Unlicensed Dremel
Moderator
There's a thread in bolts/pumps/levers re: "Why aren't pump rifles more popular for hunting?".
OK, so why aren't combo guns more popular? I'm a big fan and have had several.
While I only have one left (Savage 24 in .22 mag & 20 ga 3.0"), it's so incredibly versatile that it has more niches /uses than any other gun. It is scoped with a low power variable (1-4x20).
I mean, I have a fair number of guns, and used to have a lot more, and regardless, even considering back when I had a lot, this gun (or other combo) beats all others for:
1. Squirrel & rabbit gun. Shotgun "always" while walking; flip to rimfire on hammer selector if critter stops cold more than 30 yards out.
2. Fall Turkey gun. In many states like mine, there is a fall turkey season where a gun can be used. Some counties, it's still shotgun-only, like spring season, but most counties, you can use a rifle or shotgun, your choice.
3. Coyote gun in the woods / brush, especially in team calling where you are the shooter, and a friend behind you calling. No. 1 buck to No. 4 buck for trotting up close; flip to .22 mag head shot for stopped.
4. Subsistence survival - well what could be better? .22 mag shotshells even for little bitty birds and mice and such, not to mention everything from there to full-bore forster slugs.
5. Pig hunting on public land. Some WMAs here have a rule (though not all of them) that if hunting pigs outside of deer gun season, you can only use a weapon that is legal for another species in season at the time. So if you're hunting pigs during squirrel or rabbit season, you an only use rimfire or shotgun - BB or smaller. So, .22 mag to the base of ear. Or 20 ga slug. Yeah, I know that'd be illegal because it's not BB or smaller... but the reason for this very very stupid rule is to slow down deer poachers. So if you haul out a pig (not a deer) and admit that you used a 20 ga slug, the warden will give you a high five and look the other way. So if the good guys break the rule, no harm no foul, as I see it. If the warden wants to give me a ticket for possessing a slug because he doesn't believe I'm pig hunting, meh - ok, I'll pay it.
6. Overlapping seasons including wing-shooting: Squirrel / pheasant, squirrel / quail (and when I used to have a 12 ga / .223 rem, deer/quail , deer/pheasant). This use is why the scope is a true 1.0x bottom, not 1.25 or 1.5x. Although admittedly, I probably couldn't hit anything on the wing, having not practiced with it. But if I practiced, bet I could - it has long eye relief and huge exit pupil on 1x, so easy to get "on target".
So, most of my guns have two designated uses. Some have one use and a few have three uses. Only 1 gun has has "four or more" uses - this one - and it happens to have six - impressive. Although, in fairness, there are ALSO other guns which I have or plan to get, which have overlapping coverage on some of these uses (like .223 rem turnbolt for yotes and long-range fall turkeys, plain old .22lr rimfire for squirrel & rabbit, suppressed centerfire subsonic SBR rifle for subsistence survival big-game hunting, etc.)
OK, so why aren't combo guns more popular? I'm a big fan and have had several.
While I only have one left (Savage 24 in .22 mag & 20 ga 3.0"), it's so incredibly versatile that it has more niches /uses than any other gun. It is scoped with a low power variable (1-4x20).
I mean, I have a fair number of guns, and used to have a lot more, and regardless, even considering back when I had a lot, this gun (or other combo) beats all others for:
1. Squirrel & rabbit gun. Shotgun "always" while walking; flip to rimfire on hammer selector if critter stops cold more than 30 yards out.
2. Fall Turkey gun. In many states like mine, there is a fall turkey season where a gun can be used. Some counties, it's still shotgun-only, like spring season, but most counties, you can use a rifle or shotgun, your choice.
3. Coyote gun in the woods / brush, especially in team calling where you are the shooter, and a friend behind you calling. No. 1 buck to No. 4 buck for trotting up close; flip to .22 mag head shot for stopped.
4. Subsistence survival - well what could be better? .22 mag shotshells even for little bitty birds and mice and such, not to mention everything from there to full-bore forster slugs.
5. Pig hunting on public land. Some WMAs here have a rule (though not all of them) that if hunting pigs outside of deer gun season, you can only use a weapon that is legal for another species in season at the time. So if you're hunting pigs during squirrel or rabbit season, you an only use rimfire or shotgun - BB or smaller. So, .22 mag to the base of ear. Or 20 ga slug. Yeah, I know that'd be illegal because it's not BB or smaller... but the reason for this very very stupid rule is to slow down deer poachers. So if you haul out a pig (not a deer) and admit that you used a 20 ga slug, the warden will give you a high five and look the other way. So if the good guys break the rule, no harm no foul, as I see it. If the warden wants to give me a ticket for possessing a slug because he doesn't believe I'm pig hunting, meh - ok, I'll pay it.
6. Overlapping seasons including wing-shooting: Squirrel / pheasant, squirrel / quail (and when I used to have a 12 ga / .223 rem, deer/quail , deer/pheasant). This use is why the scope is a true 1.0x bottom, not 1.25 or 1.5x. Although admittedly, I probably couldn't hit anything on the wing, having not practiced with it. But if I practiced, bet I could - it has long eye relief and huge exit pupil on 1x, so easy to get "on target".
So, most of my guns have two designated uses. Some have one use and a few have three uses. Only 1 gun has has "four or more" uses - this one - and it happens to have six - impressive. Although, in fairness, there are ALSO other guns which I have or plan to get, which have overlapping coverage on some of these uses (like .223 rem turnbolt for yotes and long-range fall turkeys, plain old .22lr rimfire for squirrel & rabbit, suppressed centerfire subsonic SBR rifle for subsistence survival big-game hunting, etc.)