single shot vs double

Here in Nfld, single shots are very popular. I guess it would depend on how badly or quickly you needed the second shot. The qbvious advantage is a fast second shot. The disadvantage is that you are basicly carrying two guns, so it's extra weight, and double the number of parts that can fail.

If you do decide to go with a double, I would suggest a good over/under.

good luck
 
It your just wackin bird on the logging roads a single shot .410 is all I use.

If your flushing birds, that second or third shor comes in handy.


Depends on your style I guess.
 
for waterfowl hunting you WILL need a second or third shot or crippled birds will escape. you will also miss many opportunities with a single shot. as GTH says , if your just potting grouse on a bush road that's another matter
 
if its just for wackin grouse on logging roads-go with the 20 guage-you can carry a slug in your pocket in case you see a deer[I just bought a single shot Tamer in 20 guage for that very reason]
 
the problem with single shots is that the Cooey single shots that flood the market are (IMO) quite poor quality. a well designed traditional SxS doesnt weigh all that much more than a single-shot either - the barrels dont make up that much of the weight at all.

almost every single Cooey i have ever inspected has been in piss-poor shape with hairline cracks in the stocks, poor lockup, worn plastic parts, etc. some will disagree im sure because they are such a popular gun and hence a 'family favorite' but i tend to think that at least some of this is due to poor materials. i wonder how many people here have gone out and bought a crappy model of gun based on someone else's fond childhood memories.

you can walk into almost any gun store in the country and for around $250-400 walk out with a decent SxS that looks better, has 2 different chokes, can be used for clays if you ever feel the urge, will offer the chance of a follow-up shot and is probably of much better quality. For best value i recommend looking at the russian SxSs - you wont find any plastic parts here, theyre very well made and reliable, most peoples gripe with them is the wood to metal finish and the wood on them, while walnut, is not as nice. they make a virtually indestructible working shotgun though that will last you many decades.

just make sure lockup is nice and tight if you are buying a SxS. with the baikals this usually isnt a problem as when they are new lockup is so tight you need to be a 250lb proleteriat factory worker to even break open the thing.

IMO no shotgun in this world is more aesthetically pleasing than a traditional side-by-side with straight stock and splinter foreend. its a proven design with excellent balance that is a joy to hunt with.
 
manbearpig is right about cooey mod.840's.but i think the reason they're in such bad shape , is that they were never looked after at all. a cheap gun was bought, so who cares. if these same people looked after their brownings the same way, they would've given them poor service to. a lot of these guns spent their life behind the seat of a truck,in a barn or in the wood shed. the russian sxs's are a good gun for the money.if buying an older sxs it's wise to have the haed space checked to make sure it's within limits.
 
manbearpig said:
IMO no shotgun in this world is more aesthetically pleasing than a traditional side-by-side with straight stock and splinter foreend. its a proven design with excellent balance that is a joy to hunt with.
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We have a winner!

The single shot, however, does have its place in the hunting field. For early season ruffed grouse, the foliage is thick and you will never get a second shot at the bird anyway. A lightweight single shot is a very useful tool under those conditions. Since the shooting is close range a sub gauge gun is advantageous and results in an even lighter, faster gun.

The single shot break action gun, especially with an exposed hammer, is also IMHO the best, safest way to train new hunters. There is never any doubt about whether the gun is loaded or cocked. It promotes good concentration as well - if you have only one shot, you learn to make it count.

While inexpensive and cheaply built single shots dominate the market, there are some better grade guns available. For instance, the Beretta model 412 / 413 folding gun which was made in all gauges.

http://www.berettaweb.com/Beretta_Folding_Shotguns/Beretta_412_series.htm

Just as with a double gun, gun fit is important for a shooter with a single shot. Stock modifications (such as reducing the length of pull for a smaller shooter) are more palletable with an inexpensive single shot than they are with a costlier double. There is little reluctance to "play" with the stock (or the barrel length or choke for that matter) when the very worst that can happen is that you have to go buy another $75 shotgun. When the time comes for a better gun, the shooter will have a much better idea of what stock dimensions will be suitable.

Finally, there are hunters who see the single shot shotgun as the ultimate wingshooting challenge (just like there are riflemen who favour the single shot as the ultimate sporting gun). One shot, one bird, no excuses.

Yes, my first shotgun was a single shot, and yes, my memories of using it in my early years probably affect my opinion somewhat. However, that does not reduce the usefulness of the gun as outlined above.

Sharptail
 
Thanks for your imput fellas. I was not thinking about ground swatting because anything can be used for that. My concern mostly revolved around waterfowl.

thanks

r
 
Workin Man said:
I'm not sure how this could possibly be considered to be a disadvantage. For example if you break the firing pin on a single shot, your hunt is over. If you break a firing pin on a double, you are now hunting with a single shot... but your still hunting.;)
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This is very true. I was looking at it more as in a " more parts to break; higher cost to repair" situation.
 
Using a single shot for waterfowl implies that you really don't like the taste of ducks and geese!

It'll do, but it's a poor choice. You'll get one shot at any flock/bird that comes in. You better be a damned good shot.
 
highlander said:
This is very true. I was looking at it more as in a " more parts to break; higher cost to repair" situation.
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If you really think about it, thats not really the case. The cost of replacing a broken part should be the same in either case. For example, replacing a broken firing pin on a single isn't going to cost less than replacing one broken pin on a double.
 
Sharptail said:
We have a winner!

The single shot, however, does have its place in the hunting field. For early season ruffed grouse, the foliage is thick and you will never get a second shot at the bird anyway. Sharptail
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That's a valid point but ruffies are more apt to be "covey'd up" early in the season - and as a result a single shot might well inhibit that rare chance for a double.:(
 
Cost would be higher because of double amount of parts to contend with I had a stevens 311 sxs when I downloads a schematics of it I was shocked to see how many bits there are in there.
 
PeakXV said:
That's a valid point but ruffies are more apt to be "covey'd up" early in the season - and as a result a single shot might well inhibit that rare chance for a double.:(
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I'm glad you used the word "inhibit" rather than something more definitive because this way I can agree completely. If you keep your second shell between your fingers and your wits about you, you can sometimes reload a single shot fast enough to get that second bird.

I much prefer SXS's and pump guns for upland and waterfowl, respectively, but once or twice a year I like to take my kids' NEF Pardner out for a spin. It breaks all the rules as far as fit is concerned, but I like the reduced weight on a long hunt and I enjoy the added challenge (so far, I've always got my bird).

If it's a choice between a single shot or a double/repeater as your only shotgun, go with a double/repeater every time. If you have a single shot sitting in your cabinet gathering dust, take 'er out for a spin (like an old girlfriend - oops, did I say that in my outside voice?).
 
I like singles - my grandad set aside HIS very first shotgun (which was a single) the day I was born for me, and i used it to fetch many a goose and duck as i grew up.

Every now and then guys would argue you "need" more than one shot, and every now and then grandad would put aside his gun and take 'mine' out. He'd still come back with as many or more than they did.

So i see no problem at all with a decent quality single.

Having said that - most of the time grandad used a pump, and I do prefer a pump (i'd like to try using a double, but haven't yet).

So if you're on a bit of a budget and you find a nice single, go for it. Grandad always used to say 'if you can't make one shot count, you have no business having another one anyway'.

If you've got the dough - Do a double or pump. What the heck. You can always put just one round in and make it a single anyway if you want that experience :D

Either way - good hunting!
 
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