Single Shot Hunting Rifle

[Jig Stick]

the majority of my buddies hunt with single shot rifles built on BAT actions in calibers ranging from 6PPC, 6BR, 6Ackley, 6.5x47, 284win etc. The rifles are tac drivers and are extremely light with the single shot actions. They almost have me talked into building one. My concerns are with having a single shot rifle. I plan on this gun being less than 7lbs, and would potentially use it out west for extended hunts. Is having a single shot going to hurt me in any way while hunting say elk, moose, mule deer? They are telling me its just as fast to manually throw another shell in the chamber as it is to chamber one from an internal mag. I find that hard to believe.

Im thinking a single shot 7wsm or 300wsm. Either of those should cover me from white tail to elk correct?

 

[rgvt4]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

I wont hurt If your 1st shot counts. If you want a lite hunting rifle look at the tikka t3 in a 300wsm. I have one and love it. Good luck

 

[SigsauerP229]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

I think the calibers will work fine for your intended purpose.

The single shot I don't think will be an issue either if you get good shot placement, there's no need for anything more. I've hunted with muzzle loaders and bows and they are a heck of a lot slower to reload then putting another round into a bolt action.

I don't have any experience with single shot bolt actions but from what I can see you are looking at slightly more weight for just the action. I would also think the extra fill in the stock would account for any weight of a stardard floor plate.

Maybe I'm missing something but I would think that you could build a repeater action in the weight range you are considering depending on the barrel profile you are considering.

 

[Overflow10]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jig Stick</div><div class="ubbcode-body">..... They are telling me its just as fast to manually throw another shell in the chamber as it is to chamber one from an internal mag. I find that hard to believe.

Im thinking a single shot 7wsm or 300wsm. Either of those should cover me from white tail to elk correct? </div></div>

I think the only opinion on single vs internal mag that matters is yours. If you do not believe it is as fast the it probably isn't for you. I went through the same thought process on my hunting gun although I was considering a Ruger No in 280 REM. I decided I wanted the next round in the box so I went Stiller LA, BDL, in a 7 RSAUM.

With the 7WSM you can use 140-180 grn which covers everything you listed. My 7RSAUM easily gets 3000-3100 fps with 168s so it has plenty of hitting power for the distances I shoot.

YMMV

 

[ORD]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

I have done a good bit of hunting with single shot rifles over the years, including on dangerous game animals that will bite/claw/gnash/trample/otherwise turn right around and kill your @$$ dead in no time flat if you happen to f-up that first shot. (But for the guide and others around with loaded rifles of course).

There are techniques for ammo management and rapid reloading that will allow you a pretty fast follow-up shot if need be, but as others have already said...it makes making your first shot count all that much more important. As for a single-shot rifle being as fast to reload as a magazine-fed bolt action rifle (internal box mag, detachable or otherwise)...I have to call BS on that point. The simple act of having to manually insert a second round causes enough of a delay even under the most ideal of conditions to naturally be slower than a quick and efficient cycle of the bolt on a repeater action to chamber a round already in the rifle.

 

[drewhenson]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

I've been thinking about a single shot bolt gun for hunting in .260, which will take all the game you describe and has similar ballistics to .300 WM with less recoil than a .308. Some consider it slightly underpowered for, say, moose, but reading around online it seems perfectly capable of taking even on of those beasts. Just a thought. Oh, and the Tikka T3 seems to be pretty popular these days, so you might try one of those. FWIW, I am almost certainly going to get this rifle chambered in .260 for hunting.

 

[Edds]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

Why is it necessary to build a single shot? You can build a repeater on a BAT action that is just a light as a single shot.

 

[bassani]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

other than someone having a physical problem that does not allow them to hold up the weight of a rifle while shooting, i find it hard to believe that weight is the real issue. The extra weight really isnt that much. Sounds more like a fad.

 

[BigNoise]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

In a short mag, I'd go with a DBM.

 

[Jig Stick]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Maelek</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <span style="color: #FF0000">Sounds more like a fad.</span> </div></div>

This is what I tend to think. But they always come back saying "how many times have you needed more than 1 shot to get your deer / bear / coyote / etc". And they are right. Never have I needed a follow up shot. The single shot actions seem to come in faster than the repeaters. The rifle doesnt require any bottom metal, mag, or mag follower, so that saves me some money. I can worry less about OAL as well. I dont know. I kind of want a single shot. But like others have mentioned, it is possible to get a light repeater as well. But im really starting to like the simplicity of the single shot idea.

 

[tipper]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

Repeater action is lighter than a single shot action.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

Real world; having a followup shot available is no disadvantage.

IMHO, having a useful capability available and taking a stubborn position disavaowing it sounds sorta like Dale Earnnhart, Sr. refusing to use the HANS device. Eventually; it ultimately bites you in the ass.

Greg

 

[DAVETOOLEY]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

Accuracy is a whole lot of little things that when added together make a difference. In a light weight hunting rifle I think you would be hard pressed to see a difference in accuracy between a S/S and a repeater considering the size of the barrel and the overall weight of the rifles. Using a lighter caliber that is shooter friendly would be my first priority. 284W, 7-08 Improved, 7X57 come to mind in a short action. Long action 7MMRem Mag, 280, 280 Imp, 270Win and the list goes on. Just use a moderate recoiling caliber.

Everything is a compromise.

 

[Ammo dog 2311]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

There are a few things to consider first.
Are you doing this because you friends have one ?
What if you miss a wind call at let's say 450 yds and you wound the animal. Would you like to be able to get another chance at a kill shot ?
Just exactly how much weight are you saving ?
Weigh your boots and see how much they are, buy lighter boots...
Weigh your clothes and gear ? Buy lighter equipment.
Go to the gym and work out a little, get stronger..
Weight of your rifle should be your very last thought. Not saying to carry a 18 lb. gun but when your talking about 1 lb.- 2 lbs max it's not really an issue.

 

[rem300wm]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

I know a guy with a Ruger No. 1 in 25.06. Jumped a nice mule deer buck toward him one day and was very surprised how fast he was able to get two shots off. 'Course he missed...both times. When I asked about how quickly he was able to load he said he carried a shell inside his glove.

If you were talking a falling block action I think there is some argument to be made for an inherant accuracy advantage. In a bolt action like a BAT it has to be neglible for hunting purposes.

Your cartridge selections will work very well for killing elk and deer. The above mentioned fella' has bedded down what would amount to a whole herd of elk with his 25.06 so you are certainly not short of power at reasonable ranges.

My .02.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jig Stick</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Maelek</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <span style="color: #FF0000">Sounds more like a fad.</span> </div></div>

This is what I tend to think. But they always come back saying "how many times have you needed more than 1 shot to get your deer / bear / coyote / etc". And they are right. Never have I needed a follow up shot. The single shot actions seem to come in faster than the repeaters. The rifle doesnt require any bottom metal, mag, or mag follower, so that saves me some money. I can worry less about OAL as well. I dont know. I kind of want a single shot. But like others have mentioned, it is possible to get a light repeater as well. But im really starting to like the simplicity of the single shot idea. </div></div>

Jig, many of these reasons seem negligible, price, weight, speed differences between a SS and repeater dont seem like enough to limit yourself one way or the other. While I share your sentiments about one shot kills, you will never regret having a backup shot the one time you need it. Particularly if it happens to be your first bull elk or similar.
Your caliber choices are fantastic, the 7wsm and 300wsm are perfect NA hunting cartridges. I currently shoot a 7SAUM (IMHO a little better choice than the wsm) and it has proven to be very deadly on both mulies and elk. My previous rifle was a Rem 700 custom 300wsm, and a single shot as well. Though I brought down many deer and elk with it, (sometimes firing more than one shot) I ended up selling it because it ceased to fit my shooting style. As well as being very heavy, though that part didn't bother me.

 

[my human host]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

I can't speak for anyone else, but if I was spending the cash on a western hunt, going with a repeater would seem like a good idea to me.

The ability to stay on the scope while cycling the bolt seems like an advantage to me.

I will admit that I know guys that have taken a ton of game with single shots, tho.

 

[swampbuck]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

When I was a youngster learning to hunt ethically and choose shots wisely my dad would only give me one round to load in my rifle at a time. And I have to admit that it did, to a certain extent, change my state of mind. I was more careful, patient, and cautious when taking a shot. I now of course load multiple rounds in my bolt action hunting rifles.

I love the Ruger #1 and personnally think that there is just something special about sharps and other breech loading rifles. And they are capable. I also fear a good revolver shooter much more than a crack head with a wonder 9. If you like to have a the fastest second shot possible go repeater. If you like the state of mind that a single shot gives then by all means use it. I think it all boils down to that. I agree with Ammo dog that weight, cost and accuracy are negligable at best.

 

[libertyman777]

Re: Single Shot Hunting Rifle

Here's my .02. It's all what you're used to and what's best for the intended purpose. I've seen so people do some impressive shooting with single shot shotguns in duck ponds or dove fields. The technique involves holding two spare shells between the 2nd/3rd and 3rd/4th fingers on the trigger hand and working the break action for speed. My father has taken three for three on more than one occasion. But this was based subsistence hunting in the rural south learned in his youth.

Now having said that, as soon as he could afford an semiautomatic, he bought one. But he wasn't humping all over the Big Sky country either.

If you're standing or kneeling, and learn proper technique, I think a single shot would be okay. But prone, a break barrel would be slower.