Cape Gun - Do They Exist in 12 ga

[sae8425]

In responding to my recent thread 'Rechambering the .30-30 Savage 24 - Revisited', (see: http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,221272.0.html) pastorp suggested that purchasing a cape gun would make more financial sense than 'wildcatting' a Savage 24 into a .35/7-30 AI.

While this idea has lots of merit, I'm not willing to give up the 2400 ft-lbs of energy delivered by 3" long 12 ga sabot slugs at 100 yds.

Not that I know much at all about cape guns, but I can't recall ever seeing one chambered in anything other than 16 ga.

And 16 ga slugs are woefully inadequate compared to a 1-3/8 oz Remington Buckhammer, or a 3" Winchester Partition Gold 12 ga sabot.

Are there any 12 ga examples of cape guns around? And if so, made by who. I certainly can't locate any.

And would it be possible to fit a screw in choke into a cape guns shotgun barrel? I gather that the minimum barrel muzzle diameter needed to installing screw in chokes is .805", and that a .850" diameter allows for a thicker choke tube that would be more suited for use with steel shot.

Oh yes: Are all cape guns (regardless of ga) able to use steel shot? Steel shot is becoming increasingly mandated, so I wouldn't want to own any shotgun that couldn't fully utilize the ammo that looks set to become tomorrow's mainstay (or so say's Federal Ammo) for all game as well as waterfowl.

Also, do all cape guns have the rifle barrel on the right hand side of the shotgun barrel (looking from the butt towards the muzzle)? This, I assume, would be the preferred orientation for a right handed person. Or, are some configured with the rifle barrel on the left side of the shotgun barrel? Again, I assume this would be the preferred orientation for left handed people.

A cape gun would obviously eliminate the issue of the rifle barrel being below the shotgun barrel, and should enable either chamber to be reloaded with equal ease (although minor right handed/left handed issues might still arise).

If any forum member with detailed knowledge about cape guns could point me in the right direction I would be most appreciative.

Are there any recommended books that I would benefit from reading?

Many thanks for any and all input.

Best regards,

Steve

[pastorp]

Yes Steve, I believe they do but it may take a while to locate one. Actually a drilling would be easier to find. You can sometimes find them with the rifle barrel over double shotgun barrels.

Regards,

[dougk]

Steve,
IMHO after your done your research I believe you will end up with the conclusion that what you are looking for does not exist at the price your looking to pay.

In the mean time, you might want to setup a search on GB for a Valmet 12/30-06 or 12/9.3x74r to see if a good deal comes across their site.

[Drilling Man]

  I agree Doug,

  He would have a combo gun that would shoot something like this,



  And do it pushing 30 cal bullets at 30-06 velicities!  On top of that, it will easily regulate that load where he wants it and all in a decent quality made firearm that has other bbls available!

  DM