Why are double barrel shotguns considered obsolete?
February 21st, 2010 by eranio
I bet someone could fire off those two barrels off faster than a modern automatic shotgun. Remember, this beautiful weapon has been in service for centuries and was a common sight in the old west. Why, this gun most likely kept your grandparents money safe as it crossed the rugged frontier. In exchange for its lengthy and noble service it only receives mocking and is now considered a novelty or joke. Why is this once feared gun considered "obsolete"?
Posted in double barrel shotgun
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
There’s not a single gun person around who thinks they’re obsolete. You’ll find the teenagers and wannabes with opinions bigger than their knowledge will downtalk anything they have no real experience in.
If doubles are so obsolete, why do so many trap and skeet shooters use an expensive double?
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
Its not. sawn of double barrels are extremely common street weapons in the uk, as handguns are much harder to come by.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
Primarily the weight… Having a second barrel adds to the weight of the firearm substantially. Some may argue that the extra weight aids in dampening recoil and helps with swing and follow through… but lugging a double barrel around on a rabbit hunt can get tiring in a flash.
You also loose the advantage of having a magazine with extra shells in reserve. Granted due to the Federal Migratory Bird Act, you are only alowed 3 shells anyway… that one extra shell has proven time and time again to be beneficial.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
I bet I can fire off all 5 of my rounds from my 870 faster than you could reload to get the 3rd and 4th in the chamber. With that said Many people still use them. In fact just this morning I was watching a show about the evolution of the shotgun from double barreled to lever action and eventually to pump and semi auto. I love the old side by sides but there are better guns for the job today. Would I own one? Yes. Would I use if for defense over my pump action? no I wouldn’t.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
who says they are obsolete.
Most of the doubles we see now days are hammer-less lock designs… still in vogue for sporting clays, skeet and upland hunting
The "coach" gun with exposed hammers and short barrels is still reproduced by several makers and sells well today. A practiced hand can fire and load a double fast enough to keep up an impressive rate of fire.
Mocking? Joke?… I don’t know of anyone who ever looked down those big bore holes and giggled.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
They are not obsolete…….but, are less common because of technology. Its like asking why not use a intel 286 processor in 2010. The over/under is very much alive and the side by side is too in some circles of competition.
Pump and Auto shotguns have come a long ways today and are very reliable and are cheaper to produce. Many doubles are extremely expensive for a good one.
Also, everybody wants 8-10shot shotguns today in the tactical world plus for hunting 3 shots is better than 2.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
If only your YA account was obsolete.
If you did some decent research you would find that either a side x side or over and under sells rather well. Some manufactures sell these "novelty" guns for more than you’ll make in a year!
For your information I have 2 sxs, 2 o/u and 1 semi. The semi is my pigeon gun. The only time it gets an airing is on pigeon. It will never take a game bird as long as I have it.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
Where did you get your information from? Double barrel over/under shotguns are the preferred skeet shooting shot guns for all professional marksmen. Quail and dove hunters love the over/under. Possibly the side by side has become less popular but nothing beats and over/under. Personally I would rather have another Ruger Red Label over/under than almost any other shotgun. I do love my Benelli Super Black Eagles, but the Red Label is one sweet shooter.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
They aren’t considered obsolete; good doubles are just too expensive for most people to consider. If you run into somebody who thinks otherwise, then the problem is in the person with the opinion, not in the gun. And if you think it’s a problem with a side-by-side smoothbore, show up at the range sometime with a side-by-side rifle!
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
Well there are other models like pumps, semi-auto’s and even automatics. Break actions you get one, two shots and have to reload every time. Most pump actions get 6-8 shots. They may not fire as fast but you don’t have to spend 10 seconds opening the breach and putting 2 new shells in.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
They are not obsolete. Maybe less seen because the pump action can hold more rounds. And good O/Us and SxSs are quite expensive.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
they are used extensively in different clays events. some events require them.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
I don’t know about you, but the 16ga. SxS Ithaca propped up behind my bed, and the 20ga. Ithaca Flues double in my safe command respect in all their elegance.
They’re not obsolete… a good double is about the fastest handling, most reliable, and slickest work of machining/engineering that can be imagined.
Very light, and very well balanced.
Anyone else here a fan of the mid 1920′s Ithaca doubles?
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
its not obsolete…..just expensive to most ppl……especially the side by side……even a "cheap" one will run u 750+………a over under starts at about 400….
u can pick up a pump for 190 at walmart any day of the week…..
they aren’t obsolete in any sense…..i would love to have a few…..but life is expensive and i cannot afford to buy double barrel shotguns……since decent to good ones start at 1200 bucks…..
so bottom line they are not obsolete just hard to justify buying when other styles get the job done …especially in today’s economy…….
basically if i could talk the wife into letting me spend the cash i would have a lot more guns…..but then i wouldn’t have any food on the table…….
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
the only thing that makes it obsolete, is the slow reload. It just plain takes too much time to reload em during high stress situations. On the other hand, I love doubles, and for pure intimidation factor (with a bite) keep a short barreled double handy for anti intruder duty! nothing turns a 300 lb punk into a wet his pants roll on the floor and beg for mercy pansy faster than having them stare down those twin bores!
Shoot safe
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
I still have 2, an AYA d/b and a Golden Eagle o/u. Any time I take them out, everyone wants to pick them up.
I agree with what one guy said- they are not obsolete, but they do cost compared to utility grade pumps and auto’s today.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
It is possible to fire those two barrels faster…. But you have two shots before reloading. Why wouldn’t need to fire two shots, instantly, at the exact same target?
Let’s see, I can fire two shots at once (basically one big shot). Or, I can have eight shots where I just have to flex my arm in between.
It is fine for hunting… But for any serious use a double barreled shotgun is obsolete due to capacity.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
Started with pumps,the auto,still an auto for deer and goose,doubles for all other,can’t decide which I like most O/U or S/S have and use both.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
I’m not sure where you got that information but it is not correct.
The double barrel, (over/under, O/U or side by side, SxS) is alive and well. I shoot trap and almost everyone there shoots a double barrel shotgun. I have shot trap and skeet over the years and a good double barrel shotgun is not only the most used shotgun in these applications but a good double is also the best way to start a conversation. As soon as someone sees someone with something different or nice everyone starts talking about it. I love how gun guys know a good gun when they see one.
I also notice that the "cowboy" action shooters use double shotguns almost exclusively.
A couple of years back field and stream magazine did an article on the 50 best shotguns ever.
Most of the shotguns were double barrel.
http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/gallery/guns/shotguns/shotgun-reviews/2007/11/50-best-shotguns-ever-made?photo=0
If someone says that a double barrel shotgun is obsolete it’s probably because they have never had one. A good double barrel will be the best balanced, finest shooting shotgun in anyones arsenal.
Double barrels can be some of the most expensive guns sold, however, because the cost of manufacturing them is high and many are hand made.
The double barrel shotgun is also the safest, most reliable, longest lasting shotgun made.
In the last 50 years, more titles and trophies in trap and skeet, including Olympic medals, have been won with O/U guns than with any other type.
In the U.S. the O/U is the most popular double barrel but in Europe the SxS reigns supreme.
Double barrel shotguns are considered a weapon of prestige. Many kings and rulers of countries own double barrel shotguns. While it isn’t absolutely necessary to own a good double barrel shotgun it is definitely a worthwhile acquisition. I own/have owned many double barrels over the years and I still enjoy shooting them today.
As good as a double barrel is, it isn’t the best gun for every application. In a home or self defense situation and in law enforcement and the military, having more than two shots is a beneficial thing. In this application a good pump or semi auto is a much better choice.
As far as considering them a joke, consider this.
A 12 gauge load of "double ought" will do just as much damage regardless of whether it comes from a double barrel, single barrel, bolt action, pump or semi auto shotgun.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
simple answer, they’re not considered obsolete, maybe rustic and old fashioned, but not obsolete.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
Sez who? I know I can can get off the second shot faster than any pump or semi-auto.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
Of course not, i love my cheap ol SxS 12 gauge. use it for squirrels, turkeys, dove, quail and rabbits. If anybody thinks a SxS is obsolete doesnt know what their talkin about.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
Stoeger makes excellent side by side coach guns, I think its more of people wanting those few extra shells in there shotgun, but don’t be fooled it is a decent shotgun and is still great for home defense/ hunting. Also great with a flashlight on the bottom with ranger bands.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:43 am
Obsolete?
You really need to look at the gun books. There are close to a hundred double barrel shotgun models for sale today. Side by side, over-under, even some drillings.
I have never see a double barrel jam on the second shot. I have seen both semi-autos and pumps jam. And as a hunting gun, if you can not take down the target with two shots you probably should spend more time at the range practicing. (Some say one shot.)
Also you can do something you can’t do with a semi auto. I can drop a "4-10er" down one or both of my 12 gauge barrels and shoot 410 ammo. Or I can just use one and stick in a 45 Colt round, and have a poor man’s drilling or survival rifle. You just can’t do that with a semi-auto or pump.