What makes the perfect drilling...

[Tom H.]

There are quite a few different styles out there given 100 years or so of development. 

Given the choice, what features would you look for to really make it a great all around gun?

If you have a perfect one, lets see some pictures. 


Cheers
Tom

[pastorp]

For me: weight, fit, handeling dynamics, caliber/ gauge thats optimum for the game you hunt, nice appearance.

I've turned down several drilling because of the caliber of the rifle barrel.  I used to think I was imune to recoil, now I avoid it.   

Regards,

[Tom H.]

Expected more replies than that...

Chirp, chirp, chirp...

I think that Merkel got it right with the tang safety and selector.  Surprising more firms didn't do it, as it  just seems a bit more natural than the Greener,  unless it was just that much more work.

A 16ga gun with a tang safety, side lever or underlever opening, sidecock feature for the rifle.
Oh yeah, and claw mounts with a variable 2-7.
Can't forget the cartridge trap
If they could make a 12ga around 7lbs that would work as well.  6.5x67r or 7x57r would round it off.

A number of years back I hunted Chincoteague, VA for Sika and they allow OO buck and rifle in some areas.  I doubt that you could find a better suited gun.
I'm currently trying to come up with a OO load for my 16 so I can bring it along next time.

Cheers,

Tom

[mcwoodduck]

I have been looking at a Merkel, My friend works for the local Merkel rep.  As far as the caliber combination, the choices are limitless based on what and where you are hunting.
I always thought a 12 X 12 2 3/4" or 20X20 with improved and mod chokes over a 308 or 30-06 would be the prefect meat gun for the farm.
Quail, dove, woodcock, rabbits and tree rats with 7.5's and 180 grain soft point for deer or Black bear. 
Swap out the upland orange for Camo and non toxic shells and good SXS duck gun for the swamp.
change that 30-06 to 9.3X74 for areas where bears are abundant and you want to upland game hunt.
But the Drilling was developed for hunting the estates of Germany where bird shot, buck shot and a solid rifle shot was there depending on what was driven by you from the beaters.

[Drilling Man]

There are quite a few different styles out there given 100 years or so of development. 

Given the choice, what features would you look for to really make it a great all around gun?

If you have a perfect one, lets see some pictures. 


Cheers
Tom

  I guess each of us would want something different, but to me perfect would mean a great "hunting" drilling.  I've had several drillings but i've only kept one, and it's because it's as close to perfect for me, as i can afford.

  I wanted my drilling to be steel framed, not weigh over 7 pounds, have an accurate rifle bbl of a "rimmed" cartridge that would acceptable for moose and black bear with full power modern ammo, and scoped with "claw mounts".  I wanted it to have 3 hammers in it instead of two as many have, be stocked and have selectors that would work for a left handed shooter and be reliable to last me the rest of my life.  I really hate big framed drillings, so the best compromise was a 16ga drilling, on a 20 ga. frame.

  Anyway, i found something that i really liked, a Krieghoff Semper, and although it was pretty beat up, i could easily bring it back it to everything i wanted above and more.  It's a 16/16/8x57jrs...



  It shoots  VERY good with 200NP's,



  And i've flattened a truck load of big game with it, from moose and black bear on down,



  To coyotes and javolina,



  And all kinds of ducks and small gave, even turkeys,



  But these days, i mostly use the rifle bbl for whitetails,





  And we do have some big whitetails here,



  Anyway, it's been a great hunting companion since i started hunting with it in the early 80's.

  DM

[dougk]

Dang DM

I did not know you have been using that Drilling for over 30 years.....

From a ranch Drilling prespective a 16x16/(7x57R, 7x64R, 8x57jrs, 9x57R, 9.3x74R) would work.

From a ranch combo gun perspective 12/.222, 12/243, 12/30-06, 12/9.3x74R would work depending on the application and specific game being hunted.

Doug

[Tom H.]

Nice use of the drilling DM.  I left the 8mm out of the list but there are certainly no flies on that cartridge.  Good for just about anything as you demonstrated...

Tom