Finding O/U 20ga barrels

TheDutchman19 · January 5, 2013, 04:22 PM

Hello

A couple of years ago I picked up a never fired Citori 525 Golden Clays in 12 gauge. After having a little stock work done, it is the best fitting shotgun, I have ever shot. In a perfect world I would like to have the same gun in a 20 gauge.

Does any one know if there is a place to get 20 gauge barrels? Or can they be made? Or is it even worth it?

BigDinFL · January 5, 2013, 05:32 PM

Browning does not sell barrels, let alone barrels designed to be used on a different frame.
You would be better finding a 20 gauge in the stock and barrel requirements you need

Doyle · January 5, 2013, 07:02 PM

O/U barrels must be hand-fitted to each receiver. They are not interchangable like a pump or auto barrel. If you want a 20ga, you'll have to buy a separate gun. There are O/U shotguns that have both sets of barrels but they come from the factory with both barrel sets already pre-fitted to that receiver.

MTSCMike · January 5, 2013, 07:37 PM

You can have sub-gauge tubes made for your barrels. Skeet shooters have been doing this for decades. One gun...four gauges. They ain't cheap though.

zippy13 · January 5, 2013, 07:58 PM

+1 on the tube recommendation.

Virginian-in-LA · January 5, 2013, 08:04 PM

Tubes are fine for target shooters, but you totally lose the joy of a 20 gauge in the field unless you have a scaled frame 20 gauge. A decent stockfitter should easily be able to duplicate the fit of your current gun with another one in 20 gauge.

TheDutchman19 · January 5, 2013, 09:23 PM

Aside from weight and cost, what is the down side of the tubes? Do they pattern good?

BigDinFL · January 5, 2013, 10:41 PM

Unless you add a weight to the 12 gauge barrels to offset the weight of the tubes, the swing dynamics will feel completely different. Good tube sets run about half the cost of a new Browning or Beretta O/U

As to patterns it will depend on the chokes you install in the tubes and how your ammo likes them, much like a rifle

January 5, 2013, 04:22 PM	#1
TheDutchman19 Member Join Date: August 30, 2012 Location: So Cal Posts: 71	Finding O/U 20ga barrels Hello A couple of years ago I picked up a never fired Citori 525 Golden Clays in 12 gauge. After having a little stock work done, it is the best fitting shotgun, I have ever shot. In a perfect world I would like to have the same gun in a 20 gauge. Does any one know if there is a place to get 20 gauge barrels? Or can they be made? Or is it even worth it?

January 5, 2013, 07:37 PM	#4
MTSCMike Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Middle TN Posts: 128	You can have sub-gauge tubes made for your barrels. Skeet shooters have been doing this for decades. One gun...four gauges. They ain't cheap though. __________________ IDPA Member A00640 Founding Charter Member - Middle Tennessee Shooter's Club

January 5, 2013, 05:32 PM	#2
BigDinFL Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2012 Location: The "Gunshine State" Posts: 909	Browning does not sell barrels, let alone barrels designed to be used on a different frame. You would be better finding a 20 gauge in the stock and barrel requirements you need

January 5, 2013, 07:02 PM	#3
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Bradenton, Fl Posts: 4,128	O/U barrels must be hand-fitted to each receiver. They are not interchangable like a pump or auto barrel. If you want a 20ga, you'll have to buy a separate gun. There are O/U shotguns that have both sets of barrels but they come from the factory with both barrel sets already pre-fitted to that receiver.

January 5, 2013, 07:58 PM	#5
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,281	+1 on the tube recommendation.

January 5, 2013, 08:04 PM	#6
Virginian-in-LA Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2012 Location: Evangeline, LA Posts: 389	Tubes are fine for target shooters, but you totally lose the joy of a 20 gauge in the field unless you have a scaled frame 20 gauge. A decent stockfitter should easily be able to duplicate the fit of your current gun with another one in 20 gauge.

January 5, 2013, 09:23 PM	#7
TheDutchman19 Member Join Date: August 30, 2012 Location: So Cal Posts: 71	Aside from weight and cost, what is the down side of the tubes? Do they pattern good?

January 5, 2013, 10:41 PM	#8
BigDinFL Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2012 Location: The "Gunshine State" Posts: 909	Unless you add a weight to the 12 gauge barrels to offset the weight of the tubes, the swing dynamics will feel completely different. Good tube sets run about half the cost of a new Browning or Beretta O/U As to patterns it will depend on the chokes you install in the tubes and how your ammo likes them, much like a rifle