Anyone own a drilling?

[thriller]

Based on your advice and @MontanaGrant, I am leaning to one without a scope.

Fair choice but if you want to go to claw mounts later it’s expensive just fyi. They are fun to hunt with. Also you may already know this but the fast majority of them have push forward set trigger for the rifle in my experience.

 

[Red Leg]

I am not European, but I did live on the edge of the Spessart Mountains in Wertheim a Main for five years in the late seventies. The smartest acquisition that I made during that period was 16x16x6.5x57R drilling. It was equipped with a Sixties era fixed 6 power Zeiss scope in claw mounts. I helped a state forester with his shooting plan on a huge revier in the mountains. On any given afternoon or morning, I might have an opportunity at fox, roe deer, red deer, or wild boar. I usually kept a .22 mag insert barrel in the right shotgun barrel.

Every fall, I participated in at least half a dozen drive hunts where hare, pheasant, huns, and the occasional wild bore and fox were encountered. It was the perfect choice for those hunts, and the majority of Germans participating in them were also carrying drillings.

I have no idea how many roe deer (the shooting plan included a proportion of does and fawns along with cull bucks) and small game I took with that drilling but it was a lot. It also took a cull stag and probably half a dozen hinds. I know that it took thirteen wild boar from a a couple of good Keilers to assorted other Ueberlaeufers. The little 6.5 and M/F choke barrels were deadly.

Based on my more recent hunts in central Europe and visits to gun shops where wonderful drillings languish in the racks, it is clear that those very practical solutions to the ideal field firearm are indeed being abandoned. More is the pity.

In the States, I have only used one regularly in two areas. One was the Sabine River bottom some forty miles north of the Gulf. The area is fairly thick swamp which we would drift in pirogues. The typical morning produced wood ducks, woodcock and squirrels, but a whitetail buck was always a possibility. The other was while living in Northern VA where I had a lease in the mountains overlooking the Shenandoah. If hunting mornings, I would take the drilling and let my pointer have nap in the truck while I sat a stand for an hour or so. I would then retrieve her, dismount the scope, and spend a couple of hours working the ridges for grouse. Great use for a drilling. That drilling was a 16x16x8x57R which I still have. During that decade it took at least a dozen whitetail, numerous braces of grouse, several foxes and two eastern coyotes.

This is the drilling I used in Northern VA. It is a "Guild" gun built in 1939. Probably a GI bring back because it had mounts but no scope. JJ Perodeau fitted rings. They are magnificent creations and perfect for their intended use - now almost totally abandoned in the nation of their creation.

 

[CJNJ]

Hope I find one that nice!

 

[steve white]

I'm a big fan. I have two three barreled, one in light 12 ga. and one in 16 ga.--the 16 is actually a half pound heavier. I have a combo gun as well. All are 8X57 JR. I have killed deer, pheasant, rabbits and doves aplenty. My longest shot at a white tail was a lazer measured 250 yards--with a drilling.

 

[CJNJ]

I too am from PA but haven’t had it out in the field - only range.

Thought maybe I could hunt whitetail, bear, and coyote with less than full chokes resulting in 3 possible shots, one longer range with the rifle barrel and two close range with slugs through the shotgun barrels. Might be a fun change of pace.

 

[Red Leg]

On a drive hunt where boar were sighted, a slug was placed in left barrel. With the selector on rifle, the front trigger fired the rifle and the rear trigger the slug. Brenneke style slugs with the attached base are typically surprisingly accurate in most drillings.

 

[CJNJ]

That's a great idea, wish I thought of it! Basically turns the drilling into a double rifle.

 

[Muskox]

Problem in modern Germany is that a lot of the driven hunts take place on either state or federal Forest lands and everything has to be copper or lead free in some other way.

I know there are lead free bullets for slugs. But how well will your 1950s or 70s era drilling due with modern lead free slugs? Only one way to find out, but it seems to me an overly complicated and overly heavy mechanism. Now I bock drilling especially a lightweight one and a smaller caliber h mlike 7X65R. 222. And a 20 gauge I think I could work around that. Special if you could get one for around 7 1/2 pound with a scope.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

I have several and they are fun. I agree with Montana grant except on the optics. Most have detachable mounts and it is very hard to change scopes. This obviously only applies to used. Check out the save the fine guns website. George and tobi are great and can find what you want. The are reputable and will take the gun back and give you your money back if you are not sati

With German claw mounts, it couldn't be easier to put on and remove a scope. I have one Colt Sauer 3000 that is 12ga sxs with a 30-06 slung underneath. The gun is amazing.

Thw claw mounts are massively expensive to install so qhen buying used and you want to add an optic, i would STRONGLY suggest you get one with the mounts already installed. That is $1800-2000 to buy and install today.

 

[Red Leg]

Problem in modern Germany is that most of the hunts take place on either state or federal Forest lands and everything has to be copper or lead free in some other way.

I assume Germany, like the US, is suffering small game loss of habitat due to modern farming practices and other issues. Has there been a resulting decline in small game drive hunts (with the occasional wild boar sounder to liven things up)? If so, you have lost a wonderful part of the German hunting culture as well. The evening in the guest house following hunt (Schüsseltreiben) was as much fun as the day in the field except perhaps for the Hunting King (Jagdkonig) who had to buy at least one round.

With respect to lead, are you referring to an issue with shot? Are lead alternatives such as tungsten or bismuth not available for use in older shotguns not designed for steel shot? I assume the no lead requirement is not an issue for rifles. I have not used a non lead load in my 8x57R, but all my 7x57R and 7x65R chambered rifles shoot the TSX family beautifully.

 

[HWL]

Does anyone here own one who can give me advice?
Thanks.
Craig

Yes.....
What do you want to know?

HWL

 

[steve white]

Red Leg is onto something with the decline in game birds and other small game. And not only are farming practices eliminating habitat, but feral cats are wreaking havoc. The flip in game species has led to a flip in armament. Now, someone might be as likely to order a double rifle drilling. But when you do, just to achieve rifle preference, then you spend way more than you would on a dedicated bolt action. Still, with rifle + slug, it is a wonder folks are turning away from the traditional drilling. I know I would not, if I was living over there and saw well engraved/preserved specimens at fire sale prices!

 

[Muskox]

I have not heard of someone shooting a pheasant on a driven hunt in a long time. Small game hunting here isn’t dead but itbis very limited. Fox mot withstanding

 

[CJNJ]

View attachment 784001
Yes.....
What do you want to know?

HWL

Haha! Thx. I think all the contributors to this thread have been helpful to me in deciding will I get a drilling - yes - and which one - still deciding. Krieghoff seems more expensive than Markel or Sauer. Thanks everyone.

 

[Muskox]

Blaser BD14 the only Bockdrilling currently manufactured by a normal factory should also be looked at. Blaser does still make the D99 as well, just have a long lead time.

I love the D99 but it is a howitzer. HEAVY!

Never handled a BD14.

Would love a Kreighoff doppenbuchsdrilling. or Kugeldrilling as it is called. A double rifle drilling.

If we are doing full custom, I'd order one from Schierring, Fuchs, Prinz, or anyone else in Ferlach. 8x57, 8x57, and a 222. Probably $25,000-50,000 to start. No sure.

 

[Red Leg]

Blaser BD14 the only Bockdrilling currently manufactured by a normal factory should also be looked at. Blaser does still make the D99 as well, just have a long lead time.

I love the D99 but it is a howitzer. HEAVY!

Never handled a BD14.

Would love a Kreighoff doppenbuchsdrilling. or Kugeldrilling as it is called. A double rifle drilling.

If we are doing full custom, I'd order one from Schierring, Fuchs, Prinz, or anyone else in Ferlach. 8x57, 8x57, and a 222. Probably $25,000-50,000 to start. No sure.

Sadly, there are probably far more prewar German and Austrian firearms in the US than in Germany. American GIs “liberated” as many as they could find and were legally allowed to ship them home. Many many others were turned in by German wives and mothers in the months following the end of hostilities when occupation forces ordered their confiscation. Most of these were destroyed. It was a very small percentage that survived in usable condition hidden away in basements, attics, and chicken coops. That is being exacerbated today as these older guns and rifles are being inherited by heirs who can not or have no desire to legally own them.

Pause the close up frame of the weapons being destroyed.

 

[Dirtdart]

A recently acquired Fortuna 12x12 over 9.3x74R. I have only taken this one to the range so far but I really enjoy it.

 

[steve white]

A recently acquired Fortuna 12x12 over 9.3x74R. I have only taken this one to the range so far but I really enjoy it.

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.

 

[UpNorthMI]

I've owned a 16 x 16 x 7x57R drilling for over 35 years and also have a bunch of combo guns. The drilling is a great option that gives a lot of flexibility. The best day I ever had with it was in the Scottish highlands in late August one year when I managed a right and left walked up grouse and a nice roe buck later in the afternoon, all in the same outing. Mine comes with a small Swarovski scope with quick release claw mounts and has heavy relief type game engraving. I'm a big fan of the 7x57R cartridge.

Treat yourself to one and enjoy. I'd strongly recommend a scope set up as my eyes are not what they were and open sights are just not so crisp anymore.

 

[CJNJ]

I've owned a 16 x 16 x 7x57R drilling for over 35 years and also have a bunch of combo guns. The drilling is a great option that gives a lot of flexibility. The best day I ever had with it was in the Scottish highlands in late August one year when I managed a right and left walked up grouse and a nice roe buck later in the afternoon, all in the same outing. Mine comes with a small Swarovski scope with quick release claw mounts and has heavy relief type game engraving. I'm a big fan of the 7x57R cartridge.

Treat yourself to one and enjoy. I'd strongly recommend a scope set up as my eyes are not what they were and open sights are just not so crisp anymore.

Good advice. I thought I would get one without a scope, but am now looking at scoped drillings as I've learned the expense to fit rings to existing claw mounts is substantial. Your day in Scotland sounds classic.