Double-barrelled shotguns and finger/trigger position

In My Humble Opinion
1

I was out hunting with friends a couple of weekends ago and took my 12ga SxS coach gun out in case we came across any foxes or hares (which we did!).

According to my hunting friends I have an unusual way of holding the shotgun, in that I have my index finger on the foremost trigger (Right hand barrel) and my middle finger on the aft trigger (Left hand barrel) On most double-barrel SxS shotguns, there are two triggers, one for each barrel, situated one behind the other and slightly offset from each other, for the non-shooters out there :wink: . I usually fire the left hand barrel first with my middle finger, with the right barrel being available for an immediate follow-up if I’ve missed or the game hasn’t gone down humanely.

Not only does this process enable me to get two very rapid shots off (incredibly useful when you disturb game in bush or scrub), it also enables me to fire both barrels at the same time (which isn’t as practical as you’d think, but still useful sometimes nonetheless).

I’m just wondering how the other shotgun shooters on the boards here have their finger/trigger positions- do you use both index and middle fingers, or do you prefer a single trigger at a time approach?

2

I used the single finger approach. The front trigger (the left barrel) is usually modified choke and the right barrel is full choke. By using the left barrel first, if you missed, you then had the full choke barrel for the further-out shot that resulted because whatever you missed wss running or flying away from you.

At least, that’s the way it worked with the Stevens 311A I have. I haven’t shot that thing in over 25 years.