Double barrels/Over & Under's single/double triggers

Jeff in TX

I admit, I have no experience with single triggers on a double barrel or over and under.  I have my pops old AYA double barrel from the early 50's.  It has two trigger and works great.  For the life of me, I can't understand why they changed to a single trigger system.

My question, is a single trigger system better, if so how.  I can't see a follow up shot being faster than having two triggers.

Educate me on this please.

Thanks

Wambli Ska

I've shot both and yes the single trigger is a hair faster.  NOW, in practical terms, I believe that is only really useful if you miss the first shot and are still tracking the same target.  For me, reality is that if you have multiple targets having to move your finger from trigger 1 to trigger 2 while acquiring your sight picture on second target is really not an issue and probably a desirable speed bump so you don't rush shot number 2.

My Weatherby Orion is a single trigger gun and I can let go of two shots fast enough that it makes it almost sound like one.  No real practical application for such a thing...

Jeff in TX

Is it one pull for the first shot, a further pull for the second shot?  Sort of like a two stage trigger.  Or one pull, move a lever and pull again? Sorry, I've just never handled one and I have no idea.

Wambli Ska

Jeff in TX said:

Is it one pull for the first shot, a further pull for the second shot?  Sort of like a two stage trigger.  Or one pull, move a lever and pull again? Sorry, I've just never handled one and I have no idea.

Pull - trigger resets during recoil for second barrel - pull.  The safety selector moves sideways and lets you decide which barrel fires first.  If you need to dry fire the gun (ALWAYS USING SNAP CAPS), you pull the trigger on the first barrel, smack the butt against the floor and pull the trigger for the second barrel.

Wambli Ska

I don't think I've seen a two trigger setup in any of the "competition" guns (trap, skeet, sporting clays) in a loooooong time because it is faster to have a single trigger.  BUT, take this observation with a grain of salt, I have not shopped for a "sporting" shotgun for a while, but the ones I own and have owned have all been single trigger setup.

Jeff in TX

Wambli Ska said:

Jeff in TX said:

Is it one pull for the first shot, a further pull for the second shot?  Sort of like a two stage trigger.  Or one pull, move a lever and pull again? Sorry, I've just never handled one and I have no idea.

Pull - trigger resets during recoil for second barrel - pull.  The safety selector moves sideways and lets you decide which barrel fires first.  If you need to dry fire the gun (ALWAYS USING SNAP CAPS), you pull the trigger on the first barrel, smack the butt against the floor and pull the trigger for the second barrel.

Gotcha thanks, makes sense now!

orchidman

Wambli Ska said:

Jeff in TX said:

Is it one pull for the first shot, a further pull for the second shot?  Sort of like a two stage trigger.  Or one pull, move a lever and pull again? Sorry, I've just never handled one and I have no idea.

Pull - trigger resets during recoil for second barrel - pull.  The safety selector moves sideways and lets you decide which barrel fires first.  If you need to dry fire the gun (ALWAYS USING SNAP CAPS), you pull the trigger on the first barrel, smack the butt against the floor and pull the trigger for the second barrel.

What he said.......I have shot with both in competition and in the field. Using either, if you are 'in tune' with your shotgun, there is no conscious thought required....you swing and the gun goes off at the right time.

What can screw with your mind is a 'release trigger' (normally used by competition shooters who develop a flinch).  You shoulder the gun, squeeze the trigger and hold it, then call for the target, swing, and let the trigger go when you take the shot.........second shot you squeeze the trigger in the normal way...

I have tried one out of curiosity........( I didnt have a flinch) but getting your mind around the fact that if you relax your finger the gun will go off, scared the hell out of me... 

Wambli Ska

orchidman said:

Wambli Ska said:

Jeff in TX said:

Is it one pull for the first shot, a further pull for the second shot?  Sort of like a two stage trigger.  Or one pull, move a lever and pull again? Sorry, I've just never handled one and I have no idea.

Pull - trigger resets during recoil for second barrel - pull.  The safety selector moves sideways and lets you decide which barrel fires first.  If you need to dry fire the gun (ALWAYS USING SNAP CAPS), you pull the trigger on the first barrel, smack the butt against the floor and pull the trigger for the second barrel.

What he said.......I have shot with both in competition and in the field. Using either, if you are 'in tune' with your shotgun, there is no conscious thought required....you swing and the gun goes off at the right time.

What can screw with your mind is a 'release trigger' (normally used by competition shooters who develop a flinch).  You shoulder the gun, squeeze the trigger and hold it, then call for the target, swing, and let the trigger go when you take the shot.........second shot you squeeze the trigger in the normal way...

I have tried one out of curiosity........( I didnt have a flinch) but getting your mind around the fact that if you relax your finger the gun will go off, scared the hell out of me... 

Yeah THAT!!!  I could NOT wrap my head around that concept.  Too busy holding on to my poop... 

Gene L

I like double triggers on my SxSs.  I am used to pulling that second trigger.  I loaned my antique Parker with double triggers to a guy shooting a O/U single trigger and he couldn't pull that trigger because he was used to no. 1

Japhy

I second recommendations for single trigger double guns. The browning citori (single trigger) reset is wicked fast!  Have also shot an LC Smith double with 2 triggers and never got used to finding the second trigger with the index finger after the first shot. 

Gene L

It's what you get used to, I guess.  While it may be faster, if that counts, one advantage for two triggers you can select which barrel you want to fire more positively w/out resetting the trigger.  No doubt, too, pro shooters shoot O/U with single triggers.  And they don't shoot sxs.

Wambli Ska

Gene L said:

It's what you get used to, I guess.  While it may be faster, if that counts, one advantage for two triggers you can select which barrel you want to fire more positively w/out resetting the trigger.  No doubt, too, pro shooters shoot O/U with single triggers.  And they don't shoot sxs.

That’s about right.  You tend to stick to what you learned first unless you find a compelling reason to change like competition or finding another shotgun you fall in love with that has something different.  Then it’s like finding a new girlfriend and you get used to the new one’s quirks.

41magnut

Wambli, I agree wholeheartedly with your statement.

My Browning SxS has the single trigger. It is the only double barrel I have ever owned. 

I don't shoot shotguns any where as much as I used to, in fact almost never. To this day, on the odd occasion when I try out a two trigger shotgun they may as well be single shots. I get frustrated and embarrassed, I know I can master the double trigger but I don't have an incentive to.

Bottom line it is a training issue.

CHIRO1989

Well, I was walking with my Stoeger 20ga. coach gun this weekend, double triggers. a  summers worth  of sporting clays with the Benelli Montefeltro and I was all sorts of bad shooting pulling the front trigger twice 5X and missing grouse 5X, much  to DeanC's delight, I even patterned the Stoeger at 25 yds afterwards, nope, all me, switched to the Beretta 390 20 ga. and slung lead much better, one grouse and one rabbit after that