# In what (fictional) tactical scenerios would a doubled-barreled shotgun be superior? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 22, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267 "2009-08-22T01:41:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/21 "2009-08-22T18:55:32Z")
Let’s say you’re driving a tankload of “juice” across the Australian outback when you are set upon by a post-apocalyptic motorcyle mob. And you only have one hand free to reload… ---
**Author:** ![whatami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85f322/32.png) [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/22 "2009-08-22T19:12:23Z")
If I had to use a shotgun, I would probably go with the AA12 automatic shotgun. When you need stopping power fast and quick, it’s the only way to go. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hhstuvzMiB0/hqdefault.jpg "AA12 Automatic Shotgun") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhstuvzMiB0) ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/23 "2009-08-22T19:45:37Z")
> [@mecaenas](#): > > Personally I find the M4 a better weapon for battling zombies since it lends itself nicely to head shots plus it has a longer range. Having said that, when dealing with zombie hordes in a confined space such as a corridor or apartment building, I find the automatic shotgun to be the better option for the spray pattern. A double shotty wouldn’t help unless dealing with a Witch at point blank range, and while it might be handy to put some damage into a Tank, the reload time would be too long between shots. Also worth noting that the M4 can get some handy accessories, such as an under-barrel grenade launcher or a 12 guage breaching shotgun. The grenade launcher can also be used to launch certain types of flares for signalling or diversionary purposes (like if you want to either call in the rescue chopper/air support or draw the shambling hordes to you to heroically allow your friends to escape while you make a stand with your 40mm grenades and automatic rifle) ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/24 "2009-08-22T19:59:47Z")
If you’ve got no limits on a weapon to choose, there’ll always be a better one. XM8, FAMAS, P90, SCAR, G36, on and on. I just threw out M16 because, unless you live near a special forces armory, an M16 is the most likely assault rifle you’ll find out in the real, zombie-torn world. Many metro police cruisers have them in the trunk, plus AR-15s are probably the most popular semi AR (especially around Town Hall meetings), and apparently those are relatively easy to mod into full-auto, so you could probably find one in your nearest gun nut’s basement. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/25 "2009-08-22T20:12:24Z")
> [@wierdaaron](#): > > If you’ve got no limits on a weapon to choose, there’ll always be a better one. XM8, FAMAS, P90, SCAR, G36, on and on. I just threw out M16 because, unless you live near a special forces armory, an M16 is the most likely assault rifle you’ll find out in the real, zombie-torn world. Many metro police cruisers have them in the trunk, plus AR-15s are probably the most popular semi AR (especially around Town Hall meetings), and apparently those are relatively easy to mod into full-auto, so you could probably find one in your nearest gun nut’s basement. That’s the great thing about Zombiepocalypses, there are plenty of durable resources just ripe for the picking. ---
**Author:** ![yastobaal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/258eb7/32.png) [@yastobaal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yastobaal)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/26 "2009-08-22T20:48:48Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > I wonder how much _environment_ alone might play a role in an “ideal” double-barreled scenario. Like places where a pump-action or semiauto (or even [_full_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_USAS-12) [auto](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atchisson_Assault_Shotgun), god help us) would be too heavy, cumbersome, or mechanically complex. The latter might include hard vacuum, or an exotic atmosphere, depending on the weapon; the former might just include any situation where a sawed-off or an “entry shotgun” would be handy, normally, not even considering undead or similarly inhuman adversaries. Reading this has just reminded me about space naval battles in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The guys who deal with boarding actions, either assaulting or defending give preference to shotguns and weapons that have no chance of penetrating hulls. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/27 "2009-08-22T22:08:33Z")
> [@ghardester](#): > > You do understand that a double barreled shot gun has 2 triggers and usually one side is shot and then the other? I though that at least for a Purdy, the rear trigger would fire both barrels. OP: The double barrel was great on [demons](http://doom.wikia.com/wiki/Demon) but it was more fun to get them in a tunnel or hallway and use the chainsaw. Saved ammo, too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/28 "2009-08-23T02:53:52Z")
In response to the OP, the only situations I can think of where a DB Shotgun would be superior would be in the opening rounds of an “old-west” low-tech engagement. Think _Tombstone_ or _Open Range_. There’s a reason the DB Shotgun has been supplanted in tactical use. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/29 "2009-08-23T03:43:50Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > Let’s say you’re driving a tankload of “juice” across the Australian outback when you are set upon by a post-apocalyptic motorcyle mob. And you only have one hand free to reload… Yep. And if you exhaust the magazine of your M41A pulse rifle, or if your gutless wonder of an LT says you can’t use it, there are certain situations in which a shotgun - double-barreled or not - just might come in handy. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/30 "2009-08-23T03:49:34Z")
ExTank: In _Sahara,_ Bogart had a Tommygun. If you had to bail out of your tank in WWII, what weapons did you have, Tommyguns, M-1 carbines? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/31 "2009-08-23T04:05:35Z")
(scrolling through the responses and looking for mine.) You mean I have to type it AGAIN?!?!? Point 1: All of the major brands of pump and auto shotguns were made GI during WWII. Some were only issued to MPs. Point 2: Salt may be excessive force for some species, but for others it’s a nutritional supplement. Friend moved in with a couple of roommates way in Northern Wisconsin. Roomies were not rural, and had been feeding “Mr Moose.” Friend WAS rural, and knew what problems would eventually entail, so next time Mr Moose visited she salted his rump. Didn’t take much, since he lit out when he saw the shotgun. They didn’t see him again. Roomies were sad. Friend was pleased. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/32 "2009-08-23T04:14:46Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > ExTank: In _Sahara,_ Bogart had a Tommygun. If you had to bail out of your tank in WWII, what weapons did you have, Tommyguns, M-1 carbines? Great movie! You stopped seeing any US tank but Shermans after it. Tommy guns were heavy and were not accurate as far as M1s were. OTOH, M1s were still not generally available in early '43, and M2s, which let you go full auto, didn’t come along until 1945. Me, I’d be torn. The M1 would challenge my shooting, but the Tommy Gun trumped it for cool. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/33 "2009-08-23T04:26:09Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Me, I’d be torn. The M1 would challenge my shooting, but the Tommy Gun trumped it for cool. What personal weapons were issued to WWII tank crews? ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/34 "2009-08-23T05:02:52Z")
> [@wierdaaron](#): > > Like posted above, most real double-barrel shotguns have two triggers. To fire both simultaneously, you’d have to reach your finger across both triggers, which can be tricky. The two triggers on a double-barrel are almost always front and back. I’ve never seen side-by-side ones that you’d have to loop your finger through. Front and back triggers are designed so one can easily pull them both at once using both your index and middle finger. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/35 "2009-08-23T05:17:02Z")
Probably in a hand gun vs. handgun scenario… a sawed-off shotgun, in combination with a six shooter revolver or a magazine semi-automatic would be effective. Suppressive and decisve fire in combination with an accurate weapon. Didn’t John Wayne play a character with a double barrel shotgun, as arm? Charging a line with a two shot sawed off shotgun, and a Scottish claymore would be pretty effective as far as closing ranks. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/36 "2009-08-23T05:45:38Z")
> [@wierdaaron](#): > > plus AR-15s are probably the most popular semi AR (especially around Town Hall meetings), and apparently those are relatively easy to mod into full-auto, so you could probably find one in your nearest gun nut’s basement. I don’t know, there are a lot of sinfgle shot AK-47’s in Brown Boxes from the Orient that were sold as varmint rifles. These are slightly different from the Russian version… Marmot Killers for Chinese Nomads. Really cheap and there was a glut of them in the early nineties. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/37 "2009-08-23T05:58:54Z")
They came in a nice little boxed kit with a bipod. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/38 "2009-08-23T06:16:56Z")
Sequentially and tOPically, what is more effective and accurate? A scoped Shotgun, or a scoped, full auto, AK? ---
**Author:** ![Absconditus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Absconditus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absconditus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/39 "2009-08-23T06:45:15Z")
> [@](#): > > In what (fictional) tactical scenerios would a doubled-barreled shotgun be superior? In descending order: 1. When facing someone who is unarmed and has to get in close to attack (a smug ninja, for example, or a zombie). 2. When facing someone with a ranged weapon who is either arrogant or inexperienced in their handling of the device (ex: a smug ninja with a bow and arrow, or a zombie). 3. When fighting a set of twins–identical or fraternal–who attack in reflective tandem, always keeping in physical contact with each other (ex: two smug ninja siblings with psychosexual issues, or two zombies who are in the middle of cannibalizing each other, and thus conjoined and distracted). References: “REFERENCE” IMAGES TWO, THREE, AND FOUR ARE NSFW (2 & 3 are toss ups, but 4 is a total no-no). [One for the money…](http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/smug2.jpg) [Two for the show (I’ll say)…](http://thegrowinglife.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/sexy-ninja.jpg) [Three to get ready…](http://cardboardmonocle.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/ZombieValentine.jpg) Four for the ghastly [way to go](http://www.suicidemethods.net/pix/12gauge.jpg) (DO NOT CLICK THIS LAST LINK if you are squeamish, easily freaked out, or in a place–like work or school–where risque browsing is likely monitored and penalized). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/40 "2009-08-23T07:41:17Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > What personal weapons were issued to WWII tank crews? .45 auto, the Thompson and the M-1 Carbine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267.md?page=3)