M30 Luftwaffe Drilling

Lore & Background

The M30 Luftwaffe Drilling was produced by JP Sauer & Sohn, and its commercial-quality finish and high manufacturing costs have led many historians and collectors to conclude it was not routinely issued to Luftwaffe pilots. The head of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Göring, an avid hunter, may have ordered the M30 through the Luftwaffe for use as gifts for visiting dignitaries, Knight's Cross holders, Luftwaffe aces, Wehrmacht generals, Nazi officials, and other guests at his hunting lodge, Carinhall. Luftwaffe general and flying ace Adolf Galland recalled that he and several squadron mates were gifted the M30 during hunting trips with Göring at Carinhall.

The M30 saw use during the North African campaign as a survival weapon by some Luftwaffe aircrews. It was also used for trap shooting, an exercise to sharpen the eyesight and reflexes of pilots during obligatory training. The powerful 9.3x74mmR cartridge, ballistically similar to .375 Flanged Nitro Express, was best suited for Sub-Saharan African plains hunting, though it was mostly used over North Africa where dangerous fauna are less common. Reasons for this cartridge include a mistaken assumption that there were big cats in the region, and Hermann Göring's personal fondness for hunting and luxurious rifles.

The original production model had been marketed to hunters starting in 1930. The military iteration was procured outside normal military channels and made to the same standards as the commercial version, making it extremely expensive. The M30 was stored in an aluminium chest on board the aircraft, containing the weapon disassembled into barrel assembly and stock, a sling and cleaning kit, and ammunition. The chest weighed 15 kilograms and was intended to be retrieved after a crash rather than taken during bailout.

Reader's Guide

The M30 Luftwaffe Drilling stands as a notable example of a military survival weapon that blurred the line between standard-issue equipment and luxury gift. Its high cost and limited production, combined with its association with Hermann Göring and his hunting lodge, suggest it may have served more as a diplomatic or ceremonial item than a widely issued survival tool. The weapon's design, with two shotgun barrels and a rifle barrel, offered versatility for hunting and self-defense, though the choice of the powerful 9.3x74mmR cartridge for North Africa—where large dangerous game was scarce—remains a point of curiosity. The M30's legacy is preserved in its appearance in various video games, including Battlefield V, theHunter, Call of Duty: WWII, and others, often highlighting its unique triple-barrel configuration. Its commercial-quality finish and the circumstances of its procurement make it a subject of interest among collectors and historians, reflecting the intersection of military necessity and personal patronage in Nazi Germany.

Did You Know?

• The M30 Luftwaffe Drilling features two side-by-side 12 gauge shotgun barrels on top and a 9.3x74mmR rifle barrel below.
• The weapon was stored in an aluminium chest weighing 15 kilograms, containing 20 rifle rounds, 20 slug shells, and 25 birdshot shells.
• Hermann Göring, head of the Luftwaffe, may have ordered the M30 for use as gifts at his hunting lodge, Carinhall.
• The 9.3x74mmR cartridge was ballistically similar to .375 Flanged Nitro Express, suited for Sub-Saharan African plains hunting.