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March 28, 2013, 07:46 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: March 17, 2011
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12 to 20 convertible shotgun
My coworker is interested in a shotgun for home defense. Ideally he's looking for a ~ 20" barreled pump (auto is 2nd choice) that can be converted from 12 gauge to 20 gauge. Does such a thing exist?
This is beyond my area of expertise, so I hope someone can provide some guidance. 15 min with Google yielded nothing. Edit: Just noticed that this is my first post despite 2 years of registered lurking... I guess I shouldn't worry so much about repeating other folks. |
March 29, 2013, 12:50 AM | #2 |
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In a word, no. There are switch barrels out there but they tend to be more O/U or single shots.
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March 29, 2013, 07:05 AM | #3 |
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No, but you can buy 12guage ammo loaded to 20guage specs and accomplish the same thing.
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March 29, 2013, 08:45 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: September 19, 2008
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It sounds like someone wants a powerful gun for one person, and what's perceived as a less powerful gun for someone else.
They could, conversly, buy a 3" mag chambered 20ga pump for power & then download it using 2/3/4" field loads for the lower power lever desired. In an HD situation, a 20ga can be just as effective as a 12ga, except in the mind of the holder. . |
March 29, 2013, 12:44 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: October 30, 2012
Posts: 42
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12 to 20 convertible shotgun
You could use sub-gauge inserts to shoot 20 gauge shells in a 12 gauge barrel.
Chambermate and Gaugemate make inserts. Just google "sub gauge inserts" |
March 29, 2013, 01:03 PM | #6 |
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But those do not tend to feed reliably through a pump gun
Get the 12 and shoot low recoil ammo |
March 29, 2013, 03:20 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: February 23, 2005
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You cannot put sub-gague inserts into a pump gun / or a semi-auto shotgun.... you can only use them in break open action shotguns ( Over Unders, Side by Sides, single shot guns...)...
... in theory you could drop the chamber maters or whatever into the chamber of a pump gun ...but you sure cannot cycle 20ga shells thru a 12ga magazine reliably...or safely...without all kinds of issues... The typical 20ga load is 7/8 oz of shot ( or "00" or whatever you want to shoot )....and its easy to find 7/8 oz loads for a 12ga.....just buy a 12ga pump and you'll be fine...( you'll get less recoil with the 12ga gun anyway / than a typical 20ga that is probably a full pound lighter ). |
March 29, 2013, 04:25 PM | #8 |
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For the expenditure it would be easier to just buy two guns.
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March 29, 2013, 05:46 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: October 30, 2012
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I wasn't really to worried about feeding. I should have specified that these could be used for practice purposes and 12 gauge loads used for HD.
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March 29, 2013, 06:00 PM | #10 |
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Join Date: February 23, 2005
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It doesn't matter ...practice or not..../ its a bad idea to try and shoot 20ga shells in a 12ga pump gun.
Shoot light loads for practice..../ and just stay with a 12ga ( You accomplish the same thing). |
March 30, 2013, 06:50 AM | #11 |
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Location: Georgia
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And there is no need. 1 oz of shot performs exactly the same from a 12 as a 20 with exactly the same recoil. It is the ammo, not the gun. There are 12 guage loads readily availabe that duplicate 20 guage performance and recoil.
The purpose of buying a 20 is to have a lighter, easier to carry around gun. Even if it were possible to convert a pump or semi to 20 you would still have the 12's weight with none of the advantages of a 20. |
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