# 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:** 4
**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 26, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/61 "2009-08-26T21:11:45Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > IIRC, Frederick Forsyth sets up a tactical scenario for the SAS in The Fourth Protocol where a double-barreled shotgun …who’ve now dropped shotgun and sledgehammer – quick-draw their sidearms and follow suit. See, this is why G-d created the Ma Deuce. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/62 "2009-08-27T02:45:50Z")
It’s just two breaching rounds. It’d work as well with a pump, because of the ease of loading with two specialty rounds. Bang, pump, bang, drop, draw, enter. ---
**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 27, 2009, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/63 "2009-08-27T05:06:07Z")
> [@Dave\_Hartwick](#): > > Actually, none to American crews. Battalion officers were issued .45 automatics, but other crewmen had to use the weapons that came with the vehicle. Early in the war that would’ve been the Thompson, after '44, the M3.] The M3 (selective-fire M2 with IR scope) was not released until much later. The M2 was not released until ‘44. Most tankers were issued, whether officially or not, plain ol’ M1 carbines, my personal favorite firearm. I especially want one made by the jukebox company, Rock-Ola, which used to be just up the street. ---
**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 27, 2009, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/64 "2009-08-27T05:07:45Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > See, this is why G-d created the Ma Deuce. 🙂 Is there no value today in grace and elegance? I’m moving to Italy. ---
**Author:** ![freedumb2003](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@freedumb2003](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freedumb2003)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/65 "2009-08-27T05:43:48Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > A guy at work and I were chatting and the subject of the old Doom II FPS came up. The discussion worked it’s way around to comparing the double-barreled shotgun in the game to the single-barreled pump action shotgun. Obviously the Doom game took some shortcuts as to how the shotguns worked, most notably how your entire inventory of shotgun shells was always instantly available. The Half-Life FPS was a little more realistic especially about reloading time, although it depicts your shotgun as having a double-round mode that AFAIK doesn’t exist in the real life weapon. > > Now in many a fictional scenerio you’re facing enemies that for one reason or another don’t die (or fall down in pain and shock) simply because you poke a hole in them with a handgun, rifle, or even a full-automatic firearm. For sheer obliterating damage at close quarters, it’s hard to beat the shotgun. The question is, when would a double-barreled shotgun (for a given gauge) be better than a single-barreled shotgun? For discussion’s sake let’s presume we’re talking 12 or 10 gauge, since anything larger is federally controlled in the US and therefore rare (not to mention the sheer practicality of firing anything heavier than those). Since AFAIK there is no such thing as a double-barreled pump action or semi-automatic, I presume that a double-barreled would be a breech loading single shot (per barrel) weapon. > > The double-barreled shotgun has one advantage: the ability to hit a target with a perfectly stupendous amount of firepower in one shot. If you were facing an enemy that this made the difference between taking it down immediately versus having to shoot multiple rounds, this could make a huge difference. (In Doom II I used to love how one good double-barreled blast would drop the pink bull-things in their tracks). On the other hand having to deal quickly with multiple attackers (or the consequences of missing) could make the reload time fatal. (Unless, like the Doom Space Marine, you’re really, really good at speed loading a break breech! 😃 ) Of course even a magazine-fed shotgun has to be reloaded by hand (any such thing as a shotgun shell removable magazine?), so in the long run of rounds per quarter-hour a breech loader might not be that much slower. > > A lot therefore depends on the toughness of your targets, and how hard-pressed you are in the heat of battle. Your opinions? "Alright you Primitive Screwheads, listen up! You see this? This… is my boomstick! The twelve-gauge double-barreled Remington. S-Mart’s top of the line. You can find this in the sporting goods department. That’s right, this sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Retails for about a hundred and nine, ninety five. It’s got a walnut stock, cobalt blue steel, and a hair trigger. That’s right. Shop smart. Shop S-Mart. You got that? " ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/66 "2009-08-27T12:41:02Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I would accept a double barreled shotgun when facing _one_ sword-wielding ninja or standard zombie. Redundancy being nice. But if there’s a hoard of them coming, I’d prefer something with a higher capacity. Like a plasma rifle. I say, take off and BFG them from orbit. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/67 "2009-08-27T13:02:19Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > The M3 (selective-fire M2 with IR scope) was not released until much later. The M2 was not released until '44. You sure? The cite I came across had M3s WWII period, same with Wiki. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/68 "2009-08-27T14:05:32Z")
Hitchcock’s “The Birds”. 'nuff said? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/69 "2009-08-27T15:08:19Z")
For that, I would like an AA-12 automatic combat shotgun, and _several_ magazines, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/70 "2009-08-27T15:37:33Z")
In answer to the OP: a double barrelled shotgun would be the preferred weapon where you are confronting something that moves extremely quickly, where there is only likely to be _one_ of whatever-it-is, and where it is really, really important that you hit it as soon as possible. Say, a flying creature with a poisionous bite. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/71 "2009-08-27T19:10:27Z")
**The Other Waldo Pepper** , I don’t see anything in that scenario that prefers a double barreled shotgun over, say, a semi-auto. First shot, the second round is chambered before the gun is aimed at the second hinge. Don’t see how a DB is faster. No doubt I’d take a DB if that were the shotgun available, but if I’ve got pref, why should I want a DB over a semi-auto or auto and a dozen mags? **Quercus** said: > [@](#): > > I say, take off and BFG them from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure. 😉 **Malthus** said: > [@](#): > > In answer to the OP: a double barrelled shotgun would be the preferred weapon where you are confronting something that moves extremely quickly, where there is only likely to be one of whatever-it-is, and where it is really, really important that you hit it as soon as possible. Say, a flying creature with a poisionous bite. Why would a DB be preferred over a pump action or semi-auto or combat auto? I can see why it would be **acceptable** , but why _preferred_? Also, said critter probably shouldn’t be very large. A dragon with thick scaly hide might be able to take even buckshot without much damage. At least until close up. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/72 "2009-08-27T19:35:30Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Why would a DB be preferred over a pump action or semi-auto or combat auto? I can see why it would be **acceptable** , but why _preferred_? Also, said critter probably shouldn’t be very large. A dragon with thick scaly hide might be able to take even buckshot without much damage. At least until close up. The same reason having a double-barrel may be preferred for hunting ducks: easy to get two shots off within a split-second when something is moving very, very fast, by having a finger on the trigger ready rather than waiting that split-second for a shot to chamber and pulling the trigger again. Mind you I confess I’ve never shot a “combat auto” shotgun. I admit that in the vast majority of _combat_ situations, having more than two shots before reloading is much more significant an advantage. ---
**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 27, 2009, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/73 "2009-08-27T20:04:12Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > The same reason having a double-barrel may be preferred for hunting ducks: easy to get two shots off within a split-second when something is moving very, very fast, by having a finger on the trigger ready I don’t think I could aim again after the kick before a semi auto could reload. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/74 "2009-08-27T20:51:37Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I don’t think I could aim again after the kick before a semi auto could reload. 🙂 Depends. A 12 gauge, probably not; that packs quite a whallop, I recall. A 20 guage you probably could. ---
**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 27, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/75 "2009-08-27T21:01:12Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Depends. A 12 gauge, probably not; that packs quite a whallop, I recall. A 20 guage you probably could. We have a lady friend who shoots skeet with a .20 gauge; she’s about my size, 120 Lb wringing wet and says she can swing it around all day long. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/76 "2009-08-27T21:10:48Z")
Given fictional setting, a double barrel, load with triple ought, would be mighty good fer huntin’ Jedi, I reckon. Let’s seem em block a cloud of shot with a lightsaber. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/77 "2009-08-27T21:17:33Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Given fictional setting, a double barrel, load with triple ought, would be mighty good fer huntin’ Jedi, I reckon. > > Let’s seem em block a cloud of shot with a lightsaber. As seen in _Rednecks vs. Jedi_. Complete with a banjo music soundtrack and Jar-Jar learning to squeal like a pig in Gungan. ---
**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 27, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/78 "2009-08-27T21:20:56Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Jar-Jar learning to squeal like a pig in Gungan. Thanks for sharing that. Now I must scrub my brain with a wire brush and hydrogen peroxide. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/79 "2009-08-27T21:44:36Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Thanks for sharing that. Now I must scrub my brain with a wire brush and hydrogen peroxide. 😃 My work here is done. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267/80 "2009-08-27T23:51:07Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Given fictional setting, a double barrel, load with triple ought, would be mighty good fer huntin’ Jedi, I reckon. > > Let’s seem em block a cloud of shot with a lightsaber. And now that I posted this, I keep thinking about Yosimity Sam with a shotgun: _“CONSARN JED-EYE! I’LL SHOOT EVERY DARN ONE OF EM IN THE GALAXY! 'CAUSE I’M **YOSIMITY SITH** , THE ROOTINEST TOOTINEST DARK SIDER, THIS SIDE O CORSUSANT!”_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-fictional-tactical-scenerios-would-a-doubled-barreled-shotgun-be-superior/507267.md?page=5)