Back in the time of our grandparents, and their parents before, the most commonly used shotgun was a double-barrel shotgun, or a “double gun” as it was also known. Even with the passing of more than 150 years, double-barrel shotguns have never lost their appeal to sportsmen and to those who want the easiest and most effective home defense weapon since … well, since homes could be defended with a gun.
The Double-Barrel Shotgun for Home Defense
No one wants to be on the wrong end of a double-barrel shotgun—not in the 1870s and not today. A scattergun (another popular name) is never taken lightly by miscreants who believe (and this is generally true) that it’s hard to miss with a double-barrel shotgun at close range. While it is possible to miss, even at close range, very few home invaders are willing to play the odds.
As a sporting arm and for home defense, the traditional side-by-side is still the easiest shotgun in the world to handle. Recoil can, of course, be pretty brisk, but one can always use lighter loads. And with modern barrel inserts, double-barrel shotguns can also be quickly re-chambered to fire anything from pistol ammo to large-bore rifle rounds like .308 and .30-06.
An over/under double-barrel shotgun is no less capable, and a bit more accurate at longer distances. Today there are also side-by-side and over/under tactical shotguns like the Stoeger Double Defense, complete with Picatinny rails for mounting ghost ring or optical sights and tactical lights, and the Chiappa Triple Threat with three 18.5-inch, 12 gauge barrels! There are even lever-action shotguns with five- to six-round capacities. So whether double or triple barrels, side-by-side, over/under, or lever action, the old ways are still as good as ever. Check out our list below.
Century Arms JW-2000 Coach
Gauge/Action: 12 (3”)/Side-by-Side
Weight: 7.84 pounds
Barrel Length: 20 inches
Capacity: 2
centuryarms.com
CZ Bobwhite G2
Gauge/Action: 12 (3”)/Side-by-Side
Weight: 7.30 pounds
Barrel Length: 28 inches
Capacity: 2
cz-usa.com
CZ Hammer Coach Gun
Gauge/Action: 12 (3”)/Side-by-Side
Weight: 6.70 pounds
Barrel Length: 20 inches
Capacity: 2
cz-usa.com
Franchi Instinct L
Gauge/Action: 12 (2-3/4″-3″)/Over/Under
Weight: 6.40 pounds
Barrel Length: 28 inches
Capacity: 2
franchiusa.com
Mossberg Maverick HS12 Thunder Ranch
Gauge/Action: 12/Over/Under
Weight: 6.25 pounds
Barrel Length: 18.5 inches
Capacity: 2
mossberg.com
Pedersoli Wyatt Earp
Gauge/Action: 12/Side-by-Side
Weight: 7.05 pounds
Barrel Length: 20 inches
Capacity: 2
davide-pedersoli.com
Rock Island Armory Side-by-Side
Gauge/Action: 12 (2-3/4″-3″)/Side-by-Side
Weight: 6.60 pounds
Barrel Length: 24 inches
Capacity: 2
armscor.com
Stoeger Coach Gun
Gauge/Action: 12/20/Side-by-Side
Weight: 6.50 pounds
Barrel Length: 20.00 inches
Capacity: 2
stoegerindustries.com
Taylor’s & Co. Hammer Coach Gun
Gauge/Action: 12/Side-by-Side
Weight: 6.70 pounds
Barrel Length: 20.00 inches
Capacity: 2
taylorsfirearms.com
Double Barrel Shotgun FAQ
No, double-barrel shotguns are not illegal. Legalities as they relate to shotguns usually deal with barrel length, not the number of barrels.
The short answer is yes. It’s a broad question that we see a lot. It depends on a lot of factors—mainly usage— but as we said above, whether double or triple barrels, side-by-side, over/under, or lever action, the old ways are still as good as ever.
It’s a yes and no answer. Most double-barrel shotguns do not have two triggers, but some do.
