doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Single or Double Trigger????

OK, which do you prefer, Single or Double trigger and why? I am in the market for a new S/S and cannot decide.

I have both, but probably do my best shooting with ST as it is more like O/U clay target guns I shoot more frequently.

I shoot both, and have zero problems switching back and forth. I don't know why that is. I grew up shooting a double trigger S x S, but shoot single trigger guns exclusively in competition, over and unders and side by sides. I really don't have a favorite between single and double triggers. My double guns with single triggers are 100% reliable, or I wouldn't have them. I have no tolerance for a mechanism that fails me from time to time, however seldom it may be.

If you decide on a single trigger, make certain you do the homework to determine if that particular gun has any reliability issues with the trigger. Contrary to what some may tell you, there ARE single triggers that are just as reliable as double triggers.

What is has been your past concerning triggers? Have you shot double triggers much? If not, be determined to do the requisite practice to get to the point that double triggers are "second nature" to you. I do not know how much shooting that would take for someone who grew up shooting a single trigger gun. Maybe quite a bit.

One last thing I would offer. If the single trigger gun is not barrel selectable, either get it choked the same in both barrels or leave it alone. There is no way to predict whether you will need the open, or the tight choked barrel, first. This is my experience, MBSR.

Best wishes, Stan

There are two kinds of shotgun shooters in the world. Those who have had trouble with a single trigger, and those who are going to.
I much prefer double triggers. Much more reliable, and, even if one trigger acts up, you still have a gun to use on a long trip. Have a single O/U with a non-selectable single inertia trigger, and it got unreliable when a soft recoil pad was added. Been pretty reliable since the pad got old and hard, saving the time the lube froze up.
Learn to use the double triggers, and forever wonder why a single trigger was ever invented-it is an answer to a question that was never asked.

Best,
Ted

Well, Ted, I guess you can count me in the group that "are going to", as you predict. I shoot two MX-8's, old guns, and have had two S x S Brownings, and have a 687 SP II Beretta 20 gauge. Between them all, tens of thousands of rounds have been put through them by me, right at ten thousand through the 687 alone. I have never, repeat, NEVER had a trigger failure with a single one of these guns. 100% reliability over roughly twenty years. I respectfully disagree with your statement.

I stand by my earlier caveat. Do your homework and buy one that has a history of reliability. Buy without it and you take your chances.

Stan

MBSR:
As has been suggested, it is the MAKER and DESIGN of a single trigger that makes it reliable -- or not. The issue then becomes: what brand of SxS are you considering? If not English or the best Italian, then I'd personally opt for the double trigger. Absolutely reliable. Absolutely selectable. And absolutely as fast as a single with a bit of practice. In my humble experience, there is no comparison. But suit yourself.

Best, Kensal

If it has two barrels it needs two triggers. I suppose single triggers are fine if all you are going to do is shoot clays but for hunting, double triggers are the only way to go. It does not matter how reliable the single trigger is, you can not make any selection as to which barrel you wish to fire after you have mounted the gun.

Completely agree with KR that double triggers are totally reliable, more readily selectable and absolutely as fast as a single. I love them, but I refuse to defame all single triggers as being unreliable, as some do. I would really like to try a 687 SP 20 ga. with double triggers for doves. I believe I'd love it.

Stan

Single trigger for clays but always a double trigger feathered game.

For guns with two different chokes then most single triggers are not that easy to change from one barrel to the other so the two triggers tend to be more reliable for most. Some people have a problem dealing with two triggers. For them a single is best. Or to paraphrase what my father use to say some people can not walk, chew gum, mount a gun and select a trigger, the single trigger is best. For them the auto was made. Bang, Bang, Bang as they say.