single barrel or double smoothbore

[Billnpatti]

On the contrary, a hammer sitting on an unfired cap can, if struck hard enough, fire. Notice, I didn't say it will fire, it can fire. However slight the chances of the hammer being sruck in such a way to fire the loaded barrel, the results are too dire to take the chance. The safer choice would be to place the hammer in the half cock position. The best and safest way is to remove the cap from the nipple of the unfired barrel when loading the fired barrel. The possibility of maiming or death is the reason for my concern. I am a strong advocate of gun safety whether it be muzzleloaders or modern guns. Please shoot safely.

 

[BrownBear]

There's only one steering wheel in a bus for a good reason. Buy what suits you with the assurance they'll both work well.

 

[sheba]

As I understand it with the Baker the first pull of the trigger fires the left barrel the next pull the right there is no trigger selector

 

[Rifleman1776]

Got 3 doubles.A 11ga,14ga,and a 20ga.Really like my doubles! :thumbsup:

I acknowledged the perc. SxS shotguns were very popular. Probably as common a household item as chairs.
I don't know what was used for wadding to get past the choke. I know there are stories of wasp nests and such but those things are no available everywhere all the time.

 

[jeffdrown]

I had real good luck in my Double with wasp/hornet nests !

 

[cynthialee]

So are you just tearing a piece of hornets nest off a large nest and ussing that; or a tiny nest and use the entire thing as a wad?

(I have a wasp nest the size of a basket ball in my garage that was found about 10 years ago.)

 

[Golfswithwolves]

I have a Pedersoli SXS and in my hands it might as well be a single shot. That's because I grew up shooting semi-autos and over/unders with one trigger. Now, when I miss a first shot with the Pedersoli, I almost always pull the same trigger again, no matter how hard I try to tell myself about the two triggers as I approach a dog on point. By the time I realize the mistake and reset my sight picture at a flying bird - and the smoke clears - it's too late to squeeze the second shot. So, if you are used to a single trigger, then you might consider a single shot, or practice alot with the two triggers.

Regarding the two guns you pictured, it's like comparing apples to oranges. Given those two choices, to me it would come down to what I prefer to shoot, a percussion gun or a flintlock, not one or two barrels.

PS. Just noticed that the Baker SxS has a single trigger. That would cure my problem. Wasn't aware of that model when I picked up my Pedersoli five or six years ago

As a guy who is accustomed to two triggers on his shotgun, I have the opposite trouble as this. When I have used a single trigger gun I find myself squeezing on the back of the trigger guard when I try to fire the second barrel.

 

[ZUG]

Not to sound like a "Smart A%%" but I started hunting with my dad as soon as I became of age in NJ with a Manhattan 12 gauge SXS(two triggers) no problems - at age 16 I was shooting ATA Trap (singles, handicap, & doubles) with my dad's Superpose - again no problems - I hunted with that Manhattan and shot trap with the Browning. I now shoot trap with a Winchester 101 and enjoy shooting my Pedersoli 10 or 12 gauge SXS -- you just have to know your guns. I do like the looks of a SXS also :hatsoff: :hatsoff:

I have a Pedersoli SXS and in my hands it might as well be a single shot. That's because I grew up shooting semi-autos and over/unders with one trigger. Now, when I miss a first shot with the Pedersoli, I almost always pull the same trigger again, no matter how hard I try to tell myself about the two triggers as I approach a dog on point. By the time I realize the mistake and reset my sight picture at a flying bird - and the smoke clears - it's too late to squeeze the second shot. So, if you are used to a single trigger, then you might consider a single shot, or practice alot with the two triggers.

Regarding the two guns you pictured, it's like comparing apples to oranges. Given those two choices, to me it would come down to what I prefer to shoot, a percussion gun or a flintlock, not one or two barrels.

PS. Just noticed that the Baker SxS has a single trigger. That would cure my problem. Wasn't aware of that model when I picked up my Pedersoli five or six years ago

As a guy who is accustomed to two triggers on his shotgun, I have the opposite trouble as this. When I have used a single trigger gun I find myself squeezing on the back of the trigger guard when I try to fire the second barrel.

 

[Britsmoothy]

On the contrary, a hammer sitting on an unfired cap can, if struck hard enough, fire. Notice, I didn't say it will fire, it can fire. However slight the chances of the hammer being sruck in such a way to fire the loaded barrel, the results are too dire to take the chance. The safer choice would be to place the hammer in the half cock position. The best and safest way is to remove the cap from the nipple of the unfired barrel when loading the fired barrel. The possibility of maiming or death is the reason for my concern. I am a strong advocate of gun safety whether it be muzzleloaders or modern guns. Please shoot safely.

Yep, removing the cap is the safest, obviously.

The trouble with tusting the half cock as you suggest is you may not of noticed one day that the half cock has chipped and is now a liabillity in it's self.

It is hard to see how with the gun between the legs during loading and hammer down it can achieve any form of percussion, unless of course one has their components all wrong and to tight causing pounding!

I still think I am in more danger of serious injury from driving to my hunt!

B :hatsoff:

 

[hanshi]

Of the three doubles I've owned over the years only one had a single trigger. Though it posed no problem it just seems natural to me to have two triggers.

 

[Billnpatti]

My personal preference....

That's why I started my first entry as my personal preference. What other's may do is their personal preference and that's fine with me.

 

[dbutch]

I m trying to decide between these two a Pedersoli Baker shotgun with a single selective trigger and backaction locks or the Pedersoli mortimer flint

----------------------------------------------------
I have a Pedersoli Mortimer 12 ga flint..Its a heads up shooting sight plane..I suggest you shoulder one be for buying!Better rifle stock than fowler.

If shooting a double Go with the Pedersoli with the double triggers.
Less to go wrong.YMMV.

Use the double for waterfowl..single barrels for turkey and such.

Have fun in your decision...dan

 

[Wayne/Al]

Another plus for the double SXS is you can load one barrel with shot and the other with ball and be ready for whatever comes your way. Good luck with whatever you choose.

wayne/Al

 

[54mountain]

Yep ya just tear off a thumb sized chunk and shove it down over the powder and another wad over the shot and your good to go, Grandad just used newspaper.

I love my original belgian 14 guage double both barrels are cylinder bore but 35" long so it throws a fairly tight pattern.

 

[Supercracker]

On the contrary, a hammer sitting on an unfired cap can, if struck hard enough, fire. Notice, I didn't say it will fire, it can fire. However slight the chances of the hammer being sruck in such a way to fire the loaded barrel, the results are too dire to take the chance. The safer choice would be to place the hammer in the half cock position. The best and safest way is to remove the cap from the nipple of the unfired barrel when loading the fired barrel. The possibility of maiming or death is the reason for my concern. I am a strong advocate of gun safety whether it be muzzleloaders or modern guns. Please shoot safely.

Yep, removing the cap is the safest, obviously.

The trouble with tusting the half cock as you suggest is you may not of noticed one day that the half cock has chipped and is now a liabillity in it's self.

It is hard to see how with the gun between the legs during loading and hammer down it can achieve any form of percussion, unless of course one has their components all wrong and to tight causing pounding!

I still think I am in more danger of serious injury from driving to my hunt!

B :hatsoff:

My capper is a waxed leather disc with holes punched around the edge for the caps. I put it in between the nipple and unfired hammer. I don't have to worry about the half cock notch failing (especially on a 150yo original) and it's still not able to contact the cap.

That, along with the "belly fob" I got from here http://www.muzzleloadingshotguns.com/articles/thebellyfob I think is pretty safe. The hammer is protected and it's never pointed at me.

 

[Britsmoothy]

On the contrary, a hammer sitting on an unfired cap can, if struck hard enough, fire. Notice, I didn't say it will fire, it can fire. However slight the chances of the hammer being sruck in such a way to fire the loaded barrel, the results are too dire to take the chance. The safer choice would be to place the hammer in the half cock position. The best and safest way is to remove the cap from the nipple of the unfired barrel when loading the fired barrel. The possibility of maiming or death is the reason for my concern. I am a strong advocate of gun safety whether it be muzzleloaders or modern guns. Please shoot safely.

Yep, removing the cap is the safest, obviously.

The trouble with tusting the half cock as you suggest is you may not of noticed one day that the half cock has chipped and is now a liabillity in it's self.

It is hard to see how with the gun between the legs during loading and hammer down it can achieve any form of percussion, unless of course one has their components all wrong and to tight causing pounding!

I still think I am in more danger of serious injury from driving to my hunt!

B :hatsoff:

My capper is a waxed leather disc with holes punched around the edge for the caps. I put it in between the nipple and unfired hammer. I don't have to worry about the half cock notch failing (especially on a 150yo original) and it's still not able to contact the cap.

That, along with the "belly fob" I got from here http://www.muzzleloadingshotguns.com/articles/thebellyfob I think is pretty safe. The hammer is protected and it's never pointed at me.

Most excellent and noted.

Many many thanks :hatsoff:

Brits.

 

[HatchetJaque]

Something we had discussed on a "safe carry" thread a while back is to make a nipple cover from a spent brass shell casing. This way the hammer could be lowered onto the cover to hold it in place with no possibility of igniting the cap. Could also be attached to the gun with a piece of string to keep it readily at hand in the field.