Page 51 - FAT 105 4.17 MOODLE

Figure 21: Break-action shotgun.

• The action is now open, the chamber is barrels are not perfectly parallel either. Each
exposed, and the firearm is ready to be barrel is slightly canted so that both barrels will
loaded once again. have roughly the same point of impact at a given
distance, usually within 3” – 4” of each other at
The break-style action is employed by both
40 yards.
single-shot and repeating firearms. Single-
Combination guns feature two to four bar-
shot break-action firearms feature only one
rels, arranged in various ways. The difference
barrel that must be reloaded after every shot.
between combination guns and double-barrel
Repeating break-action firearms feature mul-
shotguns is that combo guns feature barrels that
tiple barrels (two to four), which can vary in cal-
are different types and calibers. A combination
iber. The most popular repeating break-action
gun may use one barrel that is chambered for
firearms are double-barrel shotguns. Double-
a shotgun round with a smooth bore, another
barrel break-action shotguns come in two dif-
barrel that is chambered for a rifle round with
ferent configurations: side-by-side or over-un-
a rifled barrel, and another barrel that is cham-
der. The names come from the way the barrels
bered for a pistol or rimfire round with a rifled
are arranged.
chamber. Barrel arrangement can vary greatly
Side-by-side shotguns feature two barrels that
based on the number of barrels and the caliber
are arranged horizontally or next to each other.
and type of each barrel. Two-barreled combo
Over-under shotguns feature two barrels that
guns with a side-by-side arrangement are re-
are arranged vertically or “stacked” on top of one
ferred to as cape guns, three-barrel combo guns
another. Both barrels on side-by-side and over-
are referred to as a Drilling (German for triplet),
under shotguns are always the same caliber and
and four-barrel guns are referred to as Vierling
chamber size, but the chokes may differ. The
(German for quadruplet).

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