Rise & Fall of American SxS's

[Kensal Rise]

The ethos of the double gun depends greatly on two things;

Cultural/social sophistication and classical sportsmanship.

Without the former, the raison d'être for a double gun doesn't exist. Without the latter, it is doomed.

Sadly, our country is running out of both of these values.

Witness the decline of The Vintagers, etc. And the ads in the latest American Rifleman...

[Richard Flanders]

"Right - The guys who couldn't hit anything with two shots thought they needed more firepower.."

Dean nailed one of the main issues with the comment above. Blame the gun not the shooter. It's the same exact issue as with modern fly fishing gear going from older soft action rods that make a fisherman work at learning how to cast to very stiff rods that anyone can cast. I spent much of my youth in the back yard with grandpas 9.5ft cane rod casting a hookless fly into a hula hoop way out in the yard. When was the last time you saw someone do that? For whatever reason, people just don't want to take the effort to learn how to do something like shooting or fly fishing; they just want instant results. Hand any impatient Millennial a nice old soft Shakespeare or cane fly rod with a braided line and you'll see this. I hear that people can't shoot S/S guns because the two barrels are confusing or something. Seriously? Does anyone in this bunch believe that? I sure don't. That issue sure didn't seem to hamper some of the early 20th century shooting champions who ran course after course. I could rarely hit anything with a shotgun until I carefully read Churchills and Bob Bristers books on the issue. I bought into the Churchill method, practiced it carefully and increased my shooting percentage dramatically. I just takes work, a concept that many young shooters don't seem to grasp.

[Bill Mullins]

A quote from an old Indian guide:
" One shot.....game!"
"Two shots.....maybe!"
"Three shots..never!"

[Hixie]

"I hear that people can't shoot S/S guns because the two barrels are confusing or something."

I've heard this too usually with reference to sight picture and fast target acquisition. Apparently it is easier for some folks to sight along a single barrel compared to SxS. Perhaps a barrel on either side of the bead interferes with target acquisition for side to side moving targets? I don't know. I've heard this from new shooters that have had formal instruction and the advice from the instructor was to avoid a SxS for this reason.

I would venture to say that it is not a matter of them not being able to do it, but more likely the instructor says it is easier to shoot O/U or single-barrel, so they opt for that as an easier and faster way to become proficient. Hopefully there are some that move on to a SxS, perhaps as they get into bird hunting.

[C.O.B.]

I saw a friend of mine miss a rabbit 5 times with a Browning A5. The last three shots were either for show, frustration or impulse. When the bunny came back around I nailed him with a Parker 28. And FWIW his A5 was a 12

[Mills]

Originally Posted by Rich Anderson

I saw a friend of mine miss a rabbit 5 times with a Browning A5. The last three shots were either for show, frustration or impulse. When the bunny came back around I nailed him with a Parker 28. And FWIW his A5 was a 12

That is how it works. Does not surprise me. Also, not having the third shot, you can always delude yourself that you would have hit the target if you had the third shot.

[Big D]

I dunno. Look at the guns used in National skeet, trap or clays tournaments. You will almost never see a S x S. Those guys must know something

[Mills]

For whatever reason, over and unders and automatics are pretty much the guns used by professional shooters these days.

[Big D]

Can you say "Single Sighting Plane?

[Ed Blake]

Originally Posted by John Dallas

Can you say "Single Sighting Plane?

I’ve never bought into the single sighting plane thing. When I shoot i don’t see the sighting plane, whether it’s an O/U or SxS. I think that originated as a marketing catch phrase. JMO. And Mills is right about furniture: young folks want painted, utilitarian, cheap stuff from IKEA. Try and sell a piece of walnut furniture. It will be interesting to see all the deals at the Southern this Spring. If dealers/sellers want to move guns they will put realistic prices on their stuff. And bring cash.