Author Topic: Drilling questions (Read 2320 times)

JamesW · « **on:** March 14, 2012, 02:03:52 AM »

Hi, I have just purchased a Sauer Drilling, 1966 build, 16g and 7x57r, with a 22wmr insert in the right barrel, Zeiss 1.5 to 6.5 Divari scope in claw mounts. I have a couple of questions;
How do you carry your drilling? I have been hunting a couple of times in the last 2 weeks and been carrying the drilling open and loaded but the 16g shell has fallen out a couple of times when the gun was not pointing down. I don't use or trust safetys so am not game to carry with it loaded closed and safety on, currently I see no other way as carrying, unloaded is not practical (Dingos, roos, foxes, pigs, goats and rabbits will not wait)!
Anyone tried reloading 120grain V max in a 7x57r, most game I shoot is lighter except for the pigs. Any loading advice greatly appreciated. Currently running S&B 140grain round nose factory ammo which is going straight through.
How close will the insert barrel return to it's set position after I remove it and re-install. Need to remove it to clean and check for corosion.
Cheers,
James

pastorp · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2012, 03:28:02 AM »

I carry my drillings loaded with safety on in the field. If you observe basic gun safety rules, don't point it at anything you don't want to shoot, & unload it crossing fenses etc. You will be fine...

And keep your finger off that trigger untill your ready to shoot.

Or you can do like Barney Fife and carry your bullet in your pocket and only load your gun when Andy tells you to...

Regards.

jager · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2012, 06:16:32 AM »

I agree with pastorp on carrying loaded with safety on. Unless you are very familiar with the safety position (mine's on the side for the shotgun), it will take a while for it to feel "natural" to activate. I found most shotgun safeties on doubles are very reliable, but I treat all of them as if they are not! The rifle barrel is perfectly safe when loaded, since the "pin" is not cocked until you actuate the cocking "slide" on top (looks like an ordinary safety on most guns and is similar to most European "stalking rifles" in its operation). Do not close the action after reloading the rifle chamber with the rifle actuation "slide" button actuated; the rod actuating the "flip-up" rear sight can be bent, or worse, broken!
By-the-way, your drilling sounds like a beautiful firearm; do you have any pictures you could share?

Savage_99 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2012, 06:50:18 AM »

JamesW,

Welcome to the forum.

Most all of us just use the trigger safety on a shotgun. You got excellent advice already on that.

I have used my drilling for almost 50 years now. I have taken birds and deer with it.

JamesW · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2012, 01:05:46 PM »

Thanks for the advice, especially about the pin on for the rear sight, was looking as to how it operated and noticed that it is slightly bent already, still works perfectly though! I may have done this myself or before I purchased. Printed the Colt Sauer manual yesterday off this site and have been reading

. My gun is very similar.

The gun is a German import from a dealer in OZ. I had never seen a drilling until about 10 weeks ago and was so impressed with the concept and caliber that I purchased one. Was concerned about accuracy, but this has turned out not to be and issue with both the insert and rifle shooting 1" groups at 100m, 22wmr dead on at 100 and 7mm 1" high. The gun has had very little use and is a bit tight to open, getting better though as I clean off some of the solidified oil film.

Do not have any pictures at the moment, will take some on the weekend!

Drilling Man · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2012, 03:04:01 PM »

I think, "if" you are afraid to carry your drilling loaded/closed and with the safety ON, then you bought the wrong type of firearm to hunt with.

DM

dougk · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2012, 03:51:18 PM »

Hi James.

Welcome to Graybeards Outdoors.

Your question is very interesting. I tend to lean towards the carry the gun your most comfortable. And get into a pattern, and always follow the pattern.

For example, all my break open guns are opened the autoloaders are carried with bolt opened until we cross the cattle guard. If bird hunting the safety is off, if stalking hogs the safety is off ( if using a drilling it is set to rifle), if going to a spot to setup for hogs the safety stays on until I am set. Please note if climbing over fences the gun is always unloaded. If walking thru heavy ceder the safety is always on.

I use to carry SXS shotguns with the safety on and as part of my mounting steps I would flip the safety off. Based on comments from others and contemplating my own prior experiences under strick training by the military I began to carry the gun with safety off when staling birds or hogs. I am very comfortable carrying the gun with safety off when stalking as I typically hunt alone at night, my finger does not go near the trigger until I am ready to take the shot.

Hope this helps. But ultimately it comes down to how your comfortable carrying the gun.

I have got to ask, please dont take this as being rude, how much did you spend on the Sauer?

Doug

dougk · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2012, 03:54:03 PM »

Quote from: Savage_99 on March 14, 2012, 06:50:18 AM

JamesW,

Welcome to the forum.

Most all of us just use the trigger safety on a shotgun. You got excellent advice already on that.

I have used my drilling for almost 50 years now. I have taken birds and deer with it.

Hey Savage,
what year and caliber is your drilling?

thanks

Doug

Savage_99 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2012, 04:31:20 PM »

My Sauer drilling is pre war. I don't know its year.

Its 16X16 with the short chambers X 8-57JR. I load for the 8-57, have Norma bullets and size down 32 Special bullets as well.

The scopes are a 4X Hensoldt and a 1X Weaver.

Its an incredible shooter as a shotgun. I broke an unofficial crazy quail record at a sportsmans club with it using the 1X Weaver.

When rifle hunting its astonishing how may shotgun shots come up!

dougk · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2012, 05:26:48 PM »

Savage

It looks like a model 32. If you post a picture of the proofs I can tell you more about the gun.

Doug

Drilling Man · « **Reply #10 on:** March 15, 2012, 01:30:22 PM »

After reading Dougs post above, i want to make something clear!

I do NOT walk around with my drilling loaded/closed and have the safety in the "off" position. I do walk around with it loaded/closed and the safety in the "on" position.

I do sometimes, AFTER i get into a spot waiting for game, sit with the gun loaded/closed and the safety in the "off" position, but only while i'm sitting quietly. Once i start to walk again, the safety goes back to the "on" position.

DM

JamesW · « **Reply #11 on:** March 16, 2012, 10:01:24 PM »

The question of; how do you blokes carry your drilling safely, comes from a lack of experience with this type of gun! Last purchased a rifle in 1981

and never owned a shotgun!

The bolt action rifles I own are carried with a round chambered and then lift the bolt and withraw it slightly (I don't use the safety), the winchester 22wmr lever I carry with a round chambered and the hammer in it's half cocked position! From some trials with the drilling safety it looks to function flawlessly, was a bit concerned at first with the front trigger when set can be fired but it dose not drop the firing pin!

Cleaned the drilling today and removed the insert barrel to make sure there is no corrosion, all good! Reinstalled the insert and will see how close it has returned to zero. Can someone take me through the procedure on how to sight in the insert (are there any special tricks).

Paid $3500aud for the drilling, I think for what I purchased, it's flexability and accuracy, it's a bargain (always had a problem with "which gun will I take", my wife dosn't agree though!

Oh! the zeiss is a 1.5 to 6, not 6.5!

By echotoo at 2012-03-17

dougk · « **Reply #12 on:** March 17, 2012, 04:15:33 AM »

Quote from: Drilling Man on March 15, 2012, 01:30:22 PM

After reading Dougs post above, i want to make something clear!

I do NOT walk around with my drilling loaded/closed and have the safety in the "off" position. I do walk around with it loaded/closed and the safety in the "on" position.

I do sometimes, AFTER i get into a spot waiting for game, sit with the gun loaded/closed and the safety in the "off" position, but only while i'm sitting quietly. Once i start to walk again, the safety goes back to the "on" position.

DM

Hey Drillingman

I updated my post to remove any doubt that you dont walk around with the safety off. Sorry for the confusion.

Doug

Drilling Man · « **Reply #13 on:** March 17, 2012, 03:59:25 PM »

Thanks Doug,

DM

dougk · « **Reply #14 on:** March 18, 2012, 05:50:30 AM »

Quote from: JamesW on March 16, 2012, 10:01:24 PM

The question of; how do you blokes carry your drilling safely, comes from a lack of experience with this type of gun! Last purchased a rifle in 1981 and never owned a shotgun!

The bolt action rifles I own are carried with a round chambered and then lift the bolt and withraw it slightly (I don't use the safety), the winchester 22wmr lever I carry with a round chambered and the hammer in it's half cocked position! From some trials with the drilling safety it looks to function flawlessly, was a bit concerned at first with the front trigger when set can be fired but it dose not drop the firing pin!

Cleaned the drilling today and removed the insert barrel to make sure there is no corrosion, all good! Reinstalled the insert and will see how close it has returned to zero. Can someone take me through the procedure on how to sight in the insert (are there any special tricks).

Paid $3500aud for the drilling, I think for what I purchased, it's flexability and accuracy, it's a bargain (always had a problem with "which gun will I take", my wife dosn't agree though!

Oh! the zeiss is a 1.5 to 6, not 6.5!

By echotoo at 2012-03-17

By echotoo at 2012-03-17

By echotoo at 2012-03-17

Nice looking drilling

It looks like a Model 30 or 32, the 32 has a single extractor for both the rifle cartridge and the shotgun shells. The model 30 has 2 extractors one for the rifle and one for the shotgun cartridges.

Based on the looks it appears to me a 30's gun. The only way to tell is to remove the forend and look for the date code with the proof marks on the underside of the rifle barrel.

Congratulations on a very nice acquisition.

JamesW · « **Reply #15 on:** March 18, 2012, 01:26:40 PM »

Doug,

It has separate extractors. I was told it was built in 1966. How is the date code deciphered?

This is the code on the underside of the rifle barrel.

By echotoo at 2012-03-18

dougk · « **Reply #16 on:** March 18, 2012, 03:15:11 PM »

James,
does it have "Suhl" stamped on the underside of the receiver? Or is there Eckernförde on the barrels?

The date code will typically be 3 or 4 digits on the underside of the rifle barrel. The last 2 digits are the year and the fist 1/2 are the month the gun was proofed.

The cartridge carrier built into the stock is something I have seen on 1930's drillings.
Doug

JamesW · « **Reply #17 on:** March 18, 2012, 06:16:40 PM »

Doug,

I figure the G2688 is the date number and going by this, it was built in 1988 not 66, half of the number is missing due to the radius of the barrel, but I'm sure the numbers are correct!

It has "Suhl" on one barrel and the other side is "spezial laufstahl (symbol) bochumer verein"!

Some more pictures.
This barrel reads "spezial laufstahl (symbol) bochumer verein"

By echotoo at 2012-03-18

By echotoo at 2012-03-18

dougk · « **Reply #18 on:** March 19, 2012, 03:19:53 PM »

Hey James,

Here is a picture of a Jan 32 proofed barrel , look at the 132 under the Suhl man. plus the proof marks show the caliber and bullet weight.

Doug

JamesW · « **Reply #19 on:** March 21, 2012, 02:15:56 AM »

Doug,
Found the proof mark and date stamp. Suhl man is on the reciever not the barrel block like the one in your picture, have included some pictures below!

By echotoo at 2012-03-21

By echotoo at 2012-03-21

By echotoo at 2012-03-21

dougk · « **Reply #20 on:** March 22, 2012, 09:13:29 AM »

Hey James,

that is a nice Sauer made in Eckernforde in 1966. During that time Sauer was making Colt Sauer drillings and a few JP Sauer drillings. Yours is rather unique.

Doug

JamesW · « **Reply #21 on:** June 10, 2012, 10:52:41 PM »

Just updating and answering some of my original questions.

I have now taken more than ten rabbits, two fox, ten roo's, 2 80kg pigs and a ferral cat.

How do I carry; been carrying with all three barrels loaded and safety on, sling over shoulder. Getting used to this but usually try to shoot without taking the safety off (espically when rushed) and then have to slide the safety down and shoot, just habbit from never using a safety. Amazing how hard it is to change habbits learned 40 years ago!

22mag insert return to zero after removal and re-install; I have removed and re-inserted this barell twice now and still not touched the scope or any other adjustments. My mates and I are all dumbfounded at being able to remove and re-install the scope and insert barrel (short arse thin walled tube) with it still shooting sub MOA, none of us have ever seen a drilling before though!

Am still using either the tikka lsa55 17rem 8x56 kahles or sako L461 222 with 4-12x56 kahles for spotlighting as the zeiss with it's smaller objective lens on the drilling will not pull the light, this is about the only issue with the drilling.

I now have dies and enough empty cases to start reloading the 7x57. Looking at running 120g hornaday vmax for the lighter framed game here in OZ and 139g hornaday sst's for pigs and deer.

Visited a property on the weekend with deer and introduced myself, there are red and fallow which have become ferral from old deer farms in the area. I shoot for meat and ferral animal control so hope to have deer on the plate in the near future, we currently eat a lot of roo and a bit of rabbit!

dougk · « **Reply #22 on:** June 11, 2012, 02:02:16 PM »

Hey James,

you definately have a find.... Thanks for sharing the hunting info.

How does roo taste?

regards,

Doug

AtlLaw · « **Reply #23 on:** June 11, 2012, 02:06:40 PM »

Don't know as they eat 'em $:-\$ , but they make good leather!

JamesW · « **Reply #24 on:** June 11, 2012, 08:26:31 PM »

Doug,

Roo is a lean meat and will dry out. My Wife is the cook and she tends to sear first to seal then roast, casserole etc. My kids take it to school for lunch and most people think it's lamb.

dougk · « **Reply #25 on:** June 12, 2012, 02:15:46 PM »

James,
sounds tasty....

Doug