Got two vintage bolt-action shotguns. Both suck, but they weren't that great to begin with. Been wanting a lever action! Seems that would be about as fast as a pump? Never touched one. LOL, never seen one IRL.

I didn't say a bolt-action was potentially worse? I did say that a pump is mostly better than a semi. I did say a single-shot is potentially worse than all of the above.

I know that doesn't make sense, very counter intuitive. But I have never, not once, had a single-shot fail unless the load itself failed, and I have some truly shitty single-shots. I should add the caveat that the single-shot needs to eject the spent shell, or you're really going to be slow.

Hard to explain unless one has the experience. With a single-shot you get into a rhythm; aim, fire, break, reload, fire, aim, fire, break, reload, fire. It's easy to spaz out with a semi and loose all your ammo. When your shots are limited, you take the extra split second to aim, make it count.

Or, consider this, if we're talking about mass causalities; what about reloading? There are techniques like "violin reloading", or "combat loading" singles, that go fast, but take serious and continuous practice. If we were both challenged to send 10 shots downrange, on target, bet I could do better with a single shot. First 5? Ya got me, assuming you didn't spaz out and spray lead all around. 10? I never stopped or hesitated, and I had the extra second to consider the situation and aim.

Anyway, if you ever make it to Florida, hunt me down and we'll go to my little camp in the swamp. Have a friendly shoot!