THINKING ABOUT RIFLE SHOTGUN COMB.
- Thread starter old folks
- Start date
AWS
Custom Accessory Maker & Retired PM Staff
I used one for awhile and you can wait for the under 40yrd shots with the shotgun ad use the rifle for over that. You don't have to stretch out the shotgun. If you can hand load BB's or #4 Buck you'll might be even happier. The 2 3/4" #3 Buck factory loads patterned better than the 3" #2's for me. If it's a fixed choke you might look into Colonial Chokes for installation of tubes.
I did upgrade to a two trigger Combo rig because I didn't like dealing with the hammer mounted selector under the scope on my Savage 20/223.
I did upgrade to a two trigger Combo rig because I didn't like dealing with the hammer mounted selector under the scope on my Savage 20/223.
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NdIndy
New member
I like technical data, so let's start. On the left side, middle, of your keyboard you'll find a key marked CAPS LOCK or very similar. Push it.
On to the gun question. Full choke 00 buck will be fine to 50. After that use the other barrel to around 300ish with practice. The combo guns are neat, someday I'll pick one up if I can find a deal.
On to the gun question. Full choke 00 buck will be fine to 50. After that use the other barrel to around 300ish with practice. The combo guns are neat, someday I'll pick one up if I can find a deal.
kdixer
New member
I had a Baikal 12ga/.223 combo. Every time I fired the shotgun barrel it would lose zero on the scope. It was not a scope issue. I think it had more to do with the way the flimsy rifle barrel is mounted under the shotgun barrel.
I now have a Savage 12ga/.22 Hornet combo that shoots great. It holds zero after firing the shotgun barrel. While it does take a bit to get used to selecting barrels with the hammer switch, it is worth the accuracy compared to the dual trigger Baikal. I use the gun mainly for turkey/coyote hunting. I have had several coyotes investigate my turkey calling and the .22 hornet gives me a a little more reach to dispatch them.
I now have a Savage 12ga/.22 Hornet combo that shoots great. It holds zero after firing the shotgun barrel. While it does take a bit to get used to selecting barrels with the hammer switch, it is worth the accuracy compared to the dual trigger Baikal. I use the gun mainly for turkey/coyote hunting. I have had several coyotes investigate my turkey calling and the .22 hornet gives me a a little more reach to dispatch them.
My opinion - the 20 ga is fine for as far as you can get a good, coyote killing pattern out of it. It can throw the same sized pellets at the same speed at the same coyote as a 12 or a 10, just not as many of them. Trying out a number of factory loads on paper, &/or handloading will tell what is best for you gun and uses. Interchangable chokes, if the gun accepts them, will allow for more trial/testing/tuning.
Read this - know it - get a cup of coffee or 3 to get thru it all - http://www.predatormastersforums.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=777351#Post777351
I gotta agree with AWS, it'll work fine, as will any shotgun, within it's pattern-limits - ammo and choke improvement can improve that distance, buut also significantly reduces pattern spread at REALLY close distances. The rifle bbl. is for all the rest - that's the beauty of a combo gun.
Read this - know it - get a cup of coffee or 3 to get thru it all - http://www.predatormastersforums.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=777351#Post777351
I gotta agree with AWS, it'll work fine, as will any shotgun, within it's pattern-limits - ammo and choke improvement can improve that distance, buut also significantly reduces pattern spread at REALLY close distances. The rifle bbl. is for all the rest - that's the beauty of a combo gun.
ARCOREY
New member
Best thing to do is feel one out and see how it fits you and shoot one if you can. I have the same gun that kdixer had and have the exact opposite results. I've got friends that tried the 24F and had opposite results from what he had and had scope shift. Might have been the mounts or optics or those particular guns in question, who knows. I've been around several of both makes as well as the Valmet and the only consistent I've seen is that all the Valmets seemed to shoot well, as they should for their price. Baikal and Savages seem to be hit or miss from what I've seen.
Mine will handle a 3" load of 12ga Dead Coyote and put three shots off a sandbag in a quarter at 100yds. I actually prefer a double trigger over a selector switch too. It is just a difference in our preferences and why you should handle as many as you can before buying. They are not for everybody.
My biggest problem with the combo gun is with me. I never shoot the darned shotgun barrel when hunting except for turkeys. No point in carrying the extra weight if you don't use it. Most of my shots are just outside of 50yds and the closer ones are usually stationary, so I put one hole in them instead of a bunch. I personally have always preferred a rifle over shotgun for anything except birds. I still use mine on occasion when calling in conjunction with turkey season or when hitting the really thick stuff and think the 20ga would be fine at close ranges. I may have to pull that front trigger some day and see what it's like to kill a predator with it
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These all shot 40-80yds with rifle except turkey taken at 10yds with 3" #4 turkey load.
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Load testing 50gr. V-max last range visit. Lower group is 50yds.
Mine will handle a 3" load of 12ga Dead Coyote and put three shots off a sandbag in a quarter at 100yds. I actually prefer a double trigger over a selector switch too. It is just a difference in our preferences and why you should handle as many as you can before buying. They are not for everybody.
My biggest problem with the combo gun is with me. I never shoot the darned shotgun barrel when hunting except for turkeys. No point in carrying the extra weight if you don't use it. Most of my shots are just outside of 50yds and the closer ones are usually stationary, so I put one hole in them instead of a bunch. I personally have always preferred a rifle over shotgun for anything except birds. I still use mine on occasion when calling in conjunction with turkey season or when hitting the really thick stuff and think the 20ga would be fine at close ranges. I may have to pull that front trigger some day and see what it's like to kill a predator with it
These all shot 40-80yds with rifle except turkey taken at 10yds with 3" #4 turkey load.
Load testing 50gr. V-max last range visit. Lower group is 50yds.
kdixer
New member
Originally Posted By: ARCOREYBest thing to do is feel one out and see how it fits you and shoot one if you can. I have the same gun that kdixer had and have the exact opposite results. I've got friends that tried the 24F and had opposite results from what he had and had scope shift. Might have been the mounts or optics or those particular guns in question, who knows. I've been around several of both makes as well as the Valmet and the only consistent I've seen is that all the Valmets seemed to shoot well, as they should for their price. Baikal and Savages seem to be hit or miss from what I've seen.
From what I remember of my Baikal, there was quite a bit of flex between the barrels. You could swap out spacer rods to adjust the POI of the barrels relative to each other. Not really sure what point of that adjustment is considering you are not likely to shoot slugs from a combo gun. There was no solid connection between the barrels other than the muzzle and the chamber. Therefore the slender rifle barrel was easily flexed. I used the gun turkey hunting alot and if you ever fired the shotgun barrel you might as well go sight it in before ever trying the rifle again. I have had no accuracy issues with the Savage. I added a hammer extension due to scope making it hard to cock the hammer. I also agree that Valmets are quality combo guns.
From what I remember of my Baikal, there was quite a bit of flex between the barrels. You could swap out spacer rods to adjust the POI of the barrels relative to each other. Not really sure what point of that adjustment is considering you are not likely to shoot slugs from a combo gun. There was no solid connection between the barrels other than the muzzle and the chamber. Therefore the slender rifle barrel was easily flexed. I used the gun turkey hunting alot and if you ever fired the shotgun barrel you might as well go sight it in before ever trying the rifle again. I have had no accuracy issues with the Savage. I added a hammer extension due to scope making it hard to cock the hammer. I also agree that Valmets are quality combo guns.
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ARCOREY
New member
I got mine used off a rack at a local gunshop. Was actually there to order another rifle and this one side tracked me
. Not sure what was done to it before I got it if anything, but I just bought some steel Millet Dovetail windage adjustable rings, Nikon Buckmaster scope and torqued the crap out of the ring bottoms. The barrels shouldn't flex that much, although the thin rifle barrel is a 3 shot and cool type barrel. You may have had a bad pivot pin or somthing else loose in there too. After 3 consecutive shots with my rifle you're just wasting powder due to heat. The barrels are adjustable as are some other models like the Valmet to get the center of the shotgun pattern at one distance and rifle zero at another. I think a lot of folks try to get them to the same spot which would be pointless in my opinion. My rifle barrel came zeroed at 75yds and the shotgun is still doing well enough to 40yds, so I haven't done anything else to it. I should pattern it more, but the thing kicks like a mule and Dead Coyote ain't cheap. I usually don't get closer shots than 30yds or farther than 100yds, so it covers everything well. One thing to note, the rifle barrel is waaaaayyyyy under the scope on the Baikal. The target I posted is the difference between 50 and 100yds with nothing changed and the same POA. I can hold dead on with a 75yds zero and be real close to zero again out to about 300-350yds. Between the eyes hold at 40yds with the rifle will get a neck shot on foxes from what I've seen and be dead nuts at 75yds and high at 100yds. I went the single shot 223 route, tried the AR 223 route, went to a combo gun 223, now I'm trying a bolt 17rem. One of these days I'll stick with something
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AWS
Custom Accessory Maker & Retired PM Staff
I left my combo gun home when I went to the PM Hunt in NM thinking it was more open country. I should have brought it as most of the shots I had were under 20yds. I find myself carrying it more and more. I find myself calling in tighter cover now than I used to and coyotes are coming in alot closer.
Originally Posted By: ARCOREYValmets seemed to shoot well, as they should for their price. Baikal and Savages seem to be hit or miss from what I've seen.
I had a Tikka that was a well made combo, but I agree about the Baikal and Savages. Most of the Savages I've tried won't shoot both barrels together. Zero the rifle barrel with a scope and you might find the shotgun pattern is a foot or two off at 40 yards. It takes time and money to regulate the barrels to shoot together.
I had a Tikka that was a well made combo, but I agree about the Baikal and Savages. Most of the Savages I've tried won't shoot both barrels together. Zero the rifle barrel with a scope and you might find the shotgun pattern is a foot or two off at 40 yards. It takes time and money to regulate the barrels to shoot together.
Had a Savage/Stevens 24 22lr/20ga as a kid. Sounded like the ultimate for small game, until i tried the single trigger. Way to heavy for the rifle. Was to young to know about trigger jobs though. Intrestingly it had printed on barrel not to fire the shotgun with scope attached. Don't know if this was for safety (some kid getting scoped) or for damage to the scope, as I never had one on it.
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Originally Posted By: atdHad a Savage/Stevens 24 22lr/20ga as a kid. Sounded like the ultimate for small game, until i tried the single trigger. Way to heavy for the rifle. Was to young to know about trigger jobs though. Intrestingly it had printed on barrel not to fire the shotgun with scope attached. Don't know if this was for safety (some kid getting scoped) or for damage to the scope, as I never had one on it.
They had the warning because the dovetail system normally isn't strong enough to keep the scope from moving with the shotgun's recoil. Normally a dovetail is suitable for 22LR, but not much else. Later guns were drilled and tapped for a more secure mounting system.
They had the warning because the dovetail system normally isn't strong enough to keep the scope from moving with the shotgun's recoil. Normally a dovetail is suitable for 22LR, but not much else. Later guns were drilled and tapped for a more secure mounting system.