Over Under shotgun inserts

[pjsig]

I'm getting closer to pulling the trigger on a 12 gauge OU and want to know everyone's thoughts on inserts to temporarily convert to a 20 gauge.

What are the good ones to buy, if any, and how much are they? Are they difficult to use?

[edgerly779]

briley tubes/ pricey look on gunbroker.

[epic1856]

I've only seen the full length Briley and Kolar tubes since I shoot a lot of skeet. They work great, but these tubes are customized for each gun. Usually they are marked with the serial # of the gun and are not interchangeable. There is probably a reason why I don't see folks shooting the off the shelf tube sets, because they don't work as well.

[ysr_racer]

I have a set of Seminole Chamber Mates 12 to 20ga, and they work well.

[ceh383]

Briley or Kolar fitted tubes are the best, but they are expensive. I have a set of Briley tubes, they do work well.

[Revoman]

Another for Briley, Kolar are excellent as well though.
I have the full length tubes, not the Chamber Mates.
They also have screw in chokes included. A full set of Briley's (20, 28, 410) will be in the $1600-$1800 neighborhood, a single set of 20 will be around $800 or so. Fitted is better, but I found that my old Ruger Red Label All-Weather shoots well with the Briley generic tubes.

[TKM]

Are the advantages(?) worth the trouble?

[ceh383]

Are the advantages(?) worth the trouble?

It all depends on what you expect from your tubes.

Side kicks/chamber adapters (about $350 per gauge set) are fine if you are only going 1 size, ie shooting 20 from a 12, 28 from a 20 etc. Think about what the pattern would look like shooting a 1/2 oz .410 load from a 12ga barrel. Way to open with many large holes for targets to fly through.

Companion, non fitted tubes (about $550~$650 per gauge set), we're getting better here. Full length, proper choke for the bore. This means better patterns form each size tube no matter what the original bore is.

Fitted tubes (about $595~&695 per gauge set), this is what the pros use. They are fitted to the chamber and choke, there is no play in these tubes. This means there is no change in POI with tubes installed vs. the original bore.

I know someone who shoots with companion tubes (28ga) and does very well with them. He told me if he was going to do it over again, he'd go with fitted. With his tubes there is some play at the muzzle end and he can hear it when he fires... No such thing with my fitted tubes...

[Revoman]

What ceh383 said....

I would add though that sometimes if the original 12 ga barrel has screw in chokes, you can install a tighter choke and most times the the play or rattle goes away because you're taking up the slack or movement with that tighter choke.

One other thing that ceh383 didn't mention too is that there are nylon nubs outside the tube to take up that slack, however the nylon wears down after a few years and they will rattle....that's when you try the above fix.

[ceh383]

I would add though that sometimes if the original 12 ga barrel has screw in chokes, you can install a tighter choke and most times the the play or rattle goes away because you're taking up the slack or movement with that tighter choke.

The key here is SOMETIMES this will work. The chokes my tubes were fitted to are .002" different and are not interchangeable. 1 choke will work with both tubes, the other won't. It's something you won't know until you get there.

One other thing that ceh383 didn't mention too is that there are nylon nubs outside the tube to take up that slack, however the nylon wears down after a few years and they will rattle....that's when you try the above fix.

I thought the nubs were at the chamber end only? My friends Companions did not have these at the muzzle end, and they rattled from day 1.

For the difference in price between the companion and fitted tubes, about $50 per gauge set, I'd just bite the bullet and go fitted. The only down side to fitted tubes,you will be without your gun while the work is done.
Now, if you have 2 guns (that have the same size bore) that you want to use the tubes for...I may go for the companions...

[pjsig]

Sounds like the options are very slim. Either the Companion drop ins or fitted? Is there a good place to get used companions? I checked gunbroker and nada

[ceh383]

Is there a good place to get used companions? I checked gunbroker and nada

Just keep checking the usual gun sites. If you do find a set, make sure they're for your type of gun, with the same length barrel...

[pjsig]

It all depends on what you expect from your tubes.

Side kicks/chamber adapters (about $350 per gauge set) are fine if you are only going 1 size, ie shooting 20 from a 12, 28 from a 20 etc. Think about what the pattern would look like shooting a 1/2 oz .410 load from a 12ga barrel. Way to open with many large holes for targets to fly through.

Companion, non fitted tubes (about $550~$650 per gauge set), we're getting better here. Full length, proper choke for the bore. This means better patterns form each size tube no matter what the original bore is.

Fitted tubes (about $595~&695 per gauge set), this is what the pros use. They are fitted to the chamber and choke, there is no play in these tubes. This means there is no change in POI with tubes installed vs. the original bore.

I know someone who shoots with companion tubes (28ga) and does very well with them. He told me if he was going to do it over again, he'd go with fitted. With his tubes there is some play at the muzzle end and he can hear it when he fires... No such thing with my fitted tubes...

Appreciate this info - sounds like fitted is best. Was looking online for the companions, seems like i could pick some up pretty cheaply. If not, will consider fitted tubes. However, seems like it might be a better option to just buy another OU if tubes cost $695.

[Revoman]

What about the 10 and 32 gauges. they're left out too....

[ceh383]

I guess if you're good enough to win money, you can justify such expense (along with the clays and throwing thereof).

I'm not that good, but what other justification does one need, other than I really want a tubed gun?

But man, the use of the sub-gauges is a purely arbitrary thing. Who gets to shoot so many birds that the weight of field load 12 ga shells matters any? Anyone who does can also afford to have a "gunbearer" to lug the shells, eh?

Perhaps I'm just lucky, but there have been a few times when I have been able to shoot several hundred shells in 1 outing. It's not just the weight of the shells, on a hot So. Cal. afternoon you will need water as well. That combined with the normal accessories required makes for a hefty load to carry around in the heat of the day. A converted jogging stroller is not that expensive, and it makes the day more enjoyable...

I've always wondered, too, why the 16 gauge got left out of skeet?

I think, but I'm not sure, the 12 and 20 are more common and cheaper than the 16. I don't think anyone would have an issue with you shooting a 16 in a 12ga event. As a matter of fact, many people shoot a 20ga in the 12ga events...

What about the 10 and 32 gauges. they're left out too....

I couldn't imagine shooting a 100 target event with a 10ga...OUCH...
32ga? I've never seen 32ga shells for sale anywhere...But then, I've never looked