Hi,

It seems that the lion's share of the discussion here is dedicated to drillings; an ever interesting topic it is.

In Finland, many use an O/U combo. Mostoften it's an old Tikka or a Valmet with the switch barrels.
The hunt is typically for small game (birds and vermin up to fox and badger) and such hunter tends to walk quite some distances in heavy forest. Thus, weight is a serious consideration.

How common are these guns in other countries?
What calibers tend they typically be chambered for, and what is hunted with them?

- Lars/Finland

Yes, I use an Eduard Kettner made in 1935 in 2 1/2" 16 gauge over 8X57JR in South Texas of whitetail deer and Rio Grande Turkey. The shot barrel is adequate with #6 shot out to 25-30 yards (for head shots) on the birds and the rifle barrel is more than adequate with a 1.5 X 5 scope for the deer most shots are under 200 yards and the majority under 100.

I currently have three, an old beat up Savage 24 in 22 mag/20, a lovely little 6.3x52(almost 25/35)/short 16 Otto Hawelka Favorite, and my leopard gun a 8x57R/16 guild gun. I shoot them all quite a bit at targets and game. I've used the leopard gun for most of my deer hunting for the last several years and taken deer with the the rifle, slugs and buckshot. I really like the little Favorite for just tramping around in the woods. None are target rifles but will give about 2" at 100 yards, and the two 16's give nice modified patterns.
Bfly

A while back I picked up a Antonio Zoli 12ga/7x57R. It has 25 inch bbls and interchangeable chokes, IC, MOD and EXFULL. The scope mount was crap so I had my gunsmith put one on that was permanent. It likes Norma factory 156gr ammo (consistantly under 2.5inches) and Brenneke Black Magic slugs (consistantly under 4 inches at 100!!) But it absolutely LOVES 154gr Hornadys over 47gr of H4350 with groups consistantly under 1 inch!!! These are 3 shot groups as everything starts to "walk" up after 3 except in temperatures that are under 10 F.

My thought was that it would be very useful in several of the places I hunt which have overlaping bird and big game seasons. It has turned into the best weapon I've ever owned for "getting game". The first trip I took it on was for turkey and bear, the turkeys were gone from the area, hard winter, but a 350lb black bear took up the slack, used both rifle and slug on the bear. The same year I killed ducks while hunting pronghorn, limited on pheasants the same day I took two whitetail does, and took huns, sage grouse and more ducks on the same trip I killed a 7x7 mule deer buck. All with the Zoli.

Lars,
do you have ay o/u yourself?
I only have a drilling , but a o/u is very handy. A friend of me just bought a Emil Kerner from -28, butiful gun only 2,6kg i 8x57 and 16.

i own an o/u combination gun in 20 gauge 3 inches /222 remington made in austria and i love it.
the shotgun barrel can do everything a 12 gauge can do and rifle barrel is as accurat as a varmint rifle!
cheers
YES

I have a joseph hambrusc made 16 over 7x65r with lightweight alloy action. With 6x42 Zeiss scope it's just 7lbs.

Yes i have several O/U combo guns... Most are Valmet 412's and i have numerous bbl. sets in .222 Rem., .223 Rem., 5.6x52R .243 Win., on up to 30-06, .338RDS and 9.3x74R. ect...

I've put a lot of meat in my freezer with combo guns, includeing this bull caribou,



But i only hunt with a drilling any more...

DM

I use a Blaser BBF97, have two sets of barrels. 6.5X55/20 gauge, and 9.3X74R/20 gauge. Both are tack drivers, and highly precise. When I originally bought it, I never figured it to be as accurate as it is. It is as light as a mountain rifle, and as accurate as a target gun.

quote:

Originally posted by Farmer John:
Lars,
do you have ay o/u yourself?
I only have a drilling , but a o/u is very handy.

Hi Johan,

Alas - no.
I have thought of getting one on numerous occasions, but as I've posted here before: my hunting does not seem to justify getting one of any type. Mostly, I'm better served by a rifle and if not, then a shotgun is what I need. Maybe once or twice per year I could make good use of a combo but that doesn't really justify the price, does it?
I'd love a double rifle with switch barrels shotgun and combo! My father and I had a "project" to obtain one but we were not lucky. We were out for a very good deal but stumbled on none.

Was it that I had a drilling, I probably wouldn't say I "only" have....

I must say I'm plenty pleased with the responses! I consider the O/U combo a fine gun and as an enthusiast I'm pleased to learn that so many have one and make good use of it, too.

- Lars/Finland

I have a 5.6x50r/12 V. Bernardelli with EAW mount and 2x7 mueller Multishot. It is a great night calling gun with 53 gr barnes and # 4 buck. Also a 7x65r/12 Wischo with EAW mount and Mueller 3x9 sport dot. I use 140 horn's at about 2700 and 00 buck for night hog hunts. both are set up to use the XL 250 red LED lights for night use. Both of these scopes are illum'd rets and are great for night use. Have looked at upgrading the Wischo to a Blaser BBF97 but alas, have empty pockets.

Lars, I only have a Savage 2400 (Valmet). It's in 12/.308. Fun gun, and there are opportunities to use one here where seasons cross, but not so many. I am eyeing a 16/8x57 Fr. Jung & Sohn (Suhl) that is a lightweight dream. It's definitely a 'want' thing, and not a 'need.'

Pierre

I have only one O/U combination gun today, one that I have had for some years. It is a little 20/.22lr savage, and I have a side by side pistol that both barrels will fire 45 LC or 410 shot shells.

I do have a couple of cape guns (side by side) combination guns, which are my personal preference in combos. My favorite is a little H. Berrela cape gun made in Berlin in may of 1910. It is a side-lock exposed hammer gun chambered on the left barrel started life as a short 16 ga shotgun choked extra tight, and the right barrel chambered for 8X57JR ( .318 bullets ) weighing 196 grs . I opened up the very tight choke to modified, and the shot chamber opened up for 2 3/4 shells, Now my hand-loads place the rifle dead on the iron sights at 100 yds, and a Brenneke slug right beside the rifle also at 100 yds. On birds no 7 is a real killer of doves and quail or No 5 shot on geese, or ducks.

In the area where I hunt most the seasons for Muledeer, Black bear, blue quail are all open at the same time, so this is a real all around fire arm for hunting this area. Before I came across this little jewel it seemed that when I was hunting quail, I would jump the trophy mule deer of a life time. And when hunting deer I would jump covey after covey of quail. This gun solved that little problem.

The other cape gun is a V. Haffner side by side back action side lock with a Jones under lever, and Damasks barrels, and is a black powder gun. The left barrel is a 20 ga short ,and the rifle barrel on the right is a .58 Berdan Carbine chambering. This is my specialty gun for dove and deer with black powder hand-loads and is a lot of fun to hunt with, because it brings you back to a real hunting period that required stalking skills to get close! I make brass for the rifle side from 577 Nitro brass, and the shotgun side brass from modern 20 ga brass shotgun brass. Fun gun made some time in the 1870s or 80s.

All combos are very useful for the walk-about back-pack hunter!

........................................................... .....................................

Once upon a time I had the Ithica Tikka in 12ga over 222. The 222 barrel was a tack driver.

I now have a Blaser BBF in 308/20ga. It shoots like a sniper rifle.

One advantage of a O/U combo gun is that is can be lighter than a compariable drilling.

I use my BBF as my Ultimate "Spare" hunting rifle here in Texas and other places as well.

It is light, handy, and it allows me to have a spare rifle and a spare shotgun.
Also since it breaks down it is very handy to carry.

It is a great Primary hunting rifle no doubt.

I have hunted a lot with a single shot rifle, and shooting small game for the pot a single barreled shotgun works pretty good.

All things being equal an O/U Combo is more affordable than a Driling or a Double Rifle Drilling.

And it makes a great Camp rifle.

For a lot of the hunting I do, having a rifle AND a shotgun, in your hands at the same time, ALL the time, is the best choice of a HUNTING "gun" for me.

I have the CZ ZH series in 7x57R over 12 ga. the 7x57R has taken boar and reh in Germany with the 12ga doing in a couple of fox, and has been around the world as a back up to my other rifles. The only change I have done to it, was to open up the fixed full choke to closer to modified and it helped with slug accuracy.

With 154 gr handloads, it can stay within an inch at 100 yds/meters for a couple of shots. Close enough to Minute Of Deer for most applications.

It is a pleasure to carry it afield, when one does not know what will be kicked up, fur or feather.

Don

I killed a cape buffalo with a Tikka 512 (like Valmet 412). It was a double trigger gun in 12ga 3" and 9.3X74R. I was shooting francolin and guinea when we ran onto a very good Masailand lone bull.

I have a Valmet 412S in 12/30-06 presently and had over time probably a dozen of them and barrels in about every flavor they made. I used to "dabble" in Valmet 412s.

I recently sold a very functional and accurate EEA 94 BBF in 12ga 3" and 7X57R. It made up in reliability and functionality what it lacked in esthetics.

All-in-all I prefer cape guns to BBFs, but I like all combo guns to the point of a sick addiction.

Yes, a Blaser 95 in 6.5x55/12g.

It will do just about anything I need done.

I am first and foremost a deer and hog hunter, and for those two pursuits, I find having a combo gun to be totally unnecessary and tend to take a single shot or bolt gun instead. However, my Blaser BBF97 12 ga over 308 is my primary woods/4 wheeler gun, and I have killed alot of stuff with it just walking or riding around. I recently bought an Aimpoint H1, and that is now my favorite sight for that gun.

quote:

Originally posted by luv2safari:
I have a Valmet 412S in 12/30-06 presently and had over time probably a dozen of them and barrels in about every flavor they made. I used to "dabble" in Valmet 412s.

I guess i'm still "dabbleing" in 412's, as i have more than one 412 gun, like this new in box DR,



and more than 20 bbls at present. lol

DM

quote:

Originally posted by DM:

quote:

Originally posted by luv2safari:
I have a Valmet 412S in 12/30-06 presently and had over time probably a dozen of them and barrels in about every flavor they made. I used to "dabble" in Valmet 412s.

I guess i'm still "dabbleing" in 412's, as i have more than one 412 gun, like this new in box DR,



and more than 20 bbls at present. lol

DM

OK...let me ask...do you like the Valmet 412???

I too used to dabble in Valmet 412s and have barrels in 12/.223 and 12/7X65R. I also have a Krieghoff Ultra 20/9.3X74R O/U and a Merkel cape gun in 8X57JR and 16 GA. I have several drillings as well but I find that the combos are a little lighter.

I have a Franz Sodia O/U combo in 16 over 7x57R with an extra set of 16/16 barrels. I have not had an opportunity to hunt with it yet but it shoots good. The 16ga barrel likes the Brenneke classic slug.

Hi I have a Zoli 12g over 6.5x57R absolutely love this gun definitely on the do not ever sell list.Have taken Blacktail at home and Impala in Zimbabwe. Bill

Mine is an Otto Bock 16g and 7X57. I have not hunted with it--too many other rifles.

They are not common in Canada, but if a hunter here does have an O/U combo it is likely to be a savage 24, in .22 RF and .410 or 20 ga. I have owned several Savages, and don't find them up to my quality standards. In addition to a couple of drillings, I now shoot two O/U combination guns, a Heym in .222/16 ga and a Merkel in 7x57R/16 ga. I appreciate the workmanship and quality of both guns.

I have three deluxe Savage Model 24s, two of which were given to me: 20 ga/.30-30, .410/.22 mag, and 20 ga/.22 mag...all with nicely blued barrels, silver receivers, nicely finished stocks. I have taken ducks, doves, pigeons, squirrels, and feral hogs. They are functional guns but in no way finely crafted. However, the piece de resistance is a Winchester 101 12 ga/.30-06 a beautiful, well made firearm, not many of which were made. Shotgun barrel has an ejector, rifle has an extractor. I am currently using it here in South Africa during a three month stay on a game ranch to eradicate called-in jackals and hyenas. The gun has a Burris scope on QD mounts. It has also been used to harvest guinea fowl. I am pleased with the handling and accuracy. Also, it has Wow factor...highly polished blue barrels an coin finished receiver.

Here are a few pictures of my combo:

SFRanger
What are the calibres/gages of your Combo?

That is one fine looking gun.

16 gauge over 7x57R with a set of 16x16 barrels. Thanks for the compliment.

Your welcome, that is an awsome looking hunting rifle. Great choice in Tutonic calibres as well.

quote:

Originally posted by SFRanger7GP:
16 gauge over 7x57R with a set of 16x16 barrels. Thanks for the compliment.

Now that is 1st Class gun-porn!


...complete with St. Hubertus and the obligatory Auerhahn.

I do appreciate your sharing that with us.

I recently got a Krieghoff drilling in 16x16 over 7x57R from the same guy that is just as nice. I believe the same guy engraved the wood of both guns. I went there to get the combo and had to have them both. So, I sold a few pieces I no longer use and got the pair back together. I will post post pictures later because photobucket is being a total pain in the fourth point of contact tonight.

Shot a roe buck with mine last night. Not a difficult 30 yard shot. Then just for a laugh took it to the clay range this afternoon. Got some odd looks when I removed the scope, but the look on the faces when I stated smoking clays was a sight to see - all others dedicated clay shooters with all the badges and dedicated clay guns. I turn up with a pair of jeans, an old leather cartridge bag and my 16/ 7x65r combo, and William Jeffrey 410 side by side. My 9 yr old daughter with single 410 was outshooting some of them as well!


http://s777.photobucket.com/al...%3D10July2009135.jpg

Ain't it fun???

quote:

Originally posted by yes:
i own an o/u combination gun in 20 gauge 3 inches /222 remington made in austria and i love it.
the shotgun barrel can do everything a 12 gauge can do and rifle barrel is as accurat as a varmint rifle!
cheers
YES

Hi I have just been offered such a drilling in laser super Luxus for 40% of new cost unfired

Have you found this combination limited

What are you main quarries

I hunt game with 20 bore so I fully agrees there is no disadvantage in terms of killing power or range as compared to 12

I mentioned this on another forum and idiots there seems to think this combination is nuts

Appreciate your input







Asking price $8800 or there about USD

IMHO very ugly but in tecnical means very accurate because it´s pipes will cool down much faster than those traditional soldered barrels..

I have a couple of the Savage 24's but never really liked them. The kids like to use them for grouse. I also have a Brno 22 Sav HP over 12 ga along with a set of 12x12 ga barrels. The 22HPx 12 ga is great for calling coyotes in a little brush. The 22HP is somewhere between a 223 and 22-250 for open shots and if the coyote gets in close on you 1 1/2 oz of # 2 or BB usually does the trick.