, but it never got placed into that role yet.

 

I miss the day when you could find them used for about 75 bucks. I always check them to see if they are reasonable. I’ve seen them as high as 200 for a NEF 10 gauge.

 

Since singles are less common these days because there are less makers scarcity is driving up cost. But I would guess most of what’s out there is languishing in a safe.

 

I still have my little NEF 20 gauge that I learned to shoot with. I will never sell it, too many good memories. I still drag it out once in awhile to prove I still can hit the broad side of a barn with it.

 

my under-the-bed, bump-in-the-night, long gun is a h&r 20ga, 20”, singleshot loaded with #5 gameshot. it’s handy, simple, intuitive, easy and can be run fast since it auto-ejects spent rounds. i found mine barely used in a pawn shop a dozen years ago for $120. these things are perfect to have in unfree states.

 

Big NEF fan here too. I have two in 12 gauge and a 20 gauge youth barrel that I carry in a case with my SB2 30-30.

One of the 12 gauges was my first shotgun and second firearm altogether, and I'll never sell it. Great field guns, carry nice in hand and easy safe operation even for young/new shooters.

 

My first "real" shotgun as well, after the family single .410