Barrel Set Vs Tube Set. (20/28/410)

Boomer44 · August 17, 2014, 11:46 AM

I bought a K80 last year. I mostly shoot skeet two to three times a week… A friend of mine came down to the skeet field last week with his 410.. So I shot a few round and enjoyed the hell out of it… So now he has me thinking… should I expand my horizons and start shooting all the gauges?? Should I pick up a cheap used 410 and start all over with fit.. Or should I stick with my gun that fits me great and either get a set of used barrels or a tub set made ? I know that barrels cost more than a tube set. Up till last week I have only shot 12 gauge and have no experience with other gauges. My question is (putting cost aside for the moment) what are the pluses and minus for either issue… Barrel set or Tube Set ??

A400 Fan · August 17, 2014, 01:04 PM

Get a carrier barrel fitted and a set of full length tubes for all three gauges. This is what two of my sporting squadmates have done - one with a K-80, the other with a Kolar. They shoot subgauge sporting with their. With the carrier barrels and full length tubes, each gun weighs within 1 ounce of the gun with the 12 gauge barrels. If you just get the tubes, you will need to add a barrel weight when shooting the 12 gauge events to make the gun weigh and swing the same

BigJimP · August 17, 2014, 01:45 PM

+1 on the concept of a "carrier barrel" ...and the tube set, it is the way to go if you're serious about competition.

The Carrier Barrel cannot be shot without the "tubes" in it.

You cannot just pick up a set of tubes...for your current 12ga barrel...or the "Carrier barrel"...they need to be "fit". You cannot just pick up a spare barrel in .410 for your current gun either ...it also needs to be "fit".

Briley or Kolar can both do all the work ...full carrier barrel, full set of tubes with set of chokes about $ 8,000 - $ 10,000 ....depending on what you want and whether you need some trigger work done on the current gun.
--------------
2nd best....tube the 12ga barrel you have ...and then offset the increase in weight ( or just quit shooting the 12ga / and shoot the 20ga in 12ga events). That way the 20ga, 28ga and .410 will all feel the same in terms of balance, weight, swing characteristics. Probably $ 3,500 - $ 4,000...
--------------
3rd option....pick up a .410 to have fun with / or a used gun that has already been fit with a set of tubes...

zippy13 · August 17, 2014, 07:21 PM

Before you decide on anything, try adding some weight to your K-80. When I shoot my tubed guns I use a Kohler barrel weight to compensate for the tube weight when they are removed. I find the additional weight beneficial as it smooths my swing and reduced kick, but I'm not petite. You may, or may not like the heavier gun. You won't know until you give it a try.

There is a benefit with a carrier barrel that has nothing to do with actual shooting: You don't have to do a barrel cleaning between events. This is a real factor when it comes to competition shoot-offs. If you have to shoot a small gauge, immediately after the 12-ga, you'll be in a rush to get your tubes in. It's not a problem with a carrier barrel set-up.

Some shooters find they actually get better scores with their 20-ga tubes than they do with the 12-ga. They seldom shoot the gun without tubes. Other shooters prefer a soft kicking auto in 12-ga events.

If you're like many others, you may find yourself practicing mostly with the smaller gauges as they help fine tune your skills. And there's less recoil, also .410 reloads eat up shot a lot slower than 12s. There is one disadvantage to shooting the small guns exclusively in practice, when you go back to the 12-ga, the added recoil can be a surprise at first.

I wouldn't consider a stand alone .410 because they are just to whippy. They are quick to get on target, but as quick to loose it. There is a myth among new shooters that you need a light gun to quickly get on quick target. With experience you'll find the target aren't really that fast and a smooth swing (from a heavier gun) is more important.

Boomer44 · August 21, 2014, 02:53 PM

Thanks guys for all your advice... The other day I tried a friends K 80 with a tub set and found the gun to be "barrel heavy".. So I made the decision to go with a Carrier barrel set up. I found one and it should be here next week.

longknife12 · August 21, 2014, 04:51 PM

Many years ago, in my youth and disposable money stage, I shot thousands of skeet rounds with a Browning Superposed and a Purbaugh tube set. It was the best shotgun I ever had. Balance was perfect.....shot all guages.
Dan

A400 Fan · August 21, 2014, 05:35 PM

When you get your carrier barrel, remember you need to have the tubes for it - and those are usually fitted to the carrier's bore dimension

zippy13 · August 21, 2014, 11:39 PM

Quote:

a Browning Superposed and a Perbaugh tube set

Claude Purbaugh made tubes, in Monrovia CA, many moons ago. Back in the day, they were popular with the Superposed skeet shooters. They crushed a lot of targets in 4-gun shoots. Were you active in SoCal when Claude, or Skeetmasters (his successor), were still in business?

longknife12 · August 22, 2014, 06:19 AM

Nope, Texas.This was in 60's. AA all guns. Also used the 28 on Dove/Quail.
Dan

Dreaming100Straight · August 22, 2014, 11:39 AM

A guy on the skeet field wanted to swap me his Browning Citori XT Trap with 32" barrels for my XS Skeet with 30" barrels. He wanted tubes and thought his XT would be too heavy with them. I may have made the trade 6 months ago, when almost all I was shooting was trap, but skeet is drawing me in.

A400 Fan · August 22, 2014, 12:50 PM

And down the slippery slope Dreamin falls.......eventually headlong to his death on the Sporting Clays field!.....MUAHHHHHHHHH!

Boomer44 · August 22, 2014, 04:08 PM

When you get your carrier barrel, remember you need to have the tubes for it - and those are usually fitted to the carrier's bore dimension

Yes... It's already done and being shipped..(20-28-410) Should be here next week. I will let you know how it goes. Looking forward to the 410 !!!

Thanks again.

Dreaming100Straight · August 22, 2014, 04:58 PM

Quote:

And down the slippery slope Dreamin falls.......eventually headlong to his death on the Sporting Clays field!.....MUAHHHHHHHHH!

Yes, Obe One, from out of the dark side and into the light. No, don't step into the light? I thought this house was clean. but was that the high or low house?

longknife12 · August 22, 2014, 05:25 PM

Boomer, you are going to find the 410 most humbling!Just keep shooting it! Good luck.
Dan

Boomer44 · August 22, 2014, 09:28 PM

that is what got me "Hooked"... A friend showed up at the skeet field with his 410 and I shot a few rounds.. Lots of FUN !!!

Can't wait to shoot the 20 and 28Ga.

Boomer44 · September 4, 2014, 09:37 AM

I picked up the "carrier barrel set" for my K-80 and I love it. It was a GREAT CHOICE. It' my original gun in all the gauges. I have been shooting the 410 all last week and now I am starting with the 20 and 28 Ga.
Very Happy..

August 17, 2014, 11:46 AM	#1
Boomer44 Member Join Date: January 24, 2013 Posts: 35	Barrel Set Vs Tube Set. (20/28/410) I bought a K80 last year. I mostly shoot skeet two to three times a week… A friend of mine came down to the skeet field last week with his 410.. So I shot a few round and enjoyed the hell out of it… So now he has me thinking… should I expand my horizons and start shooting all the gauges?? Should I pick up a cheap used 410 and start all over with fit.. Or should I stick with my gun that fits me great and either get a set of used barrels or a tub set made ? I know that barrels cost more than a tube set. Up till last week I have only shot 12 gauge and have no experience with other gauges. My question is (putting cost aside for the moment) what are the pluses and minus for either issue… Barrel set or Tube Set ?? Last edited by Boomer44; August 17, 2014 at 11:52 AM.

August 21, 2014, 04:51 PM	#6
longknife12 Member Join Date: March 13, 2014 Location: Colorado Posts: 95	Many years ago, in my youth and disposable money stage, I shot thousands of skeet rounds with a Browning Superposed and a Purbaugh tube set. It was the best shotgun I ever had. Balance was perfect.....shot all guages. Dan Last edited by longknife12; August 22, 2014 at 06:20 AM.

August 22, 2014, 05:25 PM	#14
longknife12 Member Join Date: March 13, 2014 Location: Colorado Posts: 95	Boomer, you are going to find the 410 most humbling!Just keep shooting it! Good luck. Dan Last edited by longknife12; August 22, 2014 at 05:31 PM.

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August 17, 2014, 01:04 PM	#2
A400 Fan Junior member Join Date: June 17, 2014 Posts: 242	Get a carrier barrel fitted and a set of full length tubes for all three gauges. This is what two of my sporting squadmates have done - one with a K-80, the other with a Kolar. They shoot subgauge sporting with their. With the carrier barrels and full length tubes, each gun weighs within 1 ounce of the gun with the 12 gauge barrels. If you just get the tubes, you will need to add a barrel weight when shooting the 12 gauge events to make the gun weigh and swing the same

August 17, 2014, 01:45 PM	#3
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	+1 on the concept of a "carrier barrel" ...and the tube set, it is the way to go if you're serious about competition. The Carrier Barrel cannot be shot without the "tubes" in it. You cannot just pick up a set of tubes...for your current 12ga barrel...or the "Carrier barrel"...they need to be "fit". You cannot just pick up a spare barrel in .410 for your current gun either ...it also needs to be "fit". Briley or Kolar can both do all the work ...full carrier barrel, full set of tubes with set of chokes about $ 8,000 - $ 10,000 ....depending on what you want and whether you need some trigger work done on the current gun. -------------- 2nd best....tube the 12ga barrel you have ...and then offset the increase in weight ( or just quit shooting the 12ga / and shoot the 20ga in 12ga events). That way the 20ga, 28ga and .410 will all feel the same in terms of balance, weight, swing characteristics. Probably $ 3,500 - $ 4,000... -------------- 3rd option....pick up a .410 to have fun with / or a used gun that has already been fit with a set of tubes...

August 17, 2014, 07:21 PM	#4
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Before you decide on anything, try adding some weight to your K-80. When I shoot my tubed guns I use a Kohler barrel weight to compensate for the tube weight when they are removed. I find the additional weight beneficial as it smooths my swing and reduced kick, but I'm not petite. You may, or may not like the heavier gun. You won't know until you give it a try. There is a benefit with a carrier barrel that has nothing to do with actual shooting: You don't have to do a barrel cleaning between events. This is a real factor when it comes to competition shoot-offs. If you have to shoot a small gauge, immediately after the 12-ga, you'll be in a rush to get your tubes in. It's not a problem with a carrier barrel set-up. Some shooters find they actually get better scores with their 20-ga tubes than they do with the 12-ga. They seldom shoot the gun without tubes. Other shooters prefer a soft kicking auto in 12-ga events. If you're like many others, you may find yourself practicing mostly with the smaller gauges as they help fine tune your skills. And there's less recoil, also .410 reloads eat up shot a lot slower than 12s. There is one disadvantage to shooting the small guns exclusively in practice, when you go back to the 12-ga, the added recoil can be a surprise at first. I wouldn't consider a stand alone .410 because they are just to whippy. They are quick to get on target, but as quick to loose it. There is a myth among new shooters that you need a light gun to quickly get on quick target. With experience you'll find the target aren't really that fast and a smooth swing (from a heavier gun) is more important.

August 21, 2014, 02:53 PM	#5
Boomer44 Member Join Date: January 24, 2013 Posts: 35	Thanks guys for all your advice... The other day I tried a friends K 80 with a tub set and found the gun to be "barrel heavy".. So I made the decision to go with a Carrier barrel set up. I found one and it should be here next week.

August 21, 2014, 05:35 PM	#7
A400 Fan Junior member Join Date: June 17, 2014 Posts: 242	When you get your carrier barrel, remember you need to have the tubes for it - and those are usually fitted to the carrier's bore dimension

August 22, 2014, 06:19 AM	#9
longknife12 Member Join Date: March 13, 2014 Location: Colorado Posts: 95	Nope, Texas.This was in 60's. AA all guns. Also used the 28 on Dove/Quail. Dan

August 22, 2014, 11:39 AM	#10
Dreaming100Straight Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2013 Posts: 1,235	A guy on the skeet field wanted to swap me his Browning Citori XT Trap with 32" barrels for my XS Skeet with 30" barrels. He wanted tubes and thought his XT would be too heavy with them. I may have made the trade 6 months ago, when almost all I was shooting was trap, but skeet is drawing me in.

August 22, 2014, 12:50 PM	#11
A400 Fan Junior member Join Date: June 17, 2014 Posts: 242	And down the slippery slope Dreamin falls.......eventually headlong to his death on the Sporting Clays field!.....MUAHHHHHHHHH!

August 22, 2014, 04:08 PM	#12
Boomer44 Member Join Date: January 24, 2013 Posts: 35	When you get your carrier barrel, remember you need to have the tubes for it - and those are usually fitted to the carrier's bore dimension Yes... It's already done and being shipped..(20-28-410) Should be here next week. I will let you know how it goes. Looking forward to the 410 !!! Thanks again.

August 22, 2014, 09:28 PM	#15
Boomer44 Member Join Date: January 24, 2013 Posts: 35	that is what got me "Hooked"... A friend showed up at the skeet field with his 410 and I shot a few rounds.. Lots of FUN !!! Can't wait to shoot the 20 and 28Ga.

September 4, 2014, 09:37 AM	#16
Boomer44 Member Join Date: January 24, 2013 Posts: 35	I picked up the "carrier barrel set" for my K-80 and I love it. It was a GREAT CHOICE. It' my original gun in all the gauges. I have been shooting the 410 all last week and now I am starting with the 20 and 28 Ga. Very Happy..