doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com Wagner drilling

Hi, all. I'm a new member here but I've been a lurker for years. I am looking to buy a combination gun, and found a Wagner drilling on Griffin & Howe's website for a very low price. Technically, it is Belgian according to the listing, but I thought this forum would be the appropriate place to discuss.

Since I am new to all this, I wanted to ask for members' opinions of the particular gun. Here is a link:
http://www.griffinhowe.com/reduced-pricelist.cfm

It's the last one, all the way at the bottom "Wagner Round Action Drilling".
Hopefully I'm not breaking any forum rules by posting the link. Please let me know if I am and I will remove it. I realize for the price it will be rough, but I am really just looking for something to hunt with. I have no intention of making it a show piece. Thanks in advance.

This drilling with the unusual safty on the tang and barrel selector beside the front trigger was certainly also made in Zella-Mehlis, Germany, as is the similar drilling in a nearby thread,
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=294320#Post294320
sorry, the name "Wagner" alone is not of much help, as it was a very frequent name in the German guntrade. There were 16 Wagners active in Zella-Mehlis, 13 in Suhl and 15 elsewhere in Germany. So the drilling may have been made by one of the Z-M makers of that name, or it may have been merely retailed by one of the country gunmakers.

"How loose is it?" comes to mind.

I happen to like that type of underlever action and especially the tang safety (I'm a lefty), and I think it's got a lot of potential. But, you've got to factor into the sale price the cost of tightening it up and probably some other needed work that will only become evident after you really start going over it. With gunsmiths being gunsmiths, if you're planning on hunting it this year, you should think again.

I'm not buying projects this year. I've got too many (in other areas) open and incomplete so as it is.

The proper way to tighten up one of these guns is to replace the hinge pin with a new oversize one and refit the barrels.The hinge pin on this type action is difficult to remove. Other ways of tightening them are less durable.
Mike

Hopefully Mr. Beach can help us out here as I'd like to see an image of the stock or conformation that either the head of the stock is pinned or if there is a Greener safety.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

I e-mailed G&H about the gun, but haven't heard back. I will call them tomorrow.

I intend to use whatever gun I buy for hunting, starting with a pig hunt in Texas next year. Does anyone know if 16 gauge slugs are available in the 65mm size? Would it even be safe to use them in a gun this old? Thanks in advance for all the replies - I know I have a lot to learn and you guys are a wealth of great information!

Mr. Beach dropped a dime and the description over the telephone for the safety was very similar to a Greener safety so the top selector would be for bullet or shot.

Baumgarten is working on the slugs

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Supergenius,
This is just my,admittedly,unsolicited opinion.This is a pretty good price,and I like the caliber;but for your main hunting drilling,you can do better.I would suggest a little more modern,top lever,trigger plate action drilling in one of the 57mmR cartridges.A scope would be a big plus.There have been a couple Mefferts on different auction sites recently that fit this discription,for decent prices.Mefferts sometimes go for a better price, because the Dural recievers with annodized finish look ugly when the finish is worn.This is a much smaller problem than looseness or no scope.On the other hand the underlever drilling would be OK for a second drilling to "play with".
Mike

Mike - I am inclined to agree. I don't yet know enough to want to take on a gun with needs. I'm just a sucker for a low price! I think I will give it a pass. I appreciate all the feedback.

Raimey - Who or what is Baumgarten? Thanks!

Supergenius,

That is funny. I have asked myself that question on occasion. Raimey always calls me by my last name even when we're shooting the bull on the phone. First name is Mark BTW.

It just so happens I took part in a conference call with two gentlemen from Brenneke USA and a marketing rep from Brenneke in Germany Saturday morning. Anyway, they are still on track for releasing the 16ga 65mm (2 1/2") "Classic" slug cartridges in the first quarter of 2013. The slugs will sell for the same price or close to the current 70mm (2 3/4"). Set-up for such production with regard to the cartridge itself is not as big of an issue as printing new boxes and putting together the advertizing. They have no idea how well the shorter cartridges will sell so there is some risk. I don't have the specs but it sounds like the performance of the shorter cartridge will be the same as the 2 3/4" and of course the 2 1/2" cartridges can be used in 2 3/4" chambers. If not for these forums helping to educate folks in these matters many would have no clue as to the intent of Wilhelm Brenneke's classic slug design. I personally am looking forward to taking whitetail and the occasional boar with the 65mm slugs as soon as I can get my hands on them.

Buchseman (Baumgarten)

PS - Your question: "Does anyone know if 16 gauge slugs are available in the 65mm size?" was forwarded to Brenneke USA as one of the many examples of people wanting to know where they can find such cartridges.