I bought a 12x12x30-06 drilling for my wife. It is her favorite gun, thus I never get to use it, so I "need" one for myself. My choice is a 12x12x9.3x74R. My question is which one is the "best". I will use the drilling quite a bit. It will be shot quite a bit with rifle and slugs on wild pigs, and we "jump ducks" all season long on our lease. I will use it for doves and quail because the chance of a pig is always present, and I am ALWAYS hunting pigs. The few times I have used her drilling I have felt like the KING OF THE WORLD, because there is no game that you cannot kill. We like to eat all manner of small game. So I seek recommendations form those of you that have experience with drillings. PS. It will have a scope in a quick detachable mount.

A few of us here use drillings. Fania got a new Zoli. I think it's a 12X12X7/65. Another by the name of Rackett got an old Sauer and has been getting it going.

I don't know what the "best" gun of any type is for someone else. When I carry my drilling it seems that, like a lot of my hunting, there is much climbing and walking and little shooting so for me the "best" is a lighter, shorter gun.

Mine is a prewar Sauer 16X16X8/57JR. The barrels are 23.5" long and it weighs 7 lbs. It has a couple of scopes too. For me this gun is just right. I have looked at some of the later Sauers that were made for Lufwaffe survival guns in 12 ga and they were, to me, long and heavy. I have the same opinion of the late Colt Sauers.

I think the Zoli's have light metal receivers but balance is important and I would still want a shorter barrels than I see on most drillings.

Good luck. A drilling is the ultimate game getter. It's my most used firearm.

[ 12-07-2002, 06:28: Message edited by: Don Martin29 ]

Don, thanks, my wife's is a Sauer. It has the lite metal reciever. It handles better than my 12ga. Browning Citori. The 8x57JR is a great ctg, however I already have a 9.3x74R double rifle and and REALLY like the calibre.

[ 12-07-2002, 07:14: Message edited by: N E 450 No2 ]

I'd say the very best drillings are made by Anton Sodia. A little on the costly side but very nice, light and handy guns.
I like a 20ga/20ga + 7x57R or 7 x 65R.
The 12ga combinations are fine too, but are a little heavier and bulkier so I think it is worth the compromise going with the 20ga as when you shoot slugs through it they are nearly as deadly as the 12ga.
Maybe you get a little less shot out of it and shorter ranges for bird shooting.
Thats my 2 cents worth.

I don't think you can say what the best is. It is the same as with cars.
Zoli makes good and cheap but heavy Drillinge.
Here in D I would say all the Drillinge are good.
No matter Blaser, Krieghoff, Heym, Sauer or Suhl.
The Blaser has a quiet unusual design (the barrel packet is turned and the shotgun barrel below the bulletbarrel).
Both, Blaser and Krieghoff offer their Drillinge also with the option that the bullet is not dependend of the cold barrel. On the shooting range it is a big advantage (but also expensive).

If you like to hunt with slugs, then you can order with guarantee that the slugs fit to the bullet.

I also would think about the 20/76 gauge.

I like my Blaser D99 (20+20+7x57R) very much.

N E 450 No2

It seems like a good choice with a 12 gauge and 9,3X74r. If you are really lucky you can find a Luftwaffen drilling made by Sauer & sohn, they will not be cheap. Merkel, Sauer, Franzodia, Sempter Kreighoff, Heym makes very nice drillings. I would not under any circumstances choose a boltaction cartridge for a break top rifle, like the drilling. Go for a rimmed cartridge.

Luftwaffen drillings are not very common in Sweden, but can be found. See Hatari times for futher info.

Cheers
/ JOHAN

A good double shotgun and a bolt action rifle ...



Honestly : an O/U combo gun. Its a much slimmer forearm and less weight ( in any configuration ).

If it really has to be a drilling, 2x20/76 ( 3" ) over .243, 6.5x55/57R, 7x65R, 8x57IRS ( woods ), .30R Blaser ( universal ~ .300 HH ) or 9.3x74R ( for bigger stuff ).

Merkel, Sodia, Heym, Krieghoff. In used guns Sauer Drillings were supreme.

Have fun, Hermann

Has anyone tried the Kreighoff Optima with the TS [thermo-stable] bbl. Has anyone used the new ESL insert bbl, avialable in calibres up to 9.3x74R? How well do the other insert bbls shoot ie. the 222 type and the rimfire inserts? Thanks

I have a Krieghoff Plus (2x20/76, 6,5x57R) and I`m really satisfied with it. I like the 20 gauge because it minimize the guns weight and gives a better balance, I think. My drilling has a claw mount with a Schmidt and Bender 1,5-6x42 wich is a good choice for me. I use it mostly for roe deer, reindeer and smallgame. So both the riflecaliber and scope is suitable. With both FMJ`s and some Sierra Game King in the pocket I`m happy. And the riflebarrel shoots tight groups. This drilling is a good and economic choice!

I use my 30 years old Suhler Drilling in 16/70,16/70-22Mag and 7X65R.He was my only huntingrifle for some years,but now we�ve got more and more wildboar.And so I need sometimes a second shot to get two of this bandits.So I bought a Mauser66 in 8X68S and this year a Mannlicher Sch�nauer in 7X64.Then also the Drilling doubled(?)two times.It meens one triggerpull,two shot and no game .
But it is a nice very accurate handmade rifle,I still love it.
Hauke

Thanks for the info guys. Johan my wifes drilling is a 12x12x30-06. So far no extraction problems with the rimless ctg, including reloads. I have a 9,3x74R double and really like the calibre, it has become one of my favorites.

i had many drillings but sauer si a keeper, all are good but sauer is somthing special,last 2 years i had over 2000 rounds , with no problem at all

N.E.450 no2

I had my hands on a sauer 12x12x9.3x74 drilling a few years ago that was offered to me at a very good price. It was like new and very stiff. Very upgraded wood etc probably the nicest Sauer drilling I've ever seen. Since I already had the 30-06 drilling and the 8x57 drillings that you've seen I passed. Yes I'm still kicking myself for that one.

I prefer my 8x57 drilling built on the 20 ga frame but if I wanted the 9.3x74 then You might as well go with the 12 ga frame.