On a double rifle, are there reasons to use either the front or rear trigger first? And, among different makes, do front and rear triggers always fire right and left barrels in the same order?

I shoot a double rifle and dbl shotgun the same: front trigger first then rear trigger. That technique is what I have used for birds for over 30 years, and is faster for me. Some shoot a dble rifle rear trigger first because they are afraid of setting off both barrels at once. But that can be avoided by gripping the pistol grip tightly.

front trigger = right barrel
rear trigger = left barrel

Since a lot of the time you only fire one shot should you alternate which trigger you pull first to equalize the side stress on the action?

One of the genuine advantages of a double rifle is that a hunter can load a solid in one barrel and a soft in the other, so as to have either handy for the first shot as needed.

Then, of course, when shooting, you would pull whichever trigger corresponds to the barrel loaded with the bullet you want to send downrange first.

Legend and myth has it a double needs to be fired front trigger first as that is the way they are regulated...

However, it never has made one iota of difference in any of the doubles I have shot..I always shoot the rear trigger first, that way I never have double from recoil and finger slippage....and I shoot the rear trigger better for some reason.

Some doubles work just fine whith either trigger fired first. The reason most old double rifles have more wear in the right barrel is because historicly, the right barrel is always fired first, hense more often. This was reccomended by the makers, because the rifles were regulated that way. Some are deffinetly effected if the left barrel is fired first, but most are not!

I always fire the right barrel first, but that is simply because that is the way it is supposed to be done! This is all assumeing we are talking about a right hand rifle. The triggers on a left hand double are reversed, with the right trigger being in the back, and the left trigger up front!

In the case of shooting a soft in one barrel, and a solid in the other, I always load the soft in the right barrel. I have never had an occasion to have to fire a solid first. If you do, then your follow-up will be a soft!

If you think you need to use a solid for the first shot, my advise is, to load both barrels with solids, like the North Fork Cup point, if hunting anything up to, and including Buffalo, and a North Fork Sq point if Ele is the target! Then it makes no difference which you fire first, where bullet configuration is concerened!

If you have a problem of setting off the back trigger because of recoil, then check your rifle to see if it makes a difference. If it doesn't, shoot it the way you want!

I'm a lefty and shoot both double shotguns and rifles. I have never had one set up for a left-handed shooter, always the standard manner.

I've found that shooting double triggers is even faster than the auto shotguns I used to shoot when you are used to them. And having a right handed set up is no handicap for a left-handed shooter.

Also, I've never doubled on my rifles or shotguns. That being said I just stepped into a DG double with double triggers. I'll probably practice shooting rear trigger first as it seems it would be easier for a lefty, with standard right handed triggers, to double under a heavy recoiling rifle round.

My wife is right handed and had a real problem doubling her 16 gauge SxS shotgun. Seems the length of pull had more to do with doubling than the recoil of the round. We shortened the stock to fit her better and the problem went away.

So did my opportunity to shoot "her" really nice 16.

Am also a lefty. The Brit protocol, my English gunsmith tells me, was to leave triggers as they come (front fires right barrel) but to turn the triggers by heating and bending to accommodate a left index finger. Much reduces possibility of doubling. I've had that done on all my double rifles, but not on the shotguns and never noticed a difference. Regards, Tim

Mr Boatman, if I may... The only double I shoot is an over and under "Continental" by Browning. This is chambered in the venerable .30-06. The reason to select one barrel over the other from a functional point of view is that the recoil inertia is better controled with either the under barrel in my case or the left barrel first for a right handed shooter. I would have to agree that physically the accuracy doesn't seem to differ if the alternate sequence is choosen. Enjoy your PS work.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Legend and myth has it a double needs to be fired front trigger first as that is the way they are regulated...

However, it never has made one iota of difference in any of the doubles I have shot..I always shoot the rear trigger first, that way I never have double from recoil and finger slippage....and I shoot the rear trigger better for some reason.

You make me smile Ray,thank you for teaching the lost art of double shooting. Charlie

Thanks for the answers and discussion everyone.

Tim check your PMs.

Jim

SDH,

Getting readier and readier. Still a couple of guns I haven't shot.