Gauge reducer experience...

Blacktail_Slayer · May 20, 2007, 09:41 PM

I am getting a shotgun soon. I plan on a double barrel. I have the most use for a 12 gauge, maybe a 20. There is a short window of time though that it would be best to have a little 410, for sound and less shot. Has anyone shot 410 ammo with gauge reducers in a 12 or 20? If so how did it pattern?

skeeter1 · May 20, 2007, 11:41 PM

For the most part, I think you're going to be very disappointed with the sub-gauge inserts. The wad won't expand to fit the larger bore, so the velocity is going to be pitifully low. Blow-by will be substantial, so the shot will string out down the barrel and the choke will never come into play.

They sound like a nifty idea, but in reality they're not worth the price of the metal they're made out of.

roy reali · May 21, 2007, 12:41 AM

Have you patterned and/or chronographed subgauge inserts? What were your results?

I have a friend that I call the shotgun guru. He has shotguns of every gauge. He uses chamber inserts too. He reloads and has tons of data. He has chronographed thousands of loads and has hundreds of pattern targets. I was just wondering how your data matches up with his?

BigJimP · May 21, 2007, 05:16 PM

The cheaper inserts made by a variety of companies - are marginal at best. I've tested a 20ga insert in a 12 ga and there were about 20% flyers out of the pattern. I also tested 28ga insert into a 12ga gun - and it was worse. They're ok to play with - but not for serious skeet shooting, etc.

If you really want to shoot sub-gague in a 12ga gun and don't want to invest in 3 other guns - then go to the full length tube sets from either Kolar or Briley. Both of those systems will give you excellent results. Keep in mind a 20ga tube in a 12ga gun has very thin walls - and shooting very "Hot " loads may crack the tubes - same problem if you put a 28ga tube in a 20ga gun.

The other way to go is with a 4 barrel set - Browning, Krieghoff, etc have made them in the past and Browning has a new 4 barrel set on the market right now. The ribs are different and they are not weight matched so each gague will feel different and swing differently. I don't like the concept - but it's out there.

roy reali · May 21, 2007, 06:19 PM

What loads did you test? Where they factory loads or reloads?

I wonder how your data compares with my friend's.

May 20, 2007, 09:41 PM	#1
Blacktail_Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2006 Posts: 224	Gauge reducer experience... I am getting a shotgun soon. I plan on a double barrel. I have the most use for a 12 gauge, maybe a 20. There is a short window of time though that it would be best to have a little 410, for sound and less shot. Has anyone shot 410 ammo with gauge reducers in a 12 or 20? If so how did it pattern?

May 21, 2007, 12:41 AM	#3
roy reali Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2005 Posts: 3,248	Re:skeeter1 Have you patterned and/or chronographed subgauge inserts? What were your results? I have a friend that I call the shotgun guru. He has shotguns of every gauge. He uses chamber inserts too. He reloads and has tons of data. He has chronographed thousands of loads and has hundreds of pattern targets. I was just wondering how your data matches up with his?

May 21, 2007, 06:19 PM	#5
roy reali Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2005 Posts: 3,248	Re:bigjimp What loads did you test? Where they factory loads or reloads? I wonder how your data compares with my friend's.

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May 20, 2007, 11:41 PM	#2
skeeter1 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2006 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 3,403	For the most part, I think you're going to be very disappointed with the sub-gauge inserts. The wad won't expand to fit the larger bore, so the velocity is going to be pitifully low. Blow-by will be substantial, so the shot will string out down the barrel and the choke will never come into play. They sound like a nifty idea, but in reality they're not worth the price of the metal they're made out of.

May 21, 2007, 05:16 PM	#4
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	The cheaper inserts made by a variety of companies - are marginal at best. I've tested a 20ga insert in a 12 ga and there were about 20% flyers out of the pattern. I also tested 28ga insert into a 12ga gun - and it was worse. They're ok to play with - but not for serious skeet shooting, etc. If you really want to shoot sub-gague in a 12ga gun and don't want to invest in 3 other guns - then go to the full length tube sets from either Kolar or Briley. Both of those systems will give you excellent results. Keep in mind a 20ga tube in a 12ga gun has very thin walls - and shooting very "Hot " loads may crack the tubes - same problem if you put a 28ga tube in a 20ga gun. The other way to go is with a 4 barrel set - Browning, Krieghoff, etc have made them in the past and Browning has a new 4 barrel set on the market right now. The ribs are different and they are not weight matched so each gague will feel different and swing differently. I don't like the concept - but it's out there.