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Mar 28th, 2026
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MIKE THE BEAR
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MIKE THE BEAR
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I recently came across an older British Double that had an unusual firing sequence. The front trigger released the LEFT barrel (and, obviously, the back trigger the right barrel).The left barrel was, as usual, the tighter chocked of the two barrels.
I could surmise that this unusual arrangement might have been used for driven shooting of some sort but, if so, why wouldn't they simply have choked the right barrel tighter and not "reversed" the trigger sequence?
Anyone with insight or knowledge regarding this arrangement?
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,942 Likes: 19
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,942 Likes: 19 |
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,862 Likes: 123
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,862 Likes: 123 |
I have the same set up in a 16 ga. L.C. Smith hammer gun. I got this gun in a basket. Never noticed how the tirgger were and I still haven't figured out how the front trigger fires the left barrel. The sear isn't long enough to reach over and you can't swith the triggers around. As Bobby said it might have been for a left hand shooter, as the right barrel is tighter than the left.
One of these days I will have to take it apart and look at the trigger housing. As for now, I just shoot it and don't think much about it.
David
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 245
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 245 |
Maybe they changed the trigger assembly in a gun that already had a choked left barrel. Not my experience, but J. Nickerson in "A Shooting Manīs Creed" gives a good description on how this type of shotgun is used. They are meant for incoming driven grouse in Britain or red partridge in Spain, where you start early with the choked barrel and the open barrel comes next, then you change guns, so the open barrel goes first and the choked second on the departing flock. Four birds in your bag.
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Joined: Apr 2002
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2002
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Got a '28 Philly SW 12, redone with nice old crotch walnetto high dimension stock and bt forend. Front trigger fires left barrel. Choking conventional in that left is tighter than right. Front trigger "leans" outside the trigger guard to the left so it has to be that it's the original trigger that changed slots. Who says you can't switch em; they're both on the same axle; trigger blades don't know from which sear as long as there's something to push up on. ICBWBIDTS.
jack
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Joined: Feb 2006
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2006
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Jack, you got me thinking and I had to go look. The tirggers were switched. They are shaped different with the rear now front having the curve inwards to be in-line with the front/rear now trigger.
Last edited by JDW; 08/04/11 10:05 PM.
David
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2006
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Mike,I have encountered two British guns in which the front trigger released the left barrel. In both cases the triggers were reversable and were easily switched to the normal sequence.Once the triggers were switched in location,the front trigger fired the right barrel and the rear trigger the left.
Likely some will argue that there could be an advantage in reversing the trigger sequence for example, when shooting driven grouse,when the first shot is mostly taken well out in front and a choked barrel is prefered.Frankly I fail to see any merit in switching the triggers any competent shot has no difficulty in barrel selection based on observed range.
In my mind confusion is the net result, especially to those of us used to the normal double gun firing sequence.
Roy Hebbes
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,812
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,812 |
The burning of rare and useful brain cells thinking about pulling the rear to fire the right barrel and versi vice is worse than confusion. Charlie Chan say: While mind in gear, body frequently in neutral
jack
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,575 Likes: 182
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,575 Likes: 182 |
I had a Scott from the 1880's with a top lever that was bass-ackwards. You pushed it left rather than pulling it right (thinking right hander here) to open. Actually worked quite well, once I got used to it. You'd think maybe left-handed gun, but the barrel sequence was normal.
Last edited by L. Brown; 08/05/11 07:44 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,405
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2011
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The triggers could have been switched around at some point for some reason. Maybe the shooter wanted the left barrel to be the primary shot. I would wonder what choke is on that left barrel. Is it tighter than the right?
I have heard of some guns where the chokes have been reversed from what is customary (Right barrel or front trigger is tighter than the left). I have been told this is not very uncommon in europe where hunting driven game (coming at you) is more of a common practice. In that case your first shot would be farther away than the second. Hence the want for the tighter choke to be on your front trigger.
Can't answer for the case of your actual gun. But my guess is either specal order or a switch by a previous owner.
B.Dudley
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