Double-barreled shotgun

A double-barreled shotgun is a shotgun with two barrels. Typically, double-barreled shotguns are not pump action shotguns or semi-automatic shotguns[?]. They have two triggers, one for each barrel. When both triggers are pulled then the cartridges in both barrels are fired resulting in a wider spread of shot. Alternatively each trigger can be used to fire an ordinary shotgun blast. Usually, one of the barrels will have greater "choke" than the other, that is, a more pronounced reduction of the inner radius of the barrel. This gives a narrower spread of shot from that barrel, making the gun more versatile.

They are capable of firing two shots in very rapid succession, but will then require a time-consuming reload. In general the entire barrel is hinged to the stock and the cartridges are changed at the base of the barrel while the gun is in the open position.

The double-barreled shotgun is therefore an excellent tool for many hunting, pest control or home defense applications, but may be less useful for police force or military applications.

An "over and under" shotgun is a type of double barreled shotgun in which the barrels sit one on top of the other. Contrast with the "side by side" shotgun, in which the two barrels lie beside each other. The latter is the most classic archetypical image of what a shotgun should look like.

See also: gun