Author Topic: Looking to purchase combo gun need advice.. (Read 1605 times)

canuck444 · « **on:** May 02, 2006, 05:39:42 PM »

I am looking to buy a combo gun and have found three options, they are...

1. Remington SPR 94 in a 12 gauge/30-06 $477 new (approx $550 Canadian) not sure on availibility

2. Savage MDL 24 - 12 gauge/30-30 - $699 Canadian

3. Valmet 412 - comes with 2 barrel sets one 12g/12g one 12g/6.5X52R (25-30 win) $700 Canadian in what appears to be good used condition

I am leaning towards the Remongton but have heard nothing about them, any input? I would also be very interested in the Valmet but it is a weird calibre and I have read that parts are hard to get.

What do you guys think I should do?

kjeff50cal · « **Reply #1 on:** May 03, 2006, 02:11:26 PM »

The Remington is actually made in Russia and used to be marketed by EAA (Europrean American Arms) before Remington made them a better offer. I handled one in my favorite gun establishment and I seems to be solidly built. As much as I would like to say buy USA (the Savage), you being in the land of the Big Deer and Bigger Bears, go with the .30/06. I had a Savage 24 in .357Mag/20 ga. and besides the great combination it was just too heavy for the cartridges it shot. I have no experence with the Valmet.

pab · « **Reply #2 on:** May 03, 2006, 04:45:37 PM »

How much is $700 canadian? Sounds like one heck of a good price on the Valmet.

dougk · « **Reply #3 on:** May 03, 2006, 05:44:53 PM »

The Remington is the same as the Baikal IZH-94. Great gun, I own one. You will have a great choke option. I have a rifled and a turkey choke. Look at my posts for more info.

The Valmet is a great gun too. I like the double triggers.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #4 on:** May 03, 2006, 06:05:50 PM »

Quote

3. Valmet 412 - comes with 2 barrel sets one 12g/12g one 12g/6.5X52R (25-30 win) $700 Canadian in what appears to be good used condition

Are you sure the rifle caliber isn't 5.6x52R?

? I think you will find that's what it "really is". If so, that would make it a 22 Savage hi-power.

Drilling Man

canuck444 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 03, 2006, 06:47:36 PM »

$700 cdn is about $630 us, it has been marked down from $1000. Is this a reasonable price for a 412 with these two barrel sets? If I bought it and wasn't happy with it would it be easy to sell and get my money back?

I am sure that the rifled barrel on the valmet was stamped 6.5 52R (unless it is misstamped), the guy at the store and I puzzled over it a bit as we were not familiar with it, I checked on the 25-35 win ammo which is supposed to be the same and it is readily available in 117 grain so shouldn't be a problem. Now just wondering about reliability and the potential for not being able to get needed parts.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #6 on:** May 04, 2006, 01:42:34 PM »

Quote

I am sure that the rifled barrel on the valmet was stamped 6.5 52R (unless it is misstamped), the guy at the store and I puzzled over it a bit as we were not familiar with it, I checked on the 25-35 win ammo which is supposed to be the same and it is readily available in 117 grain so shouldn't be a problem.

First off 6.5 bullets are .264" in diameter and the 25-35 are .257" in diameter. It wouldn't be a 25-35 if it's a 6.5x52R.

I've seen a Valmet 412 in 5.6x52R (22 Savage Hi-Power) and i'm thinking that's what it is?

No matter, neither the 22 Savage Hi-Power or the 25-35 make a very good round for deer sized animials if that's what you have in mind.

As for the quality of the guns you mentioned. There's no doubt in my mind that "if" it's been taken care of, the Valmet 412 is of higher quality and easily the best made of the guns you mentioned.

Drilling Man

canuck444 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 04, 2006, 03:13:20 PM »

Drilling,

I just know what I have read, and that is that the 25-35 win bullet is the same as 6.5X52R, it dosn't make sense to me for the fact that the 6.5 is larger than 1/4" but the following links are where I am getting my info from...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rifle_cartridges

http://www.oldammo.com/ammo/metric.txt

http://www.answers.com/topic/list-of-rifle-cartridges

http://www.gunblast.com/Winchester_25-35.htm

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_11_51/ai_n15402269

these could be wrong but I kind of doubt it. Any way to easily verify the calibre prior to purchasing the gun.? Also what should I look for as far as typical problem areas on this gun?

dougk · « **Reply #8 on:** May 04, 2006, 04:11:01 PM »

Keep it simple go with the Remington. It will never let you down...

Drilling Man · « **Reply #9 on:** May 05, 2006, 06:07:18 AM »

I took this quote from on of the links you posted.

Quote

Winchester Ammunition has kept the .25-35 ammo in production, along with RWS in Europe, where the cartridge is known as the 6.5x52Rmm, over the past few decades. I hear that the .25-35 is still pretty popular in Canada and Alaska ,

I forgot that they called the 25-35 something different in Europe. I have to say, i lived in Alaska of 25 years and i never saw even one hunter there useing a 25-35 for moose or other big game, so it may have been a common proctice in the old days when you could nearly walk right up to a animial, but it isn't anymore.

I've handled hundreds of Valmet 412's and 412 bbl sets, and i've never seen one chambered in 25-35 Winchester. That sure doesn't mean they didn't make any, because i have some "one of a kind" bbl sets for my 412 so anything is possible.

The other day i looked at a NEW Baikal 12/30-06 at Epps Sporting Goods in Orillia Ontario so you can get the same thing as the Remington right there if that's what you choose..

Thanks for the links with info,

Drilling Man

Drilling Man · « **Reply #10 on:** May 05, 2006, 06:12:34 AM »

Quote

Keep it simple go with the Remington. It will never let you down...

Hey doug,

I DARE you to say that over on hunting.net!!

Drilling Man

dougk · « **Reply #11 on:** May 07, 2006, 03:17:12 PM »

Hey Canuuk Send me a PM I might be interested in the 412.
Thanks
Doug

JTS · « **Reply #12 on:** May 08, 2006, 08:11:02 AM »

I've got the Savage 24F-12. .223 on top, 12g on bottom. Had it for about 8 years. I've put hundreds of rounds through it with no problems. I'd prefer the front sight not be plastic, and a scope mounting option, though.

Still, it is my favorite gun --- doesn't eat ammo like a semi, aims true on the .223, is great fun with 12g and hand-thrown clays. I take it camping in the high deserts and have a great time plinking. Seems like everybody wants one the moment they see it. Handy also since some outdoor areas forbid anything but shotgun use, so either way I'm covered with this fun shooter. I think I paid $400+ new eight years ago.

- js