Like No2, I tend to be fond of my Sauer 3000 in 12/30-06 with a 6X50 Nickel Supra in claw mounts. They can be had for $3,200-3,500 without scope, and sometimes with scope for the same $$$. There is a Colt-Sauer on an auction site or GA for $3,350.00 right now without scope. I prefer claw mounts to other types, but that is mostly because I am used to them and have had nothing but good results with them.

My Simson 12/9,3X74R was heavy and slow to get into action, but it was a wonderful shooting gun.

I tend to think that the pre-war 16/8X57JR drillings are getting to be too expensive...almost as much as the later 12/30-06 guns, which are better values IMO.

The best configuration is the sidelock-side cock, as it uses a conventional tang safety, and one cocks the rifle with the side lever. In doing so, you select the rifle barrel, also. This is sometimes for the front trigger, and sometimes for the rear trigger. Most drillings use the front trigger for the selected rifle barrel, but my Charles Daly/Sauer sidelock/side-cocks use the rear trigger. The rifle is uncocked by holding down the lever, pulling the trigger, and lifting the lever up slowly.

I had a wonderful Gbr. Merkel sidelock/side-cock in 12/70mm and 8X57JRS at one time, but a "gunsmith" stole it, along with other peoples finer guns. It had a 2x7 Leupold in 1" split ring claw mounts. This was the best drilling I've ever used; the 8X57JRS was easy to reload with the .323 bullets and was a killer, as we all recognize in the 8mm Mauser. It had the top tang safety and front set trigger, and was regulated to throw an Original Brenneke slug right on the button at 60 meters out the right barrel with the rib flip sight. MOST of the sidelock/side-cock drillings also have a tang flip up peep, also.

A lot can be said for the 12/30-06 as your choice. I have mine regulated for 180gr Remington PSP, and can shoot reasonably well with most other standard 180 gr loads by the other manufacturers, and 12ga in now the universal shotgun bore. Add a removable 22LR or 22Mag insert barrel, like the smaller Kreighoff types, and you have a real all purpose gun.