Rimfire/shotgun combo

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Voshay

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I have been looking into a 22 over 20ga or 410 combo gun. There is the new Savage 42, it's predecessor the Savage/Stevens 24 and the Chiappa Double Badger that I have come across in my searches. The intention is to use this for squirrels and grouse.

Can anyone provide some feedback on their experiences with one (or more) of these or suggest other options.
 
Voshay said:
I have been looking into a 22 over 20ga or 410 combo gun. There is the new Savage 42, it's predecessor the Savage/Stevens 24 and the Chiappa Double Badger that I have come across in my searches. The intention is to use this for squirrels and grouse.

Can anyone provide some feedback on their experiences with one (or more) of these or suggest other options.
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I had an old Savage model 24 in 20 gauge / 223; awesome 20 gauge but a ten lb.+ trigger on the 223; could not even perform a group in .223.
 
I don't read too many good comments about the newer 42. One buddy had a savage 24 .22/20ga that he liked everything about it except the open choke on it. I think it was a short barreled camper version but not positive on that. Another buddy got the 22/410 double badger for Christmas to use for grouse. No real world testing done yet but really likes the fiber optic ghostring sight.
 
A close friend bought a Chiappa double badger in .22lr/410 two years back and he seems to really like it, it was pretty well regulated between both barrels. He was ground swatting grouse with the 410 easily within 20-30y, it had decent fiber optic rifle sights for the .22 barrel and was a full choke on the 410 side. Would make a nice small game combo gun, fit and finish was nice. The break action was tight and locked up well, seems like a well made gun.
 
I had 4 rifle/shotgun combos in the past. .222/12G, .243/12G, .308/12g and 6.5R/12G.

They were Savage or Valmet. Missed a 8 point buck standing broadside from 20 yards using the .308/12g. The rifle was the bottom barrel. I fired the rifle and it shaved his belly. At that range the rifle was shooting low. The combo was sighted in for 50 yards. In hind sight I should've fire the shotgun instead. It had a slug. At 20 yards it would've hit the boiler room dead center.

The next year I use the .243/12g. This time the 12 point buck was further at ~25 yards and I shot it with the shotgun with slug. Didn't repeat the same mistake from last year. The buck ran 50 yards and drop. Learn from past experience and from a lot of shooting at the range, under 30 yards use shotgun, over 30 yards use rifle.

They were all finicky to regulate. Prepare to spend a lot of time and ammo to regulate to your liking. Since you are hunting small game, get to know the point of impact on all your hunting distances for both barrels.
 
I had a .22/.410 Double Badger and sold it. Wonderful firearm, but .410 wasn't doing it for me. If you enjoy .410 I would say it seemed great. I am looking for one with a 20 ga., but either way, it's probably the best modern combo gun that's readily available. Mine was pleasantly accurate with irons and the .22.
 
I have, and love my Savage 24C Camper's Companion in .22 LR over 20 GA. BUT, the short barrel and the open choke make the 20 ga kind of more scatter gun than effective grouse getter. My friend has a P series in a .22 LR over .410 and does very well with it. I think the regular barrel makes for a good game getter, the short barrel is convenient to carry and the cylinder bore makes it slug friendly which matter to me because <reasons>?
 
16g side by side, 1 barrel has 22lr insert barrel installed

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I have a savage 24dl 22mag/20ga. I really enjoy it however I must admit that the 22mag seldom gets used due to mostly flighty grouse where I usually hunt and it took a while to get the open sights dialed in but a williams peep sight has seemed to get it shooting good. For the extra weight and above reasons my dad and I prefer grabbing the H&R topper 20ga for light weight grouse walks.
 
I have a Chiappa Double Badger in 410/.22. Love it for on the quad and going after squirrels, grouse, and rabbit. It shoots slugs really well too but I haven't tried with slugs out past 50 yards. I hated the feel of the new Savage models and the Chiappa was cheaper when I bought mine years ago.
 
I used to own a Bronco Garcia 410/22 combo. Took it hunting a bunch but iron sights (for the 22LR) and my eyes don't get along, plus the cylinder bore 410 meant close shots only. Traded it to a friendly CGN guy and now I use a pump shotgun for most of my rabbit/squirrel/grouse hunting.

To me, the 3 shot shotgun (Ontario hunting rules) was better than the single shot 22LR/410 option, at least for the kinds of hunting I do. YMMV.
 
I had a Chiappa M6 Xcaliber. It was a .22/ 12 ga although my kit had all the inserts to thread in the barrel (20 ga, .410, 9mm, .45 cal etc) and used a choke. I found the 20 ga was most convenient for my purposes out in the bush. With these combo guns I've never found the .22 was overly accurate at 20 yards. The Chiappa M6 was a bit expensive but made well enough. It will definitely
give you many options and variety to go with your .22
 
I'm glad I read this. I was considering a double badger, but think I will just stick to my existing shotguns and rifles. I love the idea of both, but dont want to be losing any bucks over my laziness. Shotgun or center fire rifle with the Little Badger strapped to the bag I guess.
 
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