J.P. · Shotgun
German Drilling (Sauer M30)
Break action · 12 Gauge · introduced 1930
Also known as Drilling, Dreilaeufer, Sauer M30
About the German Drilling (Sauer M30)
The Drilling is a German three-barrel combination gun, typically pairing two side-by-side 12-gauge shotgun barrels with a single rifle barrel beneath them, selectable by a barrel selector. This entry is anchored to the well-documented J.P. Sauer & Sohn M30, whose rifle barrel was chambered in 9.3x74mmR. A do-it-all hunter's gun, the type combines birdshot for game birds with a rifle barrel for big game in a single break-action arm.
The Sauer M30 Drilling was issued to Luftwaffe bomber crews in the North African and Mediterranean theaters as a survival gun - so a downed airman could hunt game and defend himself against animals after a forced landing; about 2,456 were made, stamped with Nazi eagle and Waffenamt proofs.
German Drilling (Sauer M30) specifications
General
- Type
- Shotgun
- Action
- Break action
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer-fired
- Trigger
- Set trigger
- Calibres
- 12 Gauge, 9.3x74mm R
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 651 mm (25.6 in)
- Overall length
- 1100 mm (43.3 in)
- Weight (empty)
- 3.40 kg (7.50 lb)
Barrel
- Rifling
- Right hand
Materials
- Barrel
- Steel
- Receiver / frame
- Steel
- Stock
- Wood
- Finish
- blued
Performance
- Muzzle velocity (typical)
- 400 m/s (1312 fps)
- Muzzle energy (typical)
- 2560 J (1888 ft·lb)
- Effective range
- 150 m
History
- Introduced
- 1930
- Production status
- In production
- Country of origin
- DE
Available calibres
Features
- Three barrel configuration
- Two shotgun one rifle barrel
- Barrel selector
- Set trigger for rifle barrel
- Claw scope mounts
- Pop up rifle rear sight
- Greener crossbolt
Safety
- Side safety lever
'Drilling' is German for 'triplet'. Dimensions are anchored to the Sauer M30 exemplar; the type varies widely by maker (Sauer, Heym, Krieghoff, Merkel) and the rifle barrel is offered in many cartridges (9.3x74mmR, 7x57R, 8x57JR, .30-06 and others). The front trigger doubles as a set trigger for the rifle barrel. The M30 Luftwaffe variant (about 2,456 made, 1941-1942) was issued to German bomber crews as a survival gun.
