22lr combination guns

double gun said:
My only real gripe with the early 24’s is the small and shallow rear sight dovetail.
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I think you have the skills to rectify that issue...

Despite my above posted thoughts on the various combo gun platforms, I have a short memory span (old age), and find that periodically I get to thinking "Gee, that is a great idea..." and pick up yet another one, I am a sucker for nice walnut and rich bluing, but to date, none of them have made the cut. I have no doubt that I will try again.
 
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I have owned and shot numerous combos in rimfire and centrefire configurations. I just think they are dandy. Practically, the rimfire/shotgun combos make the most sense for me wondering around for grouse in Saskatchewan. I currently own a Baikal MP-94 Sever in 22LR/20g which I love. It is light enough to carry all day at around 7 lbs (I walked over 26 miles one day this Fall looking for Ruffies). I Put quick release mount on the rail and have it topped with a Weaver 1-3 scope. It shoots CCI Stingers into one hole at 25 yards and patterns to similar point of impact with the shotgun. I also tried some trap with the scope on 1x power and was hitting about as good as I normally can (which isn't saying much). I previously owned a Baikal 22/410 which also shot to same POI and I liked a lot but the shotgun chamber had a bulge when I fired some full brass shells I had made up.

My brother has a Savage 24 camper and it shoot decent in 22Mag/20. I previously owned a 24 in 30-30/20g that I bought on CGN. The item was not as described and I ended up adding it to a trade for a F.A.IR. Combi in 12g/9.3x74R. This gun is a real beauty that shoots great but I found the pencil barrel of the rifle will throw rounds about if shot in significant numbers in quick succession. 3 shots from a cold barrel will group in an inch. My Antonio Zoli in 12/7x57R will also shoot into 1.5 inch 3 shot group but it too heats up fast. I picked that one up off Tradex with claw mounts and rings. It is a thing of beauty with the set trigger.

The last combo I own is the BRNO ZH 305 in 22HP/12 g again from Tradex. It was in very good condition and truly is very nice. I have not done much load development yet with this one but so far it is a decent shooter with some throw together loads.

Overall, I have found that all the above combos have shot to the same POI at 25 yards. The BRNO is fairly heavy while the F.A.I.R is a lightweight dream. The Zoli appears to be basically the same design as the F.A.I.R but information on these are scarce at best.

Are these guns super useful.... probably not. I found them super cool and a lot of fun to tinker with.

IF you can find a Baikal in 22 LR or Mag/ 20 g, I would snap it up. These are simply great little guns.
 
hoytcanon said:
Combo guns are great... in theory.

In practice in the field, meh... not so much. You usually end up carrying a barrels-worth of something you don't want and they are clunky to carry. When I want a .22, I want an accurate repeater, and when I want a shotgun, I want a trim easy swinging gun... with the combo gun you end up with a heavy and not terribly accurate .22 and a clunky, heavy and not easy to maneuver shotgun. Personally I would buy a nice bolt action .22 and scope it to shoot dimes at 30 yards, and get a trim O/U or SXS 20 gauge. Either one of those will serve well until you find the other.

I have gone the combo gun route many, many times, but it never sticks.
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Great post... telling it like it is... I think the O/U combo guns are next to useless.
 
I don't know. If I am the happy wanderer in a truly wild place myself I like the feeling of personal security with a 12/9.3mm slung over my shoulder.

And with a variety of ammo take anything that walks or flies in North America. (Uplands)

My two bits only.
 
I've gone down the combo road for on the farm, walked away from it, keep thinking of going back.

I think they are better in theory than practice.
 
Utilitarian for sure. Actually decent grain on the stock. For $600 I much prefer it over a lot of the crap out there. It weighs 8 pounds with the goodies on it. And I am not worried about getting a mark on it.
 
fuzzy39 said:
Utilitarian for sure. Actually decent grain on the stock. For $600 I much prefer it over a lot of the crap out there. It weighs 8 pounds with the goodies on it. And I am not worried about getting a mark on it.
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All very good reasons to have one.
 
Had an Brno 802 in 30-06 over 12ga. The metal work was exquisite. Never saw the field, but I now regret selling it as my needs/tastes have changed. It was pretty accurate with irons at 25m and I have no doubt it would have hit its mark at 75m. The one big hole was 2 slugs! It came with a set trigger which was light!!

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I have a newer BRNO 12ga over 30-06 ... and with a 1-4 scope on it ...

At 1x power I have no problems with shooting grouse or hares with the 12ga barrel ..... and at 4x power I get around a 2 inch group at 100 meters with the 30-06 barrel .... It has a set trigger that is a hair trigger .... and the gun is not heavier than my other bolt action rifles ...

This one is built light ..... and to be carried all day .... :cheers:


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I like those last 2 posts a lot!! Up here I would really get good use of a combo, anything big enough in the rifle department to take a moose and a 20, 16 or 12 gauge for grouse and the occasional waterfowl would be great! There is a pretty nice one on the EE with a set of o/u shotgun barrels......
 
Would never get rid of mine. I bought a Savage 24 .22/20 gauge campers companion in the mid 80's and have killed hundreds of grouse with it over the years.

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Two years ago I came across a badly abused .22/410 through a yard sale. A new butt stock, some work on the rust and now my wife has claimed it. I like the Model 24's much more than the Model 42.

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