The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Dave McCracken Memorial Shotgun Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old March 28, 2013, 07:46 PM   #1
Krusty783
Junior Member
 
Join Date: March 17, 2011
Posts: 2
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.
Krusty783 is offline  
Old March 29, 2013, 12:50 AM   #2
OkieCruffler
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 9, 2001
Location: Denison Texas on the banks of Texhoma
Posts: 1,556
In a word, no. There are switch barrels out there but they tend to be more O/U or single shots.
__________________
John A. Monroe, Never Forgive, Never Forget, Blood Pays Blood
OkieCruffler is offline  
Old March 29, 2013, 07:05 AM   #3
jmr40
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 15, 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 10,786
No, but you can buy 12guage ammo loaded to 20guage specs and accomplish the same thing.
jmr40 is offline  
Old March 29, 2013, 08:45 AM   #4
PetahW
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 19, 2008
Posts: 4,678
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.



.
PetahW is offline  
Old March 29, 2013, 12:44 PM   #5
Arocholl
Member
 
Join Date: October 30, 2012
Posts: 42
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"
Arocholl is offline  
Old March 29, 2013, 01:03 PM   #6
BigD_in_FL
Junior member
 
Join Date: December 20, 2012
Location: The "Gunshine State"
Posts: 1,981
But those do not tend to feed reliably through a pump gun

Get the 12 and shoot low recoil ammo
BigD_in_FL is offline  
Old March 29, 2013, 03:20 PM   #7
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
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 ).
BigJimP is offline  
Old March 29, 2013, 04:25 PM   #8
olddrum1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 23, 2008
Location: Mid Missouri
Posts: 807
For the expenditure it would be easier to just buy two guns.
olddrum1 is offline  
Old March 29, 2013, 05:46 PM   #9
Arocholl
Member
 
Join Date: October 30, 2012
Posts: 42
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.
Arocholl is offline  
Old March 29, 2013, 06:00 PM   #10
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
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).
BigJimP is offline  
Old March 30, 2013, 06:50 AM   #11
jmr40
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 15, 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 10,786
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.
jmr40 is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:37 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.07715 seconds with 10 queries