Single or Double Trigger Shotgun?

Having two triggers makes it easier to choose and use one barrel over the other, allowing the shooter to have a choice of two different chokes or cartridges that can be used depending on the bird. On the down side, those unused to having the choice can find it tricky to adjust, and a badly fitting double-triggered gun can leave a shooter with bruised fingers.

A single trigger, people say, is more straightforward and is much more comfortable when used with the pistol grip found on most over-and-unders. Barrel selectors set into the safety catch offer a choice of choke. Critics of singletons say that they are mechanically less reliable and that, while a barrel selector might be fine for clays, it is not quick enough for when you need to make a snap decision in the field.

We spoke to some of today’s most popular gunmakers to see what they thought. Answers varied from strongly pro-single to firmly in favour of a double. The only point of firm agreement is that trigger choice is a very personal thing.

 

Edward King, managing director of importers of fine Spanish guns ASI, was firm in his preference for the double trigger: “For my money, the double trigger will always have the edge over the single trigger, because each trigger operates one barrel independently of the other. It also allows the user to select which barrel she or he fires first. It has been argued that the single trigger is quicker between shots, but I question whether that is indeed the case; my own guns are built so that the front trigger can be pulled twice as if it were a single trigger, yet I find it no quicker to pull the same trigger twice than to move from one trigger to the next.

Edward King of ASI is a firm fan of the double trigger.

“The other big issue is that of reliability: if one mechanism is going to give problems it will inevitably be the single trigger one, because technically speaking too much is being asked of it. The fact that it is designed to fire both barrels consecutively means that there is always the possibility that it will do so simultaneously, or sometimes fail to fire one or both."

 

“And, let us not forget, the classic straight hand stocked double trigger sidelock side-by-side is aesthetically the most beautiful of all sporting shotguns…”

Browning's Heritage Hunter O/U has a single trigger

Leading the single trigger camp was David Stapley, UK country manager for Browning: “My opinion is quite simple: You would only use a double trigger if you inherited a side-by-side from your grandfather. Modern over-and-under shotguns are designed to be easier to use so why choose to make things more difficult by using two triggers when one trigger will do the same job more reliably and efficiently? The Browning Custom Shop offers a double trigger option in their hand made guns but I can’t remember a single gun being sold with double trigger in the past 10 years.”
 

Holland & Holland Factory

Andrew Ambrose, former London gunroom manager for Holland & Holland, now Director of Gun Sales at Purdey, has noted a considerable rise in single-trigger sales over the past 20 years, but feels that the choice is a very personal one: “After Holland & Holland introduced their over-and-under shotgun in the early 1990s we saw large sales of this model type."

Holland & Holland have seen a rise in single trigger use since the launch of its ‘Royal’ over-and-under shotgun.

Personal choice

"Consequently the majority of these guns sold were single trigger as is the natural preference for the client purchasing an over-and-under. Conversely, when purchasing a side-by-side the majority of clients prefer double trigger. So overall it comes down to which model we sell more of, and nowadays that is the over-and-under. Looking at sales for the last five years the split has been 44% single trigger and 56% double trigger. We would argue that one is not better than the other but ultimately it is the client’s personal preference."

William & Son 410 sidelock ejector double trigger

Ian Andrews, former head of gunroom at William & Son, now Director of The Shorting Consultancy, has similar feelings: “I would tend to recommend the most traditional of configurations: single triggers for over-and-unders and double triggers for side-by-sides. However, in the world of bespoke products, it is very much up to the requirements of the customer. If he or she is used to a particular trigger then I would recommend the most complimentary stock grip shape (straight hand for double triggers and a pistol or semi pistol grip for single triggers) to ensure the maximum comfort and ease of use.”