Preach it brother! SxS’s are making a comeback with a lot of young men starting to take up upland hunting. Most are intimidated by double triggers. I have made the same points you used in talking with them. Most can get the hang of it in 3-4 weeks of shooting and by seasons end become instinctive with it.
As to a switching a single selective trigger on birds. I bought one and tried it. It can be done, but I was never consistent with it. The problem I had with the Browning I was using was not getting the selector pushed fully over. When this happened, neither barrel would fire. It might work with a different gun or more practice, but double triggers will always be the better choice.
That's a big question dan, but the only product involved was water. Basically the gun is steamed and then carded. This slowly converts the red rust to black after many cycles in this guns case.
Wish I wouldn't have seen this, there's a Marlin 90 at my LGS, this pushed me over the edge to grab it since I let the LC Smith SxS that was there get away.
I’m 73 and have owned more shotguns than I can count over the years, most of which were sxs guns, both hammer guns and hammerless. Only one sxs, a Dakin Arms 20 gauge made by Antonio Zoli, has a single trigger. I’ve owned two o/u doubles with double triggers, both Merkel 200s. While I have no trouble going back and forth between single triggers and double triggers, I prefer the double trigger guns. My current favorite hammerless is a Ferlib 12 gauge box lock, an Italian made gun that’s rare enough in the US that I’ve never seen another in the flesh and only a half dozen on gun for sale websites. My current favorite hammer gun is a 12 gauge Charles Moore, a British gun that probably dates to the last two decades of the 19th century, but the original proof marks having been removed at the time the gun was sleeved, I’ll never be sure.
Sxs being out of favor today, it’s possible to pick up some very high quality guns for relatively little money, particularly lesser known British and European makers. Well worth exploring if you have the urge.
Many years ago, I won a Baikal SxS 20 in a gun raffle. I had been looking for a 20 ga SxS for a while, money was not in great abundance and Ithaca or LC Smith doubles ain't cheap!
That Ruskie SxS was just what I needed, not wanted, but needed. Its become a favorite of mine. Unfortunately, its a single trigger gun.
Matt, thanks for another fine article! My first firearm was a used Steven’s 311 20 gauge. Still my favorite, great dove gun. Since I started with double triggers it became natural and I wouldn’t consider anything else. I have looked at the CZ Bobwhite 20 and if we still had quail I would get one.
I agree about cylinder bore. When we had quail around here and my dad had dogs we both had Browning A-5s in cylinder bore. My dad was a great snap quail shot. In close cover where most of the birds were. He would have two birds down while I was getting on my first. When flushing a covey in an open field he struggled, I think because he had to much time to think about the shot. Sadly I let that A-5 go years ago. It was false advertising when they labeled it “Light 12”. I miss the feel but not the weight.
Before my dad quit bird hunting he bought a Franchi AL 48 20 gauge and had a neighbor modify the stock to fit him like the Browning. When I try to get him to go deer hunting he said if he couldn’t shoot it with his Franchi and put it it in his vest he wasn’t interested.
A few years before he died he killed a doe with my CVA Mountain Rifle Kit while I watched. There are times when I wish I had been like him and just stuck to bird hunting.
Preach it brother! SxS’s are making a comeback with a lot of young men starting to take up upland hunting. Most are intimidated by double triggers. I have made the same points you used in talking with them. Most can get the hang of it in 3-4 weeks of shooting and by seasons end become instinctive with it.
As to a switching a single selective trigger on birds. I bought one and tried it. It can be done, but I was never consistent with it. The problem I had with the Browning I was using was not getting the selector pushed fully over. When this happened, neither barrel would fire. It might work with a different gun or more practice, but double triggers will always be the better choice.
Great read, thank you!
Hi Matt, thank you for your content.
Can you tell me exactly what you did and what products you used to restore that rusty SXS? Ty
That's a big question dan, but the only product involved was water. Basically the gun is steamed and then carded. This slowly converts the red rust to black after many cycles in this guns case.
Wish I wouldn't have seen this, there's a Marlin 90 at my LGS, this pushed me over the edge to grab it since I let the LC Smith SxS that was there get away.
Ha! On the bright side at least it shouldn't break the bank
I’m 73 and have owned more shotguns than I can count over the years, most of which were sxs guns, both hammer guns and hammerless. Only one sxs, a Dakin Arms 20 gauge made by Antonio Zoli, has a single trigger. I’ve owned two o/u doubles with double triggers, both Merkel 200s. While I have no trouble going back and forth between single triggers and double triggers, I prefer the double trigger guns. My current favorite hammerless is a Ferlib 12 gauge box lock, an Italian made gun that’s rare enough in the US that I’ve never seen another in the flesh and only a half dozen on gun for sale websites. My current favorite hammer gun is a 12 gauge Charles Moore, a British gun that probably dates to the last two decades of the 19th century, but the original proof marks having been removed at the time the gun was sleeved, I’ll never be sure.
Sxs being out of favor today, it’s possible to pick up some very high quality guns for relatively little money, particularly lesser known British and European makers. Well worth exploring if you have the urge.
Many years ago, I won a Baikal SxS 20 in a gun raffle. I had been looking for a 20 ga SxS for a while, money was not in great abundance and Ithaca or LC Smith doubles ain't cheap!
That Ruskie SxS was just what I needed, not wanted, but needed. Its become a favorite of mine. Unfortunately, its a single trigger gun.
Matt, thanks for another fine article! My first firearm was a used Steven’s 311 20 gauge. Still my favorite, great dove gun. Since I started with double triggers it became natural and I wouldn’t consider anything else. I have looked at the CZ Bobwhite 20 and if we still had quail I would get one.
I agree about cylinder bore. When we had quail around here and my dad had dogs we both had Browning A-5s in cylinder bore. My dad was a great snap quail shot. In close cover where most of the birds were. He would have two birds down while I was getting on my first. When flushing a covey in an open field he struggled, I think because he had to much time to think about the shot. Sadly I let that A-5 go years ago. It was false advertising when they labeled it “Light 12”. I miss the feel but not the weight.
Haha yes I have a "light 12" and it's anything but.
Before my dad quit bird hunting he bought a Franchi AL 48 20 gauge and had a neighbor modify the stock to fit him like the Browning. When I try to get him to go deer hunting he said if he couldn’t shoot it with his Franchi and put it it in his vest he wasn’t interested.
A few years before he died he killed a doe with my CVA Mountain Rifle Kit while I watched. There are times when I wish I had been like him and just stuck to bird hunting.
….and… for Cowboy Shooting! Got me a few just for that sorta fun too!
I just finished fixing a double trigger 10 gauge for a cowboy action shooter. It's a beast!
Yikes! I’m content with my measly 12 gauges to be honest!