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Definition of Double Barrel

By , About.com Guide

Empire Arms double barrel

Empire Arms double barrel "rabbit ear" shotgun, showing the barrels. This is a side by side (sxs) shotgun - the barrels are next to one another, or side by side.

Photo copyright Russ Chastain
Definition: Any gun with two barrels may be properly referred to as a double-barrel, but this term most often refers to shotguns, and most often to side-by-side (sxs) shotguns, that is, shotguns with two barrels placed side by side and attached to one another.

While over/under shotguns are also double-barrel guns (having two barrels fixed to one another), they are almost always referred to as over/under or o/u, because their barrels are placed one atop the other and fixed together in this arrangement.

Pronunciation: dub-ul bare-ul
Also Known As: Side-by-Side; sxs
Examples:
Double barrel shotguns have a long history, from the days of muzzleloaders up to modern times.

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