Gauge reducers

JohnPL · December 17, 2001, 10:08 AM

Has anyone tried using gauge reducers? They look like 12 gauge shells but allow you to drop in a shell of smaller size, thus allowing a 12 gauge gun to shoot 20/28/.410 shells. I'm thinking it might be a good way of getting my son shooting my 12g double, but with the lighter recoil of a 20. Just concerned about the safety and patterning, and possible damage to the barrel.

BigG · December 17, 2001, 10:40 AM

I've seen what they call tubes for insertion in larger gauge bbls. But they are a couple feet long. Briley makes em and maybe other manufacturers, too.

JohnPL · December 17, 2001, 10:46 AM

I've seen those long tubes, too, but these are about the size of a 12 gauge shell. Cabela's has them. They're called "Little Skeeters Gauge Reducers". Seems like a simple and cheap way to increase the versatility of a shotgun.

OkieCruffler · December 17, 2001, 11:07 AM

I got some skeeters for my 12 in 20 and 28 a few months ago. Neat idea anyway. They locked up and fired fine, but the patterns out of a 12 barrel are about what I expected, wide and scattered. And after a few shots I was having to beat the shells out of the holders. Still kinda fun tho'. Now if they'd just make some .444 inserts for my .410...

C.R.Sam · December 17, 2001, 11:25 AM

Suggest workin up some light 12ga loads. That way you not addin weight to the gun and have a better chance of getting a decent pattern.

I used to shoot skeet with 12ga loads that were lighter than any over the counter 20ga. And they turned the birds into soot farts just fine.

Sam

Dave McC · December 17, 2001, 01:19 PM

The Technoid over on Shotgun Report has some input on these, and in a recent issue of Shotgun Sports, Stan Baker mentioned them also.

Downside, Baker reports that they dirty up the bore right in front of the chamber, and if a 12 ga load is fired w/o first cleaning out the buildup, a ring bulge may occur.

As for teaching kids, any reloader can come up with something like the 3/4 oz 12 gauge load Son is using. Standard components, plus one 28 ga felt wad in the shot cup. Circle Fly carries these wads. The BP wonderwads oughta work too.

Jim Watson · December 17, 2001, 02:59 PM

If you don't reload, the Winchester Low Noise, Low Recoil 12 gauge, commonly called the Featherlight because of the feather on box and hull, is the most popular load among Cowboy Action Shooters. It keeps down the recoil in their crooked old doubles and pumps. Also makes shooting bearable for the womenfolks and kids.

mikey357 · December 17, 2001, 10:58 PM

Well, I MAY be qualified to reply here...started to shoot Skeet competitively in '79...up to about 50,000 targets fired on in competition...did the "four 1100's" thing, THEN owned three different "Tubed" O/U's...all w/full-length tubes, BTW...I remember seeing some of the short Browning "Supertubes" when I first started...consensus then was that they did okay in the 20 and 28 gauge, but that the .410's DID NOT perform "up to snuff" or on a par with the full-length tubes...I've not seen anything about the EVEN SHORTER "Little Skeeters" or "Chamber Mates" that would change my opinion...FWIW....mikey357

DLF · December 21, 2001, 11:44 AM

You might to want to try "Chambermates" from Seminole and also "Sidekicks" from Briley. They are more expensive than the "Little Skeeters" but I have seen them used on the Skeet Field and they do work.

Good Shooting,

Brooks · December 22, 2001, 01:28 PM

Check out the www.shotgunsports.com site. Chambermates from Seminole are advertised there and if you put chambermates in to search feature on the shotgun forum you will find plenty of commentsshotgunsports.com

The comment surely seem to be favorable.

December 17, 2001, 10:08 AM	#1
JohnPL Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2001 Posts: 105	Gauge reducers Has anyone tried using gauge reducers? They look like 12 gauge shells but allow you to drop in a shell of smaller size, thus allowing a 12 gauge gun to shoot 20/28/.410 shells. I'm thinking it might be a good way of getting my son shooting my 12g double, but with the lighter recoil of a 20. Just concerned about the safety and patterning, and possible damage to the barrel.

December 17, 2001, 10:40 AM	#2
BigG Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 4,334	I've seen what they call tubes for insertion in larger gauge bbls. But they are a couple feet long. Briley makes em and maybe other manufacturers, too. __________________ o "The Earth is degenerating today. Bribery and corruption abound. Children no longer obey their parents, every man wants to write a book, and it is evident that the end of the world is fast approaching." Assyrian tablet, c. 2800 BC o "In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man brave, hated, and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Mark Twain o "They have gun control in Cuba. They have universal health care in Cuba. So why do they want to come here?" Paul Harvey o TODAY WE CARVE OUT OUR OWN OMENS! Leonidas, Thermopylae, 480 BC

December 17, 2001, 11:07 AM	#4
OkieCruffler Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2001 Location: Denison Texas on the banks of Texhoma Posts: 1,556	I got some skeeters for my 12 in 20 and 28 a few months ago. Neat idea anyway. They locked up and fired fine, but the patterns out of a 12 barrel are about what I expected, wide and scattered. And after a few shots I was having to beat the shells out of the holders. Still kinda fun tho'. Now if they'd just make some .444 inserts for my .410... __________________ John A. Monroe, Never Forgive, Never Forget, Blood Pays Blood

December 17, 2001, 10:58 PM	#8
mikey357 Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2000 Location: Griffin, GA, USA Posts: 743	Well, I MAY be qualified to reply here...started to shoot Skeet competitively in '79...up to about 50,000 targets fired on in competition...did the "four 1100's" thing, THEN owned three different "Tubed" O/U's...all w/full-length tubes, BTW...I remember seeing some of the short Browning "Supertubes" when I first started...consensus then was that they did okay in the 20 and 28 gauge, but that the .410's DID NOT perform "up to snuff" or on a par with the full-length tubes...I've not seen anything about the EVEN SHORTER "Little Skeeters" or "Chamber Mates" that would change my opinion...FWIW....mikey357 __________________ mikey357, TFL Member # 7556

December 21, 2001, 11:44 AM	#9
DLF Member Join Date: October 10, 1999 Location: Alpine, Al. USA Posts: 28	You might to want to try "Chambermates" from Seminole and also "Sidekicks" from Briley. They are more expensive than the "Little Skeeters" but I have seen them used on the Skeet Field and they do work. Good Shooting, __________________ DLF

December 17, 2001, 10:46 AM	#3
JohnPL Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2001 Posts: 105	I've seen those long tubes, too, but these are about the size of a 12 gauge shell. Cabela's has them. They're called "Little Skeeters Gauge Reducers". Seems like a simple and cheap way to increase the versatility of a shotgun.

December 17, 2001, 11:25 AM	#5
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Suggest workin up some light 12ga loads. That way you not addin weight to the gun and have a better chance of getting a decent pattern. I used to shoot skeet with 12ga loads that were lighter than any over the counter 20ga. And they turned the birds into soot farts just fine. Sam

December 17, 2001, 01:19 PM	#6
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	The Technoid over on Shotgun Report has some input on these, and in a recent issue of Shotgun Sports, Stan Baker mentioned them also. Downside, Baker reports that they dirty up the bore right in front of the chamber, and if a 12 ga load is fired w/o first cleaning out the buildup, a ring bulge may occur. As for teaching kids, any reloader can come up with something like the 3/4 oz 12 gauge load Son is using. Standard components, plus one 28 ga felt wad in the shot cup. Circle Fly carries these wads. The BP wonderwads oughta work too.

December 17, 2001, 02:59 PM	#7
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	If you don't reload, the Winchester Low Noise, Low Recoil 12 gauge, commonly called the Featherlight because of the feather on box and hull, is the most popular load among Cowboy Action Shooters. It keeps down the recoil in their crooked old doubles and pumps. Also makes shooting bearable for the womenfolks and kids.

December 22, 2001, 01:28 PM	#10
Brooks Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2001 Location: Mn Posts: 105	Chamber reducers Check out the www.shotgunsports.com site. Chambermates from Seminole are advertised there and if you put chambermates in to search feature on the shotgun forum you will find plenty of commentsshotgunsports.com The comment surely seem to be favorable.