What I have been told is that the design theory was to provide a Semi auto that handled and balanced like an O/U. Not having an elongated magazine tube and limiting capacity to two rounds it changed the balance and handling characteristics.
It was a great idea to somebody. I am guessing that the American market preferred a magazine gun that held 3-5 rounds over the two shooter with handling as a priority over capacity
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That's exactly what the idea was behind it,,and the name .
But you're right, the USA market, always armed for a fire-fight when hunting rabbits, wanted more capacity and that has never changed since then. It's only gotten worse.
If you feel handi-capped in the field using a SxS or O/U or a Singleshot,,then you won't get the idea of the Double Auto.
Clay Games limit you to 2 rounds in the gun generally (maybe some run&gun games allow more). But Trap, Skeet and SC's are 2 rounds. So if you like a semi auto and feel and handling of a nice O/U,,the DoubleAuto is there for you,,if you can find one.
Certainly different, somewhat of a novelty I guess, but we all like different things.
The Double Auto long since discontinued is sometimes hard to find parts for but Numrich seems to have a quite good supply of most.
Midwest Gun used to have them I believe but I see they don't list the DA anymore in their parts section. Maybe they sold what they had to Numrich.
If you think the A5 has a lot of parts inside,,the DoubleAuto is right there with it along with a pail full of extras.
Complicated mechanism when compared to a simple thing like an 1100.
Plus some parts are specific to gun features such as the breech bolt.
One for a plain bbl gun,,another for a bbl w/a rib on it.
Caliber specific parts as well of course.
But the guns seem to hold up well.
I suspect they don't get the Sporting Clays treatment of 1000's of rds a month. But most any decent build will live a long time with general use and care.
I hadn't seen one in for maint in decades to be honest.
