For years, I've gone back and forth on whether to buy a combination gun.
I'm not referring to high end German drillings and the like, but rather Savage 24s, Baikal IZH-94s, or current offerings such as the Savage 42 or Chiappa Double Badger.
Furthermore, I'm thinking rimfire/shotgun.
One use would be upland hunting (I might see gray squirrels, rabbits, roughed grouse, and woodcock in the areas I go). Another purpose could be pest control around the property. Woodchucks, skunks, and raccoons are all possible visitors.
Currently, I have several 22lr rifles and several 20 gauge and 12 gauge shotguns, but a combination of the two does seem intriguing (also would consider .22 magnum and .410 chamberings).
I'm asking for general (or model-specific) opinions on whether combination guns in practice are as good as the concept sounds. I have a few hangups in particular.
1) I prefer light, handy guns, and it seems like a lot of combination guns are fairly heavy compared to their single-cartridge counterparts (which makes sense since they have two barrels).
2) It seems like something's got to give with the sights. Either you have a simple sight picture that's more conducive for instinctive wing-shooting or you have better precision sights for hitting small targets with the rifle barrel. I think a magnified optic would be out for me, because it would be hard for me to get on a grouse or woodcock quickly (plus it would add weight that I don't want). Anyone found a sight setup that works reasonable well for both types of shots?
3) Barrel alignment seems to be an issue with a lot of combination guns. If you don't have great alignment, can a gunsmith correct it? If so, can he do it without exorbitant cost? Otherwise, I suppose you just sight in the rifle barrel and mentally/visually adjust for the shotgun?
I'm not referring to high end German drillings and the like, but rather Savage 24s, Baikal IZH-94s, or current offerings such as the Savage 42 or Chiappa Double Badger.
Furthermore, I'm thinking rimfire/shotgun.
One use would be upland hunting (I might see gray squirrels, rabbits, roughed grouse, and woodcock in the areas I go). Another purpose could be pest control around the property. Woodchucks, skunks, and raccoons are all possible visitors.
Currently, I have several 22lr rifles and several 20 gauge and 12 gauge shotguns, but a combination of the two does seem intriguing (also would consider .22 magnum and .410 chamberings).
I'm asking for general (or model-specific) opinions on whether combination guns in practice are as good as the concept sounds. I have a few hangups in particular.
1) I prefer light, handy guns, and it seems like a lot of combination guns are fairly heavy compared to their single-cartridge counterparts (which makes sense since they have two barrels).
2) It seems like something's got to give with the sights. Either you have a simple sight picture that's more conducive for instinctive wing-shooting or you have better precision sights for hitting small targets with the rifle barrel. I think a magnified optic would be out for me, because it would be hard for me to get on a grouse or woodcock quickly (plus it would add weight that I don't want). Anyone found a sight setup that works reasonable well for both types of shots?
3) Barrel alignment seems to be an issue with a lot of combination guns. If you don't have great alignment, can a gunsmith correct it? If so, can he do it without exorbitant cost? Otherwise, I suppose you just sight in the rifle barrel and mentally/visually adjust for the shotgun?