Help me pick a single shot shotgun

luke s

luke s

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So I decided that I want to get a 12G single shot shotgun, but really do not know much about them.

The ones I see for sale are fairly inexpensive (in the $100 range) and in various conditions from fair to good (finish I do not care about so much about, as long as action is tight and it functions, I will be happy).

Its use will be a range/maybe truck gun, and I may end up cutting the barrel down.

Here is what I see available in local store:

COOEY MODEL 84 and 840

CIL 402

BAIKAL NK 17 and IJ 18

WINCHESTER 37

All are chambered for 2-3/4" and have full chokes. Is it possible to shoot slugs through them? (rifled). If I do end up cutting the barrel down, then I will have cylinder bore.

I hear good things about the winchester 37 and cooey 84, but know nothing about the quality of the CIL or Baikal. Any other brand recommendations?

Which of the site sponsors sell new or used single shots??

Thanks!
 
The 84 and 840 cooeys are good guns, and the winchester 37 is actually made by cooey. If they are in good shape you won't find any better, IMO.

CIL sold guns made by Boito and several other manufacturers. Stay away from the plastic trigger guard models in the CIL (or any shotgun). Baikal makes sturdy decent quality stuff but the finsh is sometimes a little rough.
 
I would be looking for a used model 84 or 840. The 84 is all metal with steel receiver and walnut stock.. The 840 is cast alloy receiver and trigger guard and usually a hardwood stock. You mentioned Winchester model 37. Are you talking a straight model 37 or 37A. The 37 is an older single shot and it too was a good old gun made of metal and walnut. The 37A was made after Winchester took over Cooey. They are fine guns but you have hardwood stocks again plus plastic hinge pivot at rear of forearm and I believe the
forearm retainer is plastic where it snaps onto the barrel. Plus the "Cooey" is part of Canadian history. The Baikal is probably a good, sturdy work gun coming out of Russia. The CIL would have been made by another gun company for CIL. It could be a Brazilian make.
 
I was leaning towards the cooey 84 or the win 37, not the 37A.

I will have a closer look at both this weekend and decide.

Thanks for the heads up about the CIL

I also found a victor 12G on the EE and a remington 812, any info on these two??
 
The Remington model 812 was made in Brazil and imported by Remington. It is the same gun CIL imported under the 402 model.
The Victor I would not even look at if it were me. It is an older trade brand gun that is probably getting to the point of being a wall hanger.
 
I had a CIL 402 and they were junk. They were prown to the forestock spacers broke. It was $44 for an new one!!! With the Cooey 84 and 840 you cant go wrong. They are great guns just make sure the lockup is good on them.
 
I was at Cabela's today and was looking at a 20ga model H + R Pardner. It seemed okay, nothing special, fit and finish was decent (obviously not Browning quality). Action was tight, good lock up, trigger pull was probably about 5 1/2 pounds. Seems like a decent new gun for the money. I passed on it though because I'm torn between a couple of other guns and my wife would kill me if I bought more than 2 or 3 guns a year, and I'm already at 2 guns this year and its only March. Maybe Epps might have them as a site sponsor, I know Wholesale has them...
 
I have done a lot of grouse hunting with a ducks unlimited NEF 20G and I think it's the same gun as the H&R Pardner. It's a simple, solid gun and one of my favorites for grouse between mine and my dad's 6 or 7 shotguns. None of them are super nice fancy O/U's etc though.
 
I have a NEF 12 gauge with the Schnauble forearm and case colored receiver. It is still with the box unfired but I must say while it is probably a reliable functioning gun, the fit and finish does not equal the older guns already talked about. But if that isn't important, then one of them would be a good, simple single shot.
 
I'd buy a new H&R before I bought a used Cooey for more than a hundred bucks. At least with H&R you can get parts if something breaks, and you can also put a .44 mag or .357 mag barrel on it in the future. AND most importantly, you can shoot steel shot. Sure, you may not want that feature now, but in the future you may, OR you may want to lend the gun to someone else on a duck hunt, even if you have a pump.

Not that Cooeys aren't nice, I just wouldn't spend more than $100 on one.

Another option is the Rossi Trifecta and Matched Pairs, although I have no idea where you'd find one in Canada (I do know they are sold here, though). For $250-$350 you get any combination of centerfire rifle, rimfire rifle, muzzleloader, and shotgun barrels. I saw one on Sunday in Maine that had a .223 and a 20 gauge barrel and it was pretty handy. I know they are available in Canada, but I have never seen one myself.
 
ok seems like I can get the used cooey 84 in good condition for for $129, used cooey 84 in fair condition for $79, fair win model 37 for $119, or a brand new H&R Pardner for $130, all locally... hmmm decisions
 
luke s said:
ok seems like I can get the used cooey 84 in good condition for for $129, used cooey 84 in fair condition for $79, fair win model 37 for $119, or a brand new H&R Pardner for $130, all locally... hmmm decisions
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Well for me it would be between 2 choices, the 84 in good condition or the H&R. Then it would be what I personally think of them meaning do I want to hunt with a piece of Canadian firearms history or do I want a new gun that I can find parts for easily. Although if the 84 action is tight to start with it should have a lot of shooting left and there isn't a whole lot to go wrong. There are used parts out there for them and things like firing pins can be made. If you were to shoot steel out of the 84 you would have to get the choke opened up to modified. I would not worry about the part where people will tell you that steel will hurt the bore. So really though, if the bit about hunting with a "Canadian Cooey" isn't a factor in your decision, then you maybe should look at the H&R. But for me, I like Canadian Firearms history so I would probably go with the Cooey. Of course you could always buy both!
 
again great insight. im on the path of thinking of buying both! maybe get the fair condition 84 to try to restore (for fun) as long as its tight and shoot-able. I will have to see it in person
 
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