Loyalist Dave
Member
I don't really know why. Recently I've started looking at over/unders and side by sides. Was looking for comments/experiences with a double barrel and maybe using a modified and IC choke since I'd have two barrels vs one.
The comments about double triggers are correct. I agree that to effectively select which choke when using two different chokes in the field, you need both triggers.
The good part is that you can probably find a used 12 gauge or 16 gauge SxS with double triggers for not much money.
IF you find a 12 gauge, it's likely choked full and full, but you might find it choked Modified and IC. The 12 gauge will also likely be found with say a 32" barrel, having been a "goose gun". What you do then is send it out and have it fitted for screw-in chokes.
I have two 16 gauge SxS guns. (I tend to be traditional/purist in much of my hunting. 16 gauge for birds; flintlock for deer) The first SxS that I bought was a dedicated upland bird gun. It's very pretty and great for a nice walk in the fields with a bird-n-rabbit dog, but I didn't want to knock it about when doing other hunting. So I found me of all things, a Savage/Stevens 311 in 16 gauge.
It also came in Mod/IC chokes..., well that's was how it was marked, but I patterned it. The left/Mod barrel was a tad tighter than proper modified. The right/IC barrel was just a bit more open than true IC, but not exactly "skeet" choked. I wondered why. I hit upon a theory that as these guns in 12 or 16 were meant for Joe Sixpack, a farmer who probably would only own one gun and it would be that shotgun, one kinda sorta gets a bit better results with the chokes being as they were, in the days before steel shot and fixed chokes. A tad tighter choke on the left barrel would give the average guy just a bit more pellets on that distant duck. The slightly more open choke on the right barrel would give that same hunter a bit more "forgiveness" swinging on that fast moving dove, quail, grouse, or rabbit...at least in theory. (On the other hand it could have been bad quality control, and I might be full of beans, but I like to think American gun companies usually do such things on purpose.)
Anyway I had the chokes removed from both barrels and had screw in chokes done. The barrels were 28" and are now 26", so she swings pretty well. I can set up the gun for any shooting that I prefer, and select which barrel and choke with a simple move of my trigger finger. (OH, and I use Bismuth shot for waterfowl.) I don't need to worry about dings or scratches upon it either.
LD