Lil skeeter question.

[Darkside]

I am thinking about buying a used 20ga Remington 870 Wingmaster for the kids (8 & 11) to shoot. I already reload the 28ga. and though about picking-up a couple of the 28 in 20 Lil Skeeters if they will cycle through the action.

Thanks

Darkside

 

[waterhouse]

I don't have first hand experience, but I asked some folks the same thing a while back (I was asking about 12 to 20) and was told that they were designed for break open shotguns, and that they didn't even work very well for those.

 

[fecmech]

Darkside: They might work feeding thru the action but the critical point woud be the length. The Skeeter is as long as the fired shell with crimp extended. I'm pretty sure they would work as a single shot loading the Skeeter and shell together and ejecting them together, then pushing the empty case out of the skeeter. I just dropped a 12 to 20 Skeeter in my Beretta 390 with a 20 ga empty in it and manually ejected it, I don't know why it would not work in the 870. Hope this helps Nick.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Look for a used 870 in 28 gauge.

There's an article in the new Shooting Sportsman. I think Bruce Buck wrote it, on subgauge adapters.

The words "Break action" crop up repeatedly.

Alla in all, the short adapters do work somewhat in break action shotguns, BUT patterns do not measure up to those fired in standard barrels or even the long tubes like those used in skeet.

You can also load down. Son's first shotgun was an NEF single weighing 5 lbs 9 oz and shooting a 3/4 oz load. Not a 28,a 12. I loaded down some 12 gauge loads to 3/4 oz and 1150 FPS. Creampuffs, but broke birds nicely inside 30 yards...

 

[Darkside]

Thanks for the info on the Lil skeeters, I wasn't sure how well they would eject. Sounds like I should pass on them.

I guess I could always start loading some lite 20ga stuff. I do have an extra 600 jr. in 12ga that's not doing anything right now. I could convert it to 20ga.

I would LOVE to find a used Wingmaster in 28ga. fairly cheap, but I think I would have better odds winning the lottery.

I did check Walmarts website and found the 870 express in 28ga for something like $280. Now don't get me wrong, I do like the 870 express. It's just that for my childs first shotgun, I would just like for them to have one that is as much of a joy to look at as it is to use.

On the other hand, I would feel better taking a saw to the express stock.

Darkside