12 Guage Drilling SXS over rifle barrel.Do You Hunt with one ?

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BurlewLLB

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These are typically made by Sauer and other European manufacturers. Does anyone have experience with hunting with one recently? What do you find best about the Drilling?
 
I have used a couple different drillings. I find the sights on the barrel a bit of a distraction for shooting birds. Other than that, they are a bit bulkier and wont give you the normal swing and feel that you are used to.
 
BurlewLLB said:
These are typically made by Sauer and other European manufacturers. Does anyone have experience with hunting with one recently? What do you find best about the Drilling?
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Unfortunately I can't speak to a SXS drilling. However I do hunt with a Merkel B4 12 gauge over 223 combination gun. It works excellent for a general purpose tractor/walking around the field gun. From grouse and partridge, to rabbits and coyotes, it has been quite fun to use. I am looking at adding a larger bore rifle combination, so that I can better use it for big game hunting. I think the opportunity to take small game while hunting big game would be pretty nice. Eating a sharptail midday during a deer hunt sounds pretty great to me.

The fun would only be amplified with a SXS drilling. It would make a much better bird gun, obviously.


browning525 said:
I have used a couple different drillings. I find the sights on the barrel a bit of a distraction for shooting birds. Other than that, they are a bit bulkier and wont give you the normal swing and feel that you are used to.
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This is an excellent point. It can be a bit different pointing a shotgun with rifle sights on top.
 
I’ve owned and used two, a pre war Sauer 16x16/ 8x57JRS and a post war Merkel 12x12/ 7x65R. Both were equipped with excellent quality German scopes in quick detachable claw mounts. Both were well balanced, very accurate, extremely well made and versatile. These are made for hunting and for such use they can be hard to beat for all round use. If you hunt in areas where the opportunities for big game and for small game/birds can present interchangeably this one gun can do it all any time, any where. This is especially true if the gun has been fitted and sighted in with a Kreighoff removable .22 LR insert in one shotgun barrel.
Of note; not advisable to wing shoot flying birds with the scope mounted.
Also, with the rifle barrel for longer ranges, a slug in one shotgun barrel and buck shot or bird shot in the other you will be equipped for instant action on any game that presents. The biggest downside is the price, they are very complex to make and very expensive new although unappreciated and greatly undervalued on the Canadian used market. I no longer have one however I do own and hunt with a Heym over/under combination gun in 20 ga 3”/7x57R fitted with a claw mounted Zeiss scope and Kreighoff .22 insert and this will continue to be my go to hunting combo as long as I still hunt.
 
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Not a drilling .... but I am hunting with a BRNO combo gun in 12ga/30-06.

I like to eat some rabbit/hare or grouse when back in camp ... ;)

The gun is a tad bit lighter than my Remington 700 BDL in 30-06. The barrels on the BRNO combo are pretty thin in comparison to my BDL or 870s. But the BRNO shoots just fine .... I am getting a 2 inch group at 100 meters with the 30-06 barrel and that is good enough for the distances that I am shooting.

I mounted a true 1-4 scope.


BRNO_Combo_12ga_30-06_lowres.jpg


BRNO_Combo_100_Meters_Federal_180Grains_lowres.JPG
 
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For shotgun only deer area in Ontario, drilling or combos are not allowed in the field (during deer season). Not even if you only have shotgun ctg. available.
 
0faustus0 said:
Not a drilling .... but I am hunting with a BRNO combo gun in 12ga/30-06.

I like to eat some rabbit/hare or grouse when back in camp ... ;)

The gun is a tad bit lighter than my Remington 700 BDL in 30-06. The barrels on the BRNO combo are pretty thin in comparison to my BDL or 870s. But the BRNO shoots just fine .... I am getting a 2 inch group at 100 meters with the 30-06 barrel and that is good enough for the distances that I am shooting.

I mounted a true 1-4 scope.
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Same here, but with a Russian 12g/7.62x54r
- the CF is more of a back-up in case some overly aggressive bear got to close for comfort.
 
I've owned three drillings, still have one. I prefer the 16 ga. versions, more slim and balanced. 7x57r or 8x57IRS are good choices for a rifle barrel. My current Krieghoff Trumpf dural-framed drilling is trim, relatively light, accurate, patterns well, and is equipped with a .22 magnum insert barrel for ultimate versatility. I have used it to take a wide variety of game.
 
Longwalker said:
I've owned three drillings, still have one. I prefer the 16 ga. versions, more slim and balanced. 7x57r or 8x57IRS are good choices for a rifle barrel. My current Krieghoff Trumpf dural-framed drilling is trim, relatively light, accurate, patterns well, and is equipped with a .22 magnum insert barrel for ultimate versatility. I have used it to take a wide variety of game.
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This is more likely the prefered route (sub 12 gauge) Myself I own an external hammer sidelock drilling BP 10 gauge & 45-70. 1888ish.
Boy. It can be a bear in the field anything past three hours. (10 3/4 lbs unloaded)
There's no sling points front or rear. I wonder if it was built for a wealthy rancher. Made to fit a saddle scabbard?
 
I don’t like 12/12/x because they are barrel heavy, but 16/16/x makes a great handling shotgun and an even better rifle


Smaller gauges even better. If handling is the priority a combination gun can handle as well as any good o/u
 
Sir Plus said:
I don’t like 12/12/x because they are barrel heavy, but 16/16/x makes a great handling shotgun and an even better rifle


Smaller gauges even better. If handling is the priority a combination gun can handle as well as any good o/u
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I think you are quite correct. But the 20 gauge drillings often are very pricey. Example Rusty Wood had a pre owned 20x20x270 for sale once. About $15,000. Scope/rings and Walther sub caliber adapter included.
Beautiful gun though.
 
I had mine in service again today. Dropped by a local farm to clean out some nuisance pigeons. .22 insert for the ones inside and the 16ga for the flyers outside! :)
 
I currently own 4…. I’ve been playing with some over under combos for a few years now and really enjoyed them. The drilling kept calling me though and I broke down last Christmas while isolating with Covid infection. I picked it up from Greatnorthgunco…. A Merkel in 12x12 over 7x57R. It had been drilled and had a set of weaver bases mounted and dremeled out to allow use of the irons as well. Actually worked pretty neat. Still light enough and very accurate.

Next was my deal I got on a pre WWII Greif & Co in 12x12 over 9.3 x 53 Swiss rimmed. It is beautiful. I have hammered clays as well as I can shoot with the shotguns and have finally made up some 9.3 Swiss rounds. I have a write up on the gun this site.

My next was a beautiful post war Sauer in 16x16 over 7x65R with claws and an original German Geco scope. Shoots excellent groups and the shotgun patterns as it should. I still have to adjust the scope before elk season….

My last is a carbine length German proofed 1931 16x16 over 8x57R. It was a great deal and a little rougher. It is on its way to Epps today.

To sum it up, these guns all handle very nice. Point like shotguns and are plenty accurate to hunt. The German workmanship is second to none. There are deals to be had so keep your eyes open. They are so neat you won’t regret picking one up! Or… 4, haha!
 
I would if I owned one! That being said, I am not sure about the potentially ramifications for actually hunting with one, because around me you are not allowed to hunt with any rifle calibre over .223. Say the rifle barrel was 30-06, and even if you had no rifle ammo on you, I am not sure how badly a conservation officer could treat you if they were having a bad day.
 
I would love to find one 16x16 over 7x57r or 7x65r it would be a great gun for up here!! But for own I have just got a new to me Brno s’y 304 7x57r over 70mm 12 gauge with a set of s’y 301 barrels !!
 
i hunted with a 12 ga and 8x57jrs for roe deer and wild boar then a drilling merkel with 16 ga x2 and 7x65r. i have now a valmet 12ga with a 222 rem barrel and cant wait to find a 12 ga with a 9.3x74r that will be the perfect combo for the yukon.
 
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