Anyone own a drilling?

[Dirtdart]

You might qualify for the "one gun man" status....

What's not to like! Aren't they neat, with the pop up rear sight leaf/barrel selector, and over all precision? Most I have picked up had a real nice swing, and usually had a little cast off in the stock. Of course I like extra drop, but if yours has too much there are nice leather cheek piece risers for sale.

Yours also has a very modern scope base attachment, one of the best IMO, which allowed you to use scope of your choice in standard rifle rings. You probably even save a bit by going GPO.

The Recknagel mount had one inch rings when I bought it. A couple of years back I bought a small lot of scope rings and it so happened that the pair of "unknown" 30mm rings fit this base. I was only going to be able to use a scope with a straight tube or a very small objective to get the eye relief to work for me. The 4" of eye relief and 80+ feet of field of view on 1.5 magnification suits this rig perfectly.
My Krieghoff Extra inserts in.22LR and .22WMR add to the versatility.

 

[Dirtdart]

If any of you happen upon a drilling that has a period correct Zeiss with only an elevation adjustment you may find this useful.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

My drillings and combo rifles have VERY petite front blades...like really thin. My eyes can't do that any more.

 

[Mooselodge]

Am lately buying too many shotguns and rifles but, nonetheless thinking of getting a drilling for the hell of it. I like the looks of some of them, and the 16 gauge over 7x57R seems like a potentially useful combination in PA deer, bear, coyote, pheasant lands. Does anyone here own one who can give me advice?
Thanks.
Craig

Craig,
I purchased a 16x16x9.3x72r 25 yrs ago.
I wanted an old used one
It covers everything that walks or flys in Pa and potentially even a medium size Sasquatch ~10 ft or less if you get into a jam up in Potter Co.
Mine is a German , Scherping in Hanover Germany

All fine old school machine work on locks action etc.
The 16 ga is standard 2 1/2 inch
All Rhienmetal fluid steel
No date but probably 20s
The 9.3 barrel is fired by a flick of the thumb which raises the inset rear sight and using the right lock and front trigger
Bored are excellent, no import marks

The very first time I fired the 9.3 barrel it was absolutely dead on at 50 yds and remains as such

Absolutely look for a pre war
I prefer hammer guns but you can come across hammerless.
These are always hard to find when you want one but seem to find them by pure luck when you aren’t looking.

Mine is tight as a new gun. Built very well

You will love it and you are set for a coyote when you are out for grouse if you can still find any
I’ll try to attach pics

S&B makes fine ammo for it

Mooselodge

 

[CJNJ]

Great points! Close to pulling the trigger on one. Still not sure whether to get one scoped or not as I see it primarily as a close range 50 yd weapon. But getting a scope after the fact seems like a major ordeal.

 

[Kynoch2015]

Great advice has been given, especially on the 16ga to 20ga frame size. I’ve found good luck seeing what regulates by considering what loads (RWS, Norma, Brenneke) the regulators may have used. Brenneke for example offers both 2.5” and 2.75” 16ga classic slug shells. If you think you want a scope, get it from the start. Hand fitted claw mounts are shockingly expensive. You may pay half as much again to have mounts fitted and scoped, and it still won’t be original. These can get addictive. There are always double rifle over shotgun and multi caliber “drillings”. You may also want to consider a combo (single barrel of each). If you’re not in a big hurry, hit some of the bigger gun shows (e.g., Tulsa) and see some examples in person. Best of luck!

 

[Dirtdart]

My drillings and combo rifles have VERY petite front blades...like really thin. My eyes can't do that any more.

With my eyes those tiny irons are really just ornaments.