Double-barreled Shotgun - Wikipedia

Shotgun with two parallel barrels

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A double-barreled shotgun, also known as a double shotgun, is a break-action shotgun with two parallel barrels, allowing two single shots that can be fired simultaneously or sequentially in quick succession.

Construction

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Modern double-barreled shotguns, often known as doubles, are almost universally break action, with the barrels hinge down at the rear to expose the breech ends for unloading and reloading. Since there is no reciprocating action needed to eject and reload the shells, doubles are more compact than repeating designs such as pump action, lever action, bolt action, or self-loading shotguns.[1]

Barrel configuration

[edit] See also: coach gun and sawed-off shotgun

Double-barreled shotguns (specifically break-action), come in two basic configurations:

• side-by-side (S×S) — the two barrels are arranged horizontally;
• over-and-under (O/U) — the two barrels are arranged vertically.[2]

The original double-barreled guns were commonly all side-by-side designs, which was a more practical design for muzzleloaders. Early cartridge-firing shotguns also used the side-by-side action, because they kept the exposed hammers of the earlier muzzleloading shotguns from which they evolved. When hammerless designs started to become common, the over-and-under design was introduced, and most modern sporting doubles are over-and-under designs.[3]

One significant advantage that doubles have over single-barrel repeating shotguns is the ability to have more than one choke at a time.[4] Some shotgun shooting sports, such as skeet shooting, use crossing targets presented in a narrow range of distance, and only require one level of choke.[5] Other sports, like sporting clays, give the shooter targets at differing ranges, and targets that might approach or recede from the shooter, and so must be engaged at differing ranges. Having two barrels lets the shooter use a more open choke for near targets, and a tighter choke for distant targets,[6] providing the optimal shot pattern for each distance.

The disadvantage lies in the fact that the barrels of a double-barreled shotgun, whether over-and-under or side-by-side, are not parallel, but slightly angled,[citation needed] so that shots from the barrels converge, usually at "40 yards out". For the side-by-side configuration, the shotstring continues on its path to the opposite side of the rib after the converging point; for example, the left barrel's discharge travels on the left of the rib till it hits dead center at 40 yards (36.58 m) out, after that, the discharge continues on to the right. In the over-and-under configuration with a parallel rib, both barrels' discharges will keep to the dead center, but the discharge from the "under" barrel will shoot higher than the discharge from the "over" barrel after 40 yards (36.58 m). Thus, double-barreled shotguns are accurate only at practical shotgun ranges, though the range of their ammunition easily exceeds four to six times that distance.

Side-by-side shotguns are often more expensive and may take more practice to aim effectively than an over-and-under. The off-center nature of the recoil in a side-by-side gun may make shooting the body-side barrel slightly more painful by comparison to an over-and-under, single-shot, pump-action, or lever-action shotgun. Gas-operated and recoil-operated designs will recoil less than either. More side-by-side than over-and-under guns have traditional "cast-off" stocks, where the end of the buttstock veers slightly to the right, allowing a right-handed user to point the gun more easily.[3]

Double-barreled shotguns are also inherently more safe,[7] as whether the shotgun is loaded or can be fired can be ascertained by anyone present if the action is broken open, for instance on a skeet, trap or hunting clays course when another shooter is firing; if the action is open, the gun cannot fire. Similarly, doubles are more easily examined to see if loaded than pump-action or semi-automatic shotguns, whose bolt must be opened and chamber closely examined or felt to make sure it is unloaded; with a double gun (or a break-action single gun), whether the gun is loaded, i.e., has cartridges in any chamber, is easily and immediately seen with a glance (and just as easily unloaded).[8]

Trigger mechanism

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The early doubles used two triggers, one for each barrel, located front to back inside the trigger guard. The index finger was used to pull either trigger, as having two fingers inside the trigger guard can cause a very undesirable recoil-induced double-discharge. Double-trigger designs are typically set up for right-handed users.[3] In double-trigger designs, it is often possible to pull both triggers at once, firing both barrels simultaneously, though this is generally not recommended as it doubles the recoil, battering both shotgun and shooter, particularly if it was unanticipated or unintended. Discharging both barrels at the same time has long been a hunting trick employed by hunters using 8 gauge "elephant" shotguns, firing the two 875 gr (56.7 g) slugs for sheer stopping power at close range.[citation needed]

Later models use a single trigger that alternately fires both barrels, called a single selective trigger or SST.[9] The single selective trigger does not allow firing both barrels at once, since the single trigger must be pulled twice in order to fire both barrels. The change from one barrel to the other may be done by a clockwork type system, where a cam alternates between barrels, or by an inertial system where the recoil of firing the first barrel toggles the trigger to the next barrel. A double-barreled shotgun with an inertial trigger works best with full power shotshells; shooting low recoil shotshells often will not reliably toggle the inertial trigger, causing an apparent failure to fire occasionally when attempting to depress the trigger a second time to fire the second barrel (this also can happen if the first shell fails to fire). Generally there is a method of selecting the order in which the barrels of a single selective trigger shotgun fire; commonly this is done through manipulation of the safety, pushing to one side to select top barrel first and the other side to select bottom barrel first. In the event that an inertial trigger does not toggle to the second barrel when firing low recoil shotshells, manually selecting the order to the second barrel will enable the second barrel to fire when the trigger is depressed again.

One of the advantages of double-barreled shotgun with double triggers or single selective trigger, is that the second shot can be taken almost immediately after the first with merely a second trigger pull, without needing to manually operate the action (which will inevitably destabilize the gun from the shoulder position and affect aim), and can utilize different chokes for the two shots (assuming, of course, that full power shotshells are fired, at least for a double-barreled shotgun with an inertial type single selective trigger, as needed to toggle the inertial trigger). This can be noticeably faster than a pump-action shotgun, which requires manually pumping the fore-end to eject and reload for the second shot, and may be faster, or not slower, than a semi-automatic shotgun (as there are no bolt movements to delay the rechambering of a second shell). Note, however, in neither the pump-action or semi-automatic will the second shot be a different choke pattern from the first shot, whereas for a double, the two shots are usually with different chokes. Thus, depending on the nature of the hunt, the appropriate choke for the shot is always at hand. For example, while field hunting flushing birds, the first shot is usually closer than the second because the bird flies away from the shooter; so, the more open choke (and barrel) would be better for the first shot, and if a second shot is needed, as the bird is flying away, the more closed (and thus longer distance of an effective shot pattern) choke (and barrel) is then appropriate. Conversely, on a driven hunt, where the birds are driven towards the shooter, the closed (longer effective distance) choke (and barrel) should be fired first, saving the open (closer effective distance) choke (and barrel) for the now-closer incoming bird. None of this is possible with single-barrel shotguns, only with a double, either a side-by-side (S×S) or over-and-under (O/U).

Regulation

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Regulation is a term used for multi-barreled firearms (most commonly found in rifles and shotguns) that indicates how close to the same point of aim the barrels will shoot. A poorly regulated gun may hit consistently with one barrel but miss consistently with the other, making the gun nearly useless for anything requiring two shots. However, the short ranges and spread of shot provide a significant overlap, so a small error in regulation in a double is often too small to be noticed. Generally, the shotguns are regulated to hit the point of aim at a given distance [10] usually the maximum expected range since that is the range at which a full choke is used and where precise regulation matters most. The regulation is usually more important in side-by-side rather than in over-and-under shotguns, as felt recoil differs.

See also

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• Boxlock action – Firing mechanism with the lockwork mounted internally
• Coach gun
• Combination guns – Type of firearm with at least one rifled barrel and one smoothbore barrel
• Double-barreled cannon – American Civil War cannon
• Double rifle – Sporting rifle with two parallel barrels
• Lupara – Italian word for a type of shotgun
• Multiple-barrel firearm – Type of firearm with more than one barrel
• Standard Manufacturing DP-12

References

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1. ^ Grooms, Steve (2005). Modern Pheasant Hunting. Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3227-7.
2. ^ Wiles, Laurie Bogart (2022-08-02). Shooter's Bible Guide to Shotgun Sports for Women: A Comprehensive Guide to the Art and Science of Wing and Clay Shooting. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-5107-4504-9.
3. ^ a b c Barsness, John (July 2010), "Twin barrel myths: side-by-side vs. over-under", Guns Magazine, archived from the original on 2011-12-29
4. ^ Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines. September 1967.
5. ^ Russell, James (1998). Precision Shooting: The Trapshooter's Bible. James Russell Publishing. ISBN 978-0-916367-10-7.
6. ^ Blakeley, Peter F. (2003-08-01). Successful Shotgunning: How to Build Skill in the Field and Take More Birds in Competition. Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-4370-9.
7. ^ Montague, Andrew (2000-08-16). Successful Shotgun Shooting. Derrydale Press. ISBN 978-1-4617-0270-2.
8. ^ Markwith, Steve. Shotguns: A Comprehensive Guide. Prepper Press.
9. ^ Wiles, Laurie Bogart (2022-08-02). Shooter's Bible Guide to Shotgun Sports for Women: A Comprehensive Guide to the Art and Science of Wing and Clay Shooting. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-5107-4504-9.
10. ^ Currie, Don (2021-12-01). Gunfitting: Achieving the Ideal Fit for the Game and Clay Shot. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-8117-7037-8.

v t e Multiple-barrel firearms
Handguns	Arsenal Firearms AF2011A1 Baylè 1879 COP .357 Derringer Derringer Garrucha Henrion, Dassy & Heuschen Revolver Howdah pistol Lancaster pistol LeMat revolver Multi-barrelled flintlock Pepperbox revolver Revolver TKB-506
Rifles	AO-63 Ball and shot gun Double rifle FDM L4/L5 Knötgen Nock gun TKB-059
Shotguns	Ball and shot gun Colt Defender Mark I Chiappa Triple Crown Double-barreled shotgun Loughridge Imiru Standard Manufacturing DP-12 Winchester Liberator
Combination weapons (Combination guns)	Cape guns Drillings Vierlings Survival guns Chiappa Double Badger Chiappa M6 survival gun M6 aircrew survival weapon M30 Luftwaffe drilling Marble Game Getter Savage Model 24 Savage Model 42 Springfield Armory M6 Scout TP-82 Cosmonaut survival pistol Multi-weapons 80.002 AICW Attached grenade launchers NIVA XM1970 PAPOP QTS-11 Scicon PDW SPIW S&T Daewoo K11 XM29 OICW
Submachine guns	Flieger-Doppelpistole 1919 Villar Perosa aircraft submachine gun
Machine guns	AAI In-Line Caldwell machine gun EX-17 Heligun Fyodorov–Shpagin Model 1922 Gardner gun Gast gun Metal Storm MG14z MG 29 Mitrailleuse Montigny mitrailleuse Nikonov machine gun Nordenfelt gun Ribauldequin RMG 7.62 Twin Bren Type 89 Type 100 Volley gun Rotary type Eli gun Gatling gun GAU-19 GShG-7.62 Fokker-Leimberger Hotchkiss revolving cannon MGG-50 M134 Minigun XM214 Microgun YakB-12.7
Non-lethal	Flash-ball Osa
Amphibious firearms	Heckler & Koch P11 Mk1 UDG SPP-1 underwater pistol
Flare guns	Nambu Type 90
Grenade launchers	DP-64 Redback RPG-30
Cannon	GAU-8 Avenger GAU-12/U Equalizer GAU-13/A GAU-22/A T250 Vigilante Double-barreled cannon GSh-23 GSh-6-23 GSh-30 GSh-6-30 M61 Vulcan M197 XM301

v t e Weapons of the American Civil War
Edged weapons	Arkansas toothpick Bayonet Bowie knife M1832 foot artillery sword M1833 dragoon saber M1840 army noncommissioned officer's sword M1840 cavalry saber M1840 light artillery saber M1850 army staff & field officer's sword M1850 army foot officer's sword M1852 naval officer's sword M1860 cutlass M1860 light cavalry saber Mameluke sword USMC noncommissioned officer's sword
Sidearms	Adams M1851 revolver Allen & Thurber M1837 revolver pepperbox Allen & Wheelock M1861 revolver Beaumont–Adams M1862 revolver Butterfield M1855 transitional revolver Colt M1836 Paterson revolver Colt M1847 Walker revolver Colt M1848 Dragoon revolver Colt M1849 Pocket revolver Colt M1851 Navy revolver Colt M1860 Army revolver Colt M1861 Navy revolver Colt M1862 Police revolver Colt Root M1855 revolver Deringer M1825 Philadelphia caplock pistol Elgin M1838 cutlass caplock pistol Harpers Ferry M1836 and M1842 pistol Kerr M1855 revolver Lefaucheux M1854 revolver Lefaucheux M1858 revolver LeMat M1856 revolver Moore M1864 revolver Remington M1858 revolver Remington M1860 Elliot revolver pepperbox Savage-North M1861 Navy revolver Smith & Wesson Model 1 Smith & Wesson Model No. 2 Army Spiller & Burr M1861 revolver Starr M1858 and M1863 revolver Tranter M1856 revolver Volcanic M1855 repeating pistol Walch M1859 revolver Wesson and Leavitt M1850 Dragoon revolver Whitney M1857 revolver
Rifles and muskets	Augustin M1842 musket Ballard M1861 rifle Brunswick P1836 and P1841 rifle Burnside M1855 carbine Charleville M1816 and M1822 musket Colt M1855 revolver carbine and rifle Deringer M1814 Common rifle Deringer M1817 Common rifle Enfield P1853 rifled musket Enfield P1861 musketoon Fayetteville M1862 rifle Gallager M1861 carbine Hall M1819 rifle Hall-North M1843 carbine Harper Ferry M1803 rifle Henry M1860 repeating rifle Jenks M1841 Mule ear carbine Joslyn M1855, M1861, M1862, M1864, M1865 carbine and rifle Lorenz M1854 rifled musket Maynard M1851 carbine Merrill M1858 carbine Mississippi M1841 rifle P1839 and P1842 Brown Bess musket Potzdam M1831 musket Richmond M1861 rifled musket Sharps M1848, M1850, M1851, M1852, M1853, M1855, M1859, M1863, M1865 carbine and rifle Sharps & Hankins M1862 carbine Smith M1857 carbine Spencer M1860, M1865 repeating carbine and rifle Springfield M1795 musket Springfield M1812 musket Springfield M1816 musket Springfield M1822 musket Springfield M1835 musket Springfield M1840 musket Springfield M1842 musket Springfield M1847 musketoon Springfield M1855 rifled musket Springfield M1861 rifled musket Springfield M1863 rifled musket Starr M1858 carbine Tarpley M1863 carbine Volcanic M1855 repeating rifle Wesson M1859 carbine and rifle Whitworth P1857 rifle
Other weapons	Adams grenade Coach gun Congreve rocket Double-barreled shotgun Hale rocket launcher Ketchum Grenade Rains grenade Rains landmine Sea mine Winans Steam Gun
Rapid fire weapons	Ager machine gun Billinghurst Requa Battery volley gun Claxton machine gun Gatling I and II machine gun Gorgas machine gun Pate revolver cannon Ripley machine gun Vandenberg volley gun Williams machine gun
Artillery	Mortars 8-inch M1841, 10-inch M1841 and 13-inch M1861 mortar Coehorn 5.82-inch M1841 mortar Field andSiege artillery 6-pounder M1841 field cannon 12-pounder M1841 howitzer 12-pounder M1841 mountain howitzer 12-pounder M1857 Napoleon field cannon 24-pounder M1841 howitzer 32-pounder M1844 howitzer Blakely rifled cannon James 14-pounder M1861 rifled cannon (also known as James 6-pounder M1861 or 3.8-inch M1861 rifled cannon) James 24-pounder M1839, 32-pounder M1829 and 42-pounder M1841 rifled cannon Ordnance 3-inch M1861 rifled cannon Ordnance 4.5-inch rifled cannon Parrott 10-pounder M1861 rifled cannon Parrott 20-pounder M1861 rifled cannon Parrott 30-pounder, 100-pounder, 200-pounder and 300-pounder rifled cannon Pate revolver cannon Whitworth 12-pounder rifled cannon Naval andCoastal artillery Bomford Columbiad cannon Brooke rifled cannon Carronade cannon Dahlgren cannon Paixhans cannon Rodman Columbiad cannon Whitworth 70-pounder rifled cannon
Ammunition, cartridges and equipment	.22 Short .44 Henry .56-56 Spencer Buck and ball Canister shot Friction primer Gunpowder Maynard tape primer Minié ball Paper cartridge Percussion cap Ramrod