Drilling Rifle caliber ?

[dougk]

For combo guns I prefer mainstream North American rounds.

What caliber do you prefer for the drilling and why?

THanks
Doug

[charles p]

Last one I held in my hands was a double barrel 16 gauge with an 8X57 on top.  Was a beautiful gun brought back from Germany at the end of WWII.  Not sure what its intended use was for.

[Savage_99]

If the drilling was in good shape, a good make and the gauges and caliber was reasonable I would take whatever I could get!

A drilling is not that easy to come by let alone one with a scope.

Many of the old drillings were in 8-57JR.  Now those barrels use .318" bullets which can be had or sized down.

Its worth it!

[pastorp]

I like shooting mine in 7x57R.    I would love to have a 16ga double over 30/30 winchester or 25/35.

Regards,

[Drilling Man]

  A couple thoughts here...  If you "slug" (better yet, cerosafe) all the old 8x57 "jr" drillings out there, you will find the bore diameter all over the board.  Some are so big you can use .323" bullets in them, YET they are not marked as an "S" bore.

  As for a cartridge, "If" i was going to use that drilling in the lower 48, i'd pick the 7x65R.  For me, it's just about a perfect non DG round, and would work on anything i'd ever hunt with it.  Loaded with 150NP's, i'd be a very happy camper...

  Personally, i prefer ALL of my break open guns to be chambered for "rimmed" cartridges.

  DM

[dougk]

So why the 7x57R vs all the other rimed cartridges?  I am not questioning your selection, but rather trying to be educated on the choice.

[Sir Charles deMoutonBlack]

The only Drilling I ever owned was a FORTUNA in 12/12/7x57R.  My Brno 304 is in 12/7x57R.

Why 7x57, whether rimmed or rimless?  Because it is a near as you'll get to an ideal medium rifle caliber.  I consider the "ideal" range being from 6.5mm x 55 to .30-06, with the .270 and 8mm in there as well. It doesn't hurt that the first centrefire rifle I ever fired was an old Spanish m93 with a j2.5 scope.

I agree with Savage_99, selection is a luxury for the few.  Most of us settle for the best we can do considering their relative rarity.  We tyre-kick any one we spot for condition and price, and usually pass for not enough of one and too much of the other!

[pastorp]

dougk,  I bought it because thats what the gun I liked was chambered in. After shooting it I really like it. The 7x57mauser and the rimed are the same case as well as the 257roberts another favorite of mine. It will give simular balistics to the 7-308, in short about ideal for a deer rifle.

DM is right the 7x65R might be a little better for a all around rifle but lots of 7x57s were used in africa, even by Bell to take elephant. I loaded mine on the light side and its comfortable to shoot. And safe in the drilling action.

Regards,

[dougk]

Ok Im looking for the 16x16/7x65r drilling.

[Drilling Man]

  Not so awful long ago i let a Sauer 16/16-7x65R go by, that had a 22WMR Krieghoff insert bbl. in the right shot bbl..  It was scoped in claw mounts with a modern Zeiss scope, and weighed 6-3/4 pounds...  If i remember right, $2,700.00 would have bought it, maybe even a little less...

  It was VERY nice and i WAS tempted... and "if" i had not already had a drilling that i like so much, i would have bought it!

  DM

[dougk]

Thats what I am looking for.  I would prefer to pay $2000 but that is me...

[Drilling Man]

Thats what I am looking for.  I would prefer to pay $2000 but that is me...

  He!!, i'd prefer to pay $1000, but i'm dreaming ----------> too!  

  DM

[mcwoodduck]

Merkel makes some drillings that are Americanized.
12 and 20 ga with
30-06, 308, and 6.5X55 Swede. (yes I know it is a swedish caliber but has been in the US long enough to be a citizen with three of the six American ammo companies loading for it)
There are others but I can not remember what they are now.
Add the fact that Merkel will allow you to go Shot gun X shotgun over rifle
Or rifle X rifle over shotgun or a combination of shotgun and two different rifles and allows you to obtain other barreled sets for your gun.

[hamourkiller]

I went with a Kreighoff 12 x12 x 30-06 and have been very happy with this system. Factory installed scope and mount. Left 12ga bbl is regulated for 50yd slug use. Very versatile. Cant go wrong with the 30-06.

[dougk]

My go to combo gun for night hunting hogs is a 12/30-06.  Your Kreighoff would allow for 00 buck x slug/30-06 which would be a great hog or deer gun. 

Ok I will take it :>  I was going to make some smart alec comment about being willing to pay some ridiculously low price but wont...    

Sounds like you have a great setup

[pastorp]

DougK, if you really want a drilling you must be willing to pay the price. Many are too high granted, but you can't beat everyone down in price. I searched for several years before biting the bullet. Your not going to buy a drilling like you want for 2000$.     

Just and observation, but for what you spent on combo guns added together you could a bought a nice drilling. Guess I had to learn the hard way & you will as well. 

Regards,

[Drilling Man]

  And to add to what Byron said, you can't drag your feet like you did on the Krieghoff that time...  ha ha ha  NOW, that's one that should NEVER have got away!   

  DM

[saltydog]

The more popular the caliber generallly the higher price on the Drilling. If you can live with some form of an 8mm then you will have a wider choice - the closest to an American caliber will probably be a 7x57 (R or not rimmed) . I am with you a 243, 270 or '06 with 12's would be great. Not for 2K - try 4K plus as the buy in to the club.