Jed did not shoot a double barrel, but rather a muzzleloader rifle. Granny shot the SXS. Us old guys remember.

There's an episode where Mr Drysdale takes them to the skeet club and Ellie May breaks clays with her sling-shot.

I have gotten very good with my sling shot during all these months of no going to the gun club, but not that good.

Had to go out on youtube to check, but you're right. At least about Jed using a muzzleloader.

In one episode Jed and Jethro shot flies ofF the rock fence with that front loader.

An acquaintance in Michigan has a modern muzzle loader that is really amazingly consistent. At 50 yds I know the gun is capable of putting multiple bullets through the same hole. Whether the shooter is always up to it is less clear.

They look cool too. As for the utility of changing chokes instantly, for me in 32 years of bird hunting I think I maybe used a barrel selector twice. 99.9% of the time I just need a more open choke shot first followed by a tighter one for the second.

Duck hunting maybe gives more variation in choke selection (e.g. flock coming straight into the decoys, you may want tighter choke first or if birds are landing then open choke followed by tighter choke as they fly away), but I don't use a double duck hunting.

I think side by sides look cool, are the "classic" bird gun and seem to generally be lighter for long days chasing dogs. I know many people throw in the ability to change chokes instantly (which is true with double triggers), but for me is not a feature I need.

None of my semi autos or pumps ever had a selectable or double triggers, got by just fine.
I like single triggers on SxS's same as my O/U's.
Funny you never hear anyone complain about single triggers on O/U's

The more I shoot my autos, pumps along with a friends double the less it means what “style” of shotgun I’m shooting. Whatever it may be, single, pump, double, O/U, auto.......if I’m on ‘em, I’m on ‘em. The clay is going to break, the bird is going down.

Look for a nice Belgian guild boxlock and put the change in your pocket.

I had a double-trigger SXS for a while and the two triggers caused me issues. I was accustomed to single trigger O/U and didn't shoot the double-trigger enough for it to be an engrained skill. It always required conscious thought that was a barrier to focus on the target. There were many second shots that never occurred because I pulled the front trigger twice.

I sold the gun and purchased an SKB 385 two barrel set in 20 and 28.

My experience is just the opposite. Trying to tell somebody what gun to shoot is like trying to tell them who they should marry. Because it works for you doesn't mean it works for everybody! I was born with the unfortunate affliction of being born left handed in a right hand world. When I started shooting, left hand guns were pretty non existent & SXS were & are essentially ambidextrous. My first shotgun in the 50's was a DT SXS. I tried other types of shotguns but always came back to SXS's because they work best for me. I would have bought a SKB but didn't because it wasn't availabe with DT's.

Take a look on the used market for a Charles Daly / Miroku 500.
Lotta gun for the money

I've owned several. None of which I could shoot as well as my O/U's. That said, I still love the look of a nice sub gauge double. So, once again, I'm shopping. Maybe I'll get it right this time.