Double Trigger Time: Learning to Shoot a Side-by-Side

Double Trigger Time: Learning to Shoot a Side-by-Side

Side-by-side shotguns always have interested me. I had a friend who competed with them and occasionally, I would get the opportunity to shoot her gun. I’ll admit, though, I was concerned at first that using double triggers would initially cause confusion, especially since we were on a clays course, which was something else brand new to me at the time. Let’s just say that I struggled a bit. However, that was many years ago, and now that I have the opportunity to shoot the Heritage Coachwhip, I want to ensure I am prepared before heading out to the club.

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First, though, a little about the beautiful Heritage Coachwhip, a 12-gauge shotgun featuring a beautiful case-hardened frame and a rich Turkish walnut stock. Its barrel length is only 18.5 inches, which is why it’s considered a coach gun (a term coined by gun collectors for barrels 18 to 24 inches).

Other specifications:

• Caliber: 12 gauge





• Front Sight: Bead





• Overall Length: 35.43 inches





• Height: 7.71 inches





• Weight: 107.52 ounces (6.72 pounds)





• Overall width: 2.28 inches

One of my favorite features of the Coachwhip is its exposed hammers, which to me just scream "old Western." However, before I delve into operating those, it’s crucial to point out the importance of reading the before handling this firearm. Learning how and when to run the safety – right from the get-go – is essential when trying to build muscle memory, especially with a new type of firearm, which brings me to dry fire.

Dry Fire

Before I started dry fire practice, I reached out to Caleb Giddings, marketing manager at Taurus USA, to make sure it wouldn’t damage the gun. He answered my email with, “Dry fire the s**t out of it!” Well, that answers that question.

I find it helpful to break a new motor program down into steps, which I then repeat verbally as I work through them. As I mentioned, make sure you read the , which includes a section on loading and operating your firearm. Here are the steps I go through to load the Heritage Coachwhip:

1 Engage the safety (slide it toward the stock).

2. Break open the action and insert the shells. (Obviously, just mimic the part about loading the shells during dry fire practice.)

3. Close the action and cock the hammers.

4. Mount the shotgun and release the safety.

5. Press the front trigger, then the rear.

As I mentioned, these are the steps I go through in my mind as I dry fire and learn how to manipulate the Coachwhip. As always, remember to practice the four firearm safety rules and ensure that you check your barrels for obstructions before inserting shells.

Double Trigger Time

Now about those double triggers ... It does take some time on task to remember to move your finger back to the second trigger. In the heat of the moment, you want it to be second nature, so make sure to practice dry fire at home. The Heritage Coachwhip does not have changeable chokes, so with this shotgun, there is no reason to pull the front trigger before the rear, like you would if each barrel contained a different-sized choke.

The Coachwhip shotgun is one you may find at a Cowboy Action Shooting Event. In my online research, I found a few interesting points made about shooting this type of shotgun during these matches. Apparently, some competitors shoot both barrels at the same time using their index fingers and middle fingers to pull the triggers simultaneously to reduce stage times. Again, I reached out to Caleb to confirm it’s OK to do this with a Coachwhip and he gave me the thumbs up.

Another technique is to use the side of your non-dominant hand to cock both barrels at the same time. Again, it’s imperative that your finger is off the trigger and the safety is engaged when you do this. Otherwise, you risk the chance of the hammers falling and the gun going off. I tried this a couple of times and decided it’s best left to the CAS professional.

Final Thoughts

As with any firearm, especially one in a new format, it’s important to take the time to read the manual and learn how to manipulate it before you head out to the range. I enjoyed shooting the Heritage Coachwhip so much that I shared it with my friends at the club. We went through all the steps I mentioned previously for loading, did a little dry fire practice, and then tried breaking some clays with Winchester AA Low Recoil and Fiocchi Shooting Dynamics shotshells. There were plenty of smiles all around.

Learn more about the Heritage Coachwhip at the website. MRSP: $984.99

If you want to learn how to shoot "rabbits" with the Coachwhip, read my previous article, "Heritage Coachwhip: Tips for Shooting Rabbit Targets."

Source: Double Trigger Time: Learning to Shoot a Side-by-Side