One or two triggers on SxS

[BossHogg]

I got the bug for a sxs shotgun.Could see HD or truck duty but mostly for play. All sxs use is from my youth which all had 2 triggers. On 1 trigger do they fire one side at a time or can you fire both barrels at once?

I will be looking to buy used so what are some good double barrels to watch for? If no deals can be found what's a good new entry level gun. It's been a long time since shooting the double and really looking forward to getting back to the fun.

 

[rcmodel]

Single triggers are either "selective" in that they have a push button in the trigger, or a safety that moves sideways to select which barrel fires first.

Or, they are "non-selective" and always fire the same barrel first, followed by the other.

In no case can they fire both barrels at the same time unless they are broken or worn out.

Why in the would you want to fire both barrels at the same time anyway?

You might keep an eye out for older Stevens or Fox doubles. They show up in pawn shops and gun stores quite often, and are good quality & sturdy, if somewhat inexpensive shotguns originally.

rc

 

[Vern Humphrey]

On 1 trigger do they fire one side at a time or can you fire both barrels at once?

A single trigger double that fires both barrels at once is in serious need of attention by a gunsmith.

Generally, there are two types of single trigger. One kind always fires the same sequence, the right barrel (usually), followed by the other barrel on the second pull of the trigger.

The other kind is called a "selective single trigger" which allows the shooter to select the barrel he wants to fire first -- usually by pushing the safety to one side or the other as he disengages it.

 

[SwampWolf]

My absolute favorite trigger system on a twin barreled shotgun (I only know of those made for an o/u) is the double trigger where pulling one or the other (your choice) allowed you to fire the second barrel by pulling the same trigger twice. It's my understanding that said system hasn't been employed for decades due to its complicated construction and reputation for going out of whack. The only guns I know of that were ever offered with this feature were early Browning Superposes and the Mauser (Gamba?) 620 series of trap and skeet guns. There may well have been others but I doubt many.

 

[ArmedBear]

Beretta had a simpler system intended to compete with the Superposed with that trigger, called the Speed Trigger. If you pulled the bottom half, the bottom barrel would fire. The top half of the trigger fired the top barrel.

I saw one at the shop, and was tempted to buy it, but I figured I would have to train myself to use it instinctively. That's the beauty of the system SwampWolf describes: if you're used to a single trigger, it will work. If you want to use it as a double trigger, you can. With a standard double trigger, or with that old Beretta system, if you don't practice with it, you will effectively have a single shot when a bird flushes.

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

Two.
I can understand the value of a single trigger, and have missed birds because of micro-second indecisiveness, but still prefer two. It takes discipline, just like all the other required practices -Eyes, hands, hips, shoulder…

FWIW, I've tried, and have seen no appreciable difference when firing both barrels simultaneously. If I miss with one, I'll miss with two. - Conversely, a solid hit with two barrels will not kill or break anything more than a solid hit with one.

 

[rcmodel]

a solid hit with two barrels will not kill or break anything

Except perhaps your shoulder!

A double-gun firing both barrels at once is not a pleasant experience.
BTDT, but not on purpose!

A friend of my dads had an old double he let me shoot when I was about 12 years old. What he failed to mention was, it shot both barrels every time you pulled the trigger because it was completely worn out.

That little deal got a good laugh out of him, but it set back my shotgun shooting learning curve for quite some time afterward.

rc

 

[Gunfighter123]

I have two SGs with double triggers and one { Stoeger Uplander } with the single trigger. In SASS/Cowboy Action , I've used both and the trick with a double trigger is to use the front one first and then just let your finger " slip back " and fire the second brl.

That being said --- I REALLY LIKE my single trigger Uplander --- feels like its faster !!!

 

[oletymer]

Thanks for the memory Armed Bear. It's been many years since I saw one of the Berettas with that trigger. I felt the same way, that it would be hard to get used to.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I like 2 triggers as well. It is a simpler system that is faster to choose between barrels. Maybe subjective and maybe personal preference but that is how i have found it to be.

If I have a singe trigger I like it to be non selective so then I KNOW which barrel is going to fire first and I will not be tempted to actually try to switch barrels and miss my pheasant. Also, I wont inadvertantly change the barrel selector.

 

[SwampWolf]

With a standard double trigger, or with that old Beretta system, if you don't practice with it, you will effectively have a single shot when a bird flushes

Yep, until I went through a couple of boxes of shells with my new double trigger sxs, I only had to clean one barrel and fewer birds most of the time after the hunt.

 

[Dave McCracken]

I've used both systems, and on a pure hunter, would prefer two triggers for easier selection of choke or load.

 

[FoMoGo]

I have a TTN Coachgun with hammers and double triggers.
I wont own a single trigger SxS now.
And yes, I yank both triggers at least once every outing.
The blast from twin slugs just put a smile on my face.


Jim

 

[MCgunner]

Two triggers my preference. Not only does it give instant choke selection, but it's simpler.

 

[evbutler462]

Two triggers, please.

 

[devildog32713]

two triggers would probably work better for hunting, one trigger for HD,

 

[tactikel]

I've used both, and prefer one trigger. I always fire open choke first anyway, and had trouble finding the second trigger with thicker gloves on. For warm weather or with shooting gloves on it isn't a problem.

 

[WVMountainBoy]

Two triggers Two guns in one

 

[gunut]

I have both...like them both but single triggers on a SXS tend to have more problems...

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Two triggers my preference. Not only does it give instant choke selection, but it's simpler.

I always have two triggers. I have found that the vast majority of tang safeties that include a barrel selector work OK (but not great) when hands don't have gloves, but I usually hunt wearing gloves. Selectors on the actual trigger I think are not very safe, for you are trying to manipulate a selector on a trigger while also trying to engage a bird, and again if you add the use of gloves, then you lose sensitivity..., I think it's a bad idea for me.

Double triggers allow me very quick choice between barrels, especially when you have that young dog who flushes a bird right away, before you have walked up closer behind the dog, or when the bird spooks and flushes early for any reason.

Further, as others have pointed out, IF you develope a sudden problem with a single trigger, you may not be able to fire either barrel. If some mechanical problem occurs with one of my triggers, I can continue to hunt, by simply using only one barrel and one trigger. My luck usually means if something mechanical will go wrong..., it will do so when I'm several hundred yards away from the truck and any backup gun(s) that might have been brought along for the day.

Two triggers for me.

LD

 

[SwampWolf]

I've had trouble with selectors malfunctioning on two o/us I've had in the past (a Daly twenty and a Mauser 620 Trap). For the kind of bird hunting I do mostly (grouse and woodcock), a barrel selector is a largely superfluous appendage. Maybe I'm just slower on the draw than most, but I've almost never had the time to think about which choke is best on a given grouse flush. A second trigger is much more reflexive to use for me but even with double triggers I seldom revert from the improved cylinder to modified set-up.

 

[lobo9er]

SxS both barrels is a good time and recoild isn't that bad, is there purpose? maybe not buts its fun. i suggest two triggers. its the oldest tacticool trick in the book. why not have the option its really not to hard to figure out two triggers. JJ LL (not sure which one looked the most like 2 triggers)

 

[GRAYRID3R]

I have a Spartan 220 and really like it. They were hard to come by for a couple months, but I noticed Buds has a real good price on one.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/14192

 

[Bud Tugly]

Double triggers gives you essentially two independent single shot guns on one stock. In case of failure of one the other will still work. Single trigger guns are more complex and failure converts the gun into a club.

For critical use like HD I'd definitely want two triggers, and I personally prefer it for hunting, too. For clay games the single trigger would probably be better.