Updated 10/2/2023: CVA Scout, Pedersoli Sharps added
Modern shooters seem to have an insatiable appetite for cutting-edge technology.
Plenty of us are engaged in a love affair with semi-autos kitted out with the latest and greatest innovative features.
However, there’s just something lovely about the timeless simplicity of a single-shot firearm.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes these simple, classic firearms so special.
THE QUICK LIST
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Editor’s Pick
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Best Beginner’s Single-Shot
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Best Survival Single-Shot
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Best Single-Shot Shotgun
Table of Contents
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Why You Should Trust Us
Alice is a lifelong hunter and experienced shooter who grew up flinging arrows and bullets at Virginia whitetails, turkeys, and game birds. Her most recent favorite hunting experience, though, is chasing bull elk in the Colorado backcountry.
She leverages this knowledge to bring her readers tips, tricks, and recommendations on what works (and doesn’t) in the field.
Best Single Shots
Although many single-shot firearms have gone the way of the dinosaur, there are still several stellar options available to modern shooters. Here are a few of our favorites.
1. CVA Scout
While CVA is most known for its muzzleloading rifles, the introduction of the Scout was met with positive reception.
The Scout is a standard break-action rifle, and each rifle comes standard with a DuraSight scope rail, Crushzone recoil pad, and is available in blued or stainless steel finishes. Heavier-caliber models also feature a fluted stainless barrel topped with a muzzle brake.
Speaking of calibers, the Scout is currently available in 9 different chamberings: .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .300 BLK, .350 Legend, .35 Whelen, .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin, .45-70 Govt., and .450 Bushmaster.
While the caliber selection isn’t as wide as the recently discontinued Thompson Contender, it is still a pretty good spread that covers most bases.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Keeping in line with the rest of CVA’s lineup, the Scout is priced extremely well, coming in around $300-450, depending on trim.
2. Pedersoli/IFG 1877 Sharps
If you were the kind of kid who daydreamed about history’s legendary buffalo hunters, this is the gun for you. The Sharps is one of the most instrumental firearms in American history.
This large bore, falling block breech-loader was affectionately referred to as “Old Reliable” by frontiersmen and professional buffalo hunters. In fact, this rifle is at least partially responsible for driving the American bison population to near extinction.
Pedersoli, as part of the Italian Firearms Group, makes beautiful replicas of these iconic frontier weapons, and their version is still incredibly reliable.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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The IFG 1877 Sharps rifles are also surprisingly accurate.
When held in skilled hands, this rifle is capable of delivering 2 MOA groups with nothing fancier than a 100-year-old cartridge (.45-70 Government) and naked iron sights.
3. Ruger No. 1 Rifle
Ruger is known for producing practical firearms for everyday Americans, and their No. 1 single-shot rifle is no exception.
The No. 1 uses a classic falling block design with an underlever, which lowers the block and allows for relatively easy reloading. It also has a sliding tang safety, making it perfect for new shooters.
All Ruger No. 1s feature cold hammer-forged barrels with precision rifling. These things are made for straight-shooting — literally.
Ruger releases only a few select calibers each year for the No.1, but in the past, it has been chambered for just about everything under the sun. So if you don’t see what you want in a new one, the used market may have you covered.
They also come machined with integral scope mounts for extra precision. After all, you need to make every shot count.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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4. Savage Arms Mark I FVT Rifle
A reliable single-shot, bolt-action rimfire rifle, the Savage Mark I is perfect for beginners. It features a 21-inch carbon steel barrel that is button-rifled for repeatable accuracy. The gun is well-balanced, lightweight, and shoulders like a dream.
However, the Mark I’s best feature is Savage’s proprietary AccuTrigger. The trigger is easy to adjust and provides a clean pull with a crisp break and zero creep, making it one of the best factory triggers on the market today.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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What do you think of Savage’s Mark I FVT? Rate it below!
5. Chiappa Little Badger
Unlike some of the more attractive singles on our list, the Chiappa Little Badger emphasizes function over form.
This little single-shot rimfire rifle is engineered for survival. It has a barebones design that is compact (17 inches), lightweight (less than 3 pounds), and foldable, so you can easily stuff it in a backpack or the back of your truck.
It has a wire frame and stock that isn’t exactly easy on the eyes but keeps the rifle packable, and the break action is ultra-dependable.
The Little Badger comes chambered in the soft-shooting .17 HMR, .22 Long Rifle, or .22 WMR calibers, which is good because the construction doesn’t have much to absorb recoil.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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6. Henry Single-Shot Shotgun
Although best known for their lever-action rifles, Henry also produces some seriously reliable single-shots. They are also quite handsome and definitely worth passing down to your grandkids.
The spent shell is fully ejected when you open the action, which makes for fast reloading and quick follow-up shots.
Henry Single Shots are available in .410, 20-gauge, and 12-gauge models. Each shotgun comes with removable chokes, so you can use the same shotgun for wingshooting, small game, and turkey hunting.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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7. Browning BT-99
You won’t find a better single-barrel trap gun than the Browning BT-99. First introduced in 1969, this one took a short hiatus in 1995 but reappeared in 2001 due to popular demand.
Rugged, reliable, and extremely well-balanced, the BT-99 is perfect for competitive clay shooting. It also makes an excellent weapon for serious wingshooters.
Like most Browning firearms, the BT-99 is elegant yet surprisingly affordable.
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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What Single Shots Have to Offer
The obvious major drawback to a single-shot firearm is that you only get one shot.
Getting off a second shot is a slow process that includes extracting a spent case and reloading a fresh cartridge. That means you have to really make that first shot count.
Despite that shortcoming, there are plenty of advantages to be had.
Single-shot rifles and shotguns can be some of the most affordable firearms you can buy. The designs used for single-shot firearms are all incredibly simple, which means fewer things can go wrong mechanically.
These simple designs make them easy to clean and require only minimal maintenance.
Benefits like that make single-shots popular options for survival weapons and truck guns. They tend to last forever and can shoot reliably, even after spending a few months tucked under the dusty backseat of a farm truck.
Because they don’t require a bulky magazine, single-shots are slim and trim. Their lightweight, well-balanced design makes them well-suited for remote, backcountry hunting.
Their straightforward configuration also makes single shots popular tools for teaching newbies basic shooting fundamentals.
They force even experienced shooters to slow down, breathe, and make careful disciplined shots.
Not All Singles Are the Same
The original single shot was the traditional muzzleloader, and black powder muzzleloaders are still popular among hunters looking for a challenge or taking advantage of special seasons.
However, like repeaters, single-shots come in many different action types.
Bolt-Action
Almost identical to your standard bolt-action repeater, a bolt-action single-shot is simply missing the magazine and related operating parts.
With a solid bottom that does not have anything pushing on the action, single-shot bolt-actions can be inherently more accurate than their repeating cousins.
This makes them popular for target shooting and varmint hunting, where precision is the name of the game.
Break-Action
When we think of break actions, we usually think of double-barrel shotguns.
Single-shot break actions work much the same way. Push a button or pull a lever, and the barrel swings down from a hinge. You insert a cartridge, swing the barrel up until it catches, and you’re ready to go.
You can find break-action firearms chambered for everything from tiny rimfire .22 short to magnum centerfire loads and just about every shotgun gauge known to man. These actions are super simple, robust, and super durable.
Falling Block
Also known as the sliding block action or drop block, falling blocks are not only simple, they can be quite beautiful. These classic firearms make perfect family heirlooms, even modern ones.
Falling blocks use a lever to activate a breechblock, moving it down and exposing the chamber. They have either a visible, exposed hammer or an enclosed one.
This action design is incredibly strong and capable of handling the heaviest dangerous game cartridges.
Final Thoughts
Single-shot rifles and shotguns are some of the most reliable, easy-to-maintain firearms on the face of the planet. They make perfect first guns for youngsters but also make sturdy survival guns.
You’ll find them on the trap field, in the deer woods, and engaged in fast-paced cowboy action competitions. They also make nice hand-down heirlooms for generations to come.
Do you have a favorite single shot? Share your memories and recommendations in the comments section below! Want more traditional shooting options? Check out our Best Double-Barrel Shotguns and Best Lever Action Rifles.
6 Leave a Reply
"Getting off a second shot is a slow process that includes extracting a spent case and reloading a fresh cartridge. That means you have to really make that first shot count."
This is excellent for practice. Having only one shot will force you to make sure it counts.
"Modern shooters seem to have an insatiable appetite for cutting-edge technology...Plenty of us are engaged in a love affair with semi-autos kitted out with the latest and greatest innovative features."
Not me. I prefer old-fashioned, simple, and reliable. If you put too much tech, it could fail at a critical moment; or you'll get confused and forget how to use it.
Of course, low-tech costs less.
The Ruger EC9S is about as low-tech and simple as it gets. It simply does its job and does it well. And you will be hard-pressed to beat its price -- around $250 plus tax.
This is gonna sound kinda funny, but I grew up in Wyoming and formed two solid attractions - two-stage military triggers and single-shot, falling-block rifles. I worked as a cowboy for years (not much like in the movies) and those old ranchers were pawnshop rifle buyers in the days when every ranch pickup had a rifle rack at the back window - explains the two-stage trigger fixation (my fave was the WWI Enfield rifle). I lived in Laramie for a good long while, working for the UPRR, and my next-door landlord neighbor was an old-timer who favored single-shot falling-block rifles (new to me). He owned two Ruger No.3 carbines, one in .30 Krag and one in .22 Hornet. I used the hell out of both of them, particularly the .22 Hornet, which I thought was especially fine, especially around the barns and outbuildings in Albany and Converse Counties. Decades later, I walked into a small gun shop in North Florida and saw a Ruger No. 1B Standard on the used rifle sale rack. It was in .308 Win. I bought it on the spot. I asked the shop owner, a veteran gunsmith, to make a rail for a long eye relief scope for it. It turned out to be a 1MOA rifle, which I know to be true because a month later I put 5 M80 Ball (.308 military rounds) on a 1-inch plate at 300yds. What a rifle! Two years later I bought a Winchester 1885 High-Wall single-shot falling-block in 6.5 Creedmoor and had that gunsmith make a similar LER rail for it. I put a 12x fixed power SWFA milquad scope on it and put 3 rounds on a IDPA steel torso target at 1000yds in boiling mirage - two of them were on top of one another, almost indistinguishable. How did I do that? Good coaching and excellent Natural Point of Aim, allowing the ever-fluid mirage patterns to repeat, enough so I was fairly sure of my hits, and it showed. What a tack-driver! I like both rifles, and would never sell either, but I think the Ruger No. 1B Standard .308 is particularly beautiful - elegant - a true rifleman's rifle. Most of the Ruger No. 1 rifles are owned by benchresters - a lesser variety of riflemen - but I'm a field shooter and hunter (just being honest, no lingering offense meant - the Ruger rings demonstrate the benchrest nature of the factory equipment - look for yourself, it's obvious). I'm a happy rifleman, but I still think fondly of that .22 Hornet Ruger carbine.
C. Sharps and Shilo Sharps will put the Uberti to Shame !!! In ALL aspects of shooting.
I think you guys missed the mark on this one.
But You did Ok on the BT-99. It is one of the best trap guns around.....
I remember an IV8888 video talking about their picks for "the most utilitarian" guns and a single shot twelve gauge was one of their picks. They just seem neat all things aside and I'd love to get a nice one to keep around.
For kid beginners...Crickett Youth Synthetic .22 LR Bolt-Action Rifle - is a nice little beginner bolt action for learning, target, plinker, and small game like a rabbit or squirrel. Can be had for less than or around $200.00.