22 cal converter for 12 gauge

Gator Weiss · September 1, 2012, 10:14 AM

There is a chamber insert that drops in a 12 bore in which you fire 22 rimfire cartridges. Anyone here ever used one? Can it corrode the shotgun barrell or cause irregular wear and tear? Any opinions?

Ridge_Runner_5 · September 1, 2012, 12:05 PM

I doubt it'll wear or corrode the barrel. However, it'll be less accurate than a musket. You're firing a .22 bullet down a barrel bigger than a .50

chewie146 · September 1, 2012, 12:14 PM

If it's a break-barrel, there are some that have a longer insert that have good rifling. However, aiming becomes a problem still.

30-30remchester · September 1, 2012, 07:32 PM

I have an older style that is rifled. Mine is capable of 2" groups at 25 yards.

big al hunter · September 2, 2012, 12:58 AM

You are shooting a .22 bullet down a .79 barrel, it never touches the shotgun bore. Aiming is more instinctive than precise. If you practice it can be surprisingly accurate. Lots of companies have similar conversions for 1911 .45 auto. to .22.

B.L.E. · September 4, 2012, 07:07 PM

12 gauge is .729" bore, not .79".

big al hunter · September 5, 2012, 12:12 AM

Unless it is overbored. Every maker has slight differences in bore diameter. Mine is closer to .79 than .729. But .061 .... thats tiny....22 still won't touch the bore. Splitting hairs a little.

B.L.E. · September 5, 2012, 05:48 AM

I agree that it's splitting hairs but I doubt that any 12 gauge is overbored that much. It would technically make the gun illegal for migratory waterfoul hunting, although most game wardens would probably call it a 12 gauge if it shoots 12 gauge ammo.

13 gauge .710
12 gauge .729
11 gauge .750
10 gauge .775
9 gauge .801
8 gauge .835

Magnum Wheel Man · September 5, 2012, 07:51 AM

I had some 22 LR chamber inserts made from an old 22 barrel for an antique 30 rim fire revolver... with less than a 1/2" of rifling left, in the inserts after the chambers were put in, it shoots suprisingly accurately, & the 22 caliber bullets don't touch the 30 caliber barrel ( much smaller than a 12 ga )

... so I see no issues shooting the 22 in a 12 ga... other than sighting, & loss of velocity ( if the rifled portion were no longer than a 12 ga shell... of course if it's for a break action, & had a longer barrel, the velocity would be comeasurant with the barrel length )... & with the cartridge being as cheap to practice with as a 22, there is no reason ( since I'd expect it will shoot to a consistant point of impact ) that you couldn't learn where to place the bead for impact at your target

B.L.E. · September 5, 2012, 07:31 PM

If you live in a unpopulated western state where it's easy to find a place to shoot with no one a mile and a half downrange, this would turn your shotgun into the ultimate practice gun for clay birds, although the lead required for .22LR would be somewhat less than required for a shot gun at the longer yardages.

September 1, 2012, 10:14 AM	#1
Gator Weiss Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2007 Posts: 117	22 cal converter for 12 gauge There is a chamber insert that drops in a 12 bore in which you fire 22 rimfire cartridges. Anyone here ever used one? Can it corrode the shotgun barrell or cause irregular wear and tear? Any opinions?

September 2, 2012, 12:58 AM	#5
big al hunter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2011 Location: Washington state Posts: 1,558	You are shooting a .22 bullet down a .79 barrel, it never touches the shotgun bore. Aiming is more instinctive than precise. If you practice it can be surprisingly accurate. Lots of companies have similar conversions for 1911 .45 auto. to .22. __________________ You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education!

September 5, 2012, 12:12 AM	#7
big al hunter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2011 Location: Washington state Posts: 1,558	Unless it is overbored. Every maker has slight differences in bore diameter. Mine is closer to .79 than .729. But .061 .... thats tiny....22 still won't touch the bore. Splitting hairs a little. __________________ You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education!

September 5, 2012, 07:51 AM	#9
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	I had some 22 LR chamber inserts made from an old 22 barrel for an antique 30 rim fire revolver... with less than a 1/2" of rifling left, in the inserts after the chambers were put in, it shoots suprisingly accurately, & the 22 caliber bullets don't touch the 30 caliber barrel ( much smaller than a 12 ga ) ... so I see no issues shooting the 22 in a 12 ga... other than sighting, & loss of velocity ( if the rifled portion were no longer than a 12 ga shell... of course if it's for a break action, & had a longer barrel, the velocity would be comeasurant with the barrel length )... & with the cartridge being as cheap to practice with as a 22, there is no reason ( since I'd expect it will shoot to a consistant point of impact ) that you couldn't learn where to place the bead for impact at your target __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

September 1, 2012, 12:05 PM	#2
Ridge_Runner_5 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,925	I doubt it'll wear or corrode the barrel. However, it'll be less accurate than a musket. You're firing a .22 bullet down a barrel bigger than a .50

September 1, 2012, 12:14 PM	#3
chewie146 Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2010 Location: New Mexico Posts: 853	If it's a break-barrel, there are some that have a longer insert that have good rifling. However, aiming becomes a problem still.

September 1, 2012, 07:32 PM	#4
30-30remchester Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2009 Location: mountains of colorado Posts: 977	I have an older style that is rifled. Mine is capable of 2" groups at 25 yards.

September 4, 2012, 07:07 PM	#6
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	12 gauge is .729" bore, not .79".

September 5, 2012, 05:48 AM	#8
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	I agree that it's splitting hairs but I doubt that any 12 gauge is overbored that much. It would technically make the gun illegal for migratory waterfoul hunting, although most game wardens would probably call it a 12 gauge if it shoots 12 gauge ammo. 13 gauge .710 12 gauge .729 11 gauge .750 10 gauge .775 9 gauge .801 8 gauge .835

September 5, 2012, 07:31 PM	#10
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	If you live in a unpopulated western state where it's easy to find a place to shoot with no one a mile and a half downrange, this would turn your shotgun into the ultimate practice gun for clay birds, although the lead required for .22LR would be somewhat less than required for a shot gun at the longer yardages.