Thread: Drillings/combination guns

Are combination guns (drillings) which feature two rifled barrels in addition to a smoothbore barrel, legal on public land?
Something like a .222/30-06/12 guage would be ideal. Can use the .222 on hares, rabbits and possums, and the 30-06 for larger game (like Moas and Haast Eagles).

I'm only after the two rifled barrels, but I don't think you can get combination guns without the shotgun function? Is there such a thing as a double rifle with different sized bores?

Greetings Frodo,
Don't know about legality, best check with DoC. You can get an over and under, shot gun and hunting rifle with a small calibre on the side. These have a fancy name I can't remember at the moment. Used to be a standard in Germany. Finding one will be difficult and paying for it afterward more so. If you find one PLEASE post pictures.
Regards in Anticipation Grandpamac.

Blaser Bock-drilling BD14 Google it.
Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings Frodo,
Don't know about legality, best check with DoC. You can get an over and under, shot gun and hunting rifle with a small calibre on the side. These have a fancy name I can't remember at the moment. Used to be a standard in Germany. Finding one will be difficult and paying for it afterward more so. If you find one PLEASE post pictures.
Regards in Anticipation Grandpamac.

Hi Grandpamac,

Thanks for your reply. That might be the best way to go (asking DOC). Just thought somebody here may have already been down this path.

There are some very fine (and expensive) combination guns out there. Although Blaser makes the BD14 (photos attached below), which can be had for under $10k 2nd-hand. They only weigh around 7.5 lbs.

Another option is a switch barrel rifle, but these aren't as practical. You often don't know what type of game will pop up (especially on public land). So putting on a specific barrel in anticipation of a certain type of game isn't the most reliable method.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Blaser Bock-drilling BD14 Google it.
Grandpamac.

You bet me to it!

No point in asking DoC - they have no bloody idea! My mate went through this using a 7x57/12g, hunted with it a bit on Public Conservation Land, got spoken to on a couple of occasions by a very enthusiastic DoC dickhead, told he wasn't allowed to use it. He went straight back to Plod, asked him, he said it is classed as a rifle [centrefire] so therefore can be used anywhere it is legal to use a rifle, just because it has a 12g barrel attached to it, does not make it a shotgun. And if a DoC person, for want of a better term, approached you, Im pretty sure they would have no bloody idea what you were holding in your hand. They certainly cant take it off you, they dont have the jurisdiction, it needs to be Plod. They certainly dont have the right to touch it or look at it cos they may not have a firearms license. And if you have no shotgun ammo in it, they cant do anything.

Haha! I thought that would be the case @Husky1600. Knowledge of the law is variable enough among members of the Police, yet alone DOC...

I don't do any hunting on private land, so it would be a shame to spend big on a firearm that then ends up being illegal to use. Hence why I'm asking around.

I've just sent DOC an email. It'll be interesting to hear their take, but I won't hold my breath.

"Im pretty sure they would have no bloody idea what you were holding in your hand" - Good point. And most of them can be broken down and thrown inside a backpack. Out of sight out of mind.

Originally Posted by Frodo

You bet me to it!

I have a thing about the weird, wacky and wonderful. These qualify.
Grandpamac.

On a page im a member of a guy had a double rifle and the left barrel was 7x57 mauser and right barrel was 458 Lott

Valmet do/did one. Don't know where to get one or how much though.

I had a Valmet 412 in the 80's, with a couple of shottie barrel-sets, a 308 double rifle and a 222/12ga combo.

The 308 barrels got taken hunting a few times, they shot well and were good fun on goats in the Catlins bush where you only ever got one or two shots (and none of us had semi's except a guy called Mike who had an Armalite AR18 as I recall, but I think it might have been a tiny bit "illegal").

The 222/12 ga was something else again, the 222 shot as well as any subsequent 222 or 223 bolt gun I've had, pretty consistently round the 1/2 moa mark. I shot hundreds of Wallabies with it, was ideal for wandering round the coast side of the Hunters, wallabies from close in in the bush to +300M were goners.

The 243/20ga combo that was on TM recently tempted me severely . . .

There is heaps of options in combation guns, and if you spend enough, you can get what ever you desire, made.
I've got a fair safari SxS in a double rifle, 7x57R, and 9.3x74 barrel sets and 20ga barrels, A small bore double rifle is properly a better hunting weapon, given that legal hunted game birds, are in short supply, in most public hunting areas, of New Zealand,
I was quite keen on a combo, sum thing like a 20ga and 6.5x57 or 7x57, and a extra barrel set in .222 or hornet with 20ga,
have a look here, for combos, https://www.tradeexcanada.com/produits/69
The Tikkas in 12 x .222 are cheap enough that ive considered them, but I think the best pick is the two J.P. Sauers, in 6.5x57 or 6.5 x55

Interesting Tentman.how much did that Trade me one go for?

I was in the Lewis Pass many years ago with a Winchester M70 African in .458 Magnum. I was getting my gear together to head up the Nina when a DOC ranger arrived, had a look at the .458 and said 'That's a funny looking shotgun' then got in his truck and drove away. Probably not the sharpest tool in the DOC box!

Had my 416 in my mates gunsafe when we doing a bit of shooting together.
he went to get the shotgun out one morning and grabbed the 416 by the barrel as it is a bit shotgun sized. Still half asleep so it wasn't until he got it into the light he realised his mistake.