Drilling or Combo gun as an alternative to a Double for Plains Game?

[Red Leg]

Meffert built wonderful guns up until the Second World War. What yours is ideally configured for is nailing a bush pig or antelope at dawn and then finishing the morning out on sand grouse or doves at a nearby waterhole. It will serve you the rest of your life. Enjoy it.

And don't let just any shade tree gunsmith work on it should it ever break a firing pin or spring. They are complicated and require some experience to make them right again.

 

[8 x 60]

WWG did indeed manufacture Cape Guns and in his seminal work "The Gun and its Development" was far from shy in extolling their virtues.
Heavy loads can indeed put any gun "off the face" (though not sure the actual shot size makes any difference whether buckshot or No 7 etc. More to do with the actual load surely?). This is particularly true with many drillings due to their method of lock up. The one pictured below (and in my other post) only has a cross bolt for lock-up. Still tight on the face after nearly a century. No apologies for the non big-game shown in these posts!!

 

[IvW]

I have two combination guns. One is a 9.3 x 74R/12ga and the other is a 7 x 65R/12ga fitted with QD claw mounts with a 3-9 scope. Enjoy hunting with them. Very versatile

 

[8 x 60]

I have two combination guns. One is a 9.3 x 74R/12ga and the other is a 7 x 65R/12ga fitted with QD claw mounts with a 3-9 scope. Enjoy hunting with them. Very versatile

IvW

Nice to hear from another drilling user (any pictures?)

Is there any truth in what one reads about 12 bore drillings with a scope being "too heavy" for a long stalk? or is this just pish from people who don't have one

 

[thriller]

@8 x 60 my 12 bore drilling isnt exactly light weight, but its no heavier than my 375 H&H so I wouldnt say its too heavy to take on a stalk.

 

[Wayne t]

Here's a couple of mine

 

[8 x 60]

Swaro 4 x 32?

 

[thriller]

Here's a few photos of mine now that I have it back it 12x12x30-06

 

[DUGABOY1]

View attachment 159966

My fathers 12x12 over .303 Cape Gun over a hundred years old.
Taken very many bushpigs by moonlight and used to wipe out 4 warthogs at a time twice
My best was two - very handy if that first shot is not quite good, w'hogs actually ran straight at me after the shot and a load of buckshot put him down on the run. The next w'hog went down to the second barrel of buckshot that has a heavy choke. Failed to hit the third one after a reload .

I love combos although I have come to realise that it is better to a a specialist shotgun and specialist rifle.
Combo is good for fun and I would suggest a lighter shotgun and a good heavy plains game caliber if you want to take to Africa - or for your back yard go with something very light with that can be used on vermin to shoot gophers and coyotes.
I still look for good deals on them.
Once you have drilling you will want a double in both calibers cause three won't be good enough

Sorry to say but the picture you posted is NOT a Cape Gun, but a drilling!

A cape gun is a Side by side rifle shotgun, usually with the shot barrel on the left and the rifle barrel on the right.

Some folks call an Over Under combination rifle shotgun a Cape Gun, and that is not correct either.

I have several combination guns, and two Cape Guns. The cape guns are #1 a top lever H. Berrella, with a 16ga on the left barrel, and a 8X57JR barrel on the right barrel, and is a exposed hammer gun with 24" barrels. #2 The other is a V. Haffner cape gun with a 20ga left barrel and a 58 Berdan carbine barrel on the right . This one has Damascus 28 " barrels and is also fitted with a Jones under lever and is a black powder gun.

Almost all Cape Guns were made in Germany, and were made especially for the Dutch settlers on the Cape Of Good Hope Of South Africa, hence the name "CAPE GUN". Like the Howdah guns these guns were made for a particular purpose for the settlers so they had only to carry one gun when working their cattle.

.................................................

The cape guns are my favorite combination gun, and are found in many chamberings

 

[Wayne t]

Here's a few photos of mine now that I have it back it 12x12x30-06

View attachment 171302 View attachment 171303 View attachment 171304

Very nice indeed

 

[Wayne t]

Swaro 4 x 32?

Yeah just about right for this needs better mounts really though

 

[rookhawk]

I've seen and owned many drillings that would be excellent choices PROVIDED you can bring all your ammo. (usually 2-9/16" shotgun shells required) Also provided that you have a back up gun.

There are some 8lb 16gaugeX16gauge w/ 8x57JR rifle barrels and/or 9.3x72R rifle barrels. They can be found occasionally in the less typical 27" barrel length that makes them fairly pleasant to shoot and ideal for an "all arounder".

I can't emphasize enough, I would NOT own a traditional cape gun (shotgun on the left, rifle on the right, SxS configuration) for most hunting. I saw a lovely Griffin & Howe awhile back that was a 7x57R under, and a 16 gauge 2.75" over. That configuration would be excellent with buckshot or slug in the top barrel...just avoid the cape guns as they are more trouble than they are worth and they are nearly unsalable.

There are Vierlings out there that are double rifles plus two more. Certainly some vierlings out there that are shotgunXshotgunX.222Xrimfire and similar also. Although VERY rare, a side by side rifle drilling with a shotgun bottom barrel can be found too. (they cost less than an identical double rifle.

The biggest problem I see is that drillings and vierlings are Cuckoo Clock guns. If something fails you, Africa would be the place it would fail you. And when it does fail you, you are totally, totally screwed. The shotgun triggers become a set trigger for the rifle when you move a lever, etc, etc. I would not bank a safari on a german gun of this complexity.

 

[suzanne donaldson]

Very nice Wayne T.

 

[suzanne donaldson]

Here's a couple of mine

View attachment 171299 View attachment 171300 View attachment 171301

How old are they

 

[rookhawk]

Here's a picture of one I had. Sold it last year for $2600. It was a Kreighoff Neptune in 16x16 x 8.57JR. Blue book "retail" with the gold and platinum inlays, bulino engraving, true sidelock action, probably around $14,000. But alas, German Gun Collectors are as cheap as they come, elderly dudes that have limited disposable income. Plenty of drillings out there...don't pay retail if you want one!

 

[sierraone]

Be careful now, I'm not German, but am almost elderly with limited disposable income!!!

 

[rookhawk]

Be careful now, I'm not German, but am almost elderly with limited disposable income!!!

I'm not elderly but am German. So together we can complete a stereotype. Funny, I have to buy all my guns with cash CASH never check but when someone wants them from me they want them at a loss, on payments, with a partial trade. I love the gun guys and then again I hate the gun guys.

 

[thriller]

Im not German or elderly I just enjoy shooting nice guns!

 

[sierraone]

I'm not elderly but am German. So together we can complete a stereotype. Funny, I have to buy all my guns with cash CASH never check but when someone wants them from me they want them at a loss, on payments, with a partial trade. I love the gun guys and then again I hate the gun guys.

I plan on placing three of my large bore rifles on the AH site for sale in the near future. I have never sold or traded a gun). I will give the option of a check, but will note that I will not send the gun until the check clears my bank. During the past couple of years, I have paid attention to many of the members (you being one) selling guns on the site so they can invest in either other guns or another hunt. None of the rifles I will post for sale are of the caliber (no pun) of what you have sold in the past year or so, but there is a good market for two of them, the third one, not so much, at least that's what I think.

 

[Red Leg]

View attachment 171306 Here's a picture of one I had. Sold it last year for $2600. It was a Kreighoff Neptune in 16x16 x 8.57JR. Blue book "retail" with the gold and platinum inlays, bulino engraving, true sidelock action, probably around $14,000. But alas, German Gun Collectors are as cheap as they come, elderly dudes that have limited disposable income. Plenty of drillings out there...don't pay retail if you want one!

Dude! I would have paid you $2750 for it. Can you get it back?!?