12 gauge 9mm insert length/accuracy?

[patrick37027]

A co-worker bought some insert/adapters for a break action shotgun.  He's pleased with a 22 insert and asked me about different length 9mm inserts with respect to accuracy.  He asked my opinion, but I thought I'd get some other input.  Does anyone here have any experience with these?  Or thoughts on accuracy?

He said the 3" is $40, 5" is $70, and an 8" is $100.  In general, I've always read that longer barrels are more accurate, but would there be a big difference in accuracy between the 5" and the 8" for 9mm?  I'm assuming he'll be shooting 115 grain, but maybe also 124 or 147 gain.  Not sure if that would make a difference.

Thanks.

[Ronald_55]

No first-hand experience, but lots of reading.  One thing to be sure is that the adaptor is rifled. At one point some were not that were out there. Obviously that made a huge difference in accuracy. Of course these seem aimed at emergency situations, so some degradion in accuracy would be acceptable since it would be a last ditch effort.

There are several makers out there. I think Short Lane seems to be one if the best.

https://www.gunadapters.com/

They also make a12ga to 209 blackpowder primer cap. So you can convert your break action shotgun to a muzzleloader. It is an interesting SHTF idea I have seen.

https://www.gunadapters.com/12-gauge-to-209-muzzle-loading-adapter-1/

[patrick37027]

Not sure of the brand, but my co-worker said it was 1 in 10 twist, so obviously rifled.  I didn't realize they made them "unrifled" if that's the correct term.

Thanks for the links!

[MacGyver]

The problem with a setup like this is the rudimentary bead sight that’s typical on a break action shotgun.  

I might argue that you’d be better off with the 9 33 caliber balls that come prepackaged in a 00 buckshot shell.

i get the appeal for a survival setup.  But, even then for both gathering food and defense, you’d likely be better off with an appropriate shotgun shell.

 

[Ronald_55]

41 minutes ago, patrick37027 said:

Not sure of the brand, but my co-worker said it was 1 in 10 twist, so obviously rifled.  I didn't realize they made them "unrifled" if that's the correct term.

Thanks for the links!

"Smoothbore" I think is the term. 

No problem. I keep looking. I need to pick up a set myself. I at least want to do the 12ga that let you shoot 20ga and .410

[Ronald_55]

1 minute ago, MacGyver said:

The problem with a setup like this is the rudimentary bead sight that’s typical on a break action shotgun.  

I might argue that you’d be better off with the 9 33 caliber balls that come prepackaged in a 00 buckshot shell.

i get the appeal for a survival setup.  But, even then for both gathering food and defense, you’d likely be better off with an appropriate shotgun shell.

 

Even though I obviously like this idea, Another thought on 'scavenged' ammo is to be set up to pull the bullets, melt them, cast buckshot, and load buckshot shells with the retrieved powder. Not ideal to mix a bunch of powders, but we are not talking about normal day-to-day life. Not a lot needed to do this small scale. 

A perfect scenario might be doing both. Use the ammo you have guns or adaptors for and recycle the rest when you can safely set up to reload. 

[Garufa]

My personal opinion is such conversions are a novel idea but of little value.  While they may work what really is the point? 

[Ronald_55]

In my eyes they are a backup short term plan. Now, I just by the right type of ammo and have several calibers guns.

If things all went to crap, long term I would plan to reload the calibers I needed. 

These are somewhere in the middle.

[patrick37027]

2 hours ago, MacGyver said:

The problem with a setup like this is the rudimentary bead sight that’s typical on a break action shotgun.  

I might argue that you’d be better off with the 9 33 caliber balls that come prepackaged in a 00 buckshot shell.

i get the appeal for a survival setup.  But, even then for both gathering food and defense, you’d likely be better off with an appropriate shotgun shell.

 

Actually, he sawed the barrel to minimum legal length and JB Welded some TruGlo sights to it.  It was a $99 (I think) Hatfield break action that only Walmart sells.  It practically folds in half and fits easily in a big enough backpack. 

Not for me, but he got plenty of entertainment from the project, and he's satisfied with the accuracy of the 12 gauge itself (shot and slug) and the 22 insert he already has.

[patrick37027]

1 hour ago, Garufa said:

My personal opinion is such conversions are a novel idea but of little value.  While they may work what really is the point? 

I think it was entertainment as much as anything else.  He has a "family farm" with an old farmhouse he camps/hunts at once a month or so.  I think he plans to leave it there just to have some other options.  As little as he has in it, it wouldn't be big loss if it disappeared.

[Quavodus]

From what I've heard the longer rifled adapters can be accurate. I've got a .357 Magnum that's rifled but only 3". Its not that great. Its made by Dina Arms, I think. I've not shot it in a long time.