In an appropriate chambering, a modern single-shot is ideal for mountain hunting. The author took this chamois with a Blaser K95 chambered in 7mm STW.

And then there’s Thompson/Center, first the Contender carbine and then the Encore. This amazingly versatile platform has spawned almost its own cult, based not only on the single-shot concept but also on the sheer versatility (and affordability) of the interchangeable barrel system.

You can have a T/C action with barrels from .17 rimfire to .416 Rigby. The top-of-the-line Pro Hunter is a bit pricier than many bolt actions, but with the inexpensive addition of additional barrels it’s like having more guns at a fraction of the cost.

Then there’s the H&R/New England Arms break-open system. Because of the excellent price and generally Spartan finish, this is usually considered an entry-level firearm, but to my thinking this is selling it short. Chamberings don’t rival T/C (or Ruger), but they’re robust enough for most hunting purposes, and add-on barrels are also available.

I suppose we of the single-shot cult each have our own preferences. I think I can say “we” because, although I have not been steadfast, I have certainly gone the distance. I obtained my first Ruger No. 1 clear back in 1968. I bought that first Ruger No. 1 slightly used at Simmons in Olathe, Kansas. It was a .243, and its intended purpose was prairie dogs, although I did also come to use it for medium-size big game as well.

Single-shots make a perfectly viable varmint setup. Even though things can happen fast in, say, predator calling, and having only one shot can be a handicap, if you accept the single round as part of the deal it makes it that much more of a challenge.

Perhaps a more serious disadvantage is accuracy. Falling block actions are very rigid. Break-open single-shots, like double-barreled guns, attempt to unhinge on firing, and this lack of rigidity does affect accuracy potential, at least when you’re talking about the extreme accuracy serious prairie dog shooters demand.

More vexing is that all single-shot actions available today wear two-piece stocks. A rifle so stocked isn’t necessarily less accurate than a rifle with a one-piece stock, but bedding is generally more critical. This can be mitigated by a stiff barrel. Many of those vintage single-shots rebarreled into early varminters wore incredibly thick barrels, likewise benchrest rifles built on single-shot actions.

A single-shot for dangerous game? It's not as bad an idea as one would think because 99 percent of the time, you have a guide to back you up.

In over-the-counter guise, well, my experience is that modern single-shots vary considerably in accuracy from rifle to rifle, and not all group well enough for really serious varminting. If you find one that will push that magical quarter-inch mark, better hang onto it.

General big game hunting is where the single-shot really shines. Back in the 1970s, gunwriter Jon Sundra darn near made a career out of slaying the world’s wild beasts with the Ruger No. 1. More recently, it’s pretty hard to turn on the TV without watching people knock things over with Thompson/Center’s Encore.

The only difference between a modern single-shot and any other modern action is the simple fact that there is just one shot, and then you must reload. With practice you can get pretty fast, especially with a hammerless single-shot action like the Ruger, Blaser or Dakota. But you cannot get as fast a second shot as you would with any repeating action.

Now, I’m a guy who tends toward backing up my shot, especially on large, tough game. This is more difficult with a single-shot than with a repeater; sometimes a single-shot will be fast enough, other times not. This is part and parcel to hunting with a single-shot, a self-imposed limitation that you’d better be well aware of.

The other most significant aspect to hunting with a single-shot is that it is either completely loaded or completely empty. Depending on the situation, this is either an advantage or a disadvantage. An advantage is the obvious safety factor. Put the cartridge in, take the cartridge out, no other options.

The disadvantage is that there is no luxury of a magazine to hold rounds in reserve, so whether riding in a vehicle or keeping the rifle slung in rough terrain, safety dictates the rifle must be fully empty and thus fully useless. If you need it quickly you must have your wits about you, and you must have fast and ready access to that one cartridge—which can be problematic, especially in cold weather with gloves and heavy clothing.