Folks,
I have posted this elsewhere and thought it may be of interest. Apologies for the simplistic approach - however in the UK a Drilling is a rare creature. I'm keen to spread the gospel!!


So, out on a beautiful day, you have been looking for deer - and a couple pigeon just sit staring at you........ or concealed in a pigeon hide with your shotgun, whilst being gawked at by a massive Roe buck. Been there? Known the frustration that goes hand in hand with not having the correct tool for the job?

Well, some time back I purchased a combination shotgun/rifle that resolved many of those issues - however, I recently managed to lay my hands on a replacement that looks to become a very good friend.

She (of course its a lady) looks gorgeous, even though she is probably in her mid fifties now. Made in the days when steel and workmanship did not mean heavy, the whole thing weighs in at only 7lbs.

Lets look at what you get for that.

A side by side 16 bore shotgun.
Choked at half and full and proved to take 2 3/4" cartridges. Greener style safety on the left side of the action. File cut rib with a bright front bead in German silver. Double triggers - front firing the right barrel - I'll let you guess what the other does!

A 7x57 rifle:
The cartridge is rimmed as it should be to aid extraction in a break action firearm. The rifling is deeply cut and and very crisp. Pushing a forward a selector on the wrist ( looks like the cocking unit on a Blaser) changes from shotgun to rifle - and here's the trick bit. As you select the rifle, from its normal resting place on the rib, the rear sight mechanically articulates up so it can be used! Incredibly cool, and the sort of engineering that does not appear on modern firearms.



To aid accurate shooting, push the front trigger forward and it 'sets'. Now a mere ounce or two of pressure sends the shot on its way. Trust me, 'creep' is something that happens to other folks!

The overall sensation is one of perfect balance and heft. Shouldering the gun with eyes closed - open them and the sights are perfectly aligned. It really does feel like an extension of your body. Again, something only found on shotguns where the 'fitting' makes a huge difference to your success.

So, to my eyes it is a thing of beauty - but how would it shoot?

Taken out onto a sporting layout , the little 16 bore shells slipped snugly into the chambers. A reassuring clunk as the action locked up firmly - and the call was given. 'Pull'

Almost too easy - looking at the clay, I swung through and dabbed the front trigger. Firm recoil and the clay smoked. Strangely, the front trigger controls the barrel choked 'full'. Hit, and the target is pounded. The left barrel is choked at half - so more than competent at normal game shooting ranges. The remaining few clays evaporated & smiling broadly, I decided to buy the gun!

Taking the gun to a range immediately showed the difference from 'normal' rifles. There is nothing up front to rest! A splinter fore end means that supporting the rifle with one hand rested on the sandbag and a bag under the butt was the most stable option.

A Drilling (Drei = three) is often used with the iron sights, out to around 100yds. However, they normally feature a scope with some form of quick detach mounts. This one is no different.



A 2-7x 32 by Hertel & Reuss snicks into place via a claw mount. The system is complex to fit and adjust - but once set up allows a reassurance of return to zero. The reticle is a German No1. - Heavy Post and cross hair. Ideal for low light shooting - it was designed for shooting wild boar at night against a snow background.

Unusually, the right turret on the scope operates the focus - with both elevation and windage adjustments being controlled by rings on the top turret.



Gerry was good enough to provide me with some brass as well as load data, so it was a matter of assembling a few rounds and going to see how it shot. With only a few rounds made up at some ten percent below max - I could not do anything more than assess its grouping and get a load onto point of aim.

The first three shots produced a neat triangle at the 100yd point. The group measured at 1.5" and I started to grin. The realization that I had a shooter was the icing on the cake. Removing the scope, I tried the iron sights and was pleased to see them coinciding at 50yds. The scope went back on and showed a gratifying return to zero.

I had a further three rounds, loaded a couple grains heavier. The first two grouped at under half inch.... when I totally mucked up the last shot!

I guess accuracy testing will carry on - but for now, I'm a very happy bloke!

**UPDATE - First Field Test**

Oh Yes - this one is definitely a keeper. Sauer came back by email and confirmed the Drilling was made in August 1964, so even younger than I had thought. Good steel and strong construction, my fears of a 'soft' gun are allayed and I am now more relaxed about using a stiffer load. As my interest is in shooting rather than collecting, this news made me very happy!

Anyhow, went out last evening - heavy showers with bright spells in between. Ideal, as the deer tend to show soon after the rain stops. Sure enough, I had a Roe Doe to my front within minutes. Fickle breeze from behind gave her a whiff of scent - her ears came up and she stepped daintily away over the hedge.

Wind obviously running in an unusual direction - so I skirted the fields and snuck down a goyle to one side of the farm. Emerging from the ravine immediately showed that the diversion was the correct call. Easing up the bank, a pair of ears showed over the slope. There he was, sat chewing cud in the centre of a recently cut pasture. Just a youngish Roe - but likely the culprit behind the recent Rose bush attack.

I wormed forward, belly to the ground, closing the distance until we were only some thirty yards apart. Slowly moved up to a kneeling position and checked there was rising ground behind him. Kneeling and ready I barked at him. Nothing! Not a trace of concern, jaws steadily chewing. I barked, screamed, whistled and damn near launched into a yodel before the buck deigned to rise to his feet.

Foresight bright against his shoulder, I dabbed the trigger. The deep BOOM of the rifle was not matched by any perceivable recoil - the buck was down however, as though struck by the hammer of Thor.

The low velocity of the cartridge makes for very little meat damage, important to me as I eat or sell my venison. A pleasant change from the bloodshot that usually attends a more modern calibre!

Before rising and going to the buck, I scanned the ground with my binoculars. The second good call of the evening!

A further Roe had appeared from a hedge on the far side of the field. Checking for antlers, I estimated his range at 120yds or so. A little further than I was comfortable using the iron sights, so I moved back out of sight and slipped the scope from its case.

Forward once more, sticks up and a stable position - the 'new' buck was still broadside when the shot broke. With no recoil it was easy to watch him kick and sprint out of view. Felt like a good shot and the reaction was correct, but then, a bit to the left I could see a red back bounding and bobbing away and out of view.

The site of the hit was clearly marked by 'paint' - as well as a fragment of lung tissue, so the immediate relief of knowing the buck was dead. No further blood showed in the area, so I traced the steps of that departing roe. Strangely, there were no traces where it slipped through a hole in the hedge. It would be normal to find blood at the height of the entrance and exit wounds when a hit animal forces between tight foliage. The minutes ticked by, a surge of excitement as I identified a Roe stood in the shadows beneath a tree some 200 yds off was followed by disappointment as it proved to be a doe.

Light fading fast - I retraced my steps to the scene of the hit. On a hunch I tried walking away from the last sighting.

There he was! After he was hit, he must have made one mighty bound that took him down a bank. This explained the lack of sign - for he had not moved after landing in the tall weeds.



Slipping a drag strap from my pocket, I cinched it under his jaw and started the drag back to the other carcass. As usual, then the real work began!

So, the 'new' Drilling has proved to be an accurate and effective tool in the field. Certainly, something that I will be using more and more. I think I'm in love!

Rgds Ian

Well done, great rifle and a nice buck!

Can I ask (1) where you found this gem, and (2) what animal donated the skin the background of the second picture?

Hi Boggy.

The gun was in a local shop - they are not geared to this type of thing and the price reflected their knowledge!

For true gun 'porn' - try www.egun.de registration needs to be done on the German language version of the site, but then you can bid. Firearms can be exported within the EU simply by completion of the EWB - sent to your tame RFD who will then sign it onto your suitably varied ticket.

The second phot is enhanced by use of 'Fred'. He was a beef steer living happily in Argentia until someone noted his artistic temperament - and his lovely hide!

Rgds Ian

Thanks for the website www.guntrader.co.uk was getting a bit stale for delusional purposes...

The hide looked like a brindle boxer and I wish it were, I hate boxers!

Again, nice gun - hope you get some lovely mixed bags with it!

Boggy

You may wish to edit that, or risk the wrath of Artemis - a devout boxer fanatic!

Rgds Ian

Great story about a great hunt, gun and hunter!
I have a drilling myself.. It`s a new Krieghoff and lacks the carisma of an old one. But I like a lot and use it thereafter.. It has actually replaced my regular shotgun. For me it`s actually first of all a shotgun, but with the possibilities of a riflebarrel at any time..

Have had great luck with grouse in combination with reindeer and capercaille with roe..

Wating for more stories from you and your drilling later!

Hi Ian thats a good story. Yo must have had a broad grin on your face for the rest of the day. I am interested to know whether this means you are likely to use the drilling over the combination.


grant

Ian, that last leap is so typical for roe at least from my experience,

Good trophy for my standard, I know yours vary.

Best regards Chris

quote:

Originally posted by howa243:
I am interested to know whether this means you are likely to use the drilling over the combination.
grant

Grant

The answer is a resounding NO!
Mostly because our very own Jon2 bought it from me within days of my deciding to purchase the Drilling!

Did I mention that Artemis owns the identical combi - so if I ask nicely, I could always borrow one.

Rgds Ian

Ian,

Waidmannsheil X2!

Waidmannsdanke - und freundlichen gruessen von England. ...or something along those lines!

Rgds Ian

Sorry Ian. I thought you sold the BRNO to get another combi and then purchased a drilling as well.

Being a bit thick.

They just are not available in the UK are they.

Grant

Drillings are a true hunters rifle, one thing that Ian F has yet to discover or at least to speak about are the reduced cal rifled barrels that one can have fitted for the drilling.

I am looking for one in 22 Hornet but they come in all sizes from 22 Lr over 222 Rem and 5,6x52 to the ever so neuclassic 6x70R from Norma.

Think about it one rifle, two rifled cal barrels and one shot barrel, think of all the good work that can be done with that.


One thing to come and in the future for the UK as well are the wild boars, any and all decent drillings have the left barrel, the one shot with the rear trigger regulated to shot poi at 50 meters or 80 meters with brennekes, that is a good thing.

Any way I am going to quit ranting now.

Best regard to all/Chris

quote:

Originally posted by howa243:
Sorry Ian. I thought you sold the BRNO to get another combi and then purchased a drilling as well.

Being a bit thick.

They just are not available in the UK are they.

Grant

Ian,

Beautiful drilling! Only a man with exceptional good taste would have such a gun... and, you were right...almost twins. I wish I had your excellent scope.

Bruce