Gentlemen --
We seem to be accumulating a significant amount of information in this thread that indicates that barrel regulation is poorly controlled within the industry.
I may be / have been ... naive -- but, I find this result surprising -- if somewhat disconcerting. I expect you do, as well.
The relatively close superposition of the point of impact for both barrels is inextricably tied to the basic concept of a double gun. Clearly, the double gun has many design advantages from esthetics ... to safety -- from dual chokes... to light weight. But, if the double gun does not shoot where you point it -- all these advantages fade into irrelevancy.
What is going on here? It seems that the point made by several of the contributors -- that the shotgun manufacturers expect that most people will not critically pattern their guns -- may indeed be correct. They expect to simply "slip by". It also occurs to me that the gun manufacturers never define / guarantee the tolerances associated with barrel regulation. In this context the reasoning is clear. Disappointing! Perhaps, we as a group, are too 'accepting" of this shortcoming. Perhaps we can actually shoot better than we think we do! Think about it! There may be an "opportunity" for a double gun manufacturer, which "bites the bullet" and guarantees a set of minimum barrel regulation metrics that insure quality.
I cannot believe that the regulation of the barrels of a double gun is impossible to consistently control in the context of manufacturing. It is clearly a matter of identifying the critical manufacturing variables and controlling them without fail. The question of barrel regulation should be integral to design of the double gun manufacturing processes and quality control protocols. Having a double gun that shoots where it is pointed should not be an "accident".
We should refuse to accept guns with poorly regulated barrels. Frankly, I am disappointed in how long it took me to critically evaluate the patterning of the B. Rizzini shotgun that started this thread. But, you have my assurances that it will not happen, again.
Best Regards,
Don
