Little Skeeters - Shotgun Inserts to Shoot Lesser Gauges

[ButchS1066]

I'm sure it's possible get into trouble using a shotgun to rifle conversion, but it'd be for doing something stupid like hunting with one somewhere that's shotgun only.

The pressure concerns are valid, which I'd imagine is why they don't offer adapters for some popular calibers. (i.e. .357 or .44 magnum)

[SeekHer]

Most of the European Gun Makers, especially those making double rifles and/or drillings, all offer a rifle tube for the shotgun barrels…everything from .22 LR to 9.3x74…there are also inserts for the rifle barrels as well…

It came about due to restrictive gun laws where, in most cases, a person was allowed to own one and only one firearm and in many countries only one to a household, period, end of story…It meant that the person’s gun had to be very versatile and as such guns like the Cape Gun (one barrel shotgun the other big bore rifle) or a drilling (2 shotgun barrels S/S, rifle barrel beneath) or a Vierling (2 barrels of each) were made so the hunter could take everything from waterfowl, small and large game with the same rifle…

Lots of stuff at Drilling Hotline as well at Merkel and Krieghoff or Heym


In North America the popularity of multi bore skeet (some trap & sporting clays) meant that companies made inserts to reduce a 12 bore to 16, 20, 28 or 410 allowing them to compete with a gun they’re familiar with and in the tougher, lesser size competition…

Longest continuous string in competition
American Skeet Assoc.
Records Men Woman
12….. 2462….. 1183…..
20….. 2173….. ..801…..
28….. 1718….. ..443…..
410….. 777….. ..265…..
Dbls…. 710….. ..259…..

Companies like MCA Sports, Briley and Kolar Arms make full length tubes while companies like Chamber Mates (are the top ranked inserts), Rhino Sport from Australia have now started winning lots of events, Little Skeeters and Gauge Mates will make just chamber inserts…

I’ve used both rifle and shotgun tubes but never just chamber inserts and liked them for their intended purposes--versatility and acceptable accuracy especially when coupled with a scope with quick detachable mounts…

[SeekHer]

I know a few guys that use the 20 ga inserts in 12 ga damascus barrels, and the 12's in 10 ga damascus.

Are the inserts full length steel like a Briley or just a chamber adaptor?

The reason I ask; if they're full-length tubes you have no worries and the insert will absorb the pressure of the shell but if just chamber inserts then the chance of the Damascus barrel peeling is greatly enhanced and is highly N O T recommended to use the chamber ones in older guns and especially Damascus barreled ones…

The old steel may not be able to take the pressure of today’s loadings and Damascus-- wound steel or painted--most certainly won’t…I'd be very reluctant to shoot them even with light clay loads...