Had an interesting conversation today with a few club members on combo guns and top single barrel or bottom .I shot a bottom single 680 for many years before switching to my top Single Ljutic. But never really thought too much about it but heard from both sides today ,one claiming bottom was great the other pretty much calling him unbalanced .I know when I shot in the US most were top single and I would think they predominate the manufacturers ,thoughts
Top single or Bottom single
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I have two 680 bottom singles and a 682 top single I get more consitent scores with the bottom barrels. No facts or reasons maybe a balance thing?
Most over under shooters use the lower barrel first.
Why?
The recoil should be the same, top or bottom, same shell, same weight of ejecta.
The difference is in the felt recoil, the higher barrel gives more muzzle rise which tends to manifest itself as cheek discomfort.
Think of an AR rifle, the sights much higher than the barrel, the barrel directly in line with the buttstock.
The reason, much reduced barrel climb on auto or 3 round bursts.
There is probably a reason why experienced trapshooters have moved to un-singles and high rib singles from top singles and it is not because it is fashionable.
All this philosophy is negated if the stock is too long or the pitch is wrong for the individual shooter.
Why?
The recoil should be the same, top or bottom, same shell, same weight of ejecta.
The difference is in the felt recoil, the higher barrel gives more muzzle rise which tends to manifest itself as cheek discomfort.
Think of an AR rifle, the sights much higher than the barrel, the barrel directly in line with the buttstock.
The reason, much reduced barrel climb on auto or 3 round bursts.
There is probably a reason why experienced trapshooters have moved to un-singles and high rib singles from top singles and it is not because it is fashionable.
All this philosophy is negated if the stock is too long or the pitch is wrong for the individual shooter.
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Most single barrel trap guns seem to be top barrels all right but I've always liked the idea of an un-single myself. I mostly shoot the bottom barrel on an over and under first so having a bottom barrel trap gun makes sense to me.
I've owned my fair share of trap guns over the years but I've never had a dedicated trap single barrel gun other than pump guns, mostly I suppose because sporting clays is my game and I only dabble in trap and skeet. I've gotten rid of all my trap guns, 870s, M12s and Broadways are all gone and I only keep an older Mx8 for trap these days and I like it so much that I will probably never part with it. It is however a double barrel gun and I have two triggers for it, one set fires the bottom barrel first and the other set fires the top barrel first, I've used both trigger sets on the trap singles range and it really doesn't seem to make much difference which I use. On doubles I will use the bottom barrel first to help mitigate muzzle rise for the second target.
I've owned my fair share of trap guns over the years but I've never had a dedicated trap single barrel gun other than pump guns, mostly I suppose because sporting clays is my game and I only dabble in trap and skeet. I've gotten rid of all my trap guns, 870s, M12s and Broadways are all gone and I only keep an older Mx8 for trap these days and I like it so much that I will probably never part with it. It is however a double barrel gun and I have two triggers for it, one set fires the bottom barrel first and the other set fires the top barrel first, I've used both trigger sets on the trap singles range and it really doesn't seem to make much difference which I use. On doubles I will use the bottom barrel first to help mitigate muzzle rise for the second target.
Technically, I think that if it’s called an SBT (Single Barrel Trap) gun, the terms top-single or bottom-single (un-single) do not apply—as the receiver only provides one firing pin and it was never designed with an O/U barrel set in mind.
Combos like the DT11 have a ridiculously high rib for their un-single barrel.
Combos like the DT11 have a ridiculously high rib for their un-single barrel.
I have Perazzi MX14 unsingle combo as well as a Krieghoff KX6 special which they actually consider a mid single can't really tell the difference I shoot them both well also had a Kolar combo with the top single and never really shot it well so I sold it, the K6 special is the softest shooting trap gun I have
The KX6 has caught my attention lately. I am interested in a single barrel gun but I do want a combo. That looks like a good option. What about the gun do you think mitigates the recoil ? Weight, stock, configuration in general ? My only concern is LOP. I would need an inch of spacers and I don’t care for the look. And I am not committed enough to get a custom stock.
The best thing for the KX6 to add length is the factory adjustable butt plate it will add 3/4" to the standard stock length, get it without one in the standard length and add it later, mine came with it installed and I had to opposite problem as it was to long so I took it out and it fit perfectly.
I think it's a combination of a few thing that makes it soft shooting, stock design, roll over comb, it is just sweet to shoot.
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Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I'm not really sure what you mean but Perazzi and some other manufacturers offer single barrel trap guns with a lower barrel and only one firing pin albeit these are double barrel receivers converted. Trap Combo's are different matter and if you order a Perazzi, Krieghoff, Beretta, Guerini or several other manufacturers trap combo you will have your choice of a single or un-single barrel configuration but the receiver will still have two firing pins for use of the double barrel configuration.
I shoot a beretta 687 trap combo with a top single. I’ve shot both top and bottom singles and if I had my time back I would purchase a un-single. The advantage I see over my top single is heat disappation. My top single has a small step rib but I wouldn’t call it a mid rib. When shooting on hot days on partial squads I can get issues with heat waves coming off the barrel. The distance between the un-single and even a flat rib end height would stop this.
You can get a top single with a mid or high rib setup and achieve the same thing.
You can get a top single with a mid or high rib setup and achieve the same thing.
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Good point osborne, heat mirage can be a real issue with partial squads. I especially notice it shooting trap doubles even with full squads.
Well have come full circle from the 680 Beretta unsingle. Have a new Blaser F3 supertrap unsingle/combo with pretty much adjustable everything (working on the weight adjustment thing) but have found it surprising lighter and easier to swing than the Ljutic. Still dialing in but it does not kick which I find quite amazing as it has no reducer ,and the trigger is pretty nice .Time will tell if the You Only Live Once pays off 
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Congrats on the new trap combo, Blaser does a nice job of their guns!
If you've used an unsingle successfully all these years then you must not cant the gun when you mount it. Canters can't hit anything with that high rib!
Sometimes the "you only live once" concept is unattainable until far too late in life. I bought into that concept in my mid 50's when the mortgage and debts were all paid off and I found myself with more disposable income than I'd ever had before. Until then I couldn't afford the "you only live once" lifestyle.
If you've used an unsingle successfully all these years then you must not cant the gun when you mount it. Canters can't hit anything with that high rib!
Sometimes the "you only live once" concept is unattainable until far too late in life. I bought into that concept in my mid 50's when the mortgage and debts were all paid off and I found myself with more disposable income than I'd ever had before. Until then I couldn't afford the "you only live once" lifestyle.
