Anybody try these?
I have a H&R 20ga. and a double in 20Ga. and I bought a 410 adaptor for them. It's been a lot of fun and it
makes it very pleasant to shoot. Especially for the kids and women who want to try it. The 410's are not the cheapest
to shoot but I don't shoot too many ( not enough to get into reloading them ). I think the 20 ga. is no longer a "light" shooting gun ( it's the same as a 12 ga...... untill you get into the real heavy loads ) and the ladies don't care for either way, they just don't like the kick of a shotgun. This is not the case with the 410 adaptors. So for only about $25 I picked up three shooting partners !

Yes, I have a set of .410 Skeeters in my old Damascus barreled 20 ga Parker double.
The person that restored it said that though he proof tested it with light 20 ga ammo, he recommended .410 as safer and good for my grandson to shoot.

It never occurred to me that using barrel adapters would be a safe way to shoot an old twist steel shotgun.

I have a Hopkins & Allen 12 gauge with twist steel that is functional but has been a wall-hanger for many years. I wonder who makes an affordable adapter in either 20 or preferably 28 gauge?

Stonecreek,
A Google search on sub gauge inserts turned up Briley and others with such products. You should be able to locate everything from chamber inserts to full length tubes for your 12 gauge. There are also rifled inserts tubes for shotguns and I have a .45-70 for my scope sighted .22 hornet over 12 gauge turkey gun. The big bore is NOT for turkeys!
Enjoy!

quote:

Anybody try these?

Oh, Yeah!

Over a period of years I've probably purchased all of Skeeter's offerings, encompassing 12, 16 & 20 to 28 & 410 gauge. They've got a permanent home in my shotgun range bag; right where they belong.

They're a Hoot - period.

While they're not exactly easy to handle, since you've got to poke the spent hulls outa the sub-caliber adaptors; but WTH-O?; I really like the versitility. I carry a piece of dowel I purpose cut in my shooting vest or grab a twig off a handy branch.

To entertain the Great uncleansed Masses, I occaisionally pull the 12-28 ga. or 12-.410 adaptors out at the Skeet range and soon enough I've got a gathering of interested Wanna-Tries crowded around. The 28's & .410's zap International Skeet (fast) birds with aplomb and pretty much zero recoil outa 12 ga. It's giggle time.

As an Opening Day of Dove Season or sitting around the Water-Hole respite; they're a fantastic Crowd Pleaser if you want to break out one of your old safe Queens that you have been saving from heavy cartridge battery abuse; SxS's, O/U's, Singles the Little Skeeters can be a right fun time - I like 'em.

Skeeter even made me a shortened 20 ga. set for an ancient, extremely thin-barrelled 16 ga. 2.5" Adolph Schwartz SxS Hammer Gun that actually has a very short @ 16 ga. 2 3/8" chambers. I use 20 ga. cartridges in this delicate, light shotgun and haven't noticed any pressure concerns as of yet. Yeah, I kinda appreciate having an additional ring of aluminium around the cartridges in these chambers, they pattern the old 30" Full (left) & Improved Cylinder (right) barrels very nicely. For a relaxed afternoon of Wood Pigeon shooting out of a hide (blind) over decoys where you can sit and comfortably do all the manipulation - just perfect!

Gerry,

Isn't a 20/16 adapter about the thickness of a beer can? Do they seem to hold up?

In response to this thread I had an AR member offer me a set of 28/12 Skeeters. I took him up on the offer, but haven't had a chance to try them out yet.

quote:

Isn't a 20/16 adapter about the thickness of a beer can? Do they seem to hold up?

Stonie,

I always expect a well thought through, astute response from you - a compliment.



Yup, at today's Beer Can thickness let's agree on two Beer Can thicknesses?

Yeah, they're pretty thin and I have to pay attention to the rims. Having said tht thye're fully functional and do provide an additional "ring" of insurance on a , Well, Ugh, antique shotgun.

Years ago Frankonia had a beautiful SxS straight-stocked Sidelock 26" from a Spanish Maker sitting on the Gotta-Move-Now rack; and virtually everyone who walked into the store was magically drawn straight to the shotgun. Had it in my Hands; couldn't believe my Good Luck and the price too; it was a Give-Away! The fine print and barrel marking annotated it as a 24 Gauge - Ugh! Net, had I known about Little Skeeters then I'da had them make an ultra-thin 24 ga.-28 ga. set and have been happy with it forever!

Anyway, enough War Stories ..... try those 12 ga.-28 ga. Little Skeeters, I think you'll like 'em.

I would think you might need to run a set of 24/28 adapters through a sizing die after each shot .

I was tempted by a very nice, very reasonably priced 24 gauge O/U many years ago. The seller was even offering a case of 24 shells with it. But the practical side of my brain intervened and I left it sit unmolested. Considering the frequency with which I run across 24 gauge shells (about as often as I spot a flying saucer), and how often I run across 24 gauge wads (about as often as I spot Nessy in my unused swimming pool), I think I made the right decision.

Fiocchi 24 ga shells are currently for sale at Midway for $14/box 25.