Cape gun regulation question

[trappererick]

Can anyone tell me how Cape Guns were generally regulated if there is such a thing? What are the odds of finding a Cape Gun that will shoot the rifle barrel to point of aim at 100 yards and have the shotgun barrel shoot Brenneke slugs to point of aim at 50 yards?

[Axel E]

Cape guns, Büchsflinten (s/s) or Bockbüchsflinten (o/u) are not "regulated" for slug use normally. Alas, you have a rifle barrel for "big game" use. The shot barrel is intended for shot use. Some combinations may shoot a Brenneke slug reasonably close to the rifle sights, others do not. There is difference also from using open sights or a scope. It's just a matter of happenchance. You have to test each gun individually for it's performance with slugs. In Germany now noone uses a slug as a primary big game load, if a rifle barrel is availble. Slugs are used here just as an Ersatz substitute, f.i. when hunting fur and feather with a shotgun and there is a Chance of jumping a boar instead of partridge. Or they are loaded into the left shot barrel of a drilling or combination to provide a short range, emergency second shot on driven wild boar. So test your own gun. You may be lucky or not.

[trappererick]

Axel E,

Thank you for your reply. I figured that would be the case. In Maine where I hunt whitetails a Bockbüchsflinten that did shoot the slugs with the open sights out to 50 yards and the rifle out to 100 would make an ideal gun. I currently have a 1940 SUHL drilling in 16x16 x 6.5x57 that shoots this way and I absolutely love it. I am hoping to find an O/U in the same combination or with a 8x57JR rifle barrel that will do the same.

[Diz]

Trappererick,

I thought about your question for awhile and first off I've never tried slugs out of my drilling. I think the major problem is that many Cape guns are 16 gauge and there is not a wide assortment of slugs on the market to try. There is always the possibility of custom handloading your own to get them to work. I did this once for a friends O/U shotgun using pulled Brenneke slugs and got them to hit by slowing them down. Just a thought.

Thanks, Diz

[John]

I was lucky - my BBF rifle barrel (8x57JR) and the 16 gauge shotgun barrel hit to the exact same POI at 50 yards WITH THE SCOPE on the gun. If I take off the scope, the slug groups hit at least 5" high. (Factory ammo: S&B rifle ammo and Brenneke 2 1/2" 16 ga. slugs.)

[mike ford]

Since everyone else is weighing in, I may as well also. I have used various BFs and BBFs since 1971 and drillings since the early 60s. Even though I experimented with my main BBF(Heym 16ga/7x57R) and found where to "hold", in order to put a Brenneke on target at 100meters, I hardly ever carried a slug in the shot barrel of either a BF or BBF. To do so you give up an important benefit of having the shot barrel in the first place. For a good while, I used a 22mag EL in the shot barrel, but I don't even do that now. A drilling(or Vierling for those well off enough to have one) in a different story. In the drilling, you can carry a slug and still keep the advantage of shot in one barrel. Even in a drilling, however, I hardly ever use a slug; usually it's the large rifle, 22 EL(either Mag or LR), and fine shot. "To each his own". I think there may be some areas where it may lot be legal to have shot during the deer season, I always advise to follow the law.
Mike

[Leatherman]

I have tried the brenneke slugs in four different drillings I have owned and neither left or right barrels have shot closer than a foot to the rifle barrel at 50 yards making them useless as a second or first choice for large game . I do have a Ferlock over under cape gun that at 50 yards I can cover the 7x57 bullet hole with the slug. Which makes me wonder if the over under cape guns might be better regulated than the side by side drillings and cape guns. Any truth to this Axel ? Personally i think if you have a combo gun, drilling or cape gun that shoots a slug to the same point of aim as the rifle barrel at 50 yards , it is the perfect weapon in any thick hardwoods for big game having two quick shots and the option to choose the slug for close range in thick cover over the rifle. Most US states large game seasons do not overlap the small game season so there is no need to even have a shot cartridge in the gun. in the small game season I only have the large caliber rifle cartridge in the chamber in case I see a coyote or fox. Combo guns also are perfect varmit guns that when loaded with both a rifle cartridge and shot cartridge, give you the quick option of a shotgun for close range and a rifle for long range. This is the great thing I enjoy about owning and useing these guns over the usual bolt action one caliber rifle. Although I do enjoy my German single shot and double guns too.

[sharps4590]

In 3 of the 4 drillings I own that are Nitro proofed my experience echo's Leatherman's with the 2 1/2 in. Brenneke's. Well, two weren't a foot off but a good 8 inches at 50 yards. One was abysmal, over a foot. I tried them hoping one would shoot the slugs close to the sights but no such luck, and that's ok. It isn't as if they are really needed for my hunting. I didn't try the slugs at a closer range which is something I should probably do just for my own edification, I could be pleasantly surprised.

As far as small game during deer season it is obvious that will vary from state to state. Here in Missouri it is perfectly legal to hunt small game during deer season provided the correct criteria is met. I have one drilling equipped with a 22 LR, EL and if I'm carrying it all three barrels are loaded with their respective cartridges.