What is the best combo configuratiom?

[dougk]

I have been thinking, if you could only have one gun (a combo) what would the calibers be?

I have a 12 ga and 30-06 is this the best all around combo?  Or is there something else?

Doug

[wink_man]

Depends on for what purpose, as a general purpose hunting gun for sport, or as a survival gun to feed you and your family, with the abilty to carry enough ammo to feed them for a long time? For sport hunting, I'd take the 12 gauge 30-06 combo, not much you can't do, or kill with it. But if I had to survive, and eat and feed my family daily, it would be a Savage 24 Camper in 22 rimfire over 20 gauge configuration.  One can carry a lot of ammo in a small amount of space, and an old poacher I knew from up New York state many years ago told me that 'big pieces of red meat drop on the spot when hit in the right place with a 40 grain bullet'.  And when you consider that shot placement is whats it's all about, he was absolutely right.
Sincerely,
 Garry

[Tom H.]

One combo?  Really depends upon how specific your shooting is, but I would go with a 7mm Mauser or rimmed and a 12 or 16.  At least here in the states I can't imagine what you couldn't tackle with it and it beats you less than the 06 if that is even an issue.  If the shotgun regulated to the rifle barrel either gauge wouldn't do you wrong.
 Also it would be nice if it would tip the scales at 7.5# - with a scope in QD mounts.

Tom

[Drilling Man]

For an "all around" gun, the 12 - 30-06 is really hard to beat!!  IMHO the 30-06 is the finest hunting cartridge ever invented.  The only inprovement to the 30-06 cartridge  that could be made in a "break open" gun, would be for it to be "rimmed".

  Haveing said that, "if" i was ordering a new drilling tomorrow, it would be in 7x65R, as it has all the power i'd ever need for everything in the lower 48 states.

  Drilling Man

  My Krieghoff 30-06 Drilling,

[dougk]

Drillingman,
That is a lovely gun...  In that configuration what is your primary application?
Doug

[Drilling Man]

Doug,

  I bought the Krieghoff 30-06 drilling in the 80's to use for what ever i wanted to hunt, but it just didn't happen.  I also have an older drilling that i have rebuilt to what "i always wanted a drilling to be".  I like my old one better than this one, so it's the gun i always end up useing.

  I haven't used the 30-06 drilling much, but the old one has put a huge amount of meat in my freezer!  I really enjoy wondering around haveing a gun in my hands that will do everything i need a firearm to do!

  BTW, both of these drillings have Krieghoff insert bbls fitted to them in 22 Win Mag., and the older one also has a 22lr insert as well..

  Drilling Man

[pastorp]

Drillingman, what gague/cal. is your older drilling? I am becomming interested in a combo or drilling. Tired of trying to shoot the heads off the tarmigan with a high-power rifle.
I mostly deer and black bear hunt in SE Alaska. Much of my hunting is in brown bear country. Any recomendations on a good combo or drilling? I do tend to like slimer guns. Regards, Byron

[Drilling Man]

In most cases the 20 guage drillings are built on 16 guage frames, so a 20 or 16 end up being the same size/weight.  The 12 guage frames are bigger.

  Probable the best bear round for a break open gun is the 9.3x74R.  Nosler makes a 286 grain partition that would be just the ticket for reloading in this cal..  This round will do about anything a factory 375 H&H will do.

  My old drilling is 8x57jrs.  I handload 200 grain Nosler partitions for it, and it has worked better than i expected it to.

  I've seen some used "junk" drillings on the market, so don't buy the first one you see unless you know what your doing.

  Drilling Man

[dpastordan]

You can't beat the 12 gauage/.30-06 combo for big game, turkey, birds and some small game.  I would add a .22 magnum over 20 gauge to cover small game and varmints.  The .22 Magnum is a compromise as it may handle most varmints out to 100 yards and it a bit much for squirrels in the body [headshots are fine].  A .223 over 20 or 12 gauge is another good second choice as Federal loads .223 in 60 gr. Nosler partitions [for deer/sheep/antelope].  Plus one can get inserts for the .223 to shoot .22 and I know a place that makes rifle barrel inserts [.30-30, .22 hornet, .44 magnum] to use in a 20 gauage barrel to really make things interesting. 

[dougk]

I got it... The Perfect combo is a 16x16/.243.  Just my opinion

[Drilling Man]

I got it... The Perfect combo is a 16x16/.243.  Just my opinion

  I think it would be-mo-better if the .243 was "rimmed"...  I prefer a rimmed cartridge in a break open gun....

  DM