The Single Shot Shotgun

Ahsan Ahmed

Ahsan Ahmed

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From a perspective of Upland Hunting, our discussions, in this forum, more than often hover over breechloading double guns (among other action types) yet I find, at least basis my observations here in ON, that a great number of bird hunters carry/use the single shot shotgun of all types of flavors, so to speak.

Personally, I've very negligible experience using one once as a teenager but I can visualize the challenge of Wingshooting with one mainly due to the single shot/single action configuration of the firearm.

Therefore, my question particularly to the double guns owners - who among you still own/hunt with a single shot shotgun? What would be a good field model to look for in terms of balance/handling?
 
The only single shot shotguns I use much any more are high quality combination guns, a Merkel and a Heym. 'with rifle barrel below and shotgun above, they handle just like any good shotgun should. In fact the Merkel also has a set of double shotgun barrels, which handle very well too, as one would expect.
I do own an old Baikal 12 ga. that I bought from Tradeex. The only shots I have taken with it killed a couple of raccoons trying to make a home under the floor at our elk camp this year. Hardly a true test of a guns qualities.
 
I Have only ever really hunted with doubles..either O/U or SxS. Yet, My first gun was a H.W Cooey 84 12 gauge. Still have it, among other cooey and winchester singles that I've collected over the past few years. From time to time i'll give them a turn out in the woods. As far as carrying and balance..You can't beat the single. Swings much better with a 30" barrel though since it is a light gun and I feel you kinda need that extra weight to give it the proper swing. Something about walking an old trail / pushing through the brush with that ol'e single cracked open in your hand down by your side.

I've had great experience shooting with them. As people say, your first shot is the one that counts..and obviously with a single, it's gonna be the only shot, exspecially if your game is on the run or gone to wing. Literally a hit or miss situation. Now sometimes if the game is on the ground, you might get a reload and crack off another shot, but that don't happen all that much.

I'm not a fan of the new single shots..they just don't appeal to me. The Older Baikals, winchesters and of course the Cooeys have a place in my heart. Depending on load/gauge, they can kick like mules, but hey, it's a light gun, and you can install a recoil pad do help that problem. If buying a Cooey or Winchester, I'd opt for the original H.W Cooey model 84 or the Winchester model 37! ...as both are all steel and walnut..the "upgraded" versions..I say degraded..had some "pot metal" parts and plastic..ie.. cooey 840, winchester 370, winchester 37A, to name a few. Still great singles, But the older ones are of a bit better quality.

Thats my $.02...whether you get anything from it
 
I use my baikal single for grouse and partridge all the time. It's a hoot. Very light to carry, quick to point and has a wonderfully intuitive POI. It's probably my favorite shotgun. Once you get used to a single, you quickly realize the only benefit of a double is the rare occasion you could fell a second bird.
 
single shot

I think that the best single shot was the old Savage model 220........unfortunately dropped from production in the 1960's.

The feature that I liked best was the tang safety........just like the safety found on most double guns. Way better than pulling a stiff/slippery hammer back.

Too bad Savage would not bring it back........would likely capture most of the single shot market.

Pete G
 
I've still hunt with a single barrel shotgun sometimes and for ease of carry and handling they are unbeatable. As has been said, the new ones are junk. As far as the old guns go I like an Iver Johnson Champion the best, a great fitting gun. However if they reintroduced the old singles as produced in the 30's, 40's and 50's with the same materials and quality you'd be paying $400 plus for one.
 
i to hunt with singel shot shotguns in 16 and 20g . i like them for the weight .i have found that starting a new young hunter with a singel is not a good idea as thy do seem to have a hell of a kick .i us mine mosly for bunnys DUTCH
 
I have a couple of 84's in 16ga,one is unfired and the other is a grouse iron.
I have many single shot shotguns.Winchester,Remington,Cooey and bought my kid a H&R Tamer .410 as a starter.He loves it.
 
My grandpa always has his old Cooey 20g at camp when we are their in the fall. I carry it when i go on walks or when we're clearing trails etc as its light and easy to load/unload in a hurry. Its not a serious hunt by any means, so if I cant get a shot I wont be upset.

Heres the results of one such walk this fall

2047.jpg
 
I shot this year's deer with an NEF Survivor (short-barreled stainless steel single shot) in 12 gauge.

I like singles a lot. I wish the first shotgun I had bought had been a single shot 12 gauge with a modified choke. I don't think I ever would have needed to buy another gun (although I sure enjoy using the others in the cabinet!)

I shot a couple mallards this year with a 20 gauge single and #6 steel. It was a pretty nice gun for that scenario (15 yard shots on flooded timber).
 
When I first started hunting I used a single shot Winchester/Cooey Model 84.Used it a lot until I was able to get a SXS 28 gauge.Still have the old Model 84 and every so often I take it out on a hunt.
 
I have shot more partridge up here in the North East it is thick wood hunting, so no wing shooting, more point and pull the trigger. It is only a disadvatage in years like this past were there were flocks to shoot, but I still can reload pretty fast after 22 years of hunting with the old Cooey! I love doubles but hate to scratch up or get soaking wet my expensive shotgun! So douybles are for those lovely fall days were you wander in the sunshine down the old bush and loggiung road! Hope all of us who enjoy these singles had a great year! Dale in T-Bay
 
I did play around with one of those budgetly priced Italian made Galef Champion 'folding' single barrel shotguns once.
I suggest avoiding it because the chamber was too tight for higher pressure loads. With only the extractor, empty high brass shells had to be literally pulled out of the chamber with difficulty.
I suspect it would have been okay with skeet loads and such. I did not hold onto it long enough to find out.
 
I would say a lot of the people who are still shooting single shots are the people who are shooting .410 shotguns.

I have one, it's incredibly light and easy to handle in the woods, simple, points great, and recoils like a .22 with 2 1/2in shells, and not much more with the three inch. Patterns great with 3in and the full choke, too.
 
I don't hunt with a single, but a buddy of mine has his dad's old Cooey and just this week we decided (against our better judgement) to put a few boxes of shells through her shootin clays. One, I can't believe we've done this on several occasions and still find it funny. Two, I have no idea why we've never put a butt pad on that thing. Oddly enough I know we'll bring it out again.
 
Like a lot of folks, I started hunting with a Cooey 840 in 12ga. Kicked like a mule with heavy loads, but hey, I honestly didn't know any better.
Used it for everything.
I'd buy another single, if it was the right one...Man that Tolley is pretty.
 
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