Cheap Shotgun Challenge: $99 Hatfield Single Shot 12 gauge!

[Andy54Hawken]

Neat thread.
I have always had soft spot for a well made inexpensive single shot shot gun.
To me it seems a shame that more companies do not offer one.

Looking forward to seeing how your project turns out.
Andy

 

[etrain16]

I've got an H&R Pardner break-barrel 12 gauge. As I recall I got it for just over $100 a couple years back. For the price, the quality is quite nice. It shoots well and it serves double-duty as the host for my Chiappa X-Caliber adapters. It's a ton of fun to shoot!

 

[Andy54Hawken]

I have one of those Pardners in .20 gauge with a 26 inch barrel and MOD. choke
Great little grouse getter.
Those X-caliber adapters seem like a neat idea.
Andy

 

[etrain16]

I have one of those Pardners in .20 gauge with a 26 inch barrel and MOD. choke
Great little grouse getter.
Those X-caliber adapters seem like a neat idea.
Andy

Kind of a spendy 'toy', but I got them at a great price, used, almost new. I'm glad I got them

 

[shredjesse]

Now I like that way of thinking. I can see myself working on the trigger, polishing the chamber and lengthening the forcing cone and porting it and adding a good pachmayr recoil pad to reduce some of that recoil. Would make a fun project...

Those would all really help to tame the kick. Not sure what can be done about the trigger, but MAN does it need work. Even with the pull lightened it's utter garbage.

 

[HuckleberryFun]

You guys talk my language. How many times have I bought something that "needed work" and ended up spending almost as much --or more-- time, money and effort as I would have if I bought a new-better one off the rack. People don't understand; it's a Zen thing.

 

[bsa1917hunter]

It's fun tinkering on stuff. As long as you aren't making it unsafe in the process, it's all win win.... Better than hanging out at the bar and far less expensive..

 

[DeanMk]

...the trigger is miserable, so miserable infact one reviewer's girlfriend had to use two fingers to pull the trigger.

That problem can be easily remedied....

To tame the kick (without having to resort to target or mild handloads) check out the LimbSaver - Recoil Pads | Archery & Firearm Accessories.
I put the slip-on version on my little 5 lb. 20 ga. Topper and since, high brass "Duck & Pheasant" loads are no problem.

Good luck. Give us a range report once you get to usin' it a bit. =)


Dean

 

[DeanMk]

I have one of those Pardners in .20 gauge with a 26 inch barrel and MOD. choke
Great little grouse getter.
Those X-caliber adapters seem like a neat idea.
Andy

Me too! (well, mine's a Topper, actually)
Mine was originally a full choke, but I had it opened to modified....I do wish they still made a 30" barrel for it, though.
I wonder if those X-caliber adapters would work in an older Topper model...hmmm...

Dean

 

[shredjesse]

That problem can be easily remedied....

To tame the kick (without having to resort to target or mild handloads) check out the LimbSaver - Recoil Pads | Archery & Firearm Accessories.
I put the slip-on version on my little 5 lb. 20 ga. Topper and since, high brass "Duck & Pheasant" loads are no problem.

Good luck. Give us a range report once you get to usin' it a bit. =)


Dean

I've adjusted the trigger as such. It's improved, but still in the vicinity of miserable. Needs some serious attention to become what i think most would call "just okay". Then again... $99 right?

A slip on limbsaver would be wise. I keep hoping I can find a used gracoil recoil reducer that I can toss on with a recoil pad. Sure it'd cost more than the shotgun.. but it just might work!

 

[DeanMk]

Shredjesse,

At this point, you need to shoot the gun A LOT.
You can also get a snap cap (or fired round), chamber it and just cock and "fire" the weapon many times.
This will wear-in the inner workings, eventually resulting in a "nice" trigger feel.
This is not an uncommon situation to run across with just about any brand new gun.
It's just that I've been seeing a lot of comments concerning issues with the trigger and hammer pull and found that video, so I was just passing the word along.
I didn't think it would improve the feel all that much, but at least it would make the pull more tolerable.


Dean

 

[shredjesse]

Oh it entirely helped the weight of the trigger pul.. It's down from 15lbs or so to 7lbs. Still not great, or even decent, but improved. A bajillion trigger pulls may help, but I think you gotta try it for yourself to see. It's pretty junky!

I've yet to take this thing to the Vancouver Trap Club. Been focusing on getting my 1100 just right. I may tool around a bit more with this as I hope to have an extra recoil pad soon.

 

[Brutus57]

Now I like that way of thinking. I can see myself working on the trigger, polishing the chamber and lengthening the forcing cone and porting it and adding a good pachmayr recoil pad to reduce some of that recoil. Would make a fun project...

You forgot fabbing a bayonet!

Brutus Out

 

[Brutus57]

Damn spellchecker! Distance. I wanted distance!

I believe that was a quote from the Skipper of the Bismarck to his Gunnery Officer.

Brutus Out

 

[DeanMk]

Oh it entirely helped the weight of the trigger pul.. It's down from 15lbs or so to 7lbs. Still not great, or even decent, but improved. A bajillion trigger pulls may help, but I think you gotta try it for yourself to see. It's pretty junky!

I've yet to take this thing to the Vancouver Trap Club. Been focusing on getting my 1100 just right. I may tool around a bit more with this as I hope to have an extra recoil pad soon.

I've got a single...in fact, I've got 2.
It's a bit of a drive, but I might just come down for a visit and check you out.


Dean

 

[bsa1917hunter]

You forgot fabbing a bayonet!

Brutus Out

 

[Sgt Nambu]

Boy, I'm definitely bucking the grain here, or visa-versa! Now I get
that there is a place for single shot shotguns! Like for folks who can't scrape up another $89 to buy a repeating shotgun!

Sow's Ear to a Sow's Ear! Sorry!

 

[zofoman]

Don't forget to add the custom cerakote or python schemed (rattle-can) paint jobs for maximum tacticool effect. That alone can start fierce competition during the build challenge.

 

[shredjesse]

Don't forget to add the custom cerakote or python schemed (rattle-can) paint jobs for maximum tacticool effect. That alone can start fierce competition during the build challenge.
View attachment 340079

That easily adds 4hp!

Wait, this is a shotgun. Uh... now it shoots 60/40!

 

[DeanMk]

Jesse,

Its been about a year since your last post here.
I was just wondering how you're getting along with that gun?


Dean