Coach guns are double-barreled self-defense shotguns. Like some sporting shotguns they have two barrels, usually side-by-side, but this is where the similarity ends. A coach gun is made exclusively for personal protection and it has no sporting use. The barrels are short, usually 18-20 inches (originally designed for use by stagecoach guards) and the stock is often shorter, too, so they can be easily wielded in a self-defense situation. These guns are sometimes referred to as “sawed-off” shotguns. (Not technically correct, as in legal terms a sawed-off shotgun is one which has literally has the stock and barrel sawn off, generally to a length much shorter than the shortest legal barrel length which is 18-inches).
Coach guns are popular, but if you are armed with a coach gun you’d better be a good shot. These self-defense shotguns only hold two shells, and it takes time to reload—too much time if your assailant is charging at you, or shooting at you, or you are being attacked by multiple assailants. Yet, coach guns are very simple to use. This is their strength. They have two barrels, either side-by-side or one on top of the other, and they hold one shotgun shell in the chamber behind each barrel. This means that the operating action is very simple and rarely malfunctions. On most models, you simply cock the two hammers, and the gun is ready to fire. For those who detest any complexity, or have physical limitations, this is a viable option.
John Wayne did use a coach gun to great advantage in his Western movies, but today we have far better options. Nevertheless, coach guns remain popular, especially by those who are history buffs.