Combination Guns

[TedH]

When it bought my Valmet 412 I was mainly buying it for the 375 Winchester barrels, but it also came with 30-06 and 12 ga doubles too. I was lacking a set of combination barrels though, so I ended up buying another Valmet 412 that had a set of 12 ga/223 Remington with scope and mount. I put the 30-06 barrels on it and resold it for what I paid, essentially trading the 30-06 barrels for the combination barrels. I mounted a Leupold 1-4×20 and bore sighted it. After 1 adjustment I was in the bullseye. It really likes the 40 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. I only got to shoot at 50 yards so far due to time constraints, but if this accuracy plays out at longer distance it'll be a MOA shooter.
This will be a very versatile coyote gun this winter. Turn the scope down to 1x and 3" 12 ga #2's up close with the ability to reach out a ways too.

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[Mark in MO]

Very nice!
Maybe 20 years ago I picked up a NIB pre 68 Savage 24, complete with the hang tag. It is in 22 LR/20 gauge and is my favorite for rabbit hunting. I've always wondered why these combo guns aren't more popular here in the US? I don't know but I find them super handy, especially for small game which is where I use my 24.

[TedH]

I have had an old Savage 410/22 for a while and found it to be great fun for small game. The only downside to the Valmet 412 is the weight. With the combo barrels and scope its exactly 9 pounds.

[JB]

Very nice!
Maybe 20 years ago I picked up a NIB pre 68 Savage 24, complete with the hang tag. It is in 22 LR/20 gauge and is my favorite for rabbit hunting. I've always wondered why these combo guns aren't more popular here in the US? I don't know but I find them super handy, especially for small game which is where I use my 24.

I think the fact we don't have the restrictive laws limiting the number of guns we can own (for at least most of us) keep the combination guns from being more popular. That and many won't shoot the barrels to the same point of aim. I had a Tikka 222/12 gauge that did, but I've owned several of the cheaper Savage guns that wouldn't. That Tikka made a great turkey gun with the option of 222 or 12 gauge depending upon distance of the shot.

[Molasses]

Back when I was a youngster, I thought that a combination gun would be just the thing for crows, the pursuit of which was my passion for awhile.
Probably part of why I eventually found myself owning a Savage .222/20 gauge, which for some reason, hasn't just gone out on its own and magically made heaps of feathered marauders. IIRC, it's only gone to the range to get sighted in, shoot a few groups and has been neglected ever since. Should probably do something about that.

And incidentally, that Valmet sure looks sweet.

[mickbr]

my only experience with combos was a chiappa double badger in 410/22LR. lovely looking folding gun with two triggers, you could pull it out of anywhere and get a shot off in a second. Only problem was chiappas poor workmanship, spent most of its time in warranty

[Coalsmoke]

What a nice package that is. You are set for whatever comes along.

[Old No7]

Very cool!

I've had 2 or 3 "bockbuschflinte" combo guns in 12ga-over-222s over the years, but am without one now. On both my Valmet 412 and a Marochi (both had double triggers and were scoped 1-5X), I made several trips to shoot trap -- with the scope mounted on them! I did that to get practice using the scope at 1X on moving objects. A few guys laughed and a couple thought I was nuts (maybe so), but after missing the first few and then nailing all the others, I proved it could be done. With the 12ga bore, of course.

Wish I still had one -- it would be great for 'yotes (which was always my original intent).

Old No7

[t.r.]

I owned a Savage 24 back in the 1960's that featured a full choke. For me, it was difficult to down running or flying upland game. So I traded for a single barrel 20 gauge with cylinder bore and my success rate climbed. I prefer a wide pattern. TR