I realize your answer will depend on WHAT you hunt, and on HOW your gun works.
But what I'd like to know is the safest realistic procedure for hunting with a combination gun (or drilling: I assume the uses are about the same and the problems could be similar).
I have four combination guns, all O/Us: a no-name Suhl O/U 16x6.35x52R (.25-35), two Savage/Valmet (Finnish) 2400s (12 over .222R and 12 over .308WCF), and a Savage Model 24D .22WRM over .410.
These guns, except the 24, are used for hunting when bird and big game seasons overlap, or when I'm hunting birds in a place where there are lots of varmints (12x.222).
Do you consider it safe to carry the rifle barrel loaded when you are very likely to have to make a quick shot at upland game with the shotgun barrel? I don't, but would like to know what others do.
What worries me is that I normally carry a double shotgun, very often a Savage/Valmet 333, which has "controls" just like the 2400: SST with the selector in the trigger blade and the trigger is automatic--if you have the rifle barrel loaded and pull the trigger twice, the rifle barrel will be discharged. That possibility kinda scares me when I'm hunting quail in close cover like we often do.
The other combos aren't as likely to have this problem: the Suhl gun has double triggers to select barrels, and the little Savage has a selector button which requires conscious manipulation to select the rifle barrel. But with the Savage/Valmets, it would be very easy to fire both barrels inadvertently, since they are so like my similar double barrel shotguns, and with quail you have to shoot FAST.
Is this one reason most classic combos have two triggers? Anybody else dealt with this problem? How?
Last edited by Mike A.; 11/13/11 12:05 PM.
