doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Accuracy of the rifle barrel of a drilling?

Thank you all.

I bought a 16x16x22.Hornet and shot it at 50 yards with groups of 2" spread. It had a loose action. I had the action tighten and wondered what accuracy to expect now. I will try different ammo, too.

Have owned several, and used one extensively for several years in Germany. It, the ones in between, and two I currently own (an 8x57R and 9.3x74R) were all extremely accurate (MOA -1 1/4") through about three shots. As noted, the thin rifle barrel will heat quickly, and I suspect, begin to flex against the shotgun barrels. That said, who is likely to be able to use more than three aimed shots at a game animal from what is essentially a single shot? I use mine often chasing grouse after a morning on a deer stand. Great guns, and a wonderful solution to a general bag environment.

I inherited one from my father, it is an Emil Eckoldt, Suhl. It has assisted opening, in 12x12x25-35Win. Chocked full and full. The rifle cartridge is rather weak for red deer or wild boar, but it works very well on small game and feral dogs in the 75-100 mts range. At 75 mts prints 1.5" groups of three shots, no scope. This September I will try it on fallow deer. This drilling is my prefered companion for most outings in nearby hills. EJ

The whole purpose of a drilling is to facilitate Germanic hunting in which you stroll through the woods and shoot any game in season that presents itself; birds on the wing, boar, buck, auerhahn, the troisieme regimente de l'infantrie etranger, etc. Since you get overlapping seasons, you are ready to take whatever you find. I have a Krieghoff drilling in 30.06 x12x12 and, as others have related, it will place three shots into 2" at 100 yards easily. That's sufficient for ground game up to boar. I would probably not take it out on a pheasant only day and it wouldn't be my first choice for driven boar, but if all sorts may make themselves available...

...le regimente inclus...

JC

I just purchased an old drilling, 16x16x9.3x74r for grouse hunting in the north woods. Some times I will jump a deer in season. I usually jump a few rabbits and an occasional woodcock, so I am already doing a mixed bag.

Given the area, I would hardly ever see a second shot and never more than 75 yards with 30 yard being the norm. So the accuracy does not really concern me.

It is short, light and comes with swivels for a sling.... My idea of a good grouse gun.

Pete

Pete, with the 9.3, you can also put the odd cape buffalo or lion you flush into the bag. It'll do a hell of a job on Mr. Peter Cottontail or brer squirrel. I seem to recall that that combination was issued to Luftwaffe pilots as a survival gun. Any interesting markings on yours?

Don has it exactly right; the triangular barrel configuration is inherently accurate. I wonder if Sliver's gun has been "re-lined"? (a .22 Hornet drilling or even the German Vierling cartridge is very uncommon). Peter, I would check your gun carefully; really old 9.3x74R's are not widely known. Usually that cartridge was seen in later, post 1910 guns. A friend happens to have one in the afore mentioned Eckoldt-patent; a rare bird in any caliber.

As an aside, owners of 9.3x74Rs can shoot 9mm Makarov pistol cartridges with a chamber insert. The cartridge headspaces on the case mouth (it's rimless) and the bullet fits the bore almost perfectly to give an accurate plinker- almost like having a Vierling.

Many drillings are heavy, complicated and cumbersome. Others, in my experience, are "just right" for a wide variety of game. It certainly can be fun sorting them out.

C.

I believe Franz Rosenberg wrote a very interesting article in the 1956 Gun Digest as to the accuracy of drillings and other combination guns.I know it was in the 50's as I am going from memory here.

Yes, it has been relined. Does that make it less accurate? The muzzle is freely floating in a mounting piece. I can notice the expansion/lenghtening of the barrel after shooting a couple of rounds.