The art of double gunning

Double gunning is one of our greatest sporting traditions but there is far more to it than simply carrying a second shotgun

- Adam Calvert

THE art of double gunning began in the 19th century with the advent of driven shooting. A method for those sporting Victorians to deal with high volumes of game, it sits among the greatest traditions of British game shooting. Few techniques combine heritage, skill and utility quite like it. Rooted in the grouse moors of the north (where addressing fast coveys of wild birds in order to harvest the surplus and maintain a healthy grouse population requires swift shooting), double gunning transforms driven shooting into something far more than a test of marksmanship: it becomes a performance of timing, efficiency and smooth repetition.

At its essence, double gunning allows the sportsman to shoot continuously by alternating between two shotguns. As one gun is fired it is handed to the loader, who simultaneously presents the second, fully reloaded gun. This seamless exchange repeats throughout the drive, minimising downtime and maximising opportunity.

Though it may appear effortless to the outside eye, successful double gunning requires planning, preparation and, most importantly, an excellent working relationship with your loader. It is to some extent an art form. Today, while in no way used like our Victorian forebears did, double gunning remains a technique that every aspiring or expert grouse shot should have in their repertoire.

The critical element when double gunning is safety: not only of the person shooting but also of the loader. You must always hand the gun back to the loader with the safety catch on ‘safe’ regardless of whether fired or unfired, and the loader must always return the gun to you with the safety catch on ‘safe’. Be careful to allow the loader a safe space to shut the gun (particularly in a grouse butt), and the loader needs to be aware of where he is pointing the gun when he is shutting it.

These instructions are for a right-handed gun, with the reverse appropriate for a left-handed sportsman.