Which Barrel Do You Fire First?

[MacJenkins]

The front trigger is a lighter pull for a reason. However if you’re unable to grip the stock tight enough to prevent strumming then probably the next best thing is to shoot the rear first. But, that’s not the way doubles are designed and regulated to be shot.

 

[steve white]

I never had a problem strumming, or getting used to two triggers, but then I had an English straight hand stock which made it easy to shift back a bit. With a tight pistol grip, I might have preferred a single trigger.

 

[PCC600]

Something like that has happened to me as well with my double rifle caliber 577 Nitro Express. Fortunately not while I was hunting, but on the shooting range. I was knocked off my feet, but I did not sustain any injuries. However, this was due to an error that the gunsmith made during the restauration of the rifle. I had pulled only the front trigger, as usual. It can happen, of course, that shooters inadvertently pull both triggers at once, but that constitutes a handling error.

Similar issue with a 600 NE made by Jeffery and owned by a highly experienced big calibre double rifle shooter . A new stock and inletting not quite correct resulted in a double discharge . Rifle pulled apart a small bit of wood removed and now all sweet . I have never ever experienced a double discharge with any double rifle and always use the front trigger first .

 

[m444ss]

It's been debated for a few days in another post about which barrel someone should (or should not) be firing first on a double rifle. The same would hold true for a SxS shotguns and O/U rifles & shotguns.

I would like to know what people are doing and the reasons behind it. Do not get me wrong, this is not an attempt to judge anyone for their way of doing things. Everyone is welcome to do as they please as there are many different ways and reasons for teaching each discipline.

For me and a SxS (rifle or shotgun), the right barrel (front trigger) is shot first. My reasoning is that in most double barrel shotguns, the right side typically has a more open choke than the left. This means the first shot will be more spread out, and the follow up shot (if needed) will have a tighter pattern to reach out a little further.

For the O/U configuration, I shoot bottom barrel first. This is to keep the vector of the recoil lower on the shoulder to minimize muzzle rise to make follow up shots more quickly. Once again in a shotgun, the bottom barrel is typically choked more open than the top.

Two votes allowed (one for each configuration). No changing of votes and you need to vote to view the results.

I've got a SxS 16ga with two triggers and fixed chokes. I haven't fired it in quite sometime and don't recall which barrel is associated with which trigger, but I pull the forward trigger first so that my finger moves naturally to the the rear trigger for a quick follow-up. I'm sure that how it's intended to be fired.

 

[jruby]

Can't be 100% sure but my experience is that the most open of the chokes on a SxS shotgun is the right barrel and the forward trigger. Hence the most choked is the left barrel and the rear trigger. At lest it is this way on Mirokus and Sarasquetas. It also possible both barrels are choked the same.i guess the determing factor is wether the target is incoming or leaving.

 

[BeeMaa]

Can't be 100% sure but my experience is that the most open of the chokes on a SxS shotgun is the right barrel and the forward trigger. Hence the most choked is the left barrel and the rear trigger. At lest it is this way on Mirokus and Sarasquetas. It also possible both barrels are choked the same.i guess the determing factor is wether the target is incoming or leaving.

Having the two triggers will at least give you options for incoming or outgoing birds more quickly than having to change a barrel selector with your thumb.

My experience with fixed choke shotguns has been the same as yours for the most part. Right barrel (front trigger) is typically more open than the left (back trigger). With O/U's and fixed chokes, the bottom barrel is typically more open than the top.

 

[jruby]

Having the two triggers will at least give you options for incoming or outgoing birds more quickly than having to change a barrel selector with your thumb.

My experience with fixed choke shotguns has been the same as yours for the most part. Right barrel (front trigger) is typically more open than the left (back trigger). With O/U's and fixed chokes, the bottom barrel is typically more open than the top.

My Browning broadway trap has both barrels fixed at full. My Charles Daly (Miroku) has full on top and modified on the bottom. Both are single Triggers. The selector can change which barrel fires very quickly.

 

[Russ16]

My Browning broadway trap has both barrels fixed at full. My Charles Daly (Miroku) has full on top and modified on the bottom. Both are single Triggers. The selector can change which barrel fires very quickly.

The original superposed guns had what was called double single triggers. The front trigger fired bottom then top and the back trigger fired top then bottom. So you chose which trigger fired which barrel first then stayed with that trigger.

Not many were made that way and they’re rare to see but fun to play with if you find one.

 

[Velo Dog]

Fellow Firearm Enthusiasts,

Except for my one and only repeater, a Prohibition Era Model-12 Winchester pump, all my shotguns are SxS with 2 triggers and semi-pistol grip.
After a bit of very careful dowel and sand paper work inside the right barrel only muzzle, most of those are now choked —> Right Barrel True Cylinder (aka: no choke at all) and —> Left Barrel Full Choke.
For larger than dove and quail upland bird hunting, I prefer to carry my doubles with #6, or #7&1/2 lead shot in my right no choke barrel.
And, #4 high velocity lead shot in my left full choke barrel.

Back during the early to mid 1970’s, I have even carried one such double 12 bore in the Feather River drainage (Northern California) during overlapping deer season and pheasant season.
Loaded with a rifled slug in the right barrel and high velocity #4 lead shot in the left barrel, I was ready for whatever I might encounter, within the thick foliage.
I never did get a shot at a deer with that setup but it was not for lack of walking quietly and hoping.

With all that, my answer to the “Which Trigger” question is: I go for the trigger / barrel that is loaded with the type cartridge best suited to whatever I am suddenly encountering.
In other words, I have no preference for the sake of tradition or whatever else anyone can think of, except a split second decision according to what type of critter and which specific charge is best to bag it with.

As for double rifles, I have owned several, all with semi pistol grip and two triggers.
Apparently, I am so dim witted that I have not noticed any of my doubles, neither any of my friend’s double rifles preferring any particular sequence in firing one barrel or the other first, as it pertains to their regulating shot for shot from standing with sticks, punching holes in paper targets.
Aside from the occasionally encountered front set trigger (a totally useless feature IMO), on a very few double rifles, never have I otherwise noticed the front trigger pull weight being lighter than the rear trigger pull weight on any of mine or any of my friend’s double rifles.
This to include having fired all of Cal Pappas’s (RIP) remarkable collection of English double rifles.

Initially, from reading about the golden years of British Hunting Safaris to Africa and India, I was convinced that I should always fire the right side barrel (front trigger) before the left side barrel (rear trigger).
However, back when Cal was still alive and while PH, Gary Hopkins was visiting Alaska, we went to the rifle range for a bit of casual shooting.
Twice I saw Hopkins experience a double discharge from a box lock SxS rifle in caliber .450 No2 NE.
He said it was from pressing the front trigger first, resulting in accidentally strumming the triggers during recoil.
From that day onward, I abandoned the romance and tradition of firing the right barrel first, with hard kicking double rifles.
I always select the rear trigger first on serious kickers and that is that.

I do not recall any more if Mr. Hopkins switched to selecting the rear trigger first or not.
At that time he did not own a double rifle anyway.
Also, before anyone presumes the recoil of that rifle was too much for him, he was well over 6 feet tall, young and “all meat, no potatoes” so to speak.
That same day, I watched him fire a 3 shot string from a custom built Brno 602 Magnum, caliber .460 Weatherby, (Weatherby factory loaded ammunition) as fast as he could run the bolt and all 3 shots were clustered into a fist size group together on the paper target @ 50 Meters.

Therefore, I suspect that strumming the triggers might happen to anyone, especially if they shoot hard kicking doubles quite often.
At this stage in my life, it cannot happen to me because I always choose the rear trigger first when messing around with seriously hard kicking doubles.

The one and only buffalo that I’ve taken so far, was with my own at the time, caliber .450 No2 NE double rifle.
And you guessed it, I fired the left barrel (rear trigger) first and then the right.
It was very satisfying to see him drop both times that I fired (left and right / soft and solid).
Although I had hastily then reloaded with two solids, I didn’t need a 3rd shot.
He was thoroughly expired by the time we walked the short distance up to him.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[Firebird]

Only have shotguns in O/U configuration, single trigger and I keep an open choke in the top barrel. If I only fire one shot it is the easiest to reload.
Left handed, don’t know if that makes a difference or not

 

[PCC600]

I've got a SxS 16ga with two triggers and fixed chokes. I haven't fired it in quite sometime and don't recall which barrel is associated with which trigger, but I pull the forward trigger first so that my finger moves naturally to the the rear trigger for a quick follow-up. I'm sure that how it's intended to be fired.

You bet . Always front trigger first . The right barrel and then the left . Shotguns and double rifles both .

 

[tomahawker]

Old timers rule of thumb was to shoot the barrel closest to the critter. Keep yer powder dry and run em to me.

 

[Miletic]

If the game is closer, first the right/bottom
Most often, I use the F16, which has one shutter. Only once has it happened to me that I switched the selector and fired the upper barrel first. At that time, I was shooting the fox at 35m, and I had 3mm bullets in the barrels. However, I had a full choke on the top barrel

 

[SRvet]

Right hand rifling twist in a double rifle barrel means the rifle will torque left. Firing the right barrel first moves recoil into the right-handed rifleman’s center of body mass making recovery faster. Again, firing the O/U lower barrel first keeps recoil lower in the shotgunner’s center of mass allowing a faster recovery for the second barrel. Note, a SxS recoils laterally and an O/U recoil vertically.

Are both barrels not a right handed twist?

 

[Fenstar]

I’m not trained in the matter, but I guess I’m shooting my double (very successfully) wrong, for years now. For me, my rear trigger LOP does not feel half as good, or normal, as my front trigger pull. Since, in theory, the first shot is calm, quiet, controlled- I’ve always shot the rear trigger first..accurately. When heat of moment second shot occurs, my finger defaults to a LOP that is familiar. For me, this sequence works the best. BTW, never a double tap, either!

 

[Dudders]

On my o/u shotguns top barrel first its quicker to reload on single shot . For driven birds top barrel has more choke on mine and the first bird will be taken out in front the second would be closer and taken before it passes overhead

 

[Wildwillalaska]

For a real good time, I like to pull both triggers at once. lol. I mean, one should know what doubling feels like, no?

 

[Red Leg]

With a double rifle, shoot either barrel you wish, but the maker built the thing with the intent that front trigger being fired first. That is why the trigger is on the right (duh) and why the rear trigger on a quality double rifle has a slightly heavier pull to help prevent accidental discharge of that barrel. If that is happening, then either the triggers need adjusting or the shooter is using more recoil than he can effectively handle.

On a classic game gun with double triggers, the right barrel - right trigger - is traditionally quite open and the left is fairly tightly choked. The British gunmakers and their clients tended to think of birds as being either near or far. On the Continent, the typical game gun was used as much for fur as feather and were typically more tightly choked, but again with the more open barrel on the right fired by the front trigger. Like a double rifle, the intuitive firing sequence is front to rear. However, the different chokes allow an out sequence selection if a target so requires it. In practice, I usually shoot my doubles in the designed sequence long ago learning just how far a bird can be dropped cleanly with something like a modern IC or Skeet 1 choke.

Almost all modern OU's have single triggers so play with the chokes and the selector however it makes you happy. I set mine to fire a bottom barrel open choke first .

Pigeon guns are an exception in that they have tightly choked barrels, though the right is typically somewhat more open than the left - something like full and fuller - to get the bird down in the ring.

 

[Russ16]

With a double rifle, shoot either barrel you wish, but the maker built the thing with the intent that front trigger being fired first. That is why the trigger is on the right (duh) and why the rear trigger on a quality double rifle has a slightly heavier pull to help prevent accidental discharge of that barrel. If that is happening, then either the triggers need adjusting or the shooter is using more recoil than he can effectively handle.

On a classic game gun with double triggers, the right barrel - right trigger - is traditionally quite open and the left is fairly tightly choked. The British gunmakers and their clients tended to think of birds as being either near or far. On the Continent, the typical game gun was used as much for fur as feather and were typically more tightly choked, but again with the more open barrel on the right fired by the front trigger. Like a double rifle, the intuitive firing sequence is front to rear. However, the different chokes allow an out sequence selection if a target so requires it. In practice, I usually shoot my doubles in the designed sequence long ago learning just how far a bird can be dropped cleanly with something like a modern IC or Skeet 1 choke.

Almost all modern OU's have single triggers so play with the chokes and the selector however it makes you happy. I set mine to fire a bottom barrel open choke first .

Pigeon guns are an exception in that they have tightly choked barrels, though the right is typically somewhat more open than the left - something like full and fuller - to get the bird down in the ring.

I also have a couple of guns set up for driven game where the right barrel is a tighter choke as the birds are incoming. Like with rifles the Brit designers set it up to shoot the right barrel first.