doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com English single triggers

Need advice on wether to purchase a nice English gun with a single trigger. I have become smitten with a nice Lang single trigger gun I have found on the web. Generaly I would prefer double triggers but I have really had this Lang start to grow on me. So how are the triggers especially on Langs?
My other alternative is to purchase a Winchester Model 21, 20 gauge I have been looking at with 30" barrels and have it re-stocked.

PALUNC:
In my personal view, you're much better off with the Lang. And any honest vendor should allow you to prove the trigger on a 3-day return privilege.

In my personel view, three days, even if the guy lets you shoot it (he probably won't) doesn't prove squat with a single trigger. English single trigger designs, also, my personel view, are among the very worst. You don't say if the Lang is a boxlock (slightly better single trigger) or a sidelock (wood performs the central support role, and, while it was likely OK, back when the gun was new, it might not be now-usually not, in my experience).
Think this through a bit more. I'm pretty sure every part for a 21 trigger is available off the shelf. I'm not a fan of that trigger, either, but, at least there will be a bit less suspense when it acts up.

Best,
Ted

Just 2 or 3 years ago I was reading one of the very high end English shotgun maker's web sites when I came across a statement to the effect that they did not make single trigger guns as they did not feel the technology had been refined. I tried to find that again sometime later and it was gone. I honestly don't remember which maker is was and in trying to find it again I saw several single trigger models on all the sites I looked.

Could you have a competent smith convert the Lang to double triggers? Would that be possible?

I want to add to my earlier post that Purdy is the company that I beleive was the maker and that they do not offer SXSs with single SELECTIVE triggers. I believe single NONselective triggers are reputed to be reliable. Thanks

I have a single non-selective trigger on my William Evans 12 bore BLE, his patent, and so far it has not given any trouble. The gun is bored IC/IC for driven game. I would prefer double triggers but could not resist, buying it, as it is such an elegant gun. BHugh Lomas blacked the barrels for me and removed and atraightned the top rib and di a super job, I would recomment Hugh highly.
Mike

If it has worked for 75-100 years so far you should be all right. If in doubt send it out for an evaluation by one of the gun smiths mentioned here to have them look at the trigger and make sure it has not been fixed by some semi literate fool.

You are looking for a field gun not a clays gun. The difference is about 10-20 times more shells shot in a clays gun per year than a field gun. If you were gong to shoot ten grand of shells a year I would pass on the single trigger on any English double.

This is an interesting subject.

I've heard that English single triggers are lousy, from more than one source.

Note that production guns from around the world seem to have reliable single triggers. The technology is fully developed for PRODUCTION guns, where a standard design made from interchangeable parts is accepted and works well. Hell, I have a lowly SKB/Ithaca with a Jap copy single trigger that's 100% reliable. It certainly can be done...

Perhaps, as a guess, maybe single triggers aren't so well adapted to one-off style gun making? You can't expect screws (excuse me, pins) to interchange on a Brit best, perhaps it's difficult to make the trigger close enough to design specs for good function with traditional techniques.

This may be one case where machine made precision is required for function?

Well, yes, KY, I would not dream of using my Wm Evans for anything else than grouse or pheasants. 2 1/2" chambers mean for me it a reloading proposition anyway, except for her annual Flatwater extravaganza!
Mike