What's with the rifle/shotty O/Us?

[ChristopherG]

Just curious, really; I can't imagine a reason to buy one, but I'd like to know. What's the general idea behind the combination guns I've seen (CZ makes one, for instance)--an O/U with something like a 12 ga. on top and a .308 underneath? What circumstance makes that seem like a good or useful combination? Anyone got one, or know how they perform?

cg

 

[mete]

The various combination guns are usefull in places like Germany where hunting rules and practices are different. In the USA we either hunt deer or squirrels on a day , in Germany they might hunt both.

 

[ChristopherG]

Makes sense--and explains why all I've seen are European guns. Thanks, Mete.
cg

 

[Griff]

Often times they're used for survival situations, check out the Springfield M6, Savage M24, Baikal IZH94, etc.
Sort of a 2-for-1 proposition, y'know?

 

[Onslaught]

My father has always loved the Savage 24V's, and has 3, I think. One's .22 Magnum over .20, one's .223 over 20, and one's 30-30 over 12. He uses them for small game, varmint, and deer, respectively.

He usually stalks when he hunts, so as he's walking, he keeps the hammer selector on Shotgun in case he walks up on whatever he's hunting. If he comes across a longer shot, he switches to the rifle...

On the 24V's, the rifle is on top, while the SG is on bottom. This makes more sense to me, so you can get your irons as close to the bore as possible.