Single shot shotguns, anyone still use them?

I guess it’s about time I chipped in here. Only one single shot currently around here, my 1914 vintage Westley Richards single barrel trap gun. Completely restored by Nick Mackinson in 2002, it’s currently in the hospital. This gun throws some of the most consistent and evenly distributed patterns I’ve recorded. He truly was a barrel wizard. A trap gun yes but it’s deadly on crows.
 

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Every self respecting CDN shooter should own at least one Cooey 84. I have one each in 12 and 20ga.

I shot a six bird limit a couple years ago with a Cooey 12ga. That's the 1st time I've ever done that since moving to NB in 1985.

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Grandpa got a Winchester 37A in .410 for us kids when we moved back to the family farm. Used it to hunts snowshoe hares and grouse on the farm.
A number of years back I was out hunting with a friend that brought his Cooey 84 in .410 along. We had a blast shooting grouse with it that day (never saw a moose...)! Had forgotten how much fun they are!
Started me looking for a Winchester 37A.
Today I have one in 28 ga that I use, and will carry on the sxs in addition to the rifle.
I also bought Cooey 84's in .410 and 28 ga while looking for a 37A, and have since gifted them to my Mom and daughter for grouse hunting. They both saw service until I got the 37A; No difference in the guns (although the Winchester is heavier; more metal in the barrel), just wanted the Winchester. Have enjoyed watching my daughter take grouse with her 28.
 
Big Bad said:
I disagree, you can reduce the problem but you can't eliminate it. It will always be the most awkward one around, particularly given the smallness of the hammer and the force needed to #### it.
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Agreed, Cooeys were not designed as wing shooting guns. They were designed for the fellow who traipses the woods shooting grouse on trails or in sitting on branches or rabbits hiding under them. They are ok for a fellow in a duck blind who has time to #### a hammer prior to standing to shoot as ducks approach but for a waterfowl jump shooter or upland wingshooter busting birds fleeing airborne from cover there are much, much better options.
 
All the replies are making me think I should stop thinking about it, and just buy one already, they're pretty affordable, really my only dislike is the polymer furniture.
 
the spank said:
Agreed, Cooeys were not designed as wing shooting guns. They were designed for the fellow who traipses the woods shooting grouse on trails or in sitting on branches or rabbits hiding under them. They are ok for a fellow in a duck blind who has time to #### a hammer prior to standing to shoot as ducks approach but for a waterfowl jump shooter or upland wingshooter busting birds fleeing airborne from cover there are much, much better options.
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In general, I'm with RRH in that there is no delay in firing a hammer gun while wing shooting. The hammer is cocked as the gun is brought to shoulder. That said, I do remember shooting the Cooey & Winchester single shots and recall that the hammer spring was quite strong in those guns, requiring extra effort to ####. But with other single shot hammer guns (I-J, Savage, some Brazilian) there was no issue
 
This is reminding me I should take some better photos. I paid $900 for this J & W Tolley and it came with a unique Abercrombie and Fitch gun case that has a serial number. I sold the case for $300 USD. So net for the gun in the $500 range. 29" barrels, 12 gauge, nitro proofs, 2 3/4" chambers open choke, 5 pounds. Fantastic grouse gun.

I know it's no Cooey but what the hell.

 
Would be nice if a company would start building the old smoothbore rook rifle type guns again. The English trade knew how to build a trim lil lightweight single
 
canvasback said:
This is reminding me I should take some better photos. I paid $900 for this J & W Tolley and it came with a unique Abercrombie and Fitch gun case that has a serial number. I sold the case for $300 USD. So net for the gun in the $500 range. 29" barrels, 12 gauge, nitro proofs, 2 3/4" chambers open choke, 5 pounds. Fantastic grouse gun.

I know it's no Cooey but what the hell.
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Very nice! ..... Added bonus to get it with a single selective trigger as well. :)
 
brybenn said:
Would be nice if a company would start building the old smoothbore rook rifle type guns again. The English trade knew how to build a trim lil lightweight single
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Yes, it would be nice... But it would probably get the same reaction as I got a some years ago when I inquired about a 26" BT-99 to go hunting...
- "Nobody would buy that!"
 
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