Single Barrel Shotguns in 12 Gauge

Is a single barrel shotgun the same as a single shot shotgun?

Not always. “Single barrel” describes how many barrels the gun has; “single shot” describes how many shells it holds. Every pump-action, semi-automatic and lever-action shotgun also has one barrel, but it feeds from a magazine. When hunters and dealers say “single barrel shotgun”, though, they nearly always mean a break-action single shot with one barrel, one shell and no magazine. Iber’s IB-SB models are exactly that.

Two related terms add to the confusion. A single-shot rifle has a rifled bore and fires bullets, while a shotgun has a smooth bore and fires shells loaded with shot or a slug. And in the UK, South Africa and South Asia, “12 bore” simply means 12 gauge, so a “12 bore single barrel gun” is the same firearm described on this page.

How does a break-action single shot shotgun work?

A break-action shotgun is hinged just ahead of the trigger guard. When you operate the opening lever, the barrel pivots down on its hinge pin and exposes the chamber. There is no bolt, slide or magazine. The sequence is the same on almost every design.

1. Open with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, operate the opening lever and let the barrel tip down.
2. Load place one shell of the correct gauge and length in the chamber.
3. Close raise the barrel until the locking bolt engages with a positive click.
4. Cock only when you are ready to shoot, draw the exposed hammer fully back with your thumb.
5. Fire the trigger releases the hammer, which drives the firing pin into the primer.
6. Extract open the action again; the extractor lifts the fired hull so you can remove it and reload.

Because the breech is in plain view and the lockwork is simple, anyone can see at a glance whether a break action is loaded. That is one reason ranges, hunter-education courses and farms favor them.

What is the difference between an extractor and an ejector?

An extractor is a small plate in the breech that lifts the shell rim a few millimeters when the gun is opened, so you pull the hull out by hand. An ejector adds a spring that throws the fired hull clear of the gun. Iber’s IB-SB models use extractors. On a single shot that is usually the sensible choice, because it is simpler, it keeps empties in your hand (useful for reloaders and where spent hulls must be collected), and it removes extra springs and parts that need maintenance. Ejectors matter more on doubles used for high-volume clay shooting.

Exposed hammer, safety and safe handling

The exposed hammer is a visual and tactile indicator. When it is down, the gun is not cocked. Designs differ in the details. Some single shots have no separate safety catch and rely on the uncocked hammer plus an internal rebounding-hammer or transfer-bar system that stops the hammer reaching the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled. Others add a cross-bolt or tang safety. Always read the manual and technical sheet for the exact model, and train new shooters on that design.

With any hammer gun, good practice is to cock only when the target is in view. If you decide not to shoot, open the action and remove the shell rather than lowering the hammer on a loaded chamber. Carry and store the gun open and unloaded, and never treat a lowered hammer as a substitute for muzzle discipline.

A short history of the single barrel shotgun

Smoothbore guns firing shot were used for centuries as muzzle-loading fowling pieces. The modern single barrel shotgun arrived in the 19th century, when hinged breech-loading actions and self-contained cartridges, popularized in France and later refined with centerfire shells, let shooters load at the breech in seconds. By the early 20th century, factories in the United States and Europe were producing inexpensive single-barrel hammer guns in very large numbers, and the single shot became the classic farm, youth and first shotgun.

The basic layout of a hinged barrel, an exposed hammer and an extractor has hardly changed. What has improved is material and finishing, with modern barrel steels, chrome-lined bores, interchangeable choke tubes, 76 mm (3″) chambers and weatherproof synthetic stocks. Today factories in the Beyşehir area of Konya, including ours, build single barrel guns for export alongside over/unders, pumps and semi-autos.

Advantages and disadvantages of a single barrel shotgun

What is a single barrel shotgun used for?

Should you choose a 12, 20, 28 or .410 single shot?

Gauge is the number of lead balls of the bore’s diameter that weigh one pound, so the smaller the number, the larger the bore. The exception is the .410, which is a bore diameter in inches. Iber’s IB-SB models are cataloged in 12 gauge, the most versatile choice and the shell sold almost everywhere.

A light gun magnifies recoil, so many coaches start smaller shooters on light 24 to 28 g (⅞, 1 oz) 12 gauge target loads rather than heavy hunting shells, or on a 20 gauge. For the smallest bore, see our .410 shotgun guide.

Single shot vs over/under vs pump vs semi-auto

If you are deciding between action types, this table summarizes the practical trade-offs. License categories are general and vary by country.

Iber IB-SB single barrel models compared

All six models share the same core, with a 12 gauge break action, 76 mm (3″) chamber, exposed hammer, extractor, a 4140 steel barrel in 47, 51, 55 or 61 cm (18.5, 20, 21.7 or 24″), and Mobil-type interchangeable chokes with a slug option. They differ in stock, finish and sighting.

How to choose a single barrel shotgun, with a buyer checklist

• Gauge and chamber 12 gauge with a 76 mm (3″) chamber covers everything from light 70 mm target loads to magnum turkey shells.
• Barrel length 47 to 51 cm (18.5 to 20″) handles well in cover, vehicles and farm buildings; 55 to 61 cm (21.7 to 24″) gives a longer sight plane and a smoother swing. In Great Britain, 24″ is the minimum for a Section 2 shotgun certificate.
• Chokes interchangeable tubes turn one gun into a slug gun, an upland gun and a turkey gun.
• Stock material Turkish walnut for a classic look and feel; synthetic for rain, mud and hard use.
• Fit length of pull and comb height matter more than any feature. A gun that fits feels softer and hits more.
• Sights a ventilated rib for moving targets; rifle-style sights, as on the IB-SB03, for slugs.
• Safety design understand how the hammer and any safety catch work before buying for a beginner.
• Dealer support ask the supplier about spare firing pins, extractors and springs, and a manual in your market’s language.

Ammunition and chokes for a 12 gauge single shot

A 76 mm (3″) chamber accepts both 70 mm (2¾”) and 76 mm (3″) 12 gauge shells. Never fire a shell longer than the chamber length marked on the barrel, and never mix gauges in your pocket. A 20 gauge shell can slide down a 12 gauge barrel and lodge there, and a 12 gauge shell fired behind it can burst the barrel.

Choke tubes are part of the barrel’s pressure system, so screw them in fully, never fire a choke-threaded barrel without a tube installed, and use only tubes marked as suitable if you shoot steel shot. For slugs, follow the slug and choke makers’ guidance; most shooters use cylinder or improved cylinder. The choke set supplied with an order is confirmed on the technical sheet.

Maintenance and care

• After each outing, open the action, wipe the breech face and run a cleaning rod through the bore from the breech end.
• Remove the choke tube, clean the threads and apply a light film of choke grease before refitting it.
• Put a drop of oil on the hinge pin, locking bolt and extractor, and wipe off the excess so it does not soak into a walnut stock.
• Check that the extractor moves freely and that the action closes firmly without play. A loose hinge is a job for a gunsmith.
• Wipe exposed metal with a lightly oiled cloth; let a wet walnut stock dry at room temperature, never next to a heater.
• Store the gun unloaded in a locked cabinet as local law requires. If you want to release hammer spring tension, dry-fire only on a snap cap.

Single barrel shotgun laws by country (general information)

Break-action single barrel shotguns usually sit in the least restricted category a country offers, but a license is still required almost everywhere. The summary below is general information as of October 2026, not legal advice. Verify with the competent authority before buying, importing or exporting.

OEM, private label and export supply

The IB-SB series is built at our factory in Beyşehir, Konya, where we have made shotguns since 2000 and exported since 2010. Barrels are machined from 4140 steel, the plant runs its own hard-chrome line, and stocks are prepared and finished in-house before assembly and test-firing. See how our shotguns are made.

• Private label your brand and logo on the gun and packaging.
• Configuration walnut or synthetic stock, receiver finish and barrel length per market, for example 61 cm (24″) for British Section 2 buyers.
• Samples evaluation samples before a first order.
• Quantities orders of any quantity.
• Documents ask our export team which proof marks and certificates are available for your market.

Planning a range? Read our guides to private label shotguns, importing shotguns from Turkey and whether Turkish shotguns are good, or compare Iber’s other break-action line, the over/under shotguns, and our lever action shotguns.

Reviewed by the Iber Arms technical & export team, October 2026.