Which barrel first ????

[Bruce Hering]

Having a discussion with friends that has led to an argument question regarding which barrel is fired with the front trigger with a Parker shotgun as it comes from the factory ?

I the assumption was stated that unless otherwise ordered for a right handed shooter the front trigger would fire the right hand barrel first....

What say you.....

[Brian Dudley]

Default for any maker would be right barrel for front trigger.

[jefferyconnor]

I have guns from all the main makers and the front trigger is the right barrel and more open choke barrel in all cases except one single trigger Parker. I understand certain target guns may have reversed the chokes but not the trigger selection.

[Bruce Hering]

Thanks guys....

Add on to question... Why would someone get the left to go first with a more open choke and then th right off the back trigger with a tighter choke.... Just wondering.

[John Dallas]

A gun set up for a left hander

[Dean Romig]

Thanks guys....

Add on to question... Why would someone get the left to go first with a more open choke and then th right off the back trigger with a tighter choke.... Just wondering.

Generally for pass shooting or for decoying ducks and geese. However, the front trigger would still fire the right barrel but that would be the tighter choke fired when incoming game was farther out and then the rear trigger/left/more open for when the birds had come in closer.





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[Bruce Hering]

Generally for pass shooting or for decoying ducks and geese. However, the front trigger would still fire the right barrel but that would be the tighter choke fired when incoming game was farther out and then the rear trigger/left/more open for when the birds had come in closer.
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Dean:
I would think for decoying ducks the more open barrel would be the best first and the more choked barrel as they leave. Thats from a good bit of duck (S. IL and AR) and goose (S. IL) hunting. We always wanted to put our birds in the decoys or at least "feet down" before we fired the first shots.

I suspect this set up is, in fact, for a left handed person

[Daryl Corona]

I'm a southpaw and have never had a problem nor do I see the reason for wanting to change the position of the triggers. That's just me.

If you think about the postion of the back trigger for a left handed shooter it is quite natural to slide the finger back and away from the front. Maybe the designer of the double trigger set-up was a southpaw?

Same goes for the top lever. I've been pushing it open for so long I can't imagine having to hook my thumb and pull it.

[Dean Romig]

Dean:
I would think for decoying ducks the more open barrel would be the best first and the more choked barrel as they leave. Thats from a good bit of duck (S. IL and AR) and goose (S. IL) hunting. We always wanted to put our birds in the decoys or at least "feet down" before we fired the first shots.

I suspect this set up is, in fact, for a left handed person


I have the 10 gauge 30”, 2-frame Damascus barrels from GH 57043 which are reversed choked rt-XF and l-LM. The serial number does not appear in the Serialization book because it falls in one of the sections where only data for DH and higher were recorded for inclusion.

Perhaps Chuck Bishop can look up 57043 to see if there’s a clue somewhere as to why these reverse chokes were ordered.

I’ve heard of Parkers being ordered with triggers set up for a left-handed shooter but not reverse chokes for that reason.

Your logic is sound Bruce - maybe someday somehow we’ll find an answer.



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[Brian Dudley]

You could also order a letter.

[Phillip Carr]

Over my dogs I almost alway shoot the open barrel first. Most of my guns are set up this way. Many times there is a covey rise and the chance to shoot a 2nd bird. Normally this means a crossing or straight away bird which is getting further out.
When I shoot doves at the dairy it depends on the flights of birds and the direction they are flying. Many times a flock of birds will be crossing or flying to you. If I am shooting my A-10 or model 21 with the ability to select which barrel fires first I will select the tightest barrel to fire first killing a bird coming in then firing the more open barrel as the birds flare but still are getting closer.
Most of the time I just shoot what ever gun I take and don’t worry about it. The only time I really consciously pull the rear trigger first if I trying to shoot those pigeons that drop in really high, fast, and seem to know to stay just on the outskirts of my effective range.

[Dean Romig]

You could also order a letter.


In the interest of sharing for the common education of everyone interested and whereas I don’t own the gun, it having possibly been broken up for parts or it at least doesn’t currently have these reverse choked barrels, I believe I won’t “order a letter” and if Chuck chooses to look up the order and share his findings, if any, that will be his choice, thanks.





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[Chuck Bishop]

S/N 57043 is listed in the order book as a Grade 2, 10ga. with 30" barrels. No mention of reverse chokes. Unfortunately there is no stock book so we can't see the pellet counts. I have seen on occasion where the order book would specify choking the RH barrel tighter than the left. More than likely, if I can read the pellet counts in the stock book, I've seen it there too. I don't recall ever seeing an order for the triggers to be reversed so the front trigger would fire the left barrel first but never say never. If I run across one, I'll let everyone know.

[Dean Romig]

Thank you Chuck for your contribution to this thread.





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[Dean Romig]

More commonly reverse choking is seen on early Skeet guns, regardless if the gun has double triggers or a SST. The first shot is fired at a fast outgoer and which (ergonomically and trained muscle memory) is taken with the front trigger - right barrel. These are certainly the most common of reverse choked guns.





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[Bruce Hering]

There is a letter on this gun showing the gun as ordered with choke; RH 70%, LH CYL. It was ordered with no safety and 26" barrels. All of this just adds to the questions.

[scott kittredge]

Thanks guys....

Add on to question... Why would someone get the left to go first with a more open choke and then th right off the back trigger with a tighter choke.... Just wondering.
In coming bird 2 nd shot if needed would be closer. I don't think they were set up to shoot one 1 st or 2 nd. They are set up for how far your target is at the time you are ready to shoot at it.

[Bill Murphy]

Early skeet guns were reverse choked because early skeet was shot high house beyond the stake (long range, tight choke) and the low house was shot close to the shooter (short range, open choke). Unfortunately, the whole scenario changed on the right side of the field and the selector would have to be changed on a single trigger gun to make things "right". The truth is that if a shooter was any good, it didn't matter what choke he used on what bird. Having the selector in the wrong position when the shooter arrived at station eight could and would result in a lost bird because of a shell loaded in the wrong chamber after messing with the selector. In today's skeet world, both barrels are choked the same.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Bill.





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[Bruce Hering]

Early skeet guns were reverse choked because early skeet was shot high house beyond the stake (long range, tight choke) and the low house was shot close to the shooter (short range, open choke). Unfortunately, the whole scenario changed on the right side of the field and the selector would have to be changed on a single trigger gun to make things "right". The truth is that if a shooter was any good, it didn't matter what choke he used on what bird. Having the selector in the wrong position when the shooter arrived at station eight could and would result in a lost bird because of a shell loaded in the wrong chamber after messing with the selector. In today's skeet world, both barrels are choked the same.

Spreaders for me..... LOL... Wait, I shoot spreaders all the way around.... yea I know.

[Stan Hillis]

When I shoot doves at the dairy it depends on the flights of birds and the direction they are flying. Many times a flock of birds will be crossing or flying to you. If I am shooting my A-10 or model 21 with the ability to select which barrel fires first I will select the tightest barrel to fire first killing a bird coming in then firing the more open barrel as the birds flare but still are getting closer.

I do exactly the same, Phillip. Anticipating the opening of my 62nd dove season in a little less than 9 weeks, and having forayed to Argentina to chase them twice, I have learned a few interesting things about shooting doves. One of them is that incoming doves can be killed with a 20 ga. with only 7/8 0z. of 8s, at much greater distance than I used to think. In fact, undoubtedly the hardest "bad habit" I have to overcome each season is waiting too long to drop the hammer on an incoming, speeding, dove. When using my vintage doubles I will always use the tighter, left barrel first, and I am sometimes amazed at how far you can kill an incomer. All of the bird's vitals are exposed to the shot swarm, and it can possibly be speeding towards you at 125 fps (60 mph plus a 25 mph tailwind), so from the instant your brain says "Now!" until the shot reaches the bird, it has closed a considerable amount of the distance it was from you.

Then, when you have "dumped" that first one far enough out you can go to the front trigger, or more open choked barrel, and try for a double by tagging another in the drove at much closer range. One of the greatest thrills I have ever found in shotgunning is taking a double on incoming doves, and doing it so that not only the first, but the second falls in front of you.

[Bruce Hering]

I do exactly the same, Phillip. Anticipating the opening of my 62nd dove season in a little less than 9 weeks, and having forayed to Argentina to chase them twice, I have learned a few interesting things about shooting doves. One of them is that incoming doves can be killed with a 20 ga. with only 7/8 0z. of 8s, at much greater distance than I used to think. In fact, undoubtedly the hardest "bad habit" I have to overcome each season is waiting too long to drop the hammer on an incoming, speeding, dove. When using my vintage doubles I will always use the tighter, left barrel first, and I am sometimes amazed at how far you can kill an incomer. All of the bird's vitals are exposed to the shot swarm, and it can possibly be speeding towards you at 125 fps (60 mph plus a 25 mph tailwind), so from the instant your brain says "Now!" until the shot reaches the bird, it has closed a considerable amount of the distance it was from you.

Then, when you have "dumped" that first one far enough out you can go to the front trigger, or more open choked barrel, and try for a double by tagging another in the drove at much closer range. One of the greatest thrills I have ever found in shotgunning is taking a double on incoming doves, and doing it so that not only the first, but the second falls in front of you.


Cant argue that. Especially if they are both falling at the same time.....