Best Modern Single Shot Hunting Rifle

Rob

Rob

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What is the best mass-produced single-shot hunting rifle still being made today? Reasonably lightweight and compact. Blued steel and walnut. Deer hunting calibers. Not H&R.

Is it just the Ruger No. 1?
 
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Either the 1885 Winchester if you like hammers or the Ruger #1 if you don't, I guess.
Uberti's falling block looks nice but I haven't shot one .
Henry also has one out as well. But my fav's are still the #1 or the 1885
Cat
 
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Hard to disagree with what Cat says.

Ruger #1 if you wanna hotrod the fk out of things. Winchester is a ###ier gun IMO though.

Henry Single Shot is a decent option for something more affordable, the stock on mine is pretty dang nice for what was a $500 gun in 2020, and it checks the blued and steel boxes. But break actions aren't as cool as falling blocks.

https://imgur.com/ep3Lq2L
 
Your best bet is a Ruger No.1. Watch the used market... the bulk of them are in what most consider to be deer cartridges.
 
Was it the CVA that had multi barrel capability? I’d read good things about the accuracy but I have no first hand experience
 
If you want new, No1 is likely the next route to take but they fail in the “ reasonably light” cstagory. I have a couple and love them. Browning B-78 (an iteration of the 1885 high wall) is a wonderful rifle as well and considerably lighter than a No1 but not currently in production as far as I know and, as mentioned earlier, has an exposed hammer if that matters.
 
If I was looking for under $1000, the Henry Single would be the way. Plenty of calibers to choose from, though nothing too exotic. If you want to nerd out on caliber, or want an American classic to baby, the Ruger No. 1 is really hard to beat.
 
break actions aren't as cool as falling blocks.
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Kipplauf club members disagree

Many fine rifles from the usual Germanic suspects. A+ marks in reasonably lightweight and compact too.

I've been dreaming of a customized Ruger no 1 lately though.

The henry single shots are nice well made guns, and both I've owned had decent timber on them too. I wish Henry would do the no 1 thing and come out with limited editions in cool chamberings every now and then.
 
I really think that it would be hard to beat a Merkel, Kregoff or blazer for a light weight compact reliable beautiful classic single shot, in all the calibers you would want for deer size game and more!!
 
As a comparison:
Ruger No.1 in 6.5 Creedmoor w/ 24" barrel is 6.8lbs and 40.5"long - Lipsey's version = limited production (also available in 7x57, and 270 Win w/ Alexander Henry forearm and open sights, and 257 Wby w/ different stock - No.1B)
Winchester 1885 Low Wall w/ 24" barrel is 7.5 lbs and 40" long (also available in 243 Win)
Both are blued and wood w/ no open sights.
The Ruger comes with rings, whereas the Winchester comes with scope bases.
Both are very nice rifles (I've owned both models in different variations) and are a joy to shoot and hunt with.
Will come down to personal preference.
 
Ruger #1 Owned over 60, from 218 Bee to .475 Linebaugh
Winchester 1885 22LR and 22 WMR
Thompson Center Aristocrat 83 or 87 with set Trigger .243,30-06, 7mm Remington Magnum
Contender Carbine, 22 LR, 223,7mm TCU, 7-30 Water's, 30-30, 30 Herrett, 357 Maximum , 44 Magnum, 45-70, .50 Gonic BP
TC Encore Mulitple Barrels
Savage 219 owned 2 30-30's


And a whole bunch of European ones that I've never owned.
 
BlackRam said:
As a comparison:
Ruger No.1 in 6.5 Creedmoor w/ 24" barrel is 6.8lbs and 40.5"long - Lipsey's version = limited production (also available in 7x57, and 270 Win w/ Alexander Henry forearm and open sights, and 257 Wby w/ different stock - No.1B)
Winchester 1885 Low Wall w/ 24" barrel is 7.5 lbs and 40" long (also available in 243 Win)
Both are blued and wood w/ no open sights.
The Ruger comes with rings, whereas the Winchester comes with scope bases.
Both are very nice rifles (I've owned both models in different variations) and are a joy to shoot and hunt with.
Will come down to personal preference
Click to expand...

BlackRam said:
As a comparison:
Ruger No.1 in 6.5 Creedmoor w/ 24" barrel is 6.8lbs and 40.5"long - Lipsey's version = limited production (also available in 7x57, and 270 Win w/ Alexander Henry forearm and open sights, and 257 Wby w/ different stock - No.1B)
Winchester 1885 Low Wall w/ 24" barrel is 7.5 lbs and 40" long (also available in 243 Win)
Both are blued and wood w/ no open sights.
The Ruger comes with rings, whereas the Winchester comes with scope bases.
Both are very nice rifles (I've owned both models in different variations) and are a joy to shoot and hunt with.
Will come down to personal preference.
Click to expand...
Hmmm, are you sure you don’t have those backwards?????. My. No1B in .338 is considerably heavier than my B-78 high wall in .270 Gibbs. While I never actually weighed any of them, I always pegged my .338 at around 9 pounds plus. Of course my No1 in 22/250 heavy barrel is heavier yet. When we get home I will have to actually weigh them. You have my curiosity up now. I can say without hesitation that packing my .338 for days up and down mountains sheep hunting, it gets pretty “fat” and feels like a punt gun.
 
I’ve rollers, sharps, Ruger #3,#1,brownings and win. Sliders and Enfields and lots of martinis. It really depends on caliber. Just sold a Marlin Ballard 40-85 and smith built falling block in 38-55. All great use a #3&#1 in 22 hornet the most.
 
Cost is also something to take into consideration .
Big difference in buying a new or used #1 or TC to buying a Blaser or Merkel!
As far as the Rollers and Replica falling blocks go, the cartridge and also cost needs to be considered as well.
Cat
 
Licensed to kill said:
Hmmm, are you sure you don’t have those backwards?????. My. No1B in .338 is considerably heavier than my B-78 high wall in .270 Gibbs. While I never actually weighed any of them, I always pegged my .338 at around 9 pounds plus. Of course my No1 in 22/250 heavy barrel is heavier yet. When we get home I will have to actually weigh them. You have my curiosity up now. I can say without hesitation that packing my .338 for days up and down mountains sheep hunting, it gets pretty “fat” and feels like a punt gun.
Click to expand...
This info is directly off their respective webpages as I was looking to answer the question as to what is available today.

The 1885 High Walls are definitely heavier with their 28" barrels, as compared to the Low Walls with less metal in the action and shorter barrels, as were many of the longer barreled B-78's. My B-78 rechambered from 270 Win to 270 Wby had a 28" barrel and was heavy too. Some of the Ruger No.1Bs were heavier due to various barrel lengths and stock configurations. The 257 Wby version available today weighs 7.3 lbs with its 28" barrel and No.1B style stock.
My current Winchester 1885 High Wall in 6.5 Creedmoor has the 28" barrel is heavier in comparison, and weighs 9 lbs 12 oz scoped with a Kahles 3-9x42 scope (which is a fairly lightweight scope). It is accurate and fun to shoot! 0.249" groups @ 100 yards with Nosler's 140 gr AccuBond ammunition, and 0.599" groups with Federal's 130 gr Terminal Ascent ammo! The additional velocity from the longer barrel doesn't hurt either! It's going on my next pronghorn hunt...

The various wood stocks can also vary in weight due to density as well, depending on species of walnut used and grain.

I know that I would prefer to find and carry a Low Wall in 6.5x55 or CM than the High Wall for long hikes or steeper country! (Save the High Wall for stand hunting with less foot travel)
 
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