[jamesb]

Nothing popped up on a search. Has anyone used them? Can anyone verify the results they have on their website (http://www.chambermates.com/index.htm)? I am currently shooting a 6 1/4 pound 16 ga SxS and 6 rounds of clay games is beating my shoulder up pretty good. I found these and thought they would still let me use my favorite gun. Plus they have a pretty high novelty factor.
thanks
jim

[Oldnamvet]

One of the guys I shoot with got some 28 gauge inserts for his 12 gauge. We patterned it and it looked very good. Wads expand to fill the barrel and look rather weird (short and fat) compared to the typical wad. He enjoyed shooting it since the recoil was not that much and most of that was soaked up by the heavier 12 ga gun. He really had to reload then since 28 gauge is not a cheap one as far as shells go.

[mswestfall]

Q. What about the Velocity?
A. Chronograph tests show that shells fired thru Chamber Mates(TM) on average produce the same velocities and many times higher than what we got from the same shells when fired thru a real smaller gauge gun.

Can anyone confirm this quote from the Chamber Mates website? I'd sure like to see actual chronograph numbers with and without the gauge reducers.

[Dave McCracken]

Anecdotal, ms, but here it is. I shot wobble with a guy using a set in 12-28 gauge in an old Stevens/Savage 311 or similar. He was trying them out before trimming the stock for his son, 12 or so. He wanted to start the kid off kickless.

According to him, the Chamber Mates chrono'd 40 FPS less than 12 gauge field loads. Not crucial, IMO.

As for the OP, in your shoes I'd start reloading 7/8 oz loads in that 16. You might end up using them for hunting also.

A while back I loaded up 3/4 oz 12 gauge loads to start Son off with his little NEF single. They broke trap targets when we did our part and had bearable kick in his 5 lb, 9 oz single.

[jamesb]

Dave,
I plan to reload because of my addiction to 16, but at my current residence I do not have the space to set up the reloader or store the consumables. I think I will just buy a set and try them out.
thanks
Jim

[CaptMac]

I have a old old set of "Steel" Savage .12 to 410 "Fourteners" they work excellent in guns that don't operate on the inerita system. In some inerita guns there is not enough recoil to function properly.

[Dave McCracken]

Good plan, James. Let us know how they work for you.

Thanks....