Our hunger for the latest and greatest in firearms innovation — replete with technical performance details and cutting-edge technology — is insatiable. And, while we love a kitted-out AR as much as the next guy, firearms — like any other tool — can be even more interesting when designed for specific purposes.
If you’re looking to hunt prairie game like sharp-tailed grouse, learning to shoot (or teaching someone how), or simply want to own an heirloom piece that you can pass down through generations, something simple and classic may well be in order. As far as firearms go, single-shot shotguns are easy to use, quick learn on, and require only rudimentary maintenance.
That means, in addition to being a fantastic platform for skill development, they tend to last just about forever.
These classic firearms come in a variety of calibers — from .410 all the way up to 12 gauge — and it’s well worth a glimpse into this underrated segment of the firearms market.
When it comes to hunting small game, a simple, safe, and reliable tool that will function when it needs to — every time — is a worthwhile investment. Plus outside of hunting season many of these would look fantastic hanging above a fireplace as well.
By Michael Crites
Michael Crites has served as executive editor of AmericanFirearms.org since 2016 and previously held positions as associate editor and range correspondent dating back to 2000. He discovered his passion for precision shooting at age 12 during his first visit to his grandfather's shooting range, eventually earning an Expert classification in three different shooting disciplines before age 18.
During his studies at University of Wyoming, he earned four varsity letters on the collegiate rifle and pistol teams, serving as team captain for three consecutive years. He became the first UW student to complete the NRA Range Safety Officer certification while maintaining full-time student status. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Sports Communications.
His diverse career has included roles as Range Safety Coordinator for the National Rifle Championships in Camp Perry 2001; editor-in-chief, Precision Shooter Quarterly; series editor, Modern Firearms Handbook collection; managing editor, National Shooting Sports Foundation Newsletter; editor, Competitive Shooter Magazine; operations director for Western Arms & Ammunition Co.; senior editor for the Shooter's Reference Annual (Cheyenne); content director for The Firearms Report, published by the American Shooting Coalition in Billings, MT; firearms correspondent for Hunting & Shooting, produced by Outdoor Sports Media Group in Jackson, WY; and publisher for Wyoming Shooting Sports Journal in Casper. He has contributed as a regular columnist for American Rifleman (NRA Publications), technical editor for Precision, a publication of the National Bench Rest Shooters Association (Phoenix, AZ); and as firearms specialist for the Gun Owner's Annual.
As a digital content creator, he has written more than 400 articles on AmericanFirearms.org, developed shooting technique coverage for the Brownells Shooting Blog (Montezuma, IA) and Federal Premium "Range Notes" platform (Anoka, MN), and served as lead content strategist for International Defensive Pistol Association (Berryville, AR). Beyond Tactical Firearms, his current endeavors include content development for the Wyoming State Rifle Association (Cheyenne, WY) and technical manual production for High Plains Publishing of Laramie, WY.
He has contributed to the 12th, 13th, and 14th editions of Modern Sporting Rifles Guide and edited The Complete Guide to Tactical Shooting and Competitive Shooter's Reference Manual (Gun Digest Books).
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