The M30 Luftwaffe Drilling ("triple") was a survival weapon issued to Luftwaffe pilots during World War II. It was used by airmen operating in North Africa. The M30 was intended to be used for hunting and self-defense against natural predators. For maximum versatility the M30 Luftwaffe Drilling featured two 12 gauge shotgun barrels on top and a 9.3x74mmR rifle barrel below. The left-hand barrel was left unchoked for shooting slugs and the right barrel was choked for shot-shells. They were manufactured by the German firm JP Sauer. History The M30 Luftwaffe Drilling ("Drilling" meaning "triplet") was a Drilling-type Combination gun produced by JP Sauer & Sohn, it was the most finely finished and luxurious survival rifle ever issued by a military force. The commercial quality of the M30 Drilling, the fact that its container and accessories were packed without military acceptance proofs, its limited production and high manufacturing costs, led many historians and arms collectors to conclude that the M30 Luftwaffe Drilling was not routinely issued to Luftwaffe pilots. The head of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Göring, was an avid hunter who often hosted guests at his elaborate hunting lodge, the Carinhall. The M30 Luftwaffe Drilling was possibly ordered through the Luftwaffe by Göring, to be used as gifts for visiting dignitaries, Knight's Cross holders, Luftwaffe aces, Wehrmacht generals, Nazi officials other guests who were invited to his hunting lodge. Luftwaffe general and flying ace Adolf Galland recalled that he and several of his squadron mates were gifted the M30 Luftwaffe Drilling during hunting trips with Göring at the Carinhall. The M30 Luftwaffe Drilling saw use by the German Luftwaffe in World War II, primarily during the North African campaign, where it was used as a survival weapon by some Luftwaffe aircrews. It was also used for trap shooting, which was an obligatory exercise to sharpen the eyesight and reflexes of Luftwaffe pilots. Its powerful 9.3x74mmR cartridge, ballistically similar to .375 Flanged Nitro Express, was best suited for sub-Saharan African plains hunting, even though it was mostly used by pilots flying over North Africa, where fauna was far less lethal. Various reasons have been provided for this gratuitous cartridge, one of which being a mistaken assumption that there were big cats in the region where these firearms would be used. Another reason given is Hermann Göring's personal fondness for hunting, especially for luxurious rifles. The original production model had been marketed