While writing the double rifle theory thread I wondered about an uncomfortable premise.

As we all know under and over shotguns have pretty much replaced side by sides for most clay target shotgun shooting. Many users shooting fantastic scores think the U/O is better.

As my clay target scores crashed I succumbed to the U/O pandemic. I stopped being the only person using a side by side. And started using my sole U/O shotgun, the barrels for my Tikka/Valmet gun system.

My last clay shoot was back to my old reasonable average score. Not flash but wow in our clubs too ten shooters. We won the "cup"! I won't embarrass myself with revealing the not flash score. Lots of improvement possible.

Now to double rifles.

The theory of recoil with a side by side rifle, in big bores recoil greater than a 12-bore by a considerable margin is that the left barrel with recoil up and to the left somewhat. The right barrel up and a bit to the right. The bullet might travel in the bore for a split second under recoil with the upwards and lateral movement. Regulation by trial and error compensates for this. If necessary.

Now what about under and over double rifles. Is the lateral variations absent? Does the upper barrel recoil upwards with little lateral recoil movement? And the lower barrel recoil also upwards but lesser than the upper barrel? Less variation might mean less regulation "adjustment"? And potentially greater accuracy? With a U/O rifle compared to a side by side rifle? Any time a bullet spends in the barre during recoil or not is a relevant factor.

Also with medium bores the recoil is far lesser. Leading to potentially better accuracy compared to a big bore.

Thoughts and comments?

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I remember as a newbie a long time ago reading how a .45/70 single barrel rifle would shoot a slower bullet higher than the same bullet at a higher velocity. The factor being the bullet was slightly longer in the barrel during recoil and more muzzle recoil lift.

This same factor might affect say a .450 NE. And other similar cartridges. With the barrel recoil movement as described above.