doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Grouse hunting with 8 and1/2 pound gun?

I agree, there are two types of drillings, the lighter, longer barreled ones priamrily for birds and the shorter, heavier ones, primarily for big game.

Mine is of the former, no scope, 16X16 over 8x57, swings fine and carries well. I haven't weighed it but I doubt it's over 7#'s.

But I still can't hit grouse.

Mine has an even harder safety but I got used to it.

Silver, I am not a fan of using a 8 pound gun for grouse hunting. Even if the gun balances perfect, all the one hand carry would have me needing a carple-tunnel splint the next day. I think that is one of the reasons that the light weight game gun has developed as it has. If I had to go with the drilling I would look for a light weight 12, if you can find one in your price range or maybe a 16 or 20 gauge to cut down the wt.

Tim

I've owned a number of drillings, both heavy and light. My recommendation is to get one with a tang safety. Prewar sidelock Sauers had them, as did a few others. Newer guns such as Kreighoffs have tang safeties as well, but are mighty pricey. Good luck.

Thank you all for your support.
I am used to the light grouse gun. Hunting the NW Montana corner for grouse is often physically challenging. More than the mountain, the ruff is difficult to get as you all know. Most of my shots are short distance snap shots.
I have found a Sauer from the prewar era that is a 12x12 over 7x57R with a scope on top of claw mounts. The safety is on the top tang which I much prefer. THere is a side lever to cock the rifle. It is pretty much all I like minus the weight...I can take deer, elk and black bear with it as I seem to run more into big game when I hunt grouse and vice versa. If there is no time to mount the scope on, I could still use the open sights.
I do have an older Simson 16x16 over .22 Hornet that is only 7lbs 4 oz and it feels a little heavy with 27" barrels. The Greener safety makes it even slower for the swing. Hopefully it is more a matter of getting used to them...
At any rate, drillings are fascinating.
By the way, reading through the "Drilling" by Klups he states that there are much better sidelocks than the H&H type which is overrated and not so refined mechanically and difficult to adjust. Apparently the Suhl companies have developed much better sidelocks than the H&H. One of them is the Sauer sidelock. Funny thing is that the H&H locks are still in production whereas the Sauer locks are not seen on the modern guns as he says at the end...

All i can say is go for it and enjoy,thats what I would do. Its the hunt not the bag that counts now days.And if the family was starveing what better gun to take and fetch food

I have just started using my new Merkel GDR drilling, 16/16/7x65r as my "go to gun" for big and small game. Without the scope is a decent carry gun. Yes, I've lighter, but not bad.

The real issue for things like grouse hunting is the Greener safety of most old drillings. I've gotten pretty good at getting if off while mounting and shooting the gun, but its slow and not easy... I did manage a nice woodcock back in January.

My original idea for a drilling was what you are thinking about a close quarters "whatever comes out" gun for the Eastern woods, back when I lived on the East Coast. A lighter drilling in 16 or 20, with a 7mm or 8mm rifle, no scope (or scope in quick release mounts and in my backpack), all ready to go. In areas where grouse, woodcock, turkeys and deer are all in season I'm convinced it is a sound concept. Though I left the East coast before I got mine... ooops...

Here's another idea: Would it work to use your regular grouse gun and also carry a handgun in a holster? A .44 or .45 can be light and still shoot reasonable loads, and be good for big game at short range.

Very nice pics,a gun that does what it was built to do for sure.