doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Gun Configuration Preferences

I’ve noted that even among people who use double guns by preference, opinions on details vary widely.

My question is regarding other features.
Ejectors? Double or single triggers? Straight vs pistol grip? Buttplate treatment? Forend type? Solid or vent rib? Other similar details.


Anyway, what features do people like and what is a no go for you?

Simple is best for me, 2 triggers, game rib, straight stock, splinter fore end, ribbed horn buttplate, 29" tubes, 6 lbs. 9 ozs, stocked like it was built for me. At times I do crave a bit more constriction in my second barrel, choked cyl/.014". My principal gun for over 15 years now and it will be the last gun I sell.

For me it depends on the intended use.

SXS guns, straight stock, splinter, barrels at least 28”, no ejectors, unless they are Darne ejectors, double triggers, checkered ebony, horn or checkered butt, truly prefer no recoil pad. No ventilated ribs, thank you very much. I hunt grouse, woodcock and pheasants. IC and IMod get it done, usually.
O/U guns, I really only use them when it is too cold for double triggers and need gloves, single trigger, somewhat tighter chokes, Mod and Full, usually pistol grip, since that is typically how they come. I’ll switch the O/U off with an A5 16 gauge Standard, with either a full choke Sweet 16 27” barrel, or, the barrel it came with, a 26” IC, depending on what I expect.

I have other guns, but, those questions weren’t asked.

Best,
Ted

For once, I actually concur w/ Ted; just add a sling. The platform needs to perform in any condition w/ assurances and not necessarily frills.

Serbus,

Raimey
rse

I prefer 28" minimum for barrel length, according to usage, and up to 32" on many of mine. File cut, flat rib. Double triggers for hunting, single trigger for comp. I love ejectors, and the guns my stable consists of proves that out. I could care less about butt treatment, but usually have a pad because i need as close to 15" LOP as is possible and very few doubleguns have that without a pad, of some sort, being added. On any gun that has recoil to speak of I want a pistol or semi-pistol grip. It helps tame recoil significantly for me, which helps me get on the second shot faster. With a .410, straight grips are fine.

For once? Wow.

Anyway, both Darnes, a 12 and a 28, have slings. The Halifax 12 has sling swivels, and that sling simply isn’t as usable and handy as the Bretelle Darne. I have a Bretelle Darne waiting for a 12 gauge that needs one. The 28 has a Bretelle Darne, but, seldom gets used.

The O/Us and other unmentionable guns, do not have slings. I did put a sling on the Mossberg 500 .410 bore, hoping it might lead to the Missus hanging around in the woods with me a bit more, but, that gun hadn’t been fired since she and the boy completed gun safety training together.

Best,
Ted

12 or 20 gauge SxS, 28"-30", swamped concave rib, double triggers, Prince of Wales - or close, splinter, and because modernity is what it is - screw-in chokes, otherwise modified and full. Stocked to fit. But I've learned to settle.

I should maybe add that I like extractors because I don't like seeing empties lying around, and I don't like bending down to pick up mine because, certainly distracted watching the bird escape through the canopy, I would not catch the ejecting hulls.

I prefer a beavertail forend on anything smaller than 16 gauge. With a splinter forend on 20 gauge or smaller, the fingers of my left hand stick up above the barrels and spoil the view. This problem can be ameliorated by using a barrel guard, but that can slip if, for instance, you pick the gun up from a vertical position by grasping the forend.

I agree, although I prefer the extra length of 30" barrels. My Miroku/ Browning side-by-side has 28" barrels that weigh exactly the same as my Webley's 30" ones, but is somehow not quite the same. A Prince of Wales grip does make a huge difference to me here in southern England.

There again, I am often the one Gun using a side-by-side.....