Single-shot firearms are great. They’re accurate, simple to use, and often less expensive than repeating firearms. They also lend themselves to building good shooting skills since you tend to shoot better when you know you don’t get a second shot. But those skills can sometimes lead to overconfidence and misapplication of those tools. So, let’s talk about single-shot guns, why you might want one, and why they are not the best self-defense choice.
Single-Shot Guns: What’s the Point?
That’s a fair question. After all, modern firearms offer capacity galore, so why limit yourself? There are several reasons. First, single-shot guns are easy to use. My first firearm was a Harrington & Richardson break-top 20-gauge shotgun, which I still own. Operation is simplicity itself. Just press the button, apply a little pressure, and the breech opens. Insert the shell and close the breech. You’re now ready to cock the hammer and pull the trigger. Opening the breech ejects the spent shell. Repeat. That old H&R is easy to run and easy to maintain. I like that simplicity, as do many others.
Single-shot firearms are also generally less expensive than their more complex counterparts. Fewer moving parts mean less manufacturing effort. The easier the gun is to make, the less expensive it is. Single-shot guns are great for new gun owners because of the price and the ease of use.
These firearms also tend to be slim and light. Again, fewer moving parts and features mean less space is needed to contain what parts there are. My H&R 20-gauge fits that description. It’s light and handy and was perfect for an 11-year-old boy to carry in the woods and fields.
Finally, single-shot guns tend to sharpen shooting skills. If you only have one shot, you’re more likely to make it count. I have a friend whose grandfather gave him an old .22 rifle when he was a boy. My friend roamed all over his grandfather’s farm, but his grandfather only gave him one round per day. He could use it on whatever he wanted, but he only got the one. He quickly learned to choose his targets carefully and hit what he shot at. Many hunters love the challenge of a single-shot rifle, shotgun, or pistol in the field.
Single-Shot Guns and Self-Defense
While single-shot firearms have many things to commend them, they are not ideal for self-defense. If that’s all you have or can afford, then, by all means, use it. One shot is certainly better than no shots. If my H&R was my only gun, you better believe it would stand by my bed loaded with buckshot and wearing a side saddle with a few more rounds.
But it isn’t my only gun, so it doesn’t need to fill that role. Like many of you, I expect, I have a dedicated home defense pistol, along with a rifle close to hand. The pistol is an IWI Masada with a 17+1 capacity. The rifle has more rounds than that. If I want to go with a shotgun, I have higher capacity options than my trusty H&R.
While single-shot firearms can lead to great skill, don’t be overconfident. You may be able to drill your one and only shot on a deer, squirrel, or whatever, but those targets don’t shoot back or attack you with a tire iron. I’ve experienced the adrenaline surge of finally getting that buck in your sights. Fortunately, I haven’t had to deal with the full-on adrenaline dump in a life-or-death self-defense situation, where missing with your one and only shot could cost you or a loved one your life. I can’t imagine that they are anywhere near the same intensity. But I do know that performance degrades significantly under such stress, meaning that your single-shot hunting or target skills likely won’t translate.
Finally, violent crimes by multiple attackers are rising. Criminals know there’s safety in numbers. This is especially true of juvenile crime, where incidents with multiple attackers rose from 21.9% of all attacks in 2019 to 52.9% in 2020. Most of this is gang violence, but the rates are climbing. If you have one shot to deal with two or more assailants, you better rock the reload or have a backup. Better to have more rounds.
Options and Reality
I’m sure that most readers genuinely wonder why anyone would choose a single-shot gun for self-defense. As noted, it may be all someone has. If so, do what you can, but find a way to stage the reloads, like a side saddle or something.
But maybe, just maybe, someone out there is supremely confident in their skills. To that, I say that I’m glad you’re good, or even great, with your firearm of choice. But come back down to Earth with us mere mortals for a minute. Stress degrades those skills. Numbers and circumstances can overcome them. There’s a time and place for your Thompson Center G2 Contender and my old H&R — self-defense ain’t it.
Good, high-capacity options can be had for not much money. IWI offers excellent quality handguns like the 17+1 9mm Masada and 13+1 9mm Masada Slim for around $450. There are other pistols available for even less, though you may start sacrificing reliability. Or you could grab a Mossberg Maverick 88 pump shotgun, in 12-gauge or 20-gauge, for $240-$260. The Maverick 88 is simple, reliable, and holds six or eight rounds, depending on which one you choose. There are other inexpensive shotguns too. The Maverick 88 is just what I would choose.
Again, you may wonder why this article is necessary. But I kid you not, I have a friend whose home defense gun is a reproduction Brown Bess musket. He’s a historian, like I am. He just carries it a bit too far in this case. He says it’s the only firearm he wants or needs, and I’ve been unable to influence him otherwise. I fervently hope he doesn’t pay for it. He likely won’t, but we don’t know when bad stuff will happen until it does. I haven’t even been able to talk him into a home defense cannon, firing grapeshot, for the top of his stairs.
If that sounds like you, please reconsider. We’ve addressed affordability. If cost isn’t a major issue, you have a veritable smorgasbord of weapons from which to choose. Don’t let pride or sentimentality get in your way. Criminals don’t care about that stuff. In a self-defense scenario, firepower matters. So does training. Transitioning from your single-shot revolver to a modern carry gun, even if it’s a revolver, requires new skill sets. Acquire those skills and practice them.
Final Thoughts
There are many things to like about single-shot firearms. I thoroughly enjoyed pulling out my H&R shotgun for this article. But guns are tools, and you should know by now that different jobs require different tools, and even the most exquisitely crafted implement cannot perform a job for which it’s not designed. In this case, we’re talking about defending your life and your loved ones’ lives. Do yourself a favor and choose the right tool for that, too. Choose the tool that gives you the best chance to survive. Many guns fit that description, but single-shot firearms most assuredly do not.
