Lets talk Drillings

[Schroeder]

I do have the automatic rear sight, how did your pre set the front trigger? Mine is a pre war

There was a lever on the tang. When that was moved into position, the rear sight popped up and the the front trigger set to a very light weight. And of course the front trigger was switched from shotgun barrel to rifle barrel.

 

[Boone66]

There was a lever on the tang. When that was moved into position, the rear sight popped up and the the front trigger set to a very light weight. And of course the front trigger was switched from shotgun barrel to rifle barrel.

Mine has a button push slider, on the tang to switch from shotgun to rifle, and pop up the rear sight, with a two piece rod, like yours. I was wondering if you had it apart, to see how it engaged the set. I have to push the front trigger forward to set it.

 

[steve white]

There was a lever on the tang. When that was moved into position, the rear sight popped up and the the front trigger set to a very light weight. And of course the front trigger was switched from shotgun barrel to rifle barrel.

Are you SURE it is setting the trigger to a lighter weight? Many of those old drilling, particularly the Sauer side locks had wonderful triggers, even when set to fire the shotgun. So, is the pull appreciably lighter than when just set for the shotgun?

 

[Schroeder]

Mine has a button push slider, on the tang to switch from shotgun to rifle, and pop up the rear sight, with a two piece rod, like yours. I was wondering if you had it apart, to see how it engaged the set. I have to push the front trigger forward to set it.

No I have not had it apart, but my gunsmith did. He said that there was an intricate series of hardened rods, but I am not sure if they operated the rear sight only, or set the trigger as well.

 

[Schroeder]

Are you SURE it is setting the trigger to a lighter weight? Many of those old drilling, particularly the Sauer side locks had wonderful triggers, even when set to fire the shotgun. So, is the pull appreciably lighter than when just set for the shotgun?

It is definitely lighter, but not extremely light like a lot of set triggers.

 

[Skaubjonn]

Interesting thread! I have a drilling fetish, that has been plaguing me for several years... I live in Norway and have been importing several drillings from Germany. I have been restoring them, using and selling after a while. Currently I own three drillings:

1. Merkel 691LS rifle drilling with two 8x57IRS rifle barrels over a 20-76 shotgun barrel.

2. Merkel 96k drilling with two 20-76 shotgun barrels over a 6,5x57R rifle barrel.

3. Krieghoff Neptun Primus drilling with two 16-70 shotgun barrels over a 7x65R rifle barrel. This comes with a gold plated trigger and gold plated sidelocks that are detachable by hand, and an insert barrel in 22mag.

In my view the drilling shines as a hunting weapon when there is a mixed bag. I have shot capercaillie, geese, ducks and foxes while hunting deer. I absolutely love the versatility of the three barrels. I usually hunt by myself with the drilling using the open sights, and I bring a scope along for situations when the opportunity longer shots present itself.



Here are my preferences when it comes to drillings:

• 16 or preferably 20 caliber shotgun barrels. I find that 12 bore shotgun barrels make the drilling clumsy and ruins the balance.
• Rimmed rifle cartridge. It can be hard to extract a spent case during cold winter days. I have a love affair with the tiny 6,5x57R cartridge. Scandinavians have appreciated the long-for-caliber 6,5 bullets in 6,5x55 long before the advent of the 6,5 Creedmore cartridge.
• Soldered barrels. The balance and handling ability of the drilling is way better with slim barrel sets. The fee floating barrels are better at the range, but the gun gets heavier and clumsier in the field. And soldered barrels become stiff and often offers a very precise first shot. Sighting in can be a hassle, since the POI rises with soldered barrels. But is of little consequence in the field.
• I absolutely hate the Greener safety… I need the safety to be on top of the stock, like it is on a double-barreled shotgun.
• A quick detachable scope of high quality. I prefer swing mounts over claw mounts, because it is easier to change the scope. We hunt in twilling here in Norway, and I prefer a scope with high enough light transmission, without ruining the balance. I have a Leica Magnus 1,5-10x42 on the K96, and that is perfect for me.

I find that the rifle drilling is a completely different animal than the traditional shotgun drilling. The two rifle barrels on the rifle drilling makes it perfect for big game driven hunts. It is in essence a double rifle with a shotgun barrel available. I used to have one with rifle barrels in 9,3x74R, but I am happier with the one that I have now, in 8x57IRS. 200 grains 8mm bullets flatten wild boar and deer with authority, without the excessive recoil of the 9,3x74R caliber. I regard the shotgun drilling foremost as a shotgun, with a rifle barrel available.

 

[steve white]

Interesting thread! I have a drilling fetish, that has been plaguing me for several years... I live in Norway and have been importing several drillings from Germany. I have been restoring them, using and selling after a while. Currently I own three drillings:

1. Merkel 691LS rifle drilling with two 8x57IRS rifle barrels over a 20-76 shotgun barrel.

2. Merkel 96k drilling with two 20-76 shotgun barrels over a 6,5x57R rifle barrel.

3. Krieghoff Neptun Primus drilling with two 16-70 shotgun barrels over a 7x65R rifle barrel. This comes with a gold plated trigger and gold plated sidelocks that are detachable by hand, and an insert barrel in 22mag.

In my view the drilling shines as a hunting weapon when there is a mixed bag. I have shot capercaillie, geese, ducks and foxes while hunting deer. I absolutely love the versatility of the three barrels. I usually hunt by myself with the drilling using the open sights, and I bring a scope along for situations when the opportunity longer shots present itself.



Here are my preferences when it comes to drillings:

• 16 or preferably 20 caliber shotgun barrels. I find that 12 bore shotgun barrels make the drilling clumsy and ruins the balance.
• Rimmed rifle cartridge. It can be hard to extract a spent case during cold winter days. I have a love affair with the tiny 6,5x57R cartridge. Scandinavians have appreciated the long-for-caliber 6,5 bullets in 6,5x55 long before the advent of the 6,5 Creedmore cartridge.
• Soldered barrels. The balance and handling ability of the drilling is way better with slim barrel sets. The fee floating barrels are better at the range, but the gun gets heavier and clumsier in the field. And soldered barrels become stiff and often offers a very precise first shot. Sighting in can be a hassle, since the POI rises with soldered barrels. But is of little consequence in the field.
• I absolutely hate the Greener safety… I need the safety to be on top of the stock, like it is on a double-barreled shotgun.
• A quick detachable scope of high quality. I prefer swing mounts over claw mounts, because it is easier to change the scope. We hunt in twilling here in Norway, and I prefer a scope with high enough light transmission, without ruining the balance. I have a Leica Magnus 1,5-10x42 on the K96, and that is perfect for me.

I find that the rifle drilling is a completely different animal than the traditional shotgun drilling. The two rifle barrels on the rifle drilling makes it perfect for big game driven hunts. It is in essence a double rifle with a shotgun barrel available. I used to have one with rifle barrels in 9,3x74R, but I am happier with the one that I have now, in 8x57IRS. 200 grains 8mm bullets flatten wild boar and deer with authority, without the excessive recoil of the 9,3x74R caliber. I regard the shotgun drilling foremost as a shotgun, with a rifle barrel available.

I cannot fault even one statement above--which are the observations of someone who has owned a lot of drillings and knows how to evaluate their capabilities! I think the dirty little secret of many who own a Greener safety is that it just doesn't get used. We keep the hand cupped over the trigger guard and the finger off the trigger until the last moment of firing. I don't think it is even possible to release a Greener safety on the way up to the shoulder, as Churchill recommends.
You are probably right about the 12 bores, with one exception--the Jubilaum drilling by Christoph Funk was intentionally made light out of a special strong steel. I love mine for wing shooting.
I'm a bit jealous of your guns, by the way...

 

[Skaubjonn]

@steve white : your C. Funk drilling sounds great! My Neptun Primus drilling with 86cm barrels of Antinit steel and aluminium receiver weighs 2,85kg.
Here are some pictures of my drillings

 

[Denvir Tire]

@steve white : your C. Funk drilling sounds great! My Neptun Primus drilling with 86cm barrels of Antinit steel and aluminium receiver weighs 2,85kg.
Here are some pictures of my drillings

Magnificent, thanks for sharing these pictures.

 

[Muskox]

@steve white : your C. Funk drilling sounds great! My Neptun Primus drilling with 86cm barrels of Antinit steel and aluminium receiver weighs 2,85kg.
Here are some pictures of my drillings

Congrats on the capercaillie, I am sure there have been many.