Trap Combos -- Why?

[ArmedBear]

For American Trap: Why get an O/U action with an extra lower barrel and a super-high rib, instead of just using the regular O/U barrels?

There must be some benefit or people wouldn't pay for them.

Heat mirage? Something else?

Anyone use a Trap Combo?

(I've tried some, and liked them. I'm not trying to argue about gun choice. I'm just curious about the specific benefit of having the unsingle barrel in addition to the O/U set.)

 

[kentucky_smith]

Most trappers I shoot with take 16's and handicap more serious than doubles, with the unsingle, you usually get a 34" barrel with an adjustable rib that lets you set POI higher than what you can attain with both barrels.


But it's all subjective, I think Leo Harrison and others use their o/u for 16, but go to the unsingle for the 27.

 

[Rembrandt]

Not sure if I understand the question....are you talking about a single barrel for trap and the addition of a double barrel? If so, the double would be needed for doubles trap where the single would work well for anything from 16-to-27 yard handicaps. Single barrel units are a little lighter.

 

[sm]

Edit-

Read OP again, agree with Rembrandt.

 

[mswestfall]

I believe that there are three distinct advantages to the popular high ribbed unsingle.

Heat dissipation, POI flexability for the rising bird and you definitely see the bird sooner especially if you shoot with one eye or hold a high gun.

A good quality unsingle is a Godsend for a person that both holds a high gun and shoots with one eye.

 

[ArmedBear]

Let me get more specific, then.

See http://www.gueriniusa.com/gun_models/summit_trap/SummitTrap.shtml

See the barrel sets:

The ribs appear to be equally adjustable for that coveted high POI. It does not appear that there'd be a helluva lot of difference in when you see the bird, and if you use the bottom barrel for singles, in heat dissipation either.

Furthermore, the sets are available in different combinations of barrel lengths (30-32, 32-34, 30-34), so it would be hard to make any blanket statements about weight.

And there certainly are some high-rib singles on the market, for those who want them, though many people may not know where to look. Trap fanatics do.

So why the combos?

Maybe I'm missing something...

 

[mswestfall]

I can see around a very high ribbed bbl much easier than I can see around conventional vented ribbed bbl. With an unsingle you don't have to look around the "top" bbl and the rib is less than half the width of the bbl. So it is easier to see a rising target.

With the examples you show the total height of the unsingle bbl to the top of the rib appears to be about the same overall height as the O/U with a "lower" rib. (Some of the rib height is replaced by the over bbl.)

The more rib height, the more heat dissipation you get before the rising heat "covers" the top of the rib. I'm guessing that heat wave mechanics follow the same physics as other wave mechanics; double the distinct and you get 1/4th the distortion from the heat waves.

If you are asking why would someone buy a combo gun rather than two guns, I leave that to personal preference. Using the same stock and action does give the advantage of an aft end with the same parts; giving identical fit and feel. This would make it so you only have to fit one stock to your needs.

I shoot an O/U almost the time in almost all games. I try to shoot only one gun. I think that is an advantage for me. But I do have to move the bbl off to one side (right side for me) a bit.

I have a friend that took me out for a round of singles and doubles (Trap) with his K-80. The unsingle took me some extra effort to use. (Same issue with I tried Perazzi's and BT-99's.) I really found the advantage in the high ribbed O/U bbls when shooting doubles. I held a MUCH higher gun, was able to spot shoot the first bird and move horizontally for the second bird. There was very little vertical movement in getting to the second bird. If I had this high ribbed O/U option in my gun safe I think I'd hit one or maybe two more birds in Trap Doubles.

IMO swing weights are a completely different discussion. I know some do try to get the same apparent swing weight feel in their combos.

Hope I'm understanding your question correctly.

 

[oletymer]

Many people shoot an o/u for all trap versions. I am not one of them. Where I shoot in the north west we get a lot of wind. The o/u is pushed around a lot more than the single barrel. Also the combo has one action. I prefer two guns for that reason. If my single barrel should break down I can use the o/u. The single barrel gets a lot more use although it has never failed yet.