Double Triggers vs Single Selective Triggers (In Terms Of Speed)

Hello Everyone ,
I would like all of you to ponder a question for a moment . On Double Rifles and double barreled shotguns , two variations in triggers can be found :
i) The traditional double trigger
ii) The single selective trigger

Speaking strictly in terms of speed of firing off the second barrel , which configuration is superior ?
Personally speaking , I have only used a Double Rifle employing a double trigger ( a .375 Holland & Holland Magnum ) . My William Wellington Greener 12 Bore Wildfowl Gun employs double triggers , as well .

Therefore , I must admit that my experience with single selective trigger configurations is practically non existent.

Some of my friends in the hunting and shooting circles , argue that a single selective trigger is superior in terms of speed . Their rationalization is that the Shikari’s trigger finger does not have to switch triggers in between shots . However , my close personal friend ( and former Commanding Officer ) @Major Khan Sir ( being a retired professional Shikari ) is of firm belief that a double trigger configuration, allows the Shikari to let off the second barrel faster than a single trigger configuration ( “ Almost Instantly “ if I were to quote the Major ) .

What is your verdict on this terse subject matter ? Please in mind , that this is only a debate of speed . And not a debate of which configuration is superior . I was raised on shooting double trigger shotguns , and I intend to keep doing so .

Any , and all discussions and views are dearly welcomed .

With very best wishes ,
Panther Shooter

Double triggers reign supreme , Panther Shooter ! You do not have to rely upon the fire arm's mechanical properties ... to guarantee you that instantaneous ( and often crucial ) 2nd shot .

Single selective triggers ( and I have absolutely NOTHING against them ) are inertia based ... which ( under a few specific sets of circumstances ) may prove to be ... counter productive .

If the single trigger is mechanical and not from recoil then it is decent. For the double shotgun, the advantage is the choice of which choke to shoot first. Birds going away... more open followed by tighter choke... coming toward.. the reverse. The double rifle is best considered two separate rifles. One caveat .... a PH when bird hunting outside Africa and used a single trigger shotgun and when he returned had to "relearn" is muscle memory for double triggers. I prefer double triggers for rifle and shotgun.

I’ve only had the opportunity to shoot double rifles a couple of times. They bothe had double triggers. It took me longer to get back on target than to slide my finger to the second trigger.
Shotguns, I used a Beretta O/U 686 for a number of years (Hunting and sporting clays) with the inertia reset. It failed to switch once.
Shotguns, I’ve hunted SxSs with double triggers including a Winchester 410, Fox 20, Arrietta 20, Boss 12, LC Smith 12, AYA 12, and my something else my gray matter doesn’t recall (probably). As mentioned by DrBob, I find it faster to switch triggers than flip a button to change chokes.
With the movement of the shotgun following through on moving birds the recoil doesn’t seem to hinder staying on target as much as with a rifle.

JME and of course opinion!

For clay shooting a single trigger...in a double rifle I have only used two trigger ones as haven't had a chance to fire a westley with a single trigger set up....as said with the double and two triggers my finger is on the second trigger before recoil is finished ....and have never had any issues moving between the two systems....

I shoot thousands of shotgun rounds annually from both double trigger guns and single trigger (mechanical and inertia). Much of that shooting is done in the pigeon ring where fractions of seconds on a second shot can mean the difference between a share of the purse or simply a morning's recreation. I find no difference in any of the three. Indeed, they have become so instinctive, that I would have to look to tell you which I was using were you to ask. It is exactly the same with a double rifle.

Given a choice, I prefer two triggers for both applications, because one can't claim a mulligan with either a departing bird or an inbound buffalo. But from a speed perspective, there is no difference.

Shotgun wise...I've hunted in the fields of the midwest for pheasant, quail, chuckar; both clubs and free range (or escaped). Ive also hunted in the forests, hills and mountains (gorgeous Blueridge) for grouse where you hunt hard all day for a chance at a few points. I much prefer the double trigger to select the choke I need for the flush. Ive used both in all types of hunts listed, but double trigger reigns supreme for me specifically selecting the desired choke/pattern. I prefer now to stay with double triggers as Ive just mastered them on my guns.

For DR's, I'm on my first but due to my time with DT's on shotguns, I much prefer this system. Muscle memory was instinctive for me from the start. I truly don't follow the belief that newly manufactured DR's need double triggers for the same reasons they did 100 years ago, but they still are very much wanted by many.

Two triggers for double rifles or game bird/animal shotguns.......clay pigeons whatever rocks your boat

I can fire my s x s 12 bore two shots faster than my son can fire his off which has a single selctive trigger.

Fore-finger on the front trigger, middle finger on the back one .

Wouldn't want to try it on a big NE double though !

8 x 60 said:

I can fire my s x s 12 bore two shots faster than my son can fire his off which has a single selctive trigger.

Fore-finger on the front trigger, middle finger on the back one .

Wouldn't want to try it on a big NE double though !

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Interesting. That could not be more incorrect for shooting a double shotgun. But if it actually works for you, I guess it is fine. But one of these days you will double it.

You must have very thin fingers

Red Leg said:

Interesting. That could not be more incorrect for shooting a double shotgun. But if it actually works for you, I guess it is fine. But one of these days you will double it.

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Yes of course. I don't shoot like that normally RedLeg! It was to prove a point.
I have however deliberately doubled my 12 bore more than once and it's no big deal.

IvW said:

You must have very thin fingers

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finger tips

8 x 60 said:

finger tips

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Well maybe I am old fashioned I use the middle of the pad of the first digit

Red Leg said:

Interesting. That could not be more incorrect for shooting a double shotgun. But if it actually works for you, I guess it is fine. But one of these days you will double it.

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Yes of course Red Leg. It was done to prove a point.

I have deliberately doubled my shotgun in the past, its no big deal.

IvW said:

Well maybe I am old fashioned I use the middle of the pad of the first digit

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Yes so do I. I used finger tips in the two finger technique.

I think people are taking what I said out of context. I used the two fingers just to prove a point when my son was saying how much faster his single trigger was...

8 x 60 said:

Yes so do I. I used finger tips in the two finger technique.

I think people are taking what I said out of context. I used the two fingers just to prove a point when my son was saying how much faster his single trigger was...

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No we are not we are taking it as you said.

So what is the point you try and prove then when using some weird unpractical way of shooting a double trigger shotgun and then claiming it is faster but cannot be used in normal shooting situations....impractical and a waste of time...

By the way the shot-gun is still as tight on it's face as it was 40 years ago when I deliberately doubled it and it has fired many thousands of shells since then.
Back in the old days firing both barrels together was a technique often employed by market gunners when the wanted to "brown" a raft of Duck.

Don't know if it is still available but there used to be a double 12 bore on the market that had a facility to fire both barrels simultaneously. It was called a Carnardier I think.

8 x 60 said:

Yes of course. I don't shoot like that normally RedLeg! It was to prove a point.
I have however deliberately doubled my 12 bore more than once and it's no big deal.

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I never deliberately double a good gun. Creates pressures and spikes that the gun was never designed to sustain. At best it will accelerate it going off face, and at worst it will cause soldering damage to the barrels themselves. But hey, it's your gun, blast away.

The point is an experienced shooter can also easily shoot two triggers, at game or a target, as quickly as a single, and he can do so using the first pad of just the trigger finger.

IvW said:

No we are not we are taking it as you said.

So what is the point you try and prove then when using some weird unpractical way of shooting a double trigger shotgun and then claiming it is faster but cannot be used in normal shooting situations....impractical and a waste of time...

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The question was "Strictly speaking in terms of speed of firing of the second barrel..."

So "Strictly speaking in terms of speed of firing the second barrel" a double trigger