Win Some, Lose Some......

[Dave McCracken]

Some of you may recall I recently got an older SKB/Ithaca 20 gauge O/U, with which I am well pleased.

One solo dove shoot and plenty of wobble clays and a little SC, this has held up and done yeoman service.

But, good 20 gauge ammo around here is pricey. As a long time reloader and light load advocate,not to mention tightwad, I figured to get a MEC 600 and run off some nice light 3/4 oz 20 gauge stuff that would still do the job for most clay games and upland hunting.

I lucked into a MEC 20 gauge 600, LNIB for half of retail. A few components like some International Clays, CB clone wads of the WA20, etc and some data from reputable sources and I was off. After the usual hoohoo with the final crimp, I had some nice 1200 FPS, 3/4 oz reloads in AA hulls. I loaded 100 rounds and off to PGC went I. I was calculating just how much I was saving in shot and powder as I drove.

Hubris.

At the Wobble trap/5 stand, I stepped up with a box and some extras,Gun Clubs. As the shots rang out, it became quite apparent I had a small problem.

That otherwise excellent SKB has an inertia trigger. While those miniscule 3/4 oz loads broke the targets as well as 7/8 oz loads, the trigger did NOT reset for the second shot on the pairs. If I used a Gun Club in the bottom barrel, everything went as expected.

I can use the 3/4 oz loads in the little 870 20 here, but darnit, I wanted to turn that nice old SKB into a psuedo 28 gauge.

Any ideas?

 

[oletymer]

Use a different powder and up the velocity to 1250-1290 range. This type load works well with inertia triggers. Your loads using International are already pretty high pressure loads. Alliant lists loads in the range I recommend with lower pressure.

 

[oneounceload]

I use 15.5 of Universal for 20 3/4 oz loads..in my Browning O/U weighing 7.5, it sets the trigger, in my 7# SKB it sets the trigger, in my new S&W Elite Gold, it really doesn't matter because of two triggers - but it doesn't hurt my shoulder even with a wooden butt plate. That load is a 7/8oz load dropping 3/4 oz of shot and SMOKES targets

 

[kudu]

It's been a while, but inertia guns can be worked over to mechanical triggers. They are done all the time for shooters that install sub-gauge tubes. Unfortunately I don't know what it costs anymore, or who to recommend, I don't shoot much like I used to. Only shot about 200 skeet birds this year.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks for the responses, folks.

I really do not want to change powders or push International Clays past the published data I have. I want a 1200 FPS load and guess that unless I want to put a considerable amount of cash into a trigger conversion, I'll have to stick to a 7/8 oz load in this. Or at least for the first shot, but then that will get complicated.

Since SKB went out of business,this is an orphan and I've no illusions that it will hold up like my Beretta. But I did get it to shoot and would like to do so with those efficient and inexpensive 3/4 oz loads.

I'll check with a local smith as to how much a trigger conversion will run.

 

[oneounceload]

SKB, the factory in Japan, is what closed their doors, Dave. GU in Omaha is still in business, has all of the remaining parts, and is seeking a factory to start production again, so you should not have any issues with getting parts or getting it fixed

 

[roo_ster]

Man, I really do not like the idea of inertia triggers.

I wonder why they came about?

 

[Dave McCracken]

That's good news, 1 oz. I do want to shoot this one plenty. It's a trim little shotgun that handles nicely and looks good. Performance at Wobble and 5 stand duplicates that of the Beretta 12 gauge. And it certainly does speak Dove.

Rooster, darnfino. Probably inertia triggers are cheaper.

I did talk to one smith, he'll get back to me about switching the trigger to a mechanical setup. Heck, since it's a field gun I'd even settle for two triggers.

Irony, the trigger now is one of the best I've ever had on a shotgun.Less than 4 lbs and crisp.

 

[oneounceload]

Dave, here is the site for SKB:

http://www.skbshotguns.com/

As you can see, they are still selling shotguns and advertising parts

 

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks! I'll call them later and see what they say.......