My first gun was a single-shot. The gun had two barrels, one a 20-gauge and the other a .22 Hornet barrel. Dad had traded a 1949 Kaiser automobile for the shotgun/rifle combination and always claimed he got the better end of the deal. He recounted the hunting trip in which he had thrown two raccoons in the trunk, but by the time he had returned home, they had both fallen through the holes rusted in the bottom of the car.
Single Shots – Making Your First Shot Count
Be that as it may, I was the beneficiary of the transaction taken long before I was born. I became a fan of the single shot, not so much for the aesthetics or the simplicity a single shot provides, but I was too young to appreciate these attributes. It made me become a fan because it made me a better shot with no fast follow-up shot. I had to make that first shot count. I still thank my dad for that.
Once I went into the service and had a little cash burning a hole in my pocket, I found a good deal on a bolt-action, single-shot Anschutz target rifle. This became my new squirrel rifle, and I did my best to decimate the squirrel population while I was on leave.
Single shots aren’t as popular as they once were. The onslaught of Modern Sporting Rifles and bolt-action rifles has cut into its popularity. Let’s look at the types of single shots.
Break Open
Like my little Savage, the break-open uses a switch, a lever, or even a hinged trigger guard to break open the barrel to facilitate loading and unloading. These are great for beginning shooters and experienced shooters alike who prefer a single shot. Dozens of manufacturers over the years have produced these break-open guns, but here’s a rundown of some of the current break-open firearms.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
Henry Single Shot
The Henry Single Shot offers a no-frills rifle complete with a steel or brass frame and American Walnut stock and forearm. It features a 22” barrel and a folding rear sight, and it is drilled & tapped for optics.
Available in 10 different calibers from the .223 Rem to the .45-70, the Henry single-shot has a model to offer any hunter or shooter, no matter what they are hunting. Henry also has a youth model chambered in .243 with dimensions to fit a young or a small-framed shooter.
Rossi Lightweight Carbine
The Rossi Lightweight Carbine or LWC is available in an array of calibers from the .223 to the 8.6 Blackout and even chambered in .45 Colt, which also accepts a .410 shotgun. The LWC features a 16 ½” barrel threaded for a suppressor and a steel frame, which has a polymer overmold. This little rifle has some big features. The steel barrel is drilled and tapped for a scope base mounted to the firearm. The compact size makes it a great rifle, whether it’s your first or your 100th.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
CVA Scout
The CVA Scout is a high-quality, single-shot rifle designed for the hunter, chambered in .350 Legend, 35 Whelen, and 45-70. This rifle shoots well and hits hard. The Crush Zone recoil pad helps to soak up recoil. The Scout features a 25-inch barrel on all models except the .350 Legend, which sports a 20-inch barrel. This makes the Scout maneuverable without being cumbersome in the woods or in the blind.
The Scout is also available in a .410 shotgun. For those hunters wanting to try their hand at turkey hunting with a .410 and the new TSS shot, the Scout offers a scope base mounted to the barrel, and the Realtree Timber model features a JEBS X-Full turkey choke.
Thompson /Center Encore
I have been shooting Thompson Centers for decades, and when the doors were shut, I was saddened. I was delighted when Thompson Center announced it was planning a comeback. To no one’s surprise, the frost offerings are the Encore. Like the original, the Encore features interchangeable barrels and a swing hammer, adapting to both right and left-hand shooters.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
The Flex Tech stock comes complete with Limb Saver Air Tech pad combined with compression arches and Energy Burners to reduce perceived recoil by 70 %. Inside the receiver, the trigger and sear are nitride-coated for a smooth and consistent trigger pull. The firing pin and firing pin bushing are also nitride-coated. The choices of calibers are limited only by your imagination, from .223 Remington to .50 caliber black powder, and even a 12 gauge barrel, both smooth bore and rifled for shooting rifled slugs. The Encore Pro Hunter really could be a one gun fits all.
Savage 301
For shotgun enthusiasts, Savage also has the 301, which resembles the 20-gauge I started out with. It’s available in 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and .410. The 301 Turkey has been optimized to pattern Federal Premium® HEAVYWEIGHT TSS turkey loads. The 301 Turkey features a one-piece optic rail, synthetic stock and forearm, and the barrel is fitted with an extra full choke tube.
Falling Blocks
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
Winchester 1885
Designed by John M Browning and sold to Winchester, which first introduced the rifle in 1885. The 1885 is one of the most iconic rifles ever and has been made in many chamberings. Currently, variations of the 1885 are being produced in several different rimfire models, including the .17 HMR, the .17 WSM, the .22 Long Rifle, and the centerfire .22 Hornet. The 1885 has a reputation of being accurate and reliable, and the newer 1885s being produced today are no different.
Ruger No. 1
The Ruger No. 1 has been the most sought-after single-shot for decades. The brainchild of Bill Ruger, who took the best characteristics of the 1872 Farquharson and incorporated them into the No. 1 with a bit of help from famed stock maker Lenard Brownell. The rest, as they say, is history. Chambered in more than 50 cartridges over the course of its 59-year reign, the No. 1 still turns heads at gun shows, and grown men turn into giddy school children when they handle one.
The No. 1 has been made in nine different models in both blued and stainless steel models. From its sliding tang-mounted safety to its barrel-mounted quarter rib, the No. 1 truly is a classic. Currently, Ruger No.1s are available only through Lipsey’s, a distributor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And according to the Ruger website, they are available in select limited edition models each year.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
Bolt Actions
Savage 12
While most manufacturers are producing magazine-fed rifles, Savage still produces many single-shot rifles in both centerfire and rimfire models. Their Model 12 series is available in several models. From the 12 LRPV,12 Benchrest,112 Magnum Target, 12 F/TR, 12 Palma, and 12 F class. These rifles were designed as target guns and provide the same accuracy known and expected by hunters and shooters. Available in many calibers and featuring the Accu-Trigger. If accuracy is your game, the Savage Model 12 series is worth a second look.
Savage Rimfires
Savage also produces several single-shot rimfires: the Savage Mk 1G, Mk I FVT, and the Rascal line. Like their big brothers, these rifles are accurate and well-built.
Single Shots
Whether you are a beginner or have been shooting for decades, the single shot should have a place in your gun safe.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
WHY OUR ARTICLES/REVIEWS DO NOT HAVE AFFILIATE LINKS Affiliate links create a financial incentive for writers to promote certain products, which can lead to biased recommendations. This blurs the line between genuine advice and marketing, reducing t
