Making of a Doubles Trap Gun

[MarketHunter]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Single triggers and beavertail forends are for guys who shot automatics till they were north of 50 and now wanna be double gun men.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Destry L. Hoffard

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Single triggers and beavertail forends are for guys who shot automatics till they were north of 50 and now wanna be double gun men.

I’d never shot Colombaire or box birds until about five years ago . And I’ve not seen anyone shooting anything but doubles be it SxS or O/U now bear in mind the place I shoot at the most doesn’t allow semi’s or pumps .

[Stan Hillis]

My preference is for double triggers on a field gun. But, to say that all single triggers are unreliable or unsafe is just wrong. Beretta, FAIR, Perazzi, Kreighoff and many, many others have single triggers that are just 100% reliable. No pigeon shooter would ever walk to the ring carrying a doublegun that was not reliable, yet close to 100% of them shoot single trigger guns at flyers.

I've shot high volume doves in Argentina twice and run nearly 10,000 rounds through that 687 SP II Sporting 20 ga. at a rate of one shell every 6.7 seconds for the three-hour long shoots we had. Never a failure with the trigger, or with the ejectors. Guns get hot and dirty during a shoot of that intensity, but never a hiccup from the Beretta.

There is no single trigger that I am aware of that will ever equal the double trigger's ability to choose choke instantly. THAT'S the big advantage of double triggers in the field, IMO. Not reliability.

Now the caveat. I'm referencing MODERN single triggers, not the Rube Goldberg contraptions so many vintage American doubles companies developed and sold. No comparison there, again IMO. Too many shooters who are only schooled in old school single triggers lump them in with modern ones, and that's very unfortunate because it's like comparing A.G. Bell's first trans-Atlantic phone call to today's cell phone communication quality.

[John Davis]

My objection to single triggers on double guns isn’t solely based on reliability. Although I have had my share of single trigger mechanical issues. My real objections are personal in nature. Often times my failure to fire on the second shot is a result of me not allowing the trigger to reset. And many of my second shot misses are the result of me hunting the back trigger which doesn’t exist. So these should be considered operator errors. But in a game where a single target can mean the difference between winning and losing, you got to go with what works for you. And it also doesn’t hurt that the double triggers freak everyone else out.

On another note, in a game like doubles trap, a beaver tail forearm is an absolute must.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by John Davis

My objection to single triggers on double guns isn’t solely based on reliability. Although I have had my share of single trigger mechanical issues. My real objections are personal in nature. Often times my failure to fire on the second shot is a result of me not allowing the trigger to reset. And many of my second shot misses are the result of me hunting the back trigger which doesn’t exist. So these should be considered operator errors. But in a game where a single target can mean the difference between winning and losing, you got to go with what works for you. And it also doesn’t hurt that the double triggers freak everyone else out.

On another note, in a game like doubles trap, a beaver tail forearm is an absolute must.

I had a VHE 20 with a factory original single trigger and a time or two I was trying to get my finger behind it . But the two VHE skeet guns I have at present and the VHE vent rib trap I had were all factory Parker singles and never found myself looking for the back trigger . Again the only time I had issue was shooting the vent rib trap at box bird quail and that was 100% me trying to shoot the second barrel to fast and not letting the trigger reset . Being 32 yards from the boxes and the back fence only 16 yards in front of the boxes makes me wanna shoot a heck of a lot quicker than I normally would . Again pairs at SC never caused this or doubles at skeet/trap or Colombaire birds , but again I never shoot that quick at those games .

[Bill Murphy]

I remember, a few years ago, at the shoot that Craig mentions, a top dog flyer shooter showed up, uncased his automatic and was told he couldn't shoot it. He was offered anyone's proper break open gun, refused the offer, and was promptly refunded his money. I had known this fellow for years, but he left so fast I couldn't even say "Hi".

[MarketHunter]

I never understood the pigeon shooters obsession with single trigger guns.

P.S. I went to my first flyer shoot in years back last winter and half the guys were shooting automatics. I was shocked.

[Stan Hoover]

Originally Posted by Destry L. Hoffard

I never understood the pigeon shooters obsession with single trigger guns.

P.S. I went to my first flyer shoot in years back last winter and half the guys were shooting automatics. I was shocked.

That would definitely not be the norm here in the Nort East Destry, I'm not sure that I've ever seen an automatic at any local flyer shoot.

Most are shooting mid level to very expensive o/u shotguns, with a few SXS's mixed in.

I believe my first SXS was an NID single trigger, but most of the guns I shoot currently have double triggers. I do not favor one over the other. Going from one to the other isn't a problem, but it did happen that I find myself feeling for the rear trigger when shooting a single trigger.

PS. My first gun was a pump gun, and No, I haven't reached 50 yet

[B. Dudley]

Yes, with todays modern double guns, single triggers certainly are the norm. And that has been the case for a long time with over/unders. Today the manufactures have standardized on the few designs that are truly reliable and have proven to perform well.

I have often wondered by more modern manufacturers do not offer both single and double triggers. They clearly figure that the majority of their customers want a Single trigger. Though making a gun with double triggers would be cheaper to make due to less parts needed. I can certainly see the benefit to offering only one design from an overall cost standpoint.

[Stan Hillis]

I don't think it's an obsession, Destry, so much as a result of the evolution of the sport.

I've never had the problem John described himself as having with the inability to switch from double triggers to single, and vice versa. I never have to give it a conscious thought. It just happens. Same thing with some double trigger devotees who say they get mixed up when they try to shoot the rear trigger first, then go to the front one. It just happens for me without any forethought or reminders.

We aren't all wired the same, thankfully. I have no problem with "diversity" when it comes to shotgun triggers. My only problem is with narrow minded shotgunners who vocally bash what they don't care for, and that is not directed at anyone in particular participating in this thread.