Advice Needed - Over/Under Shotgun/Rifle combos

grayrc

grayrc

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I'm considering soliciting in the EE for a previously-enjoyed over/under to add to my collection, with grouse/rabbit hunting in mind. I've been looking at the EE and some other sale sites plus articles/reviews, but I'd like to get the CGN take on the o/u 'scene'.

What should I be looking for in the < $500 price range:

Anything particularly renowned for being better bang for the buck, more accurate, more prone to 'problems', etc... There seems to be a predominance of Savage 24's (various letters), but I've seen some used Bakail and Stevens as well...

For small game I'm assuming I should be looking for something in .223 or smaller over a .20 gauge (think I'll pass on the .12's and the .410's).

Or... should I just not be looking for an o/u (any o/u haters out there?)

Thanks guys - look forward to your comments.

/gc
 
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I'm partial to the savages myself, I used to see alot of them at gun shows in the 80's but they seem to have dried up around here, I've got my eye open for a 30/30 over 20 ga, I think I would use it for ground shooting grouse as they are like swinging a lead pipe.
 
How is the accuracy for the rifle barrel (.22x) on a Savage o/u? I assume you'd use the iron sights and not try to scope these?

/gc
 
Scoping one of these in .223 would effect the usefullness of the shotgun barrel and yet not many people want to use iron sights these days!
 
Well boys here's mine and I love the little prick. It's the Savage 24C as in Camper. It came with a folding bag that fits in a pack or under or behind a seat just as slick as can be. I put choke tubes in it to make it more versatile as they come with a cylinder bore 20g. 2 3/4 under a 22rf. I obviously though some paint at it but I also changed the rear sight from the weak factory one to a Marbles fold down. There is a folding door in the butt that holds 10 spare rounds of .22 and 2 20 shells. Acuracy isn't near my Anschutz but it aint bad eather. I have shot a heap of grouse some chucks a fox and it's previous owner hunted deer with it. With the Marbles sight set at 25 yrds with cb's (favorite and all that is necassary for grouse) the top of the sight puts a slug on the money @ 50yrds. Weight of the gun is minimal. It has seen miles of bush trails and canoe trips and put lots of meat in the frying pan. They don't get any more handy for packing or canoeing. Also had one in .22 Hornet over 20g 3" but the Hornet barrel had headspace problems and it went back to it'd previous owner. I'd love to have one in .222 over 20 or .223 over 12 . The .222's are getting hard to find.
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grnhawg, you make a convincing argument... assuming you aren't on commission for Savage ;)

I've had one PM so far based on WTB I posted in EE and it sounds like I've got a chance to pick up an older '24 V' for a reasonable price (in .222 Remington / 20 ga.). .222 isn't a caliber I'd have gone looking for... not sure what the heck I'd shoot with it around here (I'm not a coyote hunter... yet). There are some beavers making a mess of stuff up at the lake... but I assume .222 would be reaching for deer? (I know, I know... shot placement...)

/gc
 
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Grab the 222!! It would be better for killing the beavers yes but also pelts will be ruined. the 22rf with good hunting bullets will be better for pelts. BTW I shot my first deer with a ,222. One shot took the lungs apart and put a hole throught he heart with a tiny exit likely of one shard. If you get to not likeing it in 222 let me know as I am a coyote hunter:D
 
I have a 24 in .222 over 20 ga. that I have used a lot for calling coyotes in close. I have lost a couple shot with BBs from the scattergun but killed lots with the triple duce. I now have some SSGs for the 20 ga. that I haven't tryed yet on a coyote but they should work better.

Shot lots of grouse and a few ducks with the 20. It was miss firing in really cols weather till I cleaned the action well with a solvent and lubed with grafite.

I have a 30/30 over 20 as well but haven't carried it much. The 30/30 shoots fairly well with the open sights and I could shoot deer with it to 100 yards. (when hunting grouse in bear country I like it better than the .222 combo)

I always wanted to look into those cartridge inserts so I could shoot .22 from the .222 barrel.

Fun guns.

Robin down under
 
Although a bit heavier, personally, I like the Baikal combo due to double triggers, hammerless double action. I'd have preferred the rifle bbl on top which is not the case. Not sure how well the shotgun bbl is regulated to poi. Overall, a nice gun.

Fyi.......Savage 24 - Accuracy Plus in Ontario is listing a .223/12ga as mint and Epps is listing a .22 Hornet/20ga in VG condition.
 
Thanks for the quick advice guys ... patience isn't one of my virtues ... so thanks to another CGN member I'm now awaiting shimpment of a 1970's era Savage M 24, "P Series" (assume this is the 'field grade' model), with .22rf (LR/L/S) over 20 ga.

Look out grouse, here I come!

/gc
 
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