One trigger or two?

JKilbreth · July 21, 2012, 03:34 AM

I'm looking into purchasing my first CAS shotgun, and I'm pretty sure I want to go with a Stoeger Coach Gun in 12ga. What I can't decide is whether to go with the one trigger edition or the two trigger style. My indecisiveness is mainly due to the fact that I have no idea what the difference between them is (other than price).

Are there any advantages/disadvantages to one style over the other?

Thanks for the advice in advance!

arcticap · July 21, 2012, 03:24 PM

After researching about them through Youtube reviews and forum posts, it's quite clear that the single trigger model has many more problems reported with functioning properly. They can double fire, fail to fire and have light firing pin strikes mostly due to the mechanical trigger reset system.
Meanwhile the double trigger model is much more reliable, functions better right out of the box and both barrels can be fired at the same time by using two fingers if desired.
Apparently the single trigger reset system causes a lot of problems and even after being sent back to the company for repair, they don't always get properly fixed.
I can only suggest to stay away from the single trigger model because they're a risky purchase.

http://www.benelliusa.com/forum/show...gger-Coach-Gun

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/ind...?topic=34836.0

http://www.benelliusa.com/forum/show...trigger-switch

Hellgate · July 21, 2012, 09:05 PM

I know that Ol#4 who shoots in the Frontiersman category uses Browning single trigger SXSs using BP and has no problems with function. I believe his shotguns are mechanical rather than recoil operated singele trigger operating guns.

JKilbreth · July 22, 2012, 12:42 AM

Hmmm. So, mainly it's a reliability and preference issue? I suppose I could live with that answer; guess I just thought there was more to it than that

But if unreliability really is common with the single-trigger styles, why do they cost more than their double-trigger counterparts?

Hawg · July 22, 2012, 01:20 AM

Because they're a more complicated setup. Go with the double trigger if you want every shot reliability.

Jim Watson · July 22, 2012, 07:59 AM

A GOOD single trigger will likely last as long as you do.

A cheap single trigger is what you should avoid. Same idea as Elmer Keith warning against cheap sidelocks.

You will be surprised how fast you learn to shoot a double trigger shotgun. I was concerned when I bought mine, but the gun was nice, the price was right and I picked up the technique in short order.

awaveritt · July 23, 2012, 04:45 PM

I agree with Jim. Operating the double trigger is second nature to me now. Prefer it.

harleyx2 · July 23, 2012, 09:15 PM

Double trigger.

SG29736 · July 23, 2012, 11:11 PM

In recent years, a lot more cowboy shooters have gone to the Browning and SKB double barrel shotguns. There are a number of gunsmiths out there setting them up for cowboy action and more of them are converting the enertia guns to mechanical triggers. They know how to make them reliable. The Stoegers and Baikals are still popular, but a lot of shooters have decided it's worth it to spend more and get the Brownings or SKB's.

The other modification that is popular is to switch the triggers on the double trigger guns so that the front trigger is on the left and the back trigger is on the right side. It's popular, but I don't see how much faster you can get over a standard double trigger setup.. Mark

ChuteTheMall · July 26, 2012, 10:44 AM

Get a double trigger, one less thing to go wrong.

I don't lose any time going to the second trigger.

I have to cock two hammers, shuck two empties, load two more & close the action before I get back to the triggers anyway.

rodent.22 · July 26, 2012, 10:36 PM

I have a 2 trigger Stoeger Coach Gun- NO issues

bedbugbilly · July 27, 2012, 07:45 PM

I can't speak to the model you're looking at but your post reminded me of when I was a kid and started hunting pheasants with a double barrel. My Dad got me an old used N.R. Davis double 16. We hunted with a neighbor who had a good dog and who taught us well how to hunt pheasants in a swamp and how to drive the cornfields. Mind you, we were very safety oriented . . but I remember the first time I had a bird go up, I somehow managed to pull both triggers at the same time. Didn't knock me on my you know what but it did teach me a valuable lesson. . . . relax and don't get caught up in the excitement and never position your finger so that the middle finger was anywhere near the back trigger.

The neighbor found a custom built L.C. Smith double 12 with two sets of barrels, ivory beads, engraving, custom fitted case and a single trigger - it was beautiful. He bought it off of an old man who wanted someone to have it who would use it and appreciate it. This was in the early 60s and he paid the fellow $300.00 for it - a lot of money at that time - today it would be more like $3,000. It had a select single trigger which could be selected to fire either side first, depending on what you wanted - modified or choked. He would let me hunt with it and for pheasants, we always had the "brush" (short - 20") on it as we hunted in some pretty dense swamps where you'd have to get right on top of the bird before it went up - in fact his dog was a pointer and he'd point and sometimes we'd have to literally "kick" the bird up. Shooting that shotgun was like warm butter in your hands - it fit you perfectly and I don't ever remember missing a bird with it. All you had to do was point, shoot and the bird fell.

BPRenegade · August 14, 2012, 05:53 PM

Gotta be honest man i can see your hesitation to pick just one but as some one already said above , double triggers are so confortable and reliable, you won't have to think about where your hand is. it becomes engrained so quickly you'lll find yourself doin the same bone head move i've pulled and miss a shot on a bird after feeling around for that oh so illusive second trigger on any given pump gun-
I say double trigger, and nice choice with stoeger, i have yet to here any complaints of them.

Hawg · August 14, 2012, 06:34 PM

Another thing to consider is ejectors are not legal for CAS. If the gun you get has them you will have to disable it. Since shotguns are staged open you can disable the safety. You can polish the chambers and use smooth sided shells and a flick of the wrist when you open it will most times throw the empties just like they were ejected.

July 21, 2012, 03:34 AM	#1
JKilbreth Member Join Date: May 10, 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 97	One trigger or two? I'm looking into purchasing my first CAS shotgun, and I'm pretty sure I want to go with a Stoeger Coach Gun in 12ga. What I can't decide is whether to go with the one trigger edition or the two trigger style. My indecisiveness is mainly due to the fact that I have no idea what the difference between them is (other than price). Are there any advantages/disadvantages to one style over the other? Thanks for the advice in advance!

July 21, 2012, 03:24 PM	#2
arcticap Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2005 Location: Central Connecticut Posts: 3,166	After researching about them through Youtube reviews and forum posts, it's quite clear that the single trigger model has many more problems reported with functioning properly. They can double fire, fail to fire and have light firing pin strikes mostly due to the mechanical trigger reset system. Meanwhile the double trigger model is much more reliable, functions better right out of the box and both barrels can be fired at the same time by using two fingers if desired. Apparently the single trigger reset system causes a lot of problems and even after being sent back to the company for repair, they don't always get properly fixed. I can only suggest to stay away from the single trigger model because they're a risky purchase. http://www.benelliusa.com/forum/show...gger-Coach-Gun http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/ind...?topic=34836.0 http://www.benelliusa.com/forum/show...trigger-switch Last edited by arcticap; July 21, 2012 at 03:31 PM.

July 21, 2012, 09:05 PM	#3
Hellgate Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Orygun Posts: 869	I know that Ol#4 who shoots in the Frontiersman category uses Browning single trigger SXSs using BP and has no problems with function. I believe his shotguns are mechanical rather than recoil operated singele trigger operating guns. __________________ With over 15 perCUSSIN' revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap & ball. SASS#3302 (Life), SASS Regulator, NRA (Life), Dirty Gamey Bastards #129 Wolverton Mtn. Peacekeepers (WA), former Orygun Cowboy (Ranger, Posse from Hell)

July 26, 2012, 10:44 AM	#10
ChuteTheMall Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 1999 Location: Sinkholeville Swamp Posts: 228	Get a double trigger, one less thing to go wrong. I don't lose any time going to the second trigger. I have to cock two hammers, shuck two empties, load two more & close the action before I get back to the triggers anyway. __________________ ChuteTheMallGawdSortaMount

July 26, 2012, 10:36 PM	#11
rodent.22 Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2010 Location: virginia woods Posts: 129	I have a 2 trigger Stoeger Coach Gun- NO issues __________________ NRA, VCDL, USAF 1970-76 6200FMS CLARK FIELD,P.I.'71-'72- 18 SOS, NKP, THAILAND '72, BASE FLIGHT,KEESLER AFB,MISS '72-'74, CARSWELL AFB,TX '74-'76

July 22, 2012, 12:42 AM	#4
JKilbreth Member Join Date: May 10, 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 97	Hmmm. So, mainly it's a reliability and preference issue? I suppose I could live with that answer; guess I just thought there was more to it than that But if unreliability really is common with the single-trigger styles, why do they cost more than their double-trigger counterparts?

July 22, 2012, 01:20 AM	#5
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Because they're a more complicated setup. Go with the double trigger if you want every shot reliability.

July 22, 2012, 07:59 AM	#6
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,539	A GOOD single trigger will likely last as long as you do. A cheap single trigger is what you should avoid. Same idea as Elmer Keith warning against cheap sidelocks. You will be surprised how fast you learn to shoot a double trigger shotgun. I was concerned when I bought mine, but the gun was nice, the price was right and I picked up the technique in short order.

July 23, 2012, 04:45 PM	#7
awaveritt Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2008 Location: Central Texas Posts: 259	I agree with Jim. Operating the double trigger is second nature to me now. Prefer it.

July 23, 2012, 09:15 PM	#8
harleyx2 Member Join Date: August 18, 2011 Posts: 19	Double trigger.

July 23, 2012, 11:11 PM	#9
SG29736 Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2007 Location: Northern Ca. Posts: 107	In recent years, a lot more cowboy shooters have gone to the Browning and SKB double barrel shotguns. There are a number of gunsmiths out there setting them up for cowboy action and more of them are converting the enertia guns to mechanical triggers. They know how to make them reliable. The Stoegers and Baikals are still popular, but a lot of shooters have decided it's worth it to spend more and get the Brownings or SKB's. The other modification that is popular is to switch the triggers on the double trigger guns so that the front trigger is on the left and the back trigger is on the right side. It's popular, but I don't see how much faster you can get over a standard double trigger setup.. Mark

July 27, 2012, 07:45 PM	#12
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	I can't speak to the model you're looking at but your post reminded me of when I was a kid and started hunting pheasants with a double barrel. My Dad got me an old used N.R. Davis double 16. We hunted with a neighbor who had a good dog and who taught us well how to hunt pheasants in a swamp and how to drive the cornfields. Mind you, we were very safety oriented . . but I remember the first time I had a bird go up, I somehow managed to pull both triggers at the same time. Didn't knock me on my you know what but it did teach me a valuable lesson. . . . relax and don't get caught up in the excitement and never position your finger so that the middle finger was anywhere near the back trigger. The neighbor found a custom built L.C. Smith double 12 with two sets of barrels, ivory beads, engraving, custom fitted case and a single trigger - it was beautiful. He bought it off of an old man who wanted someone to have it who would use it and appreciate it. This was in the early 60s and he paid the fellow $300.00 for it - a lot of money at that time - today it would be more like $3,000. It had a select single trigger which could be selected to fire either side first, depending on what you wanted - modified or choked. He would let me hunt with it and for pheasants, we always had the "brush" (short - 20") on it as we hunted in some pretty dense swamps where you'd have to get right on top of the bird before it went up - in fact his dog was a pointer and he'd point and sometimes we'd have to literally "kick" the bird up. Shooting that shotgun was like warm butter in your hands - it fit you perfectly and I don't ever remember missing a bird with it. All you had to do was point, shoot and the bird fell. __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

August 14, 2012, 05:53 PM	#13
BPRenegade Member Join Date: August 11, 2012 Location: Southern Arizona Posts: 16	Gotta be honest man i can see your hesitation to pick just one but as some one already said above , double triggers are so confortable and reliable, you won't have to think about where your hand is. it becomes engrained so quickly you'lll find yourself doin the same bone head move i've pulled and miss a shot on a bird after feeling around for that oh so illusive second trigger on any given pump gun- I say double trigger, and nice choice with stoeger, i have yet to here any complaints of them.

August 14, 2012, 06:34 PM	#14
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Another thing to consider is ejectors are not legal for CAS. If the gun you get has them you will have to disable it. Since shotguns are staged open you can disable the safety. You can polish the chambers and use smooth sided shells and a flick of the wrist when you open it will most times throw the empties just like they were ejected.