My experience is also with the Savage combos, specifically the lower grade Camp models and such.

The 22LR over 20G shotgun barrel was a great combination for rabbits and hares. If I was too slow on the break from the brush with the scattertube, I often got a chance with the 22 if the bunny stopped out a ways to check his backside.

I am a lousy shotgunner but always found the upper rifle barrel very accurate on these, probably due to its rigidity.

The version with a 22WMR barrel was a great coyote rifle. A slug in the lower barrel made for a good black bear problem solver in the event of a confrontation.

The triggers were pretty poor on the old Camper combos but I was too young to care!