their is strong opinions on using the rear trigger first or the front trigger on double barrels/double triggers---- so those who shoot doubles, lets see the resultsOn double barrel guns with two triggers, do you usually use the rear trigger first or the front trigger.I always use the rear trigger firstI always use the front triggerI don't know, I just squeeze a triggerI use bolt guns in order not to get confused on more than one trigger

I wish they offered more doubles with one trigger. Then you would not have to worry about which one to pull first.

BigB

quickshot - Before this poll gets too far along, you should consider adding a 5th answer, "I use bolt guns because I can't afford a double rifle."

quote:

Originally posted by Molepolole:
quickshot - Before this poll gets too far along, you should consider adding a 5th answer, "I use bolt guns because I can't afford a double rifle."

I totally understand your point!
If I add a choice it will reset the poll totals though

As a rule I carry a Soft in the right Brl. and a solid in the left. Depends on which bullet I want to use first?

quote:

Originally posted by larrys01:
As a rule I carry a Soft in the right Brl. and a solid in the left. Depends on which bullet I want to use first?

I do the same if hunting buff
otherwise, two solids for eles,
if two solids, which trigger are you pulling first--still the front?

When I used to hunt small game with my O/U shotgun I would choose the rear trigger for the full choke on game that was stationary and distant.I would use the front trigger first when I flushed game at close quarters and quickly follow up with the rear trigger.IMO,if there is any chance that you will need a quick second shot,such as there is in DG hunting,I would start with the front trigger first.

When I had a 470 I pulled the rear trigger first to eleminate the probability (in my case) of doubling. As far as having the solid in the left barrel and soft in right since there is nothing stopping you from loading the other way this strikes me as a false reason. As to bird hunting with the advent of removable chokes I generally put an ImpCyl tube in each barrel as I generally made two shots on a covey rise (and more often than not got 2 birds). You are not offered the option of having a tighter choke for the second shot with a single barrel gun such as a pump or auto and Many people use them with total success without having to switch chokes. Many years ago I remember one aftermarket choke that you more or less cocked and it stepped down to a tighter choke with each shot. It obviously didn't survive in the market for long. They give many reasons on these forums as to why you should shoot right barrel first but It is my doubt very many have any validity. I would think it a poorly regulated double rifle that you could not shoot the left barrel first. That of course is only my opinion and worth only what you wish to give for it.

[quote]Originally posted by larrys01:
As a rule I carry a Soft in the right Brl. and a solid in the left. Depends on which bullet I want to use first?


I do the same if hunting buff
otherwise, two solids for eles,
if two solids, which trigger are you pulling first--still the front? {quote}

+1 !!!

It only matters to you which trigger to pull first. There is no right or wrong or any regulation mumbo jumbo about which and when to shoot either barrel.

Everything was just fine at the range in that artificial, imitation situation but I strummed the back trigger the first time I whacked an elephant with a double.

Luckily the ele went down brained as the left barrel threw the second bullet off into never never land.

So I pull the rear trigger first, if I am forced to use a double trigger double rifle as I HATE double triggers!

I can't speak for other brands of O/U shotguns,but the chokes on mine were not the removable kind and the front trigger was for the bottom barrel with the modified choke and the rear trigger was for the top barrel with the full choke.So naturally my shotgun was designed to have the front trigger pulled first.IMO,this seems the natural way of using double triggers.I might add that I never had the shotgun double after years of use and always felt that if I ever where to purchase another at even twenty times the cost,it too would have double triggers.There is always the added guarantee of having two mechanisms instead of one like having two engines instead of a single one on a plane.

Ask Tony Macrus what his thoughts are on this matter......600NE doubling what?

Brett

I am of the "rear trigger first" clan.

I'm a front trigger first guy. I do however load a soft in the right and solid in the left if hunting buffalo. So far, I've always pulled the front first even with that setup.

I naturally pull the front trigger first. I shouldn't as I have short fingers and have doubled my 470 NE, 3 times, but never hunting. You don't forget it when you do it.

A single trigger gun is not the answer. The idea behind the double rifle is to have two seperate guns available in a tense moment.

quote:

Everything was just fine at the range in that artificial, imitation situation but I strummed the back trigger the first time I whacked an elephant with a double.

Luckily the ele went down brained as the left barrel threw the second bullet off into never never land.

Ah-hah! Brained him you said Will - you BRAINED your first Elephant!!!

See, there is hope for you afterall!!!

(just kidding)

JW

For me, it's a no-brainer:

I'm left handed, so I always use the rear trigger first -- If I used the front trigger first, my trigger finger would cross over the rear trigger and carry the risk that the 2nd barrel fires on recoil.

Right handers don't have this problem.

There's little downside except that normally guns are regulated under the assumption that the right barrel is fired first. But, I've really not experienced a problem due to that little potential problem.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Wemmer:

quote:

Everything was just fine at the range in that artificial, imitation situation but I strummed the back trigger the first time I whacked an elephant with a double.

Luckily the ele went down brained as the left barrel threw the second bullet off into never never land.

Ah-hah! Brained him you said Will - you BRAINED your first Elephant!!!

See, there is hope for you afterall!!!

(just kidding)

JW

But I side-brained it, so it doesn't really count. And with a measly 470 to boot!

I'm so ashamed.

I grew up shooting double barrel shotguns, and somewhere along the way my grandpa must have told me front trigger first but, I don't recall. I think it was because on all those shotguns the more open barrel was the right. Just became habit.

When I pick up any double to try for fit my index finger to front trigger plays a part in how it feels. How open or closed the stock is at the wrist tells my brain yes or no, just as LOP and drop measurements

Just the way I have always done it. I think that is why I have had no issue with the double rifle. And yes soft in right barrel, solid in left for Buff.

Many Thanks

HBH

quote:

But I side-brained it, so it doesn't really count. And with a measly 470 to boot!

I'm so ashamed.

It's OK Will, it's OK....We'll get you enrolled in "side-brainers anonymous" and you will come out of this just fine - I'm with-yuh bruthuh!

I have stated before I just practice with the rear trigger first. If you practice enough it really becomes second nature to you and really becomes a moot point, I believe. Just practice. Oh, and my .500 NE is a hammer gun to boot while my 450-400 3 1/4 is a sidelock hammerless. Just takes practice. But isn't that the fun of owning and hunting with these firearms? We get to do it, and that is the point!

Dutch

I grew up jump shooting mallards with a Silver pigeon double. Always fired the front trigger first because I loaded #6 in the right and #4's in the left.

With my 470 double it was just natural for me to load a soft in the right, a solid in the left.

Never doubled either and am to old to learn anything new.

I always pull the front trigger first (that's why it's in front) and I won't drink or even break bread with anyone else who doesn't.

There's the right way, the wrong way and my way, and I'm always willing to do things my way.

mike good for you, i will choose to not agree or disagree..

Buy a rifle with reliable triggers.
Have the triggers changed if you're left handed.
If the recoil is so severe that you keep doubling the rifle, buy a smaller calibre!

Actually having the lest barrel go first is a proven way to reduce first shot recoil on SxS guns...ALL of my Live Pigeon guns (rt. handed) have the triggers reversed to let L. barrel fire first - so will my NEW doubles in the future...JW

Can you really tell the difference in recoil if shooting from the hip?

quote:

Originally posted by xausa: QUOTED from the post 600NE doubling:
If I remember correctly, Hemingway once complained that the trigger pull on a double rifle he was using was "like the last turn of a sardine can key."

You would have to be old enough to remember when sardines came in cans with keys to appreciate that simile, however.

Just a little note here:

NOW! We have three folks who are world-class famous scribes who are and were single trigger double rifle fans! First and foremost is the famous Bill Stewart, and then there were the lesser two, Hemingway, and E. Keith!

So with these very famous authors recommending the single trigger on a double rifle I guess that poll is not needed. Just have all your doubles converted to single triggers!

However Taylor and I will stick with the antiquated double triggers and pull the front trigger first because we don’t know any better! .........And I'm older than the sardine can with a key!
..............................

Trigger LOP is an item no-one has mentioned.
The two trigger rifle by design requires that the length of pull be different for each trigger.
Is the rear trigger supposed to be perfect LOP or is it the front one, or is the proper LOP somewhere in the middle?
If front has a longer LOP, then it would seem appropriate to place finger there, then the natural LOP of the rear trigger would be a benefit.
Does this make sense to anyone else?

quote:

Originally posted by Bob Nisbet:
Trigger LOP is an item no-one has mentioned.
The two trigger rifle by design requires that the length of pull be different for each trigger.
Is the rear trigger supposed to be perfect LOP or is it the front one, or is the proper LOP somewhere in the middle?
If front has a longer LOP, then it would seem appropriate to place finger there, then the natural LOP of the rear trigger would be a benefit.
Does this make sense to anyone else?

It makes perfect sense Bob, and that is the way the LOP is set up on a measured to order double rifle!
There are several keys to this! The front trigger is always set with a lighter pull than the back, if there is a "SET TRIGGER" for very precise shots with a very light trigger pull it is always on the front trigger, the front trigger has, most often, a LOP that makes the trigger finger placement on the front trigger useing the first finger pad between the tip and the first joint of the trigger finger, with the back trigger useing the first joint of the finger placed on the trigger!

This to me says the rifle is designed around front trigger first!

NOW! Having said that, there is nothing wrong with pulling the back trigger first if that is what a shooter wants to do! After all, it IS his rifle! I shoot the back trigger first on occasion, but not to avoid double discharge! That has never been a problem for me. I only remember one time that I had a double discharge on a double rifle, or two trigger shotgun, and the one I remember was a little side by side 9.3X74R double, that that was definately a strumming double.

The only reasons I ever pull the back trigger first is when shooting steeply down hill while have no choice but to shoot from a standing position, or when I want to fire the first shot from the barrel with the solid bullet, which is always loaded in the left barrel, and a soft in the right barrel. If I were hunting elephant, which I don't, both barrels would be loaded with solids so it's back to right barrel first!

In the end it is a matter of personal preference!

All you double chaps might shoot me down in flames but when I had a double I would use two fingers - my second finger to pull the back trigger (first) and keep the fore finger for the front. The fore finger finger would hover to the right of the trigger until I needed it. I practiced this specifically for quick shooting and never had any problems with the technique.

I will admit that I have never fired a double rifle, but have hunted birds enough with a double triggered shotgun, always firing the right barrel first that I am sure that would be natural for me.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
All you double chaps might shoot me down in flames but when I had a double I would use two fingers - my second finger to pull the back trigger (first) and keep the fore finger for the front. The fore finger finger would hover to the right of the trigger until I needed it. I practiced this specifically for quick shooting and never had any problems with the technique.

yup and it quit bashing the knuckle of my personal finger this way

Simple solution: Selective mechanical single trigger!

On my shotguns I pull the trigger that corresponds with the correct choke and on my 400 O&U double rifle it depends on how far or close the amimal is and pull the correct trigger.
When it's in my face I pull the rear first.

I shoot the most accurate barrel first.

Most of the responses to this thread show how people can make a mess out of the simplest of things...pull the rear trigger first,pull with two fingers,pull standing upside down,ask the animal which to pull first,pull the rear first on a rainy day,etc..

Not exactly on point, but one of my late friends and African hunting companions had a Krieghoff O/U .458 double rifle like mine, equipped with a Leupold scope in claw mounts. Unlike mine, the rifle was equipped with a set trigger for the front trigger.

Once, while shooting at the range, he was firing the Krieghoff from a sitting position, using the scope. At some point, he wondered how firing the top barrel (rear trigger) first would affect the point of impact, so he proceeded to try it, forgetting that he had set the front trigger. The resulting double discharge hit him in the forehead with the scope so hard that it bent the scope tube. However, once he stopped the bleeding, being a hard headed engineer, he resumed shooting with the open sights.

With an O/U rifle there is the added consideration that the lower barrel sits lower in the receiver and the axis of recoil is almost directly in line with the shooter's shoulder, whereas the upper barrel's axis of recoil is generally pointed above the shooter's shoulder, which means that the muzzle rise is less with the lower barrel than with the upper.

In International Trap, shooters are allowed to fire two shots at every clay target, and if either shot hits the target, then the target is counted as "dead" (I believe the same is true in live pigeon shoting, although there are other rules which apply). At any rate, there is an emphasis on getting off a well aimed second shot, and for that reason, the first shot is invariably fired from the lower barrel, so as to minimize the effect of recoil.

Only saw it once, but on Buzz's DVD, didn't either Ian Nyschens or Sten Cedergren say that he sometimes pulled both triggers to knock down a big bull....?

Before I knew any better, I had already established the practice of using the rear trigger first.

The economy of motion for me comes from reaching the trigger finger automatically forward to the front trigger while bringing the rifle down from recoil.

Right or wrong ... it is now muscle memory and does tend to prevent doubling the rifle which is something of an embarrassment with a .470 or larger class rifle.