doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Gaugemates and hunting.

For what its worth and because the original question was about hunting with gaugemates (gauge reducers):

This thing



was shot with these things



They aren't gaugemates but they are gauge reducers - Little Skeeters from Browning.

I would recommend at least two pairs for hunting, one pair loaded up and in your gun and another loaded up and ready to go in for an instant reload if other birds are coming in or for a back-up shot. You can then poke out the empty shells at your leisure.

All the best

Skeeterbd

I bought a set of 12/10 gauge mates to use in my 10b sb by T Barclay & Son (no relation!). They worked really well with anything with a plastic wad but were hopeless with fibre as I assume too much gas escaped round the wad.
In the UK, most game shoots and many clay grounds are now insisting on fibre wads because of risk to stock/equine so I had to give up their use.
Really should have started loading my own 10b cartridges but too many projects in hand!

Those things were the biggest piece of junk I ever 'almost invested in....

Great information Gentlemen!!!! I'm starting to develop a better mental picture concerning the field use of these chamber reducers and after what Pete was saying I better try these things out before hunting with them.

There's a good idea Skeeter. Keeping a pair loaded and ready in your pocket. I think I will invest in another paid, to be on the safe side.
But, I saw Adam's Chambermates, what is the difference between the Chambermates and the Gaugemates?

I have Chambermates in 12 to 20 ga, I use them in an O/U 12 ga for juniors. They work very well for me and the integral extractors are a boon. I do not understand HoJo's dislike of them

You are smarter than I am. I did not test them. I was in the north woods hunting grouse when I discovered my dilemma! Spent the rest of the day removing them and then trying to find some 16ga shells to hunt with.

Pete

Yup, the Continental 16s tend to have tight chambers.

Pete; Was your's Silvers?

OK, I just talked to Gaugemates. These are the ones that have splits.

Gold
10-12
12-16
16-20
20-28

Silvers;
10-12
16-20

I've been using Chambermates in the 12 to 20 version for years in SC events with zero problems AS LONG AS I use either AA's or STS's, which I always do and have no problem doing so. Great product in my book.
JR

Gentlemen,
reading this thread reminded me:
would someone have a 12 to 16 (or 12 to 20) 'mate' that is surplus to requirements? - a single one would do
please pm me with offer
Regards from the UK
Gunter