Combo guns

I have owned/own numerous combo guns and drillings. I have owned a FAIR in 12/9.3x74R. It was a beautiful gun but I traded it for a Sauer Drilling in 16x16 over 7x65R. The FAIR was lightweight and paired with a quick release takeoff mount, it was super handy. The barrels are quite thin which keeps the wait down so when shooting groups to assess loads take your time between shots. If I let the barrels cool, it was a true sub MOA gun with a 6x Leupold. If you shoot a lot of shots in quick succession the shots will wonder. This has been the case with most of my drillings as well. Not like it really matters to hunt, haha.

I have also owned a Savage 24 20/30-30 which I picked up off the site. Seller did not mention the crack on the tang so I didn’t get a lot of work with the gun before I moved it along. Long story short was that I simply did not care for the exposed hammer barrel selector design. Truly cumbersome if actually needing the quick shot for which these guns are designed. Double triggers all the way.

I have actually had good success with Baikal combo guns. I’ve had a Baikal in 22/.410 which was super accurate and both barrels shot to same POI. I currently run a Baikal Sever in 22/20g I have a 1-3 power weaver mounted that works excellent. The one power scope is mounted low enough I can successfully shoot clays through the scope…. And I’m not much of a shotgunner, lol. It is a little heavier than what I like but I have carried it over 25 miles one day out hunting grouse.

I now favour my vintage German drillings for there fine workmanship and how they come to shoulder. Find one with claw mounts for impeccable return to POI when taking the scope off and on. There is actually a lot available on various sponsee sites for reasonable prices. I cannot imagine the prices will stay this low as the supply of these fine old guns run out. My most recent acquired was a beautiful 16x16 over 9.3x72R with an under lever. The gun is like new despite being made in 1914 based on the proofing. I paid $1500 from a site sponsor!!! There are deals to be had for some amazing guns. And, there is some super prices for those who have the ability to do some stock repair and some smithing.

Good luck with whatever you go with but you would not be disappointed with a FAIR combo.

Mike
 
Almost forgot, don’t ignore the BRNO ZH series. I own one in 5.6x52R over 12g and it is quite accurate and built like a tank. Shoot both barrels to same POI. Quite heavy but barrels don’t heat up quite as fast as some of your logger combos in my experience. These guns can be had on sites for $500 for one in very good condition. Optics-trade.eu has lots of mount options for these European guns.
 
REM700J said:
A thought, some over-under ect, are not supposed to be dry fired and if they are without snap caps they break the transfer bar and sometimes pins. Might be unrelated but just a pre coffee thought. Sounds like a dream otherwise!
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Unfortunately I think you may be correct. When they asked I said I do not think dry fire was the cause. However now that I've had more time to think, based on when they broke (first shot of a hunt) it really seems like it may have been from a pre hunt dry fire. I can't say I enjoy learning the hard way, but c'est la vie.

At any rate, new firing pins are on the way, and snap caps are purchased. This is my 'luxury gun', and holy smokes do I love it. OP, you really will love having a combo!
 
SuperCub said:
Other than being ugly, what are the issues with the two aforementioned rifles?
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I paid 315$ ea for a couple of new chiappa double badgers in 2019 at canadian tire. They feel like they are worth less than that. Fun little plinker but not very good for actual hunting: Poor regulation and very short sight radius topped off with terrible build quality. The 20ga/22lr has been sent back for warranty work (back when it was Gretch) and the 22wmr/410 lost the front sight in the first outing. After getting the 20/22 back from warranty, after a couple shots it started firing both barrels when the shotgun trigger is pulled. I like their lever actions but their bottom tier guns are just that, bottom tier. It's fine enough to keep arround folded up in case you spot a grouse on the road. Someone looking for a cheap combo would be much better served getting one of those old school BRNOs that trade-ex (maybe now intersurplus) have.
 
Im likely not headed north hunting this year so that cost plus winter overtime will fund a combo. Just not sure which to get first. One for big game hunting or one i can use here at home in a caliber restricted zone. Ideally one so stamped as 275 instead of 7 would be legal but id rather have 2 guns instead of 2 loads
 
SuperCub said:
They are clubby, but I think a 20 over 30-30 would be pretty useful.
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24-V series c or d are nicer , using pointed bullets think light .308 loads
Nice to have when walking that grouse road and find a surprise

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but not up the standard of the Euros posted here, some nice rifles
 
I’ve only had 2. Both German drillings, a 7x57r over 16ga and a very nice and old 8mm (318) over 16. They would shine on a driven hunt for game and birds. Just to heavy and not ideal for my hunting. I don’t regret selling either.
 
Looks like the last picture is of a zh shotgun but the rest are of the rifle

Tag crack? You figure the black sticker is covering something up?

Sure the retailer would provide more pictures on request, doubt there is a conspiracy occurring

Edit: tang crack, duh. Can’t really see it on my old cellphone. Greasy business, guess they don’t just overprice their guns
 
It is a piece of Velcro, so I doubt they tried to hide something using Velcro lol… but maybe
 
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