Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Stagecoach personnel love them.
The Mafia loves them.
And lots of us law abiding folks do also.
A short barreled SxS shotgun has a fair amount of utility as a weapon and is oodles of fun to boot. Watch the folks at a CAS shoot unlimber theirs for example.
Some history......
The earliest versions were blunderbusses(Uh, Blunderbi?). With barrels in the 14-18" range, large bores and oft equipped with spring loaded bayonets, these were excellent CQB tools for the day. And BTW, that belled muzzle was to facilitate fast loadings, important when all you had was a single shot.
The Confederacy was so enamored of the shotgun as a weapon they had a factory in Richmond altering civilian guns by shortening the barrels and installing sling hardware. These were popular with cavalry.
I've seen one of these close up. It was a small bore double of unknown maker with barrels bobbed off to around 16". It was accompanied by a Navy Colt,a Daguerreotype and a tattered grey uniform.
Later, Wells Fargo ordered shotguns from the Parker company for their employees. These were 10 gauge SxS guns with 22" Full choke barrels. Even today that would be a fearsome weapon in trained hands.
According to common report, Wyatt Earp used one of these to kill Curly Bill Brocious after the OK Corral.
The WF weapons epitomized the type. Saloons,banks and brothels kept short barreled shotguns handy, western law enforcement types toted them and they rode the stages, baggage cars and in scabbards on many a saddle.
And since many of these were cut down from longer arms, the term "Sawed Off Shotgun" became so popular even non gun folks knew what it meant.
Now, due to CAS, etc, there's a groundswell of interest in these. New models have appeared, and lots of older doubles are getting cut down.
This is not always a good thing. Some decent shotguns have been butchered and barrels sometimes lose their regulation when bobbed. This means one barrel will not shoot to the same point as the other barrel.
And, contrary to common myth, a short barreled shotgun with the balance point way far back from the usual is hard to control. Usually the first shot is OK but the second takes longer to get back on target. The penchant for ultra short barrels contributed to this.
Coach guns often have barrels of 18-20".
The Lupara(Sicilian for Wolf Killer) is more sensibly made to 26" or so in the piping and has much greater utility. A 26" barreled SxS is as short or shorter than an 18" barreled pumpgun with the same LOP.
Luparas have chokes as a rule while coach guns often run Cylinder both sides. Oft these are hammer guns, which means springs do not stay stressed.
With or without hammers,the Lupara can fill a lot of niches.
Some of us worship at the Altar of The God of High Capacity and may regard the two shot defensive gun as a bit skimpy on rounds at hand.
Clint Smith doesn't think so.
The late Jeff Cooper was knowledgeable about all firearms, not just 1911s. A Lupara was part of his Homeowner's Insurance plan.
And few criminals, now matter how stupid or drugged, will continue to advance into fire. Two shots may be more than enough.
I was recently contacted off board by someone seeking input on these. He and his wife were interested in getting a shotgun for defense. She, for once. had a rural upbringing and had some experience with repeating shotguns. She didn't like them. OTOH, both like the simple MOA of the break action guns.
Neither hunts, both work, he at night frequently. They wanted a long gun to supplement his Glock and her revolver.
I replied that a 26" barreled SxS with choke tubes, two triggers and a fitted stock (to her) would work if they took the time and effort to learn the gun. Something like an old 311 with 26" barrels in 20 gauge would work nicely.
Those barrels would help on clays, and frequent practice will groove in the moves needed for more crucial moments.
Also, since we're trying to cover lots of bases, I'd find an easy kicking slug that printed close to POA at 50 yards from one barrel and keep some of those for when they may be needed.
Questions, Comments?.....
The Mafia loves them.
And lots of us law abiding folks do also.
A short barreled SxS shotgun has a fair amount of utility as a weapon and is oodles of fun to boot. Watch the folks at a CAS shoot unlimber theirs for example.
Some history......
The earliest versions were blunderbusses(Uh, Blunderbi?). With barrels in the 14-18" range, large bores and oft equipped with spring loaded bayonets, these were excellent CQB tools for the day. And BTW, that belled muzzle was to facilitate fast loadings, important when all you had was a single shot.
The Confederacy was so enamored of the shotgun as a weapon they had a factory in Richmond altering civilian guns by shortening the barrels and installing sling hardware. These were popular with cavalry.
I've seen one of these close up. It was a small bore double of unknown maker with barrels bobbed off to around 16". It was accompanied by a Navy Colt,a Daguerreotype and a tattered grey uniform.
Later, Wells Fargo ordered shotguns from the Parker company for their employees. These were 10 gauge SxS guns with 22" Full choke barrels. Even today that would be a fearsome weapon in trained hands.
According to common report, Wyatt Earp used one of these to kill Curly Bill Brocious after the OK Corral.
The WF weapons epitomized the type. Saloons,banks and brothels kept short barreled shotguns handy, western law enforcement types toted them and they rode the stages, baggage cars and in scabbards on many a saddle.
And since many of these were cut down from longer arms, the term "Sawed Off Shotgun" became so popular even non gun folks knew what it meant.
Now, due to CAS, etc, there's a groundswell of interest in these. New models have appeared, and lots of older doubles are getting cut down.
This is not always a good thing. Some decent shotguns have been butchered and barrels sometimes lose their regulation when bobbed. This means one barrel will not shoot to the same point as the other barrel.
And, contrary to common myth, a short barreled shotgun with the balance point way far back from the usual is hard to control. Usually the first shot is OK but the second takes longer to get back on target. The penchant for ultra short barrels contributed to this.
Coach guns often have barrels of 18-20".
The Lupara(Sicilian for Wolf Killer) is more sensibly made to 26" or so in the piping and has much greater utility. A 26" barreled SxS is as short or shorter than an 18" barreled pumpgun with the same LOP.
Luparas have chokes as a rule while coach guns often run Cylinder both sides. Oft these are hammer guns, which means springs do not stay stressed.
With or without hammers,the Lupara can fill a lot of niches.
Some of us worship at the Altar of The God of High Capacity and may regard the two shot defensive gun as a bit skimpy on rounds at hand.
Clint Smith doesn't think so.
The late Jeff Cooper was knowledgeable about all firearms, not just 1911s. A Lupara was part of his Homeowner's Insurance plan.
And few criminals, now matter how stupid or drugged, will continue to advance into fire. Two shots may be more than enough.
I was recently contacted off board by someone seeking input on these. He and his wife were interested in getting a shotgun for defense. She, for once. had a rural upbringing and had some experience with repeating shotguns. She didn't like them. OTOH, both like the simple MOA of the break action guns.
Neither hunts, both work, he at night frequently. They wanted a long gun to supplement his Glock and her revolver.
I replied that a 26" barreled SxS with choke tubes, two triggers and a fitted stock (to her) would work if they took the time and effort to learn the gun. Something like an old 311 with 26" barrels in 20 gauge would work nicely.
Those barrels would help on clays, and frequent practice will groove in the moves needed for more crucial moments.
Also, since we're trying to cover lots of bases, I'd find an easy kicking slug that printed close to POA at 50 yards from one barrel and keep some of those for when they may be needed.
Questions, Comments?.....
