I've been shooting an older hammer 16/16x9.3x74 Saurer, but in the last few weeks have had a few problems that will let me with some problems with my right hand. It should heal over time, but Dr. has suggested I need to go on a low recoil diet to give it time to heal. I do most of my small game and deer hunting with my drilling,except waterfowl. I'd be interested on your thoughts on going to a 16/16xsomething lighter, maybe an 8 or 7 or 6.5x57. I've moved the Whitworth and Chapuis to the back of the safe, but I really like hunting with a drilling.
Thanks
Bfly

Gosh, it would be hard to go wrong with a 6.5x57, 7x57, 7x65, or 8x57 (which seems the most common, especially with 16 gauge barrels). I suppose a fella might even throttle back to a 9.3x72 if he had a mess of .366 slugs cluttering the reloading bench.

What are the legal requirements for deer where you live?

there are even smaller rounds than those above that are nice and can be found in good shooting drillings,

5,6x52R or even better a true 223 5,6x50R Mag, I am lusting for a 16 gauge drilling with a 5,6x50R Mag barrel myself,

50% of my hunting is towards small game and up to roe deer.

Best regards Chris

Chris,
In the states, it changes in every state. I live in Pennsylvania where 22 centerfires are OK. In areas that I hunt, whitetail bucks can be over 200 pounds and I mostly hunt tight cover on foot where shots are not standing broadside, so I personally feel they are a bit light, for me. That was why I was looking at one of the x57's. To make this change, I'll need to part with my current gun, to cover the costs. Since I spend much of my hunting time after small game, I plan to keep my 22 Mag insert for the shotgun barrel. I was leaning toward an 8x57 since I have bullet moulds for that caliber that would really bring recoil well below the 16 guage low brass level. Just what I'm thinking about right now.
Bfly

Seems a shame to sell the Sauer, especially if you plan to recover. How about downloading your 9.3x74 like a 9.3x72 or lighter? Ought to be about like stepping down from a 35 Whelen to a 35 Remington...if you have the sight adjustment to accommodate the change. Good luck to you.

Nordrseta,
I agee, it would be a shame. I'm thinking out loud here on the forum. None of my friends are into drillings, so they are useless to talk to about this. Their comment susually go something like, Why don't you sell that and get a good gun, like an Encore. What you say makes sense.
Bfly

Black Fly

Try this. I have done a lot of hunting/game killing with a 9,3x74R.

If you need to reduce the recoil, for a while or forever, take a look at Hawk bullets.

Get a 250 to a 286gr bullet, from Hawk, with the .025jacket, load it around 2000fps to 2150fps, and you will get good expansion and killing power on deer.

Thanks, I'll do a little research, and see if I can find some. The lighter bullet and the slower speed just might do the trick.
Thanks to all.
Bfly

Black Fly,
I can personally vouch for the 7X65R as being a great caliber. It doesn't recoil as much as other calibers and I have used on everything up to kudu with total satisfaction.

However, N E 450 No2's recommendation is a good one. Downloading would probably be the cheapest and easiest option.

Regards
ST

Look around for a 16/16/7x57R, or a 16 or 20G/ 7x57R BBF to tide you over until you heal up, but I guess it depends on what sort of critters you will be hunting.

My 7x57R has taken some pretty big bodied deer over the years with nary a problem, and I'm thinking of a 20 or 12/ 6.5x55 SE to ease logistics when hunting away from a ready source of 7x57R ammo which can be hard to find here in OZ, even in major cities...

The usual caveat about careful bullet placement applies...

Best of luck, heal up fast!

I hunt with and have hunted with drillings from 6,5Z57R to 9,3X74R and find uses for all of them...The main use is that I LOVE to hunt with them all!

The chamberings I've had or still own are 6,57R, 7X57R, 7X65R, 30-06, 8X57JR, 8X57JRS, 9,3X72R and 9,3X74R. I've killed big and small deer with all of them and tiny to large African PG with the 8X57's and the 9,3X74R.

If limited to only one, it would be the 30-06, although rimless. I have had almost a dozen combo guns in either 30-06 or 308 over the years and never had an extraction problem.

My close...very close second is the 8X57JR or JRS. I like the heavier bullets, and the '06 and 8MMs afford that to me.

HOWEVER...I'm presently LOVING a nice little Sauer 16/16/6,5X57R! I was always a fan of the 257 Roberts, and this comes real close. As I am getting older with back problems, the lighter recoil guns hold much more of my interest.

I think the 7 x 65R and 7 x 57R are the best drilling calibers. The 7 x 65R will nicely replace a 30-06 in some loads with a lot less recoil. I don't think there is really anything similar to the 7 x 57R among our popular cartridges but it is a very comfortable deer cartridge that will take larger game in capable hands. It also can also be loaded with 100-120 grain pills and be a lot of fun on varmint and predator.

Don't know why the 8mm cartridges are so unpopular here.

Black Fly;

I sent you a PM.

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by Black Fly:
I've been shooting an older hammer 16/16x9.3x74 Saurer, but in the last few weeks have had a few problems that will let me with some problems with my right hand. It should heal over time, but Dr. has suggested I need to go on a low recoil diet to give it time to heal. I do most of my small game and deer hunting with my drilling,except waterfowl. I'd be interested on your thoughts on going to a 16/16xsomething lighter, maybe an 8 or 7 or 6.5x57. I've moved the Whitworth and Chapuis to the back of the safe, but I really like hunting with a drilling.
Thanks
Bfly

If I had the money, I'd get a Krieghoff Ultra 20, a 20-gauge shotgun with 243 Winchester.
Since I don't, I got a Savage 24V 223/20 rebored to shoot 6x45mm/20-gauge.

I have drillings and bbf's in small and med cals. I like my 30-06 and 8x57's but I find that my 7x57's and my 6.5x57 work really well on deer.

I haven't shot more than a half dozen or so deer with the 6.5x57 and 7x57 but I don't recall any of them needing more than one shot nor did they run more than a few yards. This dosn't surprise me at all because I have shot a lot of deer with a .243 and a 7x64 and both these cal's allways produced DRT kills.

I have a .222/16 ga BBF. I've considered trying it on deer but it seems a little light. I've had a number of friends shoot deer with .223's but I'll leave that to them. I did watch one friend do a very messy job of killing a cow caribou once with a mini 14.

I think in the long run I'm with NE450#2 and just find yourself a light load for your 9.3
Just be carefull not to reduce your loads to low or without filler.

Blackfly I have a Brno 22 Sav HPx 12ga comb gun. I bought it to shoot coyotes with. There is a lot of brush around where I normally hunt coyotes and I can't remember how many times a coyote would come to the call through some brush and I counldn't get a crosshair on them.If that happens now an 1 1/2 oz of # 2 or BB works quite well. If they give me a chance out in the open the 22 Sav does a nice job.You are certainly right in saying these guns are fun to hunt with. I would love to find a 7x57R x any guage barrel so I could use it on deer as well.

Black Fly, I'm also recoil sensitive and use smaller calibers a lot. The 9.3X74 can be pretty brutal (to me at least). I have a 6.5X58R/20 ga Kerner drilling that I've shot a lot of game with up to 350# hogs and always gets it done well. The 6.5X57 is an excellent cartridge and much more powerful & flat shooting than the 6.5 Sauer. The key is, of course, bullet selection & (most important) placement. If you place it right, the 6.5's will do fine on deer, elk size game. If you don't, a 9.3 won't get it done either. I have 2 Sauer 16X6.5X57R drillings. Been thinking of selling one of them, if you're seriously considering buying a smaller caliber drilling, PM me & I'll get you some particulars on it.
Greg

Black Fly

You could also try the Speer 270 at @2000 fps or so.

Those bullets are easy to find.

I appreciate all the comments. As I've said to some folks in PM's, until this summer, I just never minded recoil. In fact, kind of liked it. But apparently, like a high fat diet, recoil can be hard on you over time. Lazer surgery fixed my retina, but I've received a pretty serious talking to by the guy who fixed that. Now the sugeon who is fixing my hand and the physical therapist who is teaching me to move my fingers, have each given be another of what I call the "Now listen Bonehead" speeches.
I'm still back and forth on this, because I like the old Sauer. I have a little thinking time.
They tell me it will be about two months before I can even think about any right hand shooting even with low recoil stuff.
Thanks again for all of the ideas. That's what is so great about this site. Some well informed folks sharing advice and information.
Bfly

Black Fly Hopefully your hand and your eye will be re-habed by this fall and you will be good to go hunting. Take Care.

Download!

You can simulate little ones in a 'biggun' - the reverse does not apply!

Rgds

Ian

quote:

< I'm thinking of a 20 or 12/ 6.5x55 SE to ease logistics when hunting away from a ready source of 7x57R ammo which can be hard to find here in OZ, even in major cities... >

And just ordered it from the distributor.
12g/6.5x55SE 95 BBF. Should be around 4 months.

Should make a nice, useful walking around gun for my daughter (when I'm tired of using it).

I have a friend that has a BBF 97 in 20 ga over 6,5x55 and loves it. I think you made an excellent choice with that gauge/caliber combo.

I am new to combo guns and just received my BBF 97 "short version" in 12 ga over 308 last week, and after nearly 100 rounds down range, I am quite impressed.

I have a sweet little 6.5lb Prussian 16x16x22lr "Waldlaufer" aka 'Schienendrilling' with the rimfire barrel in the top rib.
Very slick and light, and it seems to really like the Aguila SSS (60gr) rimfire cartridges.

I haven't shot any critters with the Aguila ammunition yet, but I will run it on coyote as soon as I get a chance. Those little 60gr bullets cruise right along and penetrate solid-core exterior doors nicely at 25yds, I'm sure they'll do well on coyote at 75yds no problem.
We shall see...

It's a really handy little gun, and as a 16bore SxS it handles beautifully.



Cheers
Tinker

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Sullivan:
I have a friend that has a BBF 97 in 20 ga over 6,5x55 and loves it. I think you made an excellent choice with that gauge/caliber combo.

I am new to combo guns and just received my BBF 97 "short version" in 12 ga over 308 last week, and after nearly 100 rounds down range, I am quite impressed.

One week, 100 rounds! Strewth Jeff you must be having fun with the new toy.
How does it group?

quote:

Originally posted by Gun_Barrel_Ecologist:

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Sullivan:
I have a friend that has a BBF 97 in 20 ga over 6,5x55 and loves it. I think you made an excellent choice with that gauge/caliber combo.

I am new to combo guns and just received my BBF 97 "short version" in 12 ga over 308 last week, and after nearly 100 rounds down range, I am quite impressed.

One week, 100 rounds! Strewth Jeff you must be having fun with the new toy.
How does it group?

Yes, I am having a great time with my new "toy", and the rifle barrel groups super. I am very impressed with the 308 barrel and shocked at how well the shotgun barrel patterns buckshot. For my area, it should be the perfect hunting gun.

After thinking about it for a while, I had the distributor amend the order. It will now come with a set of 22 Hornet/12g BBLs as well as the 6.5x55/12g BBLs, factory fitted.
This way, I should end up with something that my daughter can use no matter what she is hunting here in OZ.

Of course, I'll have to make sure everything works properly before she gets it...

Sambar...

YES ! You need to do exhaustive safety testing with it before you let a child shoot it the first time...



Also, the more I shoot this little 1950's vintage Sauer 3000 drilling in 16/6.5X57R, the more I am loving the little 6.5.

It is such a pleasure to shoot after all the years of being hammered by 9,3s, on up...that I may just convert...

Exactly!

The biggest deer I hunt most of the time is Fallow, with the occasional Chital thrown in for good luck.
I only seem to get away after Sambar once or twice a year now, and the 7x57R will do for that.
The 6.5x55 should be a lot easier to feed if relying on factory ammo when away from home.

The Hornet will probably get the most use, on those days walking around after rabbits and foxes.

quote:

Also, the more I shoot this little 1950's vintage Sauer 3000 drilling in 16/6.5X57R, the more I am loving the little 6.5.

That is exactly the combination I've been searching for. I love the 6.5x57R and shoot it in a single shot Hubertus. I love the 6.5 and it has fast become my favorite small caliber centerfire cartridge.

Back to the search.....

There is one in the local gunshop. A Sauer BBF in 16g/6.5x57R.

Such a pity they want stupid money for it...

quote:

The Hornet will probably get the most use, on those days walking around after rabbits and foxes.

And while I get over the shoulder reconstruction. Damn drunk drivers...

I would think that the best combo would have to be a 16 or 20 gauge over a 7 x 57R (or 7 x 65R) in a dural (alloy) frame. Sauer made some of these in the 1960's and 70's in 25.6" barrels and they only weighed 6lb 14 or so. There is really no hoofed game in North America that either of those two calibers can't kill effectively.

I carry a Hubertus 20/70 over 22 Savage Hi Power (5.6 x 52R) that is an excellent small game gun and very effective on predators (see a lot of coyote, fox, raccoon, feral cats, etc when we're bird hunting in ND). This caliber is popular for roe deer in Germany but is too light for anything but standing short range shots on small whitetail (70 grain soft points at 2800 fps). Yes, its in the 223 ball park, but IMO limited on 100lb+ game.

The 7 x 57R shoots as soft as a 243 to me and those various 139 grain loads would be just the ticket for whitetails out to 250yds. The 7 x 65R is in 30 06 territory but with noticeably less recoil (not that you fire the drilling that often).

I have a Krieghoff with a rifle barrel in 6,5x57R, and have used it for some ten years now. I love that little round. My experience with it is for birds, roe deer and reindeer and it suits them perfectly... Well it suits me, not them..

A 100 grain Lapua FMJ RN for birds is great. On the bigger game I normally use a 140 grain bullet. The Sierra GameKing for instant...

Well, it finally arrived.

However, the factory sent a 97, not a 95.
Right chamberings, wrong action.
Additionally, the shop had a D99 arrive as well, for another special order. Very nice...

They shipped a BBF 97 instead of a 95?

How are John & Tosie dealing with that little mix up?

I just bought a guild gun in 16Ga and 25-35. I have ordered a chamber insert to fire 25ACP in the rifle. It has Talley rings and bases and will have a small scope once its stock issues are addressed. It weighs 6lb, 2 oz and is a great walking-around gun for game up to deer.

quote:

Originally posted by Gun_Barrel_Ecologist:
They shipped a BBF 97 instead of a 95?

How are John & Tosie dealing with that little mix up?

They aren't. I got it for the originally quoted price...

Nice work

What are you going to scope them with?

The 3-9 Leupold Euro 30 with the German #4 will go on the 97, and the Docter reflex and the Swarovski 1-4.5 will go on the 95. At least until I sell the Swaro and get another 3-9 #4 (or maybe a 1.5-6x) with a 50mm objective.

Yes, good of John to honour that deal, when you consider it would have cost him around $800 or so...