Single Shot Saga
By Les Voth
Since I began my lifetime firearms procurement program, which turned into a buy/sell/trade trial that has spanned over forty years, I have owned many single shots. From pellet guns in .177, to the Ruger #1 Tropical Rifle in .458 Winchester Magnum, my interest in things "single" has included shotguns, muzzleloaders, gopher eradicators, moose droppers, deer harvesters, predator plunkers, and varmint chasers.
My current bouquet of single shots includes a new H&R .357 Magnum, a .243, a .22 Hornet, a 30-06 Springfield, a 12 gauge shotgun, and a .50 caliber muzzleloader. Harrington & Richardson, New England Firearms, Thompson Center, and Marlin are the names imprinted on these long guns. All are accurate and have accounted for the game they were purchased for.
My anxiety at having to walk the woods with a single shot has never come when in the woods. Rather, it has come when considering what to carry into the woods. Once in hunting land I've never felt I brought the wrong tool for the job, and they've never let me down because of their singular construction.
Have I missed? Yup. But rarely when packing a single shot, and never because of carrying a single shot. The care taken before the shot has ensured success more often than not, knowing there is no fast followup. This has made me a better all around shooter, even when packing a repeater, because the same principles apply no matter what your weapon.
I once read that the first three rules of hunting success are: Shot placement. Shot placement. Shot placement. After all that, you can bring up velocity, penetration, bullet construction, powder brand, and whether you brought your coffee, boiled eggs, and a comfy pad to rest on while you wait for your chosen prey to magically appear where you wish it would - at the time of your choosing.
This is one of my sons, at thirteen, on our first pigeon hunt of that year. Single shot shotguns are useful in training youngsters in gun safety, ammo conservation, accuracy, and they are usually light enough to carry while chasing elusive critters - all day.
Years ago I pursued Saskatchewan moose with the aforementioned .458WM. I'm not sure if I could have beat the moose into submission with the crowbar that was its barrel, but my arms were six inches longer after that week. My right shoulder was a black and blue mess after 11 sighters off the bench, in preparation for shooting a barn sized target in the woods.
My physical health would have been better if I'd just used it to shoot a few gophers, before playing hide and seek with The Swamp King. I did shoot a few gophers with that Ruger before I retired it to a dealer's rack, though. I also knocked down a good sized tree for my father's entertainment once too with three of its 500 grain pills.
A couple of other Ruger #1s in 30-06 went through my hands, one of which poked called coyotes, excavating gophers, and marauding rabbits. The other went by so fast it never accomplished anything except being pleasing to the eye.
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By Les Voth
Since I began my lifetime firearms procurement program, which turned into a buy/sell/trade trial that has spanned over forty years, I have owned many single shots. From pellet guns in .177, to the Ruger #1 Tropical Rifle in .458 Winchester Magnum, my interest in things "single" has included shotguns, muzzleloaders, gopher eradicators, moose droppers, deer harvesters, predator plunkers, and varmint chasers.
My current bouquet of single shots includes a new H&R .357 Magnum, a .243, a .22 Hornet, a 30-06 Springfield, a 12 gauge shotgun, and a .50 caliber muzzleloader. Harrington & Richardson, New England Firearms, Thompson Center, and Marlin are the names imprinted on these long guns. All are accurate and have accounted for the game they were purchased for.
My anxiety at having to walk the woods with a single shot has never come when in the woods. Rather, it has come when considering what to carry into the woods. Once in hunting land I've never felt I brought the wrong tool for the job, and they've never let me down because of their singular construction.
Have I missed? Yup. But rarely when packing a single shot, and never because of carrying a single shot. The care taken before the shot has ensured success more often than not, knowing there is no fast followup. This has made me a better all around shooter, even when packing a repeater, because the same principles apply no matter what your weapon.
I once read that the first three rules of hunting success are: Shot placement. Shot placement. Shot placement. After all that, you can bring up velocity, penetration, bullet construction, powder brand, and whether you brought your coffee, boiled eggs, and a comfy pad to rest on while you wait for your chosen prey to magically appear where you wish it would - at the time of your choosing.
This is one of my sons, at thirteen, on our first pigeon hunt of that year. Single shot shotguns are useful in training youngsters in gun safety, ammo conservation, accuracy, and they are usually light enough to carry while chasing elusive critters - all day.
Years ago I pursued Saskatchewan moose with the aforementioned .458WM. I'm not sure if I could have beat the moose into submission with the crowbar that was its barrel, but my arms were six inches longer after that week. My right shoulder was a black and blue mess after 11 sighters off the bench, in preparation for shooting a barn sized target in the woods.
My physical health would have been better if I'd just used it to shoot a few gophers, before playing hide and seek with The Swamp King. I did shoot a few gophers with that Ruger before I retired it to a dealer's rack, though. I also knocked down a good sized tree for my father's entertainment once too with three of its 500 grain pills.
A couple of other Ruger #1s in 30-06 went through my hands, one of which poked called coyotes, excavating gophers, and marauding rabbits. The other went by so fast it never accomplished anything except being pleasing to the eye.
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Single Shot Saga
When I was seventeen, a Savage single shot 16 gauge shotgun accompanied me to the Yukon Territories on my "I'm out of high school now" hitchhiking trip. Between Mike and me we had the 16, a single shot Bronco .22, and a Lee Enfield .303 British. We accounted for enough wild game to feed ourselves, but not enough to keep from losing about twenty pounds each. Survival guns come in all shapes and sizes - two out of three of ours were single shots.
Harrington & Richardson HandiRifle in .357 Magnum, with 22 inch barrel, offset hammer spur, and Burris 1 3/4 X 5 power straight tube scope in Burris medium rings.
My lifetime list of single shots includes about 50/50 shotguns and rifles. But the rifles made more individual impressions on me. From the great lines and craftsmanship of the Ruger #1s, to the utility of the NEFs, Marlins, and the H&Rs, their accuracy in the face of public criticism and rejection has been welcome and surprising. At 250 yards with the factory open sights on a Ruger #1 Light Sporter in 30-06, I got the elevation right on a coyote, once, on a steep downward angle.
At 286 paced out yards my friend Peter took a jackrabbit, with the Stevens Favorite .22 that Dave dropped a running canine with at 220 yards, after I shot a truckload of gophers to "train in" that pretty petite piece.
The longest deer shot I ever made was with a New England Firearms single shot in 243 Winchester. 386 lasered yards - in front of two witnesses. Right in the heart. A little hop. A little dash. Plop.
Four shots, one scope adjustment. This was with 357 Magnum 158 grain FMJ (Full Metal Jackets).
My TC Contender in .22 Hornet hasn't yet earned its keep, but a Hornady 35 grain V- Max ventilated a good sized coon that tore my dog's ear up, so I'll keep that one too.
The TC Encore Pro Hunter in 30-06 that rests beside the Hornet will contribute to our venison collection this fall. The accuracy revealed in the break-in session from that 28 inch 30-06 barrel impressed. Anything that can keep 47 cold bore shots hidden by a quarter can be considered interesting . . . and useful.
That's not all of them, but my excitement with my newest single shot is erasing memories. It's time to create new ones.
After reading for years of the utility of the .357 Magnum cartridge, I began to collect accessories for reacquiring ownership of something in that caliber. Having once owned a couple of revolvers so chambered, I was a bit practically familiar with it, so I knew what I would eventually need.
Interestingly, something that most temporary owners of firearms do is sell or give away accessories. A dealer once chastised me for doing the same thing. "Accessories are the cheapest thing to hang on to", he said. "We dealers give you nothing for your accessories, so you may as well keep them, or sell them privately." Since that day I've never given up the little stuff, and become the willing recipient of it from all willful donors.
Harrington & Richardson HandiRifle in .357 Magnum, with 22 inch barrel, offset hammer spur, and Burris 1 3/4 X 5 power straight tube scope in Burris medium rings.
My lifetime list of single shots includes about 50/50 shotguns and rifles. But the rifles made more individual impressions on me. From the great lines and craftsmanship of the Ruger #1s, to the utility of the NEFs, Marlins, and the H&Rs, their accuracy in the face of public criticism and rejection has been welcome and surprising. At 250 yards with the factory open sights on a Ruger #1 Light Sporter in 30-06, I got the elevation right on a coyote, once, on a steep downward angle.
At 286 paced out yards my friend Peter took a jackrabbit, with the Stevens Favorite .22 that Dave dropped a running canine with at 220 yards, after I shot a truckload of gophers to "train in" that pretty petite piece.
The longest deer shot I ever made was with a New England Firearms single shot in 243 Winchester. 386 lasered yards - in front of two witnesses. Right in the heart. A little hop. A little dash. Plop.
Four shots, one scope adjustment. This was with 357 Magnum 158 grain FMJ (Full Metal Jackets).
My TC Contender in .22 Hornet hasn't yet earned its keep, but a Hornady 35 grain V- Max ventilated a good sized coon that tore my dog's ear up, so I'll keep that one too.
The TC Encore Pro Hunter in 30-06 that rests beside the Hornet will contribute to our venison collection this fall. The accuracy revealed in the break-in session from that 28 inch 30-06 barrel impressed. Anything that can keep 47 cold bore shots hidden by a quarter can be considered interesting . . . and useful.
That's not all of them, but my excitement with my newest single shot is erasing memories. It's time to create new ones.
After reading for years of the utility of the .357 Magnum cartridge, I began to collect accessories for reacquiring ownership of something in that caliber. Having once owned a couple of revolvers so chambered, I was a bit practically familiar with it, so I knew what I would eventually need.
Interestingly, something that most temporary owners of firearms do is sell or give away accessories. A dealer once chastised me for doing the same thing. "Accessories are the cheapest thing to hang on to", he said. "We dealers give you nothing for your accessories, so you may as well keep them, or sell them privately." Since that day I've never given up the little stuff, and become the willing recipient of it from all willful donors.
Single Shot Saga
There are some calibers that perform out of caliber feats, like the 6.5X55 Swede. A woman from Montana received a surplus rifle in this caliber in 1948, recorded every game animal she shot with it until she was 91 years old, and passed away. Included in her journal was everything from fox, to an Alaskan Brown Bear. Within its class, or category of utility, that little round accomplishes feats the liability lawyers wouldn't recommend you advertise. Shucks, Bell, the Scottish ivory hunter, killed hundreds of elephants using 160 grain full metal jacketed bullets with his... I use soft points in mine for Whitetails and haven't lost one yet.
This is the result of three different elevation adjustments while sighting in the new 357 Magnum H&R with 158 grain round nose lead .38 Specials. It was no problem keeping the groupings close, but the distraction of biting flies gnawing on my legs for lunch probably kept the shots spread further than they will be on a fly free day.
The 357, loaded right, is a little like that 6.5. No, I wouldn't recommend you poke pachyderms with it, but... In a rifle length barrel it can be made into a reliable freezer filler.
In its stock form my little H&R can shoot .38 Specials and .357 Magnum rounds. These, at their factory loadings, are enough to call this rifle useful for small game, and up to deer at 100 yards with the .357 Magnum load.
If you are a reloader, there are bullets all the way up to 220 grains, and heavy for caliber bullets are usually like a loaded truck for penetration - as long as you don't stretch their range.
From the quiet, yes, quiet, .38 Specials, you can expect great accuracy, and they won't destroy the meat on a rabbit shot for the pot. Yesterday, after expending 46 rounds of 38 Specials, I didn't get a ringing in my ears from even the few times I "forgot" to put on my ear muffs. (Never forget to wear ear protection when shooting any type of firearm!)
The recoil when shooting 38s or 357s is almost nonexistent. With the 38s you could watch a bullet strike through the scope, even at close range. With the 357s, as long as you're shooting 100 yards, or so, you could probably watch it too. I didn't, but I didn't think of trying it then either.
This is my son Terrel on the last day of this year's youth season, successful at last.
In the .357 Magnum's history, there are those who've used pistols so chambered to take down some large game. In a 1936 article in Outdoor Life, Douglas Wesson wrote of a trip he took to Wyoming to hunt big game with an 8 3/4 inch barreled .357 Magnum revolver. On that trip Mr. Wesson accounted for an antelope, an elk, and a moose. Later, Doug Wesson killed a 700 pound grizzly with the same outfit, in British Columbia - before Canada got gun-stupid.
Skeeter Skelton, the southwestern lawman, was a proponent of the 357 Magnum. He would knock your block off if you denigrated this fine round. He killed big bulls, steers, hogs, and various other hoofed and feathered critters with his, mule deer included. This from a pistol length barrel. Skeeter said that you would lose 35 feet per second for every inch of barrel length you cut off, so if that's true, and his favorite 170 grain pistol load gave him 1400 fps, my 22 inch barreled H&R should give approximately 1855 fps.
I'll run some loads over my Crony later to find out the truth of it, but Skeeter's integrity is intact here, so I'll trust his lifetime of work experience.
I'm gonna put the sneak on a couple of deer this year. My shots will be inside one hundred yards close, and if I do it right they'll be standing still, too. Shot placement, and discipline - it's all I need.
Les Voth learned to hunt whitetail deer and coyotes in his native Canada, and has hunted both as often as possible in eastern North Dakota since immigrating to the United States.
This is the result of three different elevation adjustments while sighting in the new 357 Magnum H&R with 158 grain round nose lead .38 Specials. It was no problem keeping the groupings close, but the distraction of biting flies gnawing on my legs for lunch probably kept the shots spread further than they will be on a fly free day.
The 357, loaded right, is a little like that 6.5. No, I wouldn't recommend you poke pachyderms with it, but... In a rifle length barrel it can be made into a reliable freezer filler.
In its stock form my little H&R can shoot .38 Specials and .357 Magnum rounds. These, at their factory loadings, are enough to call this rifle useful for small game, and up to deer at 100 yards with the .357 Magnum load.
If you are a reloader, there are bullets all the way up to 220 grains, and heavy for caliber bullets are usually like a loaded truck for penetration - as long as you don't stretch their range.
From the quiet, yes, quiet, .38 Specials, you can expect great accuracy, and they won't destroy the meat on a rabbit shot for the pot. Yesterday, after expending 46 rounds of 38 Specials, I didn't get a ringing in my ears from even the few times I "forgot" to put on my ear muffs. (Never forget to wear ear protection when shooting any type of firearm!)
The recoil when shooting 38s or 357s is almost nonexistent. With the 38s you could watch a bullet strike through the scope, even at close range. With the 357s, as long as you're shooting 100 yards, or so, you could probably watch it too. I didn't, but I didn't think of trying it then either.
This is my son Terrel on the last day of this year's youth season, successful at last.
In the .357 Magnum's history, there are those who've used pistols so chambered to take down some large game. In a 1936 article in Outdoor Life, Douglas Wesson wrote of a trip he took to Wyoming to hunt big game with an 8 3/4 inch barreled .357 Magnum revolver. On that trip Mr. Wesson accounted for an antelope, an elk, and a moose. Later, Doug Wesson killed a 700 pound grizzly with the same outfit, in British Columbia - before Canada got gun-stupid.
Skeeter Skelton, the southwestern lawman, was a proponent of the 357 Magnum. He would knock your block off if you denigrated this fine round. He killed big bulls, steers, hogs, and various other hoofed and feathered critters with his, mule deer included. This from a pistol length barrel. Skeeter said that you would lose 35 feet per second for every inch of barrel length you cut off, so if that's true, and his favorite 170 grain pistol load gave him 1400 fps, my 22 inch barreled H&R should give approximately 1855 fps.
I'll run some loads over my Crony later to find out the truth of it, but Skeeter's integrity is intact here, so I'll trust his lifetime of work experience.
I'm gonna put the sneak on a couple of deer this year. My shots will be inside one hundred yards close, and if I do it right they'll be standing still, too. Shot placement, and discipline - it's all I need.
Les Voth learned to hunt whitetail deer and coyotes in his native Canada, and has hunted both as often as possible in eastern North Dakota since immigrating to the United States.
