No Barrel selector O/U Shotguns?

[Shotgun Dave]

Greetings Everyone,

Many shotguns o/u do not have barrel selectors and was wondering if there
was logic here that all shotguns that do not have selectors, fire the bottom
barrel first. Or do they vary by brand?

Thanks,
Shotgun Dave

 

[rcmodel]

The possible logic is:

Bottom barrel first recoils in a straighter line into your shoulder, preventing as much muzzle rise.
So a faster follow-up second shot.

Bottom, more open choke first for flushing game birds and flying clay targets = tighter choked top barrel as they get further away from you.

If you got ducks coming into decoys right in front of you, or are being charged by a foaming-at-the-mouth rabid rabbit, all bets are off!

rc

 

[ArmedBear]

The bottom barrel recoils straight back. The top barrel recoils a bit higher up than the centerline of the shotgun, so firing the top barrel causes more muzzle rise than firing the bottom barrel.

Therefore, it's easier to stay on target for a 2-shot string if you shoot the bottom barrel, then the top barrel.

This is especially true if you have a really tall receiver like a Citori, and less so IMO with a receiver that puts the barrels lower in your hand.

 

[Shotgun Dave]

Thanks RC and Armed Bear, makes perfect sense!

Shotgun dave

 

[Hornet 6]

Alternatively you can fire the top barrel first, and then get a quick reload in as you don't need to fully open it.
I do this on my Miroku Mk70 when walking about looking for rabbits, first shot, rabbit down, reload ready for the next one, also useful in a pigeon hide.
For clays it make no difference, and I'm not sure that many people would notice the recoil difference between barrels either.
Note that some O/U's with no sliding selector may have it built into the trigger, push forward to change.

Neil.

 

[PJR]

I've noted the recoil difference between the top and bottom barrel is noticeable with a heavier load. Also the theory is that the lower barrel puts less stress on the locking mechanism.

Most o/u shotguns have a barrel selector. The few that don't select the bottom first although there are rare exceptions. The Perazzi MX3 combo was set to fire the top o/u barrel first. The single barrel on the MX3 combo replaced the top barrel of the o/u.

 

[ArmedBear]

some O/U's with no sliding selector may have it built into the trigger, push forward to change.

Also, there may be a small button at the base of the trigger for the purpose.

 

[ArmedBear]

The Perazzi MX3 combo was set to fire the top o/u barrel first. The single barrel on the MX3 combo replaced the top barrel of the o/u.

Note that these guns have enormous, tall ribs, and AFAIK are designed so that the top barrel recoils straight back and the bottom barrel is below straight.

So the principle still holds; it's just not so simple. Whichever barrel causes less muzzle rise on recoil is generally fired first -- on most O/Us this is the bottom, but it's not always true.