Help with combo gun choice

[LEO]

I have decided I "need" a combo gun.  I am new to this field except for the Springfield M-6 and the Savage 24 series of firearms.  I have looked at the SPR94 in 308 and 12 gauge and think this may be the ticket.  My question is since most of you know far more about these matters than I, is there something similiar in price (within 200 or 300 dollars) that is readily available that would be a better gun.  I know there are better guns made but the ones I have seen are much more expensive.  The gun would be used mainly as a "truck" gun, for woods loafing, and of course hunting.  I like the 308 caliber but if there is something better but in a different but same class caliber that would be fine.  I am set on the shotgun barrel being a 3" 12 gauge with tubes.  Also I reload so some of the european rimmed cartridges would not be a problem as long as cases are readily available.  Thanks in advance.

[Drilling Man]

  I know of better choises, but NOT at the SPR price....  Unless, you can find a nice used "in good shape" Valmet 412 at a good price?  It does happen, and if you find a good one, i'd snatch it up in a heartbeat!

  DM

[Slufoot]

Hi LEO, I've got the exact gun you are talking about and I absolutely love it. It's a Sartan Gunworks by Remington, SPR94, 12GA/308WIN with screw in choke tubes.

I mounted a matte Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5 scope in Warne 7.3 series low rings. I milled cross slots in the 11mm scope rail so I could use the recoil keys that come with the Warne rings. I makes them work like Weaver style rings and bases.

I got an Allen shotshell buttstock shell carrier and did a little cutting and sewing on it and made a carrier that holds 3 shotshells and 4 rifle cartridges. This is really nice for a quick reload.

The 308 will group < 1.5" @ 100yards and the choke tubes really makes the 12GA versatile.

This past summer I got 11 groundhogs with my combo gun. 7 with the rifle and 4 with the shotgun.

This deer season I got 4 deer, 3 with the rifle and 1 with the shotgun. I used a handload that pushes the 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip to 2850 fps and it worked GREAT on the deer. I used a Federal, OO Buck, 3" Magnum and the full choke tube to take the 1 deer with the shotgun and it dropped like a rock.

I hope to get a turkey next, or maybe some rabbits, or squirrels, or a grouse would be nice or a coyote would really be exciting, or maybe a,,, Well you get the picture. This is a great gun for all of the hunting I do. 

Good Shooting!
Slufoot

[dougk]

I have a Baikal IZH94 in 30-06/12 and Remington Spartan SPR94 in 223/12.  The 30-06 is perfect the windage and elevation where setup perfectly, it shots 1 inch high with the 30-06 at 100 yards and on target at 50 yards for the 12 ga.  The 223/12 ga is currently 5.5 inches off for both the windage and elevation at 50 yards.  I need to get off my but and send it back into have it adjusted.  I really like the gun and have the turkey choke which has cleanly dispatched a turkey at 55 yards and the rifled slug.

If I where to do it over again i would probably go with these guns, that is provided the factory fixes the 223/12.  However, I would be tempted by the Valmet.  But I have a hard time spending the money for a Valmet.  The big thing that sways me to the Baikal/Remington-Spartan is the 2 chokes I mentioned and that they are now being sold under Remington.

Good Luck,
Doug

[LEO]

I had looked for a Valmet 412 for quite a while but had been unable to locate one, that I could afford.  I saw that they sometimes sold for 500 dollars well the only ones I have seen in my area have been very expensive, you see very few of them.  But the take that I get from you fine folks is that the SPR 94 is a good combo gun it is just that the Valmet is better.  So I guess I will go with the SPR 94.  Maybe down the road I will be able to upgrade to a Valmet.

[Slufoot]

The Remington SPR94 is a very good gun, especially for the money. I bought mine to use and it has become my go-to gun. If I happen to scratch or dent the stock while hunting I'm not going to have a heart attack like I probably would if I had one of the more expensive combo guns.
I believe you will be very happy with your decision.
Good Shooting!
Slufoot

[Drilling Man]

  I've NEVER been afraid to take my Valmet in the bush hunting, and you shouldn't be either!!  They are just too good to leave in the closet, or only make it to the range!!



  I was waaaaaaay out on the Alaska Peninsula when that pict. was taken and i crawled a long ways on my belly in the tundra to harvest that bull and two others that same day...

  DM

[dougk]

Drillingman,
No question that the Valmet is superior to the Baikal/Spartan.

The going rate for Valmet 412 rifle/shotgun combo is over $1,000.  If I could get one for $600 (hint hint) with barrels for a reasonable price, I would gladly replace the Baikal/Spartan combos.  The Baikal/Spartan are going for $500 for that price I dont mind using it for a paddle if I need to.  Also, I was able to get 2 Baikal/Spartan for the price of a single Valmet.

At the time I purchased by first Baikal ($400) the Valmets where going for $900 at the time I could not afford the Valmet, I actually traded a pistol for the Baikal. 

Doug

[Drilling Man]

  Doug,

  That may be the going rate, but a few times a year i hear about one being sold for less...

  Everything is BIGGER in Texas, includeing your wallet....  Now go out and buy a 412, you know it's what you "really" want!!   

  BTW, did you get your Baikal/Spartan fixed yet??

  DM

[dougk]

After buying more land and have a daughter this year there are no more funds for guns.  I am sending the Combo in after Christmas, I just did not have the time to send it in.