Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Combination guns

I used to have a 22/410 Savage 24 that was a fun little gun, but limited in it's capability. Later iterations of Savages had much better chamberings (222/20), but were soooooo ugly it actually kept me from buying one.

Years have passed, and I find myself thinking about the utility of a combination gun to ride around full time. As such, I don't want to spend a King's ransom on a gun that's sure to see a lot of jostling around. I really like the 222/20 pairing, and am lookin' at those ugly duckling Savages, but would consider others in the same price range.

Suggestions?

Experience?

Any made with screw-in chokes?

I haven't seen .222 ammo on a stores shelves for years but a .223/20 ga.with screw in chokes is a gun I would buy. Should we call Savage and suggest?

My first gun was a Savage .22/20ga over-under. Still have it. ~35 yrs old. Great bunny hunting gun.

:::quote::: Later iterations of Savages had much better chamberings (222/20), but were soooooo ugly it actually kept me from buying one.::quote:::

Savage did make some horribly UGLY guns, especially in the 70s/80s. My uncle used a 20/222 M24V for all his deer hunting. Looked like 2 pipes glued together duct taped to a 2x4 with pressed checkering. but it worked really well. Savage did also make some larger versions like 12/30-30 , 223, 308.

Really? In 5 minutes I can have a cart filled with 222 from Academy.

"Combination guns"?

I never bought one of the M24 Savage "itterations" because they were TOO EXPENSIVE and poorly made in my opinion, in cartridges much, much too lacking or "limited!"

I like .22 rimfires for many applications (with many selections of ammo, from CB's to Velocitors), but why didn't Savage offer more 12gauge selections with the .30-30 or .30/06? (screw "ugly" for practical 'function!!' ).

The 'combination guns' I like include the Thompson Center Contender or Encore with the right combination of barrels!

Or the H&R HandiRifles, again with the right combination of barrels.

TWO PROJECTS I'm currently working on involve HandiRifles ..... One is with a .22LR Versa Pack barrel that fits an SB2 receiver (not the weaker SB1 receiver), that I'm adding barrels to in .223 Rem, .30/06, and 12ga. The idea behind this "Versa Quad" is have a minimal platform I can take mice to buffalo, sparrows to geese - if anarchy or a sustained depression forced me or my famm to depend on such a "tool."

Second project is making a 12ga "Survivor" or campgun/truckgun I can pack in bear country. Once the barrel is cut to 19inches and sights soldered on, it will always be packed with slugs powerful enough to kill a grizzly, buckshot for deer, shortie-shells in #7 1/2 or #6 for feathered stuff or small game, but also red meteor flares for signaling in emergencies! In bear country it will be complimented with a .44 or .45C wheelgun.

The M24 Savages have their place, but are VERY LIMITED in their usefulness IMO.

I would go so far as to say I think a .22LR rifle or long-barreled handgun is much more PRACTICAL and USEFUL over the M24 Savages, (assuming a versatile cache of rimfire ammo is kept with it!).

There are some combination guns with screw in chokes made in Italy...over and unders. I had a later production Kreighoff Trumph drilling with Brileys in it, done after market.

I gave a pretty good Italian 12/308 to a good friend, and it took the Win-choke type chokes. It had Sako dovetails on top of the barrels for scope mounting.

I recently sold a deadly accurate Valmet 412 in 12/222 for $1,000.00. It is a bit more than the Savage, but it is about 3 times the gun. I do still like the Savages for their simplicity and function. I had two in 20ga/30-30 that were great meat-getters.

Going to take me a bit to stop chucklin' after that perfect description.

That is funny! But to a ten year old kid it was really cool and it shot a lot of bunnies!

Not only could I live with the one you pictured, I'd like it.


Forgot 'bout the Valmets - thanks.

That pairing, or .223/28 would have me reachin' for my wallet.

I've got one of those Savages 22/410 with a Tenite stock. It's a good rabbit gun, very light if somewhat brittle. I like it because it's ugly, but it doesn't get much use.

Agreed.

The one I'm itchin' for now however is for takin' a bit bigger critters. A quick search is turning up a few of Valmets, which to my eye are pretty nice.

This one works for me, but I agree the old 24's were cool.


Can't think of a more 'practical' gun than a side by side 12 gauge with a 30/30 tube under.

Who makes that shooter Scott?

That is one of the sweetest drillings I ever held in my hands. It is the perfect configuration, too. It has a top tang safety, instead of the Greener side safety, and the rifle can be de-cocked by holding down the cocking lever and pulling the rear trigger, then let up the lever slowly. Sidelock, tang peep sight, nice French walnut, good American chamberings...

Great pictures!!!

Those quail were one of the best meals I've had in the past few years.

J.P Sauer, imported by Charles Daly and made in Prussia.

Sweet rig.

Can't argue with the capability, wouldn't feel right 'bout bouncin' that 'n' around in the cab of truck though.

Weigh a ton?

I believe that'd be the ticket for quail and snipe hunting down here.... always walking up on swine. That's a fine gun.