Anybody Use a Single Shot?

[MTHunter20]

So the thread about the TC Pro Hunter for Western hunting got me thinking about this. Does anybody use a lightweight type of single shot. When I've looked into it in the past, most single shots are fairly heavy but there are some that are really light. For example, the CVA Scout is 5.8 pounds. It has a 20" barrel and is 35" long. Seems like something like this would be a great backpack rifle in something like 7mm-08. Just wonder if anybody uses something like this. If so, how do you like it? Or why would you avoid using something like that?

 

[dotman]

I did last year with my Forbes, my loads like to just touch the lands making them too long for the mag box. So not a true single shot but it became one. Probably not want your looking for

 

[MTHunter20]

Lol not quite. But did you feel like you were at a disadvantage at all? When lightweight and compact is the name of the game, it just surprises me to not see more manufacturers building single shot platforms.

 

[missjordan]

I use my single shot for hunting the thick timber, mainly because the gun is set up for short range shots. I don't feel like it's a disadvantage to me because the gun is compact and easy to handle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dotman]

Lol not quite. But did you feel like you were at a disadvantage at all? When lightweight and compact is the name of the game, it just surprises me to not see more manufacturers building single shot platforms.

No not really as the area I hunt is very thick and a 2nd shot really isn't possible. But even in open country it only takes maybe a few seconds longer for me to reload then if I could from the mag box.

 

[rayporter]

since 1964 single shots have been mostly all i have used. one 700 rem gets some use for elk but all deer hunting is with a single shot. usually a shotgun.

varmint guns are all single shot.

 

[elkguide]

When hunting for whitetails around here, I have carried a Ruger No.1 (successfully) many times.

Never felt at a disadvantage.

 

[Tod osier]

So the thread about the TC Pro Hunter for Western hunting got me thinking about this. Does anybody use a lightweight type of single shot. When I've looked into it in the past, most single shots are fairly heavy but there are some that are really light. For example, the CVA Scout is 5.8 pounds. It has a 20" barrel and is 35" long. Seems like something like this would be a great backpack rifle in something like 7mm-08. Just wonder if anybody uses something like this. If so, how do you like it? Or why would you avoid using something like that?

CVA scout is in actuality well over 7 pounds. I just bought a scout compact in .44 mag for my son to use in MI for deer and was shocked how heavy it is. I have not called CVA, but the gun is as far from lightweight as you can get. Going off the factory stats, I was concerned that it was going to be too light and snappy with the recoil for a small kid, but that concern evaporated when I opened the box and picked up the barrel. Trigger is superb for a gun that price, though.

 

[MTHunter20]

Wow that's crazy. They advertise the compact as 5.8 pounds. I wouldn't be very happy if I was expecting light weight and then it came in over 7 pounds. 44 mag's a great woods deer round though. I've killed several with a Marlin 1894 and they were all DRT.

 

[Tod osier]

Wow that's crazy. They advertise the compact as 5.8 pounds. I wouldn't be very happy if I was expecting light weight and then it came in over 7 pounds. 44 mag's a great woods deer round though. I've killed several with a Marlin 1894 and they were all DRT.

The barrel is like a 1 inch piece of bar stock, with lead ingots hid somewhere in it. Good to hear on the .44. I have never shot a deer with one, but for a new shooter it is worlds better than a slug, which is another legal option along with muzzleloader, which I considered.

We are going to shoot it this weekend, so I'll learn a lot about it then.

 

[Jimbob]

I have used my grandfathers old coey single shot 12 gauge for turkeys. Great gun to carry, only ever needed one shot.

For big game I would never consider a single shot unless it was given to me and it was my only choice. It would work though.

 

[MTHunter20]

Tod- Definitely better than a slug gun for new shooters. I think you'll be pleased with the 44 performance.

Jimbob- Why wouldn't you consider it for big game though I guess is my question. It seems that single shots are always overlooked. Is it because of just the comfort of more rounds in the gun? It just seems it would be alot easier for some manufacturer to build ultralight guns on a single shot platform rather than a bolt action. You could (in theory) have a lighter gun with a longer barrel for more performance for the same or less length as a bolt gun.

 

[JigStick]

I have a few custom single shots. Built on BAT and Stiller actions. In McMillan stocks with Edge fill. And #2-3 barrels. Talley rings and Jewel triggers. Even with scopes they are well under 7lbs. Some are under almost under 6lb

 

[chuckeglenn]

I've got a 7mm and muzzle loader barrel for my TC pro hunter. Never weighed the 7mm, but the muzzle loader is about 8.5 with vortex 3-9x40. The 7mm barrel is slightly lighter. They are both very compact rifles. I've killed multiple deer and hogs with each. They have served me very well. Would recommend to anyone who is interested in a single shot.

 

[Jimbob]

Tod- Definitely better than a slug gun for new shooters. I think you'll be pleased with the 44 performance.

Jimbob- Why wouldn't you consider it for big game though I guess is my question. It seems that single shots are always overlooked. Is it because of just the comfort of more rounds in the gun? It just seems it would be alot easier for some manufacturer to build ultralight guns on a single shot platform rather than a bolt action. You could (in theory) have a lighter gun with a longer barrel for more performance for the same or less length as a bolt gun.

A quick follow up shot is very important for big game in my opinion. I do not see any benefits that a single shot would give over a bolt. A bolt action can be made as light as I would ever want. I don't like long barrels as the gun is not as handy, 22" is enough for me.

If there was a factory produced single shot rifle that weighed less than 5 lbs and was priced under $1000 then I think it would be a consideration.

 

[MTHunter20]

A quick follow up shot is very important for big game in my opinion. I do not see any benefits that a single shot would give over a bolt. A bolt action can be made as light as I would ever want. I don't like long barrels as the gun is not as handy, 22" is enough for me.

If there was a factory produced single shot rifle that weighed less than 5 lbs and was priced under $1000 then I think it would be a consideration.

Thanks Jimbob. Yeah the handiness factor is the biggest reason I would think they'd be more popular. Seems like a sub 5 lb single shot for less than a grand would be pretty doable for some manufacturer. I thought CVA was there, but like was said earlier, they're not as light as they advertise.

 

[robtattoo]

Thinking hard about this....I really don't think anyone could actually manufacture a break-action (or falling nor rolling block) single shot lighter than a light bolt action.
Think about this: the barrel is a tube. Threaded on one end to go in a bolt receiver, or with an extra hinge welded/cast into it for a break action. It also had to have an extractor built into it.
A bolt action receiver is, essentially, a tube, slightly larger than the diameter of the barrel, but with a much larger bore. The forces applied to the receiver are also linear, meaning it can be incredibly thin walled. The trigger assembly is a tiny piece pinned or bolted underneath
A break open receiver has to be a large block of steel milled to contain the hinge. The force applied to the hinge is rotational, meaning it needs to be fairly stout to contain the shearing forces. It also had to contain the trigger assembly, firing pin & hammer/striker assembly.
In a bolt action, this is all contained within the bolt & all the recoil forces applied to it are transferred to the receiver via the locking lugs.

In essence, a bolt gun is a simple tube with a few bits inside. A break action, by necessity, is a tube attached to a dirty great block of steel containing lots of stuff.

 

[robtattoo]

I do so wish my phone would stop autocorrecting 'has' to 'had'
Sorry 'bout that.

 

[MTHunter20]

That's a good point Rob. I guess it just seems like it'd be so much more metal in a bolt action. Thanks for the well thought out response though. So I guess it comes down sacrificing a little bit of handiness for lighter weight or a little weight for more handiness but less shots available.

I hate autocorrect too lol. Had to change like 5 words that were autocorrected just in this one post.

 

[JigStick]

Moving to a single shot will save you some weight, but not a ton. Usually the actions are actually a little heavier than their repeating versions because less metal is machined out of the action. However you do end up saving weight on the bottom metal. If you really want to build a light weight rifle you have to go all out on every component....trigger, rings, scope included. But you will save the most weight at the stock, action, and barrel.

Some of our ultralight rifles weigh less than 5lbs. For example, a McMillan Hunters Edge stock with a single shot Stiller or BAT action, and a number 2 or 3 fluted Krieger barrel will get you an extremely lightweight rig. And if you want to get crazy you can start chopping the barrel back to save more weight. I have a few guns built with these components, chambered in everything from 6PPC, 6.5x47, 7WSM.

The theory that you can't make fast follow up shots with a single shot action is hog wash. I mount a SAP 2-Rounder to each gun. And I've rattled off 3 shots and dropped three white tail from the same soy bean plot just as fast as I could with a repeater.