I am considering buying a Sauer 3000 drilling in 16 gauge over either 7x57R or 7x65R. I would be importing the drilling from Germany so would not be able to handle it before buying. I have heard good things about the handling of the Sauer 3000s but what I am wondering is how do the lightweight dural framed guns handle compared top the standard steel frame version. The dural guns in 16 gauge weigh in at only 6 lbs without a scope, but I wonder which version has the best balance and handling as that is more important to me than weight.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

A lot depends on when they were made and the barrel length. The early 3000 Durals had 23 5/8" barrels and were well balanced. Some later ones had 25 1/2" and were a little muzzle heavy, which I kind of like, actually.

I have an early (1955) 3000 LUX steel in 16ga and 6.5X57R with the 23 5/8" barrels. It is well balanced with the 6X Hensoldt Diasta.

The Dural with 65cm barrels (25.6 in.)is the best IMO. I have two of them.

They are the ideal Drilling in my opinion. They are light, easy to walk with for small game, yet will handle all the CX2 Euro calibers easily (7x57R, 7x65R, 8x57IRS). Not sure if the 9.3x74R was ever produced in Dural frames.
The durability issues have pretty much been debunked. Ask any reputable german Gunsmith and they will tell you that in normal usage, tey are as durable as steel action guns.

VERY Nice!

I have a Triebel-Augsburg Dural 16/16/8X57JR that had been re-chambered from 8X57 360 by a very competent gunsmith. The gun is a 1938 and is still tight like from the factory.

The pre-war Triebel guns could be VERY nice pieces. I wish I had bought a pre-war SxS years ago that was an absolute piece of art...sidelock with deep engraving and gold thread inlay, skeletonized trigger guard and lever...but at the time, the money was an issue.

Thanks for the advice. I have made inquiries with various dealers about several Sauer 3000 dural drillings as well as dural framed drillings by Heym, Krieghoff and Anton Sodia.

Does anyone have any experience with dural drillings other than the Sauers ?

I have a dural framed combination gun in 7x65r / 16bore built in 1974 by Hambrusch and retailed by Heinrich Munch, Aachen. Weighs 6lbs without scope, just under 7 with. Checked the sights yesterday, shot a ragged one hole group at 6 yards with four shots, removing and replacing scope between shots. Even better, this group was a mix of my 139g homeload and RWS 173gID Classic load. The former is really nice to shoot, the later certainly a healthy recoil.

I love the lightness and handling, as a shotgun it really shoots well, it's a pity it's not a double, but then it shoots so well, I hit with the first shot! In terms of durability, the hinge pin and the locking mechanism are all steel, along with pushed firing pins. Rather than stapling it shut, I do hold the lever and close it slowly, but then that is how you should treat any fine gun.

As a rifle, a little more weight out forward wouldn't be a bad thing for steadying things up, but I just make sure I get a solid rest off sticks, fence post or whatever. But then heavy barrelled rifles need the weight up forward to allow you to take a shot , whilst you are having the heart attack after having carried it up the mountain.

Do I worry about it being dural framed - not at all. I don't think I would choose a dural framed gun for high volume shooting, but for a gun that is carried far more than its shot, not an issue.

I bought a 1960s Krieghoff Waldschutz Dural in 16/16/7x57R earlier this year. It weighs under 6 1/2 lbs bare and balances nicely. Seems to shoot well too.

The wife and I both have Sauer 3000 Drillings in 12x12x30/06, and we really like them. Both have scopes in claw mounts.

I see you are in Canada. Do you hunt moose and bear? If so I would consider the rifle barrel in 9,3x74R.

I have killed a lot of game with the 9,3x74R and it is a great calibre.

One great thing about those 3000s in 12 & 30-06 is they are the best of both worlds. They're light for heavy caliber drillings, but they have a steel receiver.

quote:

Originally posted by luv2safari:
One great thing about those 3000s in 12 & 30-06 is they are the best of both worlds. They're light for heavy caliber drillings, but they have a steel receiver.

Exactly, they handle so well and are so light i thought that the recievers were aluminium untill i put a magneet to them.

I like the way the Sauer 3000 Drillings handle as a quail,dove shotgun better than a 12 guage Browning Citori.

AND, you have a rifle with you 100% of the time as well.

Our 30/06 rifle barrels are very accurate.

My Sauer 3000 is the first shotgun I pick when hunting doves, quail, ducks over a pond, rabbits, squirrels, and turkeys.