Rifle/Shotgun combo

The most well-known to American shooters is Savage's Model 24.

European gun makers made lots of combination guns called "Drillings," "Vierlings," and even 4-barrel guns.

There are other non-drilling combo guns, think Baikal offers one. I've never really been that interested in 'em, especially cheap ones like the 24s. Barrel regulation is REAL important. Also, I don't like sights on a shotgun, not for wing shooting. Great on a slug gun past 50 yards, but I don't really hunt deer with a shotgun. Now, I do use my SxSs as combo guns in the woods here, just doing chores and walking/still hunting the woods. With a number 5 3" 20 gauge in one barrel and a slug in the rear trigger barrel (left), I'm ready for anything to 50 yards, which is a long way in THESE woods.

The only deer I took with a shotgun was last year while I was sneaking up on some ducks on the tank, saw a nice 8 point at 35 yards, had a 3 buck in one barrel, took him with that at 35 yards. The ducks got away.

Savage, as mentioned made them, and is making them again but more limited as far as chamberings go. I think the new one is .22 or another rather small round.

My Father is a big German drilling fan and that is the way I would go, or a Cape gun (one rifle barrel and one shotgun) may be a better fit and is what I prefer, it is also closer to the Savage concept. The options and quality really go up with the German made guns. Rifle barrels will get up into ranges to take anything in North America with either 12, 16, or 20's under/over them.

Sights can flip up or down depending on maker. Claw scopes mounts let a scope come on/off without tools. They really are an amazing gun to meet the needs when people were limited in how many guns they could own.

Check your state laws to make sure it's legal, in some states a combo gun isn't. However, to put meat into the pot I think they are a great option.

Savages have gotten $$ so you may be able to find a highly used German gun for the high end of a Savage. Worth a look.

I think it's not about how many guns people can own.

Click to expand...

No, not HERE, but in other places where laws and customs are different how many separate guns you can own (and in what chamberings, and what action type, etc.) can be significant problems.

A Savage mod 24 was the hero of a seven day moose hunt in Ontario. We never saw any moose, just tracks in the snow. We ate plenty of grouse, and brought 16 of 'em home with us...thanks to a .22/.410 model 24. Some were taken with the .22, some with the .410.
I started looking for one as soon as I got home. I finally found a dandy, and my son has taken a bunch of squirrels with it since.

Mine is a Blaser BBF97 12 ga over 308.

I bought a Chiappa double badger 22lr/.410. It is great for walks in the woods where I might find squirrel/rabbit/birds. The 22 is for longer more stationary shots and the .410 works wonders for running or flying game. Also slugs/buck for yotes or other larger varmints. I must have gotten very lucky, the barrels are regulated to the same point of aim.

Retrieverman,
Mind me asking how much that set you back? Beautiful rifle.

I had a Savage .222/20 ga. for several years. I used the 20 ga. for squirrels, etc. but never fired the .222 except at targets .. not practical for me.

They may be illegal to hunt with in some locations as well. I can't be in posession of shotshells when deer hunting here and I'm not sure how a warden would feel about a pocket of rifle shells during the offseason for deer.

They are great for rabbits and squirrels in 22/410 though.


HB

Savage still has them.

The newer combo rifle from Savage is the model 42. I believe that they make a 22lr/410 and a 22mag/410. They are butt ugly but they work.

I have two Savage 24's. One since I was 15, won it at school and my Grandmother had to come to school and ate it home for me.

If you don't know what your going after, it is a good choice.

I bought a Savage 24 in 22 mag and 20 g a few years ago for the specific purpose you have in mind, it works great. I'm really glad I didn't get the 410 version as the 20 is much more versatile (you can get real slugs) mag or LR wouldn't have made much difference it's not like it's something you're gonna burn thru bricks with.

jmorris said:

… won it at school and my Grandmother had to come to school and ate it home for me. …

Click to expand...

Wow! Times they are a-changin', eh?

I have often considered building an insert for my 12-gauge side-by-side that would allow me to shoot .22 out of one barrel. My plan is to machine an aluminum collar that would press onto the breech end of a .22 barrel, perhaps a barrel from a 10/22 or such. I'd turn down the end of the barrel to a nominal diameter, then drill an offset hole in the aluminum collar so the rim would be struck by the firing pin. Then I'd machine the outside diameter of the collar to shotgun shell specifications. The muzzle end of the .22 barrel, too, would be turned to a nominal diameter to accept a one-inch long aluminum collar with the same offset, which would align the .22 barrel with the shotgun barrel. It would become, essentially, an offset barrel-inside-a-barrel adapter, similar in function to the 12 gauge/.22 adapter shells that are available commercially.

The only thing holding me back is finding a "donor" barrel, possibly a rusty old .22 barrel that is ready for the scrap heap.

In that case try to find one in 20 gauge. Never had much luck with 410 when shooting through brush or any real distance.

You might want to look for combination guns at www.gunsinternational.com
I believe they have their own subsection.

The biggest reason drilling ect. are so popular in other countries is because of the way they hunt. They are in stands with the game driven to them and they have to be ready for anything that flies or runs out to them. So, multi cartridge/guage guns are VERY useful to them...

I've used my drilling in states that have cartridge restrictions where I've hunted,



I've just been told to NOT have any restricted cartridges in my possion when I'm hunting. That's what I've always done and I've never had any problems at all.

Anyway, over the years, I've put tons of meat in my freezer with my drilling,



As for cheaper combo gun, as was already said, regulation is EVERYTHING and a decent combo gun starts with the Savage 2400 or the Valmet 412's...

All the Savage 24's I've owned or been around had poor to very poor regulation. Something like that is of no use to me for hunting...

DM

Retrieverman,
Mind me asking how much that set you back? Beautiful rifle.

Click to expand...

I've had my BBF a few years now, and all I'll tell you is that a set of barrels today costs more than I paid for my gun.

SleazyRider- it's probably easiest just to buy one http://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Conve...qid=1418246424&sr=8-2&keywords=shotgun+insert

jdub3 said:

SleazyRider- it's probably easiest just to buy one http://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Conve...qid=1418246424&sr=8-2&keywords=shotgun+insert

Click to expand...

It would be even better IF they actually worked good enough to be useful!

DM