This has come up several times in private conversations and I was ask to post something. There is at least 500 men on this forum with more knowledge than I, so hopefully they will jump in and add to the thread.
First let me say that one of the reasons these rifles are more popular in Europe than the States is because of some of the laws in different countries in Europe, restrict the number of firearms one may own. Dreilings ( especially the Blaser products ), but others as well, gives one multiple calibers, but "one" gun.
A combination can work against you when hunting in the State as some laws will not allow you to hunt game at certain times with a rifle and shotgun in the field with you, on some hunts.
combination--usually a rifle over a shotgun and my first experience with this set up was at around 7 with a Stevens 22/410, later a Valmet, and Savage. they were used for varmints and birds. I remember a 308/20 that got a lot of time in the field.
Cape--Side by side, with one shotgun and one rifle. We had one but neither of us liked them.
Double--side by side rifle. This was my favorite when hunting Africa and I liked the 450/400
Dreilling ---A single rifle over a double shotgun or double shotgun over single rifle, or a double rifle over a single shotgun. These are still used quite often in Africa and Europe and was what my husband preferred when hunting Africa. Some will put an insert in one shotgun barrel, therefore giving the hunter a shotgun barrel, and too different rifle caliber barrels. my husband like this type of set up when hunting Africa, as he could plains game hunt ( and if the caliber was enough also D.G. ), plus use the shotgun for birds and snakes, as well as being able to use slugs when hunting big game in the scrubs. I will mention that some countries in Europe do not allow inserts to be installed in shotgun barrels
He always made a big deal about the snakes, but I didn't worry about them, as I was following behind the tracker, PH, and husband , so one of them dealt with any snakes before I even saw them.
Vierlings --usually a rife barrel on top, then side by side shotgun barrels and then another rifle barrel. We had one once but never used it.
He liked the Krieghoff products, but we also had Sauer, Blaser and others along the way--There are several who make them or have.
What has your experiences been with these types of rifles/shotguns ?
First let me say that one of the reasons these rifles are more popular in Europe than the States is because of some of the laws in different countries in Europe, restrict the number of firearms one may own. Dreilings ( especially the Blaser products ), but others as well, gives one multiple calibers, but "one" gun.
A combination can work against you when hunting in the State as some laws will not allow you to hunt game at certain times with a rifle and shotgun in the field with you, on some hunts.
combination--usually a rifle over a shotgun and my first experience with this set up was at around 7 with a Stevens 22/410, later a Valmet, and Savage. they were used for varmints and birds. I remember a 308/20 that got a lot of time in the field.
Cape--Side by side, with one shotgun and one rifle. We had one but neither of us liked them.
Double--side by side rifle. This was my favorite when hunting Africa and I liked the 450/400
Dreilling ---A single rifle over a double shotgun or double shotgun over single rifle, or a double rifle over a single shotgun. These are still used quite often in Africa and Europe and was what my husband preferred when hunting Africa. Some will put an insert in one shotgun barrel, therefore giving the hunter a shotgun barrel, and too different rifle caliber barrels. my husband like this type of set up when hunting Africa, as he could plains game hunt ( and if the caliber was enough also D.G. ), plus use the shotgun for birds and snakes, as well as being able to use slugs when hunting big game in the scrubs. I will mention that some countries in Europe do not allow inserts to be installed in shotgun barrels
He always made a big deal about the snakes, but I didn't worry about them, as I was following behind the tracker, PH, and husband , so one of them dealt with any snakes before I even saw them.
Vierlings --usually a rife barrel on top, then side by side shotgun barrels and then another rifle barrel. We had one once but never used it.
He liked the Krieghoff products, but we also had Sauer, Blaser and others along the way--There are several who make them or have.
What has your experiences been with these types of rifles/shotguns ?
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