break action single shot

From what I am aware the break action was the offspring of the previous muzzle loading firearms. Even with the old powder, wad, and ball, loading from the breech is faster and more accessable since many of the old muskets I have seen are twice as long as modern rifles.

For a very long time everybody had a single shot because no one had invented and mass produced anything else. Also they tend to be very easy to clean and disassemble and service. It's not like someone said, "I'm tired of all these repeating rifles, I'm going to kick it old school." and intentionally made a caveman design.


Also it is a more modern advancement that has given us reliable repeating rifles, especially ones with aerodynamic bullets. For a long time we were ramming a lead ball down a tube and hoping the thing didn't do a curveball when you shot it. Single shot break action is arguably the most basic modern firearm, extremely simple to make and relatively few things to go wrong with it.

I've got an H&R handi rifle and I imagine I'll keep it for a very long time. It's refreshing to have something so different from a 'modern' rifle like an AR.
 
Development, as stated above, is evolution in firearm design. Why they are still in production is because they are inexpensive, light, and work. Double barrel shotguns are for people who miss the first time. :p
 
Some people get rifled barrel ones to use for slug hunting big game. Also smaller gauges for small game and certain birds
 
Development, as stated above, is evolution in firearm design. Why they are still in production is because they are inexpensive, light, and work. Double barrel shotguns are for people who miss the first time. :p

Could very well be.........or, they are too slow to shoot off the second barrel?
 
Because I don't usually need/get a second shot and hate carrying extra weight for no reason.

Well they had them hunting ie 1 barrel shot 1 barrel slug or buck shot for something big and small.

Thats how they sold it back when you can load each barrel so you can get your bird or you can get your deer with the same rifle or shotgun with out reloading.

It went like this

Match lock, Flint lock, Percusion. Then Cased ammo with a breech lock (from behind). Then single shot then someone thought hey we could put 2 or more barrels on that so they did.
 
I don't know... SIngle shot break open action? fewest moving parts, most reliable, easy to clean and reassemble. Its perfect. what more does a guy need?
 
I got a single shot 20 guage as my first gun when i was just a lad, and after carrying it all over i find most pumps and semis just feel to big, unbalanced and long for most of my hunting. When you're crawling through alders and under branches, and admittedly doing more "walking in the woods" sometimes then actual hunting, and nice, light, easy to carry single makes a much more enjoyable time. It also breaks down smaller and is much lighter in a pack if you are already carrying a rifle and just have it along for a just in case, mid day bird hunt.
Now if i am doing any more shooting then the odd rabbit or partridge, its light weight makes me want something heavier so my shoulder doesn't take as much punishment.
 
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