Combos?

[marlinman93]

It seems like suddenly about half the posts here are about gun combos! Not sure why the sudden interest and flood of combos popped up, but I've always found these combos to be a compromise for either the rifle or the pistol used. A load that works the best in one, rarely works well in the other; so it results in either the rifle or the pistol not being as good as the other is.
I've never understood why it's a thing, as a good load for each is always better, and never have carried a rifle and pistol in the same chambering while out hunting. I chose to carry the best rifle and cartridge I had, and the best handgun and cartridge to go with me.

[Bearskinner]

For me personally I just have a love of Leverguns and Single Actions. DA’s are pretty nice as well. My Single actions are capable of taking any animal in the world, and have, literally.
I pretty much just play with lever guns, so it makes sense to use something I already load for, and cast bullets for.
Ideally a hunting SA, ( longer barrel with better sights ir optics) with a matching caliber short barreled SA belt gun, add in a 3-4” DA belt gun, and a lever to complete the set. For each caliber!

[gamekeeper]

Unless hunting in dangerous territory : ie either human or large predator, I would choose opposites, powerful long gun with a .22 handgun or powerful handgun and .22 long gun.
Nice to have lots of choices though....

[JBowen]

I agree with all of the above. It is just fun having options. When I go hunting I choose the best ammo for both firearms. Usually the lever is a
rifle cartridge.

JBowen

[JimT]

I've not found it difficult to come up with a load that worked quite well in both long gun and hand gun, especially in the .357 Magnum. An accurate load in one has usually been accurate in the other.

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[Pat C]

Well I guess I'm partly to blame since I started the recent "combo" threads. But pistol caliber rifle/ hangun talk I believe would be tge basis for this entire forum ,would it not?
Lever Action model 92 and Colt style SAA otta be the poster child of the board.

Just like in the days of the wild west a combination rifle and pistol in same caliber would be priority and certainly very handy today.

Some of the later threads I think are just folks funnin .

[OldWin]

Yup. Made more sense in the black powder era IMO.

[gamekeeper]

Away from civilization and in hostile country carrying just one calibre ammunition for a rifle and a handgun made perfect sense or we would never have seen Colt chamber revolvers in rifle calibers, it must have been popular so as to make good business sense.
I particularly like Ysable Kids .69 muzzleloading combo being a black powder shooter myself I prefer the less complicated the better approach..

[Ysabel Kid]

Heck guys, combinations are just plain fun!

[JBowen]

Jim, that is some nice groups there. Looks like you have a "keeper" there.

JBowen

[AJMD429]

Unless hunting in dangerous territory : ie either human or large predator, I would choose opposites, powerful long gun with a .22 handgun or powerful handgun and .22 long gun.
Nice to have lots of choices though....

Me too, but it's just FUN...

[44shooter]

OP makes a great point. Although I have 22 and 44 combos, I have never carried both in the field simultaneously, only at ranges. I’ve carried a shotgun and 22 pistol, high power rifle and a 38, a 22 rifle and a magnum pistol. Combos made more sense in a different time when travel was rough and long, nearly all repeaters fired cartridges that could be chambered in revolvers, and the vast majority of folks had close to no extra money. Even then I’m sure many if not most did not use cartridge combos. I imagine most had a shotgun, a single shot rifle, and maybe a revolver. On a homestead or even a wagon, it would work. On a horse, particularly traveling alone, a 44 or 38 combo would have been very prudent. I still think combos make a sound defense option today especially autos, or levers/DA revolvers

As for settling on a load, probably best to find something accurate and functional for the rifle, then make sure it works in the handgun.

[2ndovc]

Because we can.

However, this is the combo that gets the most trail time.
.30-'06 '95 SRC, 1911 National Match and Number one Scout Dog.




jb

[Griff]

Until I started cowboy action shooting, I never gave like cartridges in a rifle & handgun a thought. Up to that time I'd used 3 rifles for hunting, coyotes & deer with a Winchester 94 in 30-30, then a Remington 700 in 7mmRM for an elk hunt in CO, and a 375 Marlin for CA bear the next summer. my sidearm had been either a Ruger 3-screw in .357 or my Colt SAA in 45. It wasn't until my 2nd year in CAS that I got my hands on a rifle in 45 Colt. That's when I saw the advantages of it.

[veeman]

Couple dash calibers, 1894 src, made in 1987, 38-55, and a Remington 44-40

[veeman]

Last one, 1876 45/75 and Colt 44-40

[marlinman93]

Going to start searching for a handgun combo to go with my Sharps in .50-3.25" soon.

[Paladin]

Here are some of my work combo's
.45 ACP and 9mm the longer ones were a great improvement over the handguns.

[junkbug]

Not that it is super pertinent, but I remember seeing photos of GIs with a Thompson SMG, and a 1911; British Tommies with Sten guns and Ingis Hi Powers, and of course, various German troops with an MP-40 and a Walther P-38.
I do not believe I will ever own any of these combos.