Chiappa Double Badger in 20ga/22lr All-in-one hunting rifle or fantasy?

[Sicon000]

Hey gang,

I'm new to the site and I've been trying to decide on a first hunting rifle. My goal being a one stop shop gun that I could hunt small game and whitetail/turkeys with this fall. I'm trying to keep my budget under $1000 for all the equipment etc. So I've had a couple folks suggest I go for something like a 12ga with interchangeable barrels (smooth bore / rifled) and maybe something like an AR7 22lr Takedown Survival for my daypack instead of paying ~$500 for a Chiappa combination that they say doesn't make the cut compared to overall versatility of a dedicated 12 ga either in semi or pump action.

Thoughts?

 

[badgreenbird]

I have the .410/.22 version. It's decent enough, but even if it were a 20/.22 it still wouldn't be my first choice of an 'all round' hunting gun.

You'd be better off with a pump shotgun (20 or 12) with two barrels... one for slugs (with sights) and another for bird & small game hunting. Unless you plan to be a dedicated big game hunter, you could likely even skip the dedicated slug barrel, and go with one barrel with multiple screw-in chokes. With that combo and using the right ammo for the right game, you'll be set for everything from woodcock to bear. Same goes for the semi option, but those tend to be more expensive.

 

[Butcherbill]

^^^Agreed, my buddy has the .22/.410 combo and it’s great for small game but it wouldn’t be my go to all in one gun. I’d buy a 12 or 20g with a couple different barrels, there’s a Rem 870 3 barrel combo that you might look for. It comes with a 20” turkey barrel that threaded for chokes and has f/o rifle sights, a 28” threaded vent rib barrel and a 22” or 23” fully rifled slug barrel with a cantilevered base for mounting a scope. You’re pretty much covered for most shotgun hunting scenarios.

 

[0faustus0]

1.) Another vote for a pump shotgun barrel combo.

2.) An alternative is a combination gun ... but with a big game rifle caliber. Those guns are a bit more expensive, but you could find a used one well within your budget.

Have a look at Tradeex ....

https://www.tradeexcanada.com/produits/69

 

[0faustus0]

However, if I had to choose a one gun (with one barrel) to do it all .... it would be a 12ga pump with ghost ring or rifle sights and a smooth bore barrel.

Here is my 870 Police with ghost rings. I can shoot a 4" group at 100 meters with that setup and with Federal TruBall slugs.
Meaning, I can hunt large game out to around 100 meters with a slug ... and I still can hunt small game when loaded with shot.

 

[DT741]

However, if I had to choose a one gun (with one barrel) to do it all .... it would be a 12ga pump with ghost ring or rifle sights and a smooth bore barrel.

Here is my 870 Police with ghost rings. I can shoot a 4" group at 100 meters with that setup and with Federal TruBall slugs.
Meaning, I can hunt large game out to around 100 meters with a slug ... and I still can hunt small game when loaded with shot.

A real beauty !

 

[Sicon000]

1.) Another vote for a pump shotgun barrel combo.

2.) An alternative is a combination gun ... but with a big game rifle caliber. Those guns are a bit more expensive, but you could find a used one well within your budget.

Have a look at Tradeex ....

https://www.tradeexcanada.com/produits/69

Thanks for the advice. I didn't realize how versatile a 12ga with interchangeable barrels could be.. Nevermind the abundance and variety of ammunition.

What's your recommended chambering for one of those bigger caliber combination guns?

I'm interested in Turkey and Whitetail for now. I'll be trying my luck with my compound in the spring turkey hunt

 

[0faustus0]

Thanks for the advice. I didn't realize how versatile a 12ga with interchangeable barrels could be.. Nevermind the abundance and variety of ammunition.

What's your recommended chambering for one of those bigger caliber combination guns?

I'm interested in Turkey and Whitetail for now. I'll be trying my luck with my compound in the spring turkey hunt

The first question is .... where are you intending to hunt? Ontario?
Many parts of Ontario are limited to shotgun only.

But if a rifle is allowed where you are intending to hunt ... then have a look at the regulations of what the minimum caliber is for whitetails. Anything larger should be good for a combination gun. If you are buying new then I would go with a .308 or a 30-06 .... However those calibers are hard to find in a used combination guns. Most used combination guns are of European origin ... and are chambered i some European caliber ...