30-06 Double Rifle vs 12 ga combo

[dougk]

I have always leaned towards combos vs double rifles.  However for the larger calibers I am thinking double rifles maybe the way to go.  What are your thoughts on a 30-06/30-06 double rifle vs. a 12/30-06 combo?
thanks
Doug

[Tom H.]

Hey Doug, no brainer.
Go with the  combo.  I had pig issues a few years ago.  Decent sized preserve pig running from dogs. Fired barrel #1 with 7mm rimmed quartering towards and it didn't even break stride. Round entered behind the front right shoulder and exited in front of the opposite ham.
By the time I got to barrel #2 he had passed me and gave me an almost opposite angle.  12ga BRI through hole #1 and into the opposite shoulder. A few seconds later there were feet in the air.
The 12 is not a rifle, but if it is regulated right is good at dispensing "acute lead poisoning" right now.

Go for the combo.

Tom

[dougk]

Tom,
I have a 12/30-06 which I purchased as a hunting rifle for deer and hogs.  However, I am thinking about what will be the most optimal config.  a 12/30-06 or a 30-06/30-06.

Thanks for your feed back.

[Drilling Man]

Fired barrel #1 with 7mm rimmed quartering towards and it didn't even break stride. Round entered behind the front right shoulder and exited in front of the opposite ham.
By the time I got to barrel #2 he had passed me and gave me an almost opposite angle.  12ga BRI through hole #1 and into the opposite shoulder. A few seconds later there were feet in the air.

  Looks to me like your "assuming" that the first shot didn't affect the nervous system, i think that's too big of an assumption...  That 7mm already put a hole in his gas tank and he was running out of gas, even if the slug sped it up a bit...

  As to the origional question:

  For me, the question "double or combi" is really about how far i'd be shooting and what i'm shooting at...  For any longer shots i'd pick the double every time...  For the bigger animials i'd much rather have a 30-06 loaded with a 200NP than any slug made today...

  DM

[teddy12b]

The calibers you're talking about would stop anything that breaths I would think.  Who makes these double rifles you're talking about.  I know Remington used to, but I thought they quit.

[dougk]

Valmet made the double rifle and combos.  They are out there used.

[Drilling Man]

I know Remington used to, but I thought they quit.

  What model of Remingtons are you referring to???  Are you talking about the Russian made models they sell?

  DM

[teddy12b]

I used to be on their website, but it wasn't much different than the single shot on their website now.  I think they sold it under a different name.  I never saw one in real life and the information was limited so I don't know much about it at all.

[dougk]

Teddy
was this it?

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/combination_shotgun-Rifle/SPR94.asp

Doug

[teddy12b]

Nope, the one I saw was a side by side.  It was a pretty short lived gun for them.

[Drilling Man]

  So short lived that everyone wanted one, but no one got one...  I'm told that Rem. "never" delivered even one gun, that Biakal in Russia never got them sorted out for Rem...

  DM

[dougk]

Ahh
you mean theSPR22.  I understand that rifle is being tested, still, by Remington prior to release a second time.  Who knows what happened the first time?

here is a pic of it http://www.theothersideofkim.com/index.php/ggps/8209/

[teddy12b]

That's the one I was talking about.

[BoarHunter]

For a double or combo, the best cartridge is the 9.3X74 and for the recoil shy the 8X57JRS. The 30.06 is a fine cartridge but lacks a rim which complicates the extraction mechanism.
The .444 Mrlin has been used too, unfortunately there is a lack of bullet choice.

[dougk]

For hunting in North America, which double rifle is better 30-06 or 9.3x74r or do you need both?

[teddy12b]

At some point it doesn't matter what the cartridge is as long as you hit the target.  At some point it's considered a diminishing return to have more and more power, or one bullet weighs 30 grains more or less than another.  If you're talking under 300 yards and anything in North America a 30-06 is supposed to be plenty of good medicine, if you make a good shot.  A hole through the heart & lungs is a hole through the heart and lungs regardless of what the caliber is.  A 30-06 and up with a good shot will kill anything. 

To be completely fair the largest animals I've ever taken have been deer, but I just listen to the old timer hunters that have been at it for 20-30 years.  As much as I want to praise ballistic charts and my own knowledge.  I'd much rather just look into the eyes of an old hunter who will tell you straight and get you squared away.  Every cartridge has it's limits, but the ones you mentioned don't have too many that I've ever heard talk of.

[Drilling Man]

  In a Valmet i'd pick the 9.3x74R for the sole reason it's a rimmed case and the 412 has selective ejectors on their 9.3's  bbl. sets..  Also, the 9.3 is a lower pressure round and works better in a break open gun..

  As far as big game, I've harvested everything from Moose and brown bears on down and for the biggest animials i'd take the 9.3 every time, especially now that Nosler makes their 286NP in 9.3mm!

  For non dangerous game a "properly loaded" 30-06 works pretty good though...

  DM

[dougk]

The Valmet 9.3x74r in Double Rifle is very hard to find...