Singleshot Rifle

ksb122

New member
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
I'm looking to buy a singleshot rifle, will be used for hunting and target. either ruger #1, an H&R, thompson, Rossi, or any other you can recommend in 308 or 30-06. Hoping to buy quality manufacturing, durability and no aftermarket modifications needed. trying to stay under 1200, your thoughts?
 
I can't argue with the Ruger No.1 (I have an International 7X57) or TC... but I am a great fan of the H&R break action singles and have a couple dozen centerfire H&R Handi's... they are well made, tough and can be very accurate. Asa bonus you can have an Ultra or Ultra thumbhole for half the cost of the TC.
 
I just sold a T C, I found I found the muzzle jump too much so I put a pro hunter thumbhole stock on and found I just don't like synthetic on a rifle, I had a NEF Handi rifle in 270 and it was a great rifle bought it used for less than $200 and never had a problem, it's a cheap way of trying a single shot.
 
I love my little Handi-rifle in 45-70. My next pennies will be spent on a scope for it. My only complaint is that it has an extractor instead of an ejector. Cheers!
 
A number 1 in the a configuration makes a perfect carry rifle, while a 1 b will make a better bench rifle at a pound and a half heavier and four more inches of barrell. I have the luxury of a few different configurations of number 1's in the safe and if I had to pick one it would be one of my a weight rifles. I haven't yet had the pleasure of owning an RSI yet but one would make a fantastic brush gun.
 
At this point, for me, I would spend my pennies on something nice. Krieghoff Hubertus, Blaser K95 or the Merkel K-Class (K3 at 5.5lbs for the lightweight crowd and K4 a hair over 6lbs if you want more beef) are all a step and a half above the likes of the Ruger (of which I am a big fan and owner) and the TC.

If you're thinking the frauleins are too spendy to walk down the aisle with, there's no reason not to cast your gaze at the girl-next-door from Connecticut. The Ruger is a very nice and well made rifle with classic styling. Classy add-ons like a 1/4 rib, option of a full stock and some classy chamberings (303 British has to appeal to you or you're no true Canadian) make these homegrown Farquahrsons worth taking out as a long-term proposition.

There's something in the water that makes the girls from Rochester a bit different. Funky lines, willingness to try new things up as your tastes change, and a long list of celebrities, male and female, that have had their hands all over them on TV and in videos means that these partiers are worth picking up and giving a whirl. Who knows...you just might like their carefree attitude and open mind.

Now, if you find yourself at the point where the proverbial "ugly lights" are about to come on and you're desperate to get out and make some noise, well, there are always the homely sisters from upstate New York. Thay aren't much to look at, and they don't feel great in your hands, but they're cheap to get with and they bang away with the best of them. Will you respect yourself in the morning or will you try to gnaw your arm off and sneak away? Well, depends on whether or not you're after a trophy, or just carving notches. Using one probably won't kill you outright, but a little bit of your soul may die as you creep away from the scene of the crime.

What's right for you? Hell, I don't know. But it's fun trying to figure it out!
 
I have Handi-Rifles and I like them and say they are good. Others say T/C Encores and Ruger No.1s etc. are better and I don't argue, they should be because they cost more and those being better doesn't make the N.E.F./H&R not good. Your $1200 budget means you do have the choice.

One of the best thing about the Handi-Rifle concept is being able to send it back to the factory for extra barrels so you can have it in several calibres. Except we can't do that in Canada, so we are missing out on one of its best features. The T/C does offer this, and you can just buy the extra barrels and fit them yourself.
 
Last edited:
Some of the advantages of a single shot, you will only miss once, you won't have the embarrassment of missing on a couple of follow up shots, you will never misplace your clip or your bolt, when people ask what you are carrying you can tell them it's a canoe paddle, you don't have to buy a box of ammunition you just buy one cartridge for each of your tags, some bow hunters will actually speak to you, most single shots are at least as heavy as a bolt so you are still getting your exercise. Single shots are great examples of the best engineering of the 19th century. I am sure there are more but these are some highlights.
 
I hunted with Ruger #1 rifles exclusively for about 3 years.
Never felt in the least handicapped because I was carrying a single-shot rifle.

I had a 7x57 that accounted for 3 moose and two blackies in that period.
That with 5 shots fired. Longest shot was 275 yards.

I feel that the Ruger #1 is the epitome of affordable single shots today.
The modification to the safety is imperative, though. :)

Regards, Eagleye.
 
Bought an encore pro hunter in 7-08 for my missus then I found a 20" 45/70 barrel for it I'm playing around with now, nice rifle and seems plenty accurate...

My next single will be either a #1 in 375 H&H or a H&R in .444

Singles are fun to hunt with and make great walkabout rifles, the encore is 34" long and with optic is about 5-6lbs... You won't enjoy shooting it off the bench that's for sure :)
 
I love my Ruger No. 1 in .300 H&H. It shoots very well, just as long as a 22" bolt action, despite it having a 26" barrel. The trigger is actually really good for a factory Rifle, they have improved by leaps and bounds over Ruger triggers of 10 years ago. Trigger is crisp, average pull weight of 3 lbs 2 ounces.
 
i must say i love single shots as well. i do prefer the encore to the #1. not by much.......
#1 in 7mm rem mag
SouthStormont-20120515-00347.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
from top to bottom, encore pro huntr frame with .375 H&H, older encore frame with 50 cao ml barrel, 20 ga rifled 28", 22-250 28", 300 win mag 26", 223 rem 26" weathershield.
019.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
speaks for itself......
019_zps1ed35381.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
Back
Top Bottom