single shot vs double
- Thread starter Sluice
- Start date
now this is interesting-somehow using a single shot shot gun is relegated to beginners and seen to be a disadvantage-yet using a single shot in a rifle is often considered to be the ultimate in sportsmanship.....[and before anybody jumps all over me-I like doubles-just because they look classy...]
To me, a single shot 12 ga. says 'farm gun'. It has to be cheap because farmers are practical, and they need to have a gun behind the porch door, or in the grain truck, tractor, pickup, or garden shed. It's used for shooting raccoons, skunks, crows, gophers, coyotes, feral dogs or cats, and other sorts of pests. It'll never be cleaned or oiled, and is viewed as a tool like a shovel and given the same care and consideration. I've yet to see one in any other situation.
''To me-a single shot says farm gun''-''it is viewed as a tool like a shovel''....actually, there is nothing wrong with that either-something that is simple and functional and always goes bang when you pull the trigger-I carried my nice Ruger#1 on sunny days-but my 6.5x55 bubba'd swede on rainy days.....and shot most of my deer with it-you might say it was a ''tool''-a practical gun that was dinged and bumped around-a functional ''tool''- and another thought-this is what we spent 2 billion dollars on-registering the ''tools''of farmers and hunters....
I kind of know what you mean, but for me it says more of a 'kids gun' because that's what most kids on the farms were given when they started when I was a kid. Including me. Singles are good, reliable guns and with only one round they're forcing kids to focus on their one shot, not 'spray and pray'. They're also a little safer when training - it's easy to see if the gun is loaded, you don't have to worry about the kid accidentally loading a second round, etc.
However - it's an interesting progression. You start out with a single shot rifle - then you get good enough that you start using some form of multi shot (double, pump, bolt, lever, semi, whatever). Then eventually you get good enough that all you need is a single again
So in my mind it's a kid's gun or an experts gun. It makes a pretty bold statement when you walk into camp with a single shot rifle - "i won't be needing a second shot boys. I'm that good."
In some cases there is not much difference between bold and arrogant. The next step is stupid for the guy who shows up with one cartridge.
muzzle loaders are not considered ''kids guns''and they are single shots-and take longer to reload than a cartridge.A friend of mine-gone now, put me onto single shots-said it made you a better shot-you took just that little bit extra to be sure before you pulled the trigger
Like i said - my grandad would regularly outshoot lots of other shooters with a single just to prove the point. It ain't arrogance if you're actually that good
Lots of experienced guys are good enough to hunt with a single just fine.There is a lot to be said for a fine single, rifle, shotgun or muzzle loader, but some of those junk singles are just a tube, a chunk of wood and a trigger. Sure some can shoot them and prove it is the shooter instead of the gun, but they are the fishing equivalent of a stick, string and a hook. They are good to bring out to prove a point, or experience that blessed poor feeling but life is too short to hunt with one on a regular basis.
The older Cooeys unlike later ones did not have any plastic. I have one with which I have shot my best trap scores.
I also had a cheap Remington import from Brazil. I had the barrel shortened to 24 inches and didn't bother to replace the bead. Just up to the shoulder and shoot. Great for Hungarian partridges. At the time I was training a new dog and wanted to concentrate on her and forget any idea of a second shot.
The darn things are very light and easy to carry.
I also had a cheap Remington import from Brazil. I had the barrel shortened to 24 inches and didn't bother to replace the bead. Just up to the shoulder and shoot. Great for Hungarian partridges. At the time I was training a new dog and wanted to concentrate on her and forget any idea of a second shot.
The darn things are very light and easy to carry.
- Location
- Back in the Peace Country
Me all my hunting buddies pretty much graduated to guns wth multiple shots.
My dad said start with a single, and make the shot count. So that was how I started with a single shot 12 for ducks, partridge and grouse. and I shot my share. next up was a double 16 gauge model 311 A fancy. Rather than firing two shots and getting one bird, I was better at getting two shots and two birds.
I often fired one shot from my double, missed and did not fire the second. the single shot had done a good job on teaching me range, etc.
Some guys will fire whatever shells are in their guns even if the birds are a mile high. That is not very sporting in my oppinion.
Today, if i were visiting someone and they said they had a loaner single for me, I wouldn't be too upset. I'll get my limit if the birds are around, and when the guys who took two triples are done cause they hit the bag limit, i'll still be callin and shootin. Not my first choice, but not a bad choice.
Have 16, 12 and 10 gauge doubles and use them all.
My dad said start with a single, and make the shot count. So that was how I started with a single shot 12 for ducks, partridge and grouse. and I shot my share. next up was a double 16 gauge model 311 A fancy. Rather than firing two shots and getting one bird, I was better at getting two shots and two birds.
I often fired one shot from my double, missed and did not fire the second. the single shot had done a good job on teaching me range, etc.
Some guys will fire whatever shells are in their guns even if the birds are a mile high. That is not very sporting in my oppinion.
Today, if i were visiting someone and they said they had a loaner single for me, I wouldn't be too upset. I'll get my limit if the birds are around, and when the guys who took two triples are done cause they hit the bag limit, i'll still be callin and shootin. Not my first choice, but not a bad choice.
Have 16, 12 and 10 gauge doubles and use them all.
I have a Winchester Cooey Model 84 28 gauge that I still take on a hunt now and then.It was my first shotgun and I have had it since 1967.At one time it was my only shotgun and I used it for all my hunting.
The shotgun has a walnut stock and forend.There is no plastic on the shotgun.It is all metal.After Winchester bought out Cooey in 1961 they did not cheapen up the shotgun line until 1968 when birch stocks and some plactic were introduced.The model number was changed from the Model 84 to the Model 840.
The shotgun has a walnut stock and forend.There is no plastic on the shotgun.It is all metal.After Winchester bought out Cooey in 1961 they did not cheapen up the shotgun line until 1968 when birch stocks and some plactic were introduced.The model number was changed from the Model 84 to the Model 840.
- Location
- Back in the Peace Country
I shot a very nice single baikal that by friend owned. It had a nickel (or something) block and blued vent rib barrel. he said he uses it for trap? or something. It was sweet. He said he paid over 300$ for it.
I'm almost 100% sure it was a baikal.
I'm almost 100% sure it was a baikal.
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I have one as well, the newer Baikal is not as nice as the older model but still a very solid piece. Yes this gun is for trap and designed shoot a little higher; come with three chokes and well worth the dollars.
Trigun
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
The only problem with a single shot shot gun is doub;es on birds, other than that they are fine things to carry in a truck, on a boat or tractor, etc....
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