Best cheap versatile single shot?

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Jessegreenwood

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I would like to know what is the best(subjective, I know) single shot shotgun that can do it all, (cheaply)
I am thinking that it would have to be pretty modern, and have removable chokes, so that it can handle slugs, buckshot, and steel shot.
Also, I would prefer external hammer, as a hammer that I can see isn’t cocked is my preferred safety.
The wood or plastic stock is not a big concern, as I plan on making that custom, so that it can hold 2x5” and 1x11” chamber adapter(.22, 9mm, 45 lc)
Fold in half, vs quick take down, not a big deal, but could be nice.
Also, fairly robust would be good, for the chamber adapters, I would like to be able to shoot ++p 45lc with the adapters.
Really ideally an H&M sb2 frame 12 guage would be ideal.
Is this a crazy idea?

Thank you all for the input.
 
My opinion - every new single shot on the market today comes with some significant disadvantages.
I assume that you are not considering higher grade guns like the BT-99 Browning.
I am not a fan of cheap Chinese or Turkish manufacture, of questionable durability.
H&R/NEF single shots require the forend screw to be removed for takedown. Some people have had problems with the transfer bar failing in the H&R.
Having said that, perhaps the holy grail that you seek is an H&R 1871 Topper Trap model, with 30 inch vent rib barrel, and Winchoke tubes.
 
The old h&r nef would be suitable. As would an old cooey if you wanted to have it threaded for chokes. Nowadays the only cheap singles that are threaded for tubes are chinese or turkish makes. Henry looks good but may not fall under most ppls cheap definition
 
H&R 48 Topper would be my choice.. To take it apart, you just pull down the forearm. it just hooked and snapped in place.


If you plan on using the sub caliber adapters. Add a couple more O rings, and remove the shotguns extractor. It will leave the adapters in, and can just pick out the case. What I did with my 13" DA Backpacker and my 11" 45 ACP rifled adapter.
 
Huglu makes what your looking for, made in Turkey if that's an issue but the quality from Huglu is not an issue.
 
saskbooknut said:
The downside to the Huglu single shot is that it's only 5 pounds in 12 gauge, and only extractor, not ejector.
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If he's using adapters he probably doesn't want ejectors anyways?

Has anyone used 45lc ++p in an adapter?

My cheap single shot shotgun is a Sinsinati. Cost me $100. Bought it over a used cooey, baikal, etc etc because it had features I wanted - choke tubes and a vent rib. Trigger was horendous when I bought it, I messed with a screw inside to lighten things up but I didn't put any locktite on it, and I think its backed out farther since then because last time I had it out I aimed at a grouse and pulled the trigger only for it to not go bang, light primer strike... I had it out at least a dozen times before that without issue, so now I need to diagnose and fix this problem...
 
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saskbooknut said:
The downside to the Huglu single shot is that it's only 5 pounds in 12 gauge, and only extractor, not ejector.
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Pretty easy to add weight to a gun if that's your thing and as Suther points out the extractor if a better option for what he wants to do.... if he bores out the wood stock and slides his adapters inside for on board storage that will help add a bit more weight to the shotgun. A decent recoil pad and a bit of grit will take care of the rest.
 
I tried out the rifled shotshell size adapters in an Ithaca deerslayer with its iron sights.

Pretty wishy washy performance in 38, 357 and 22 Magnum at 15 yards. Kind of disappointing.

Years back I had pretty darn good results with a seven inch adapter from Dina Arms in a Savaga M24 in its twenty gauge barrel. 357 adapter. Seemed bang on the money 40 yards.
 
Can-down said:
Pretty easy to add weight to a gun if that's your thing and as Suther points out the extractor if a better option for what he wants to do.... if he bores out the wood stock and slides his adapters inside for on board storage that will help add a bit more weight to the shotgun. A decent recoil pad and a bit of grit will take care of the rest.
Click to expand...

If the recoil is a problem he can just hang his purse off the trigger guard. That'll add some weight.

But in all seriousness, my single shot is also under 5.5lb and unless you're planning on shooting a bunch of slugs or buck its not really an issue. Yeah it kicks but it's not that bad. It wouldn't be my first choice to go shoot trap but that doesn't seem to be the OP's intention.
 
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Jessegreenwood said:
...
... for the chamber adapters, I would like to be able to shoot ++p 45lc with the adapters.
...
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Jessegreenwood, what is your need for that adapter, and what are you trying to hit and at what distance?

A couple of years back I bought a few of those adapters .... and tested them .... but accuracy was lacking ... especially with a shotgun with a bead sight. I sold most of those adapters afterwards ..... and I still have one that is collecting dust. Slugs shoot more accurately out of my shotguns ... and they shoot to point of aim ....

If you are trying to hit a Zombi at 5 or 10 yards ..... yeahhhhhh, that might work. But if you are trying to hit a rabbit or a deer in the vitals at 30 meters or beyond ... you better have invested in one of the better adapters ... and have shot a lot with your gun and adapter combination ... and to know that combination well .... and to be able to compensate with Kentucky windage .... And beyond 30 meters that is not so easy with just a bead sight ...

There are Krieghoff adapters out there ... and that allow for the point of impact to be adjusted. But those adapters cost two or three times the money of an entry level single shot shotgun ....
 
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So, I think I can give more info to the convo.
Extractor would be fine.
Light weight would also be fine, expected with single shot, and it would be easy to add weight(like the adapters in the butt)
The adapters I was thinking of would be Chaszel, as they have the 11” and 5” I would like, all rifled.
It looks from that other topic that the adapters are pretty accurate at 50m, equal to a slug from a rifled barrel.
I was thinking of ways to add a rear site to a shotgun, that could be adjusted to maximize the accuracy for the 11” 45lc
If I could be accurate enough for rabbit at 50 yards with the 45lc and 25 yards with the 9mm/22, I would be pretty happy.
Was also wondering how loud or not a light, subsonic load would be, when it has to travel down 17” of empty 12 guage barrel after it clears the adapter.
 
If experiments with shell size adapters in a twenty inch barrel are any indication, it's not going to be anything especially quiet. About a little louder than a 22 LR report my my estimation. Plus your longer adapter will only give the cartridge more velocity as you experience greater powder burn, hence more apt to be supersonic.
 
Jessegreenwood said:
So, I think I can give more info to the convo.
Extractor would be fine.
Light weight would also be fine, expected with single shot, and it would be easy to add weight(like the adapters in the butt)
The adapters I was thinking of would be Chaszel, as they have the 11” and 5” I would like, all rifled.
It looks from that other topic that the adapters are pretty accurate at 50m, equal to a slug from a rifled barrel.
I was thinking of ways to add a rear site to a shotgun, that could be adjusted to maximize the accuracy for the 11” 45lc
If I could be accurate enough for rabbit at 50 yards with the 45lc and 25 yards with the 9mm/22, I would be pretty happy.
Was also wondering how loud or not a light, subsonic load would be, when it has to travel down 17” of empty 12 guage barrel after it clears the adapter.
Click to expand...

I have no experience with adapters other than a 410 adapter in a 12ga, but if you can manage accurate enough for a rabbit at 50 yards with a 45LC I'd be surprised - and I'd also be in the market for one of my own! So please update us with your results if you ever do end up at the end of this rabbit hole.

Edit - I just checked out Chaszel's website, and they have some surprisingly reasonable prices! I'm also pretty shocked to see things like 30-30 and 45-70 adapters.
 
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Sir Plus said:
It not having no ejector is a plus. Cramming features in a cheap gun is a recipe for disaster.
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Cheap shoguns like Cooey and H&R have reliable ejectors.
This is not new or difficult technology.
The OP is chasing a dream of accurate shooting at 50 yards with inserts, which has not been demonstrated in previously posted testing.
 
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