How popular are O/U multi-barrel(gauge) sets vs tubes
- Thread starter Redsoilreaper
- Start date
I have never seen a multi barrel kit in person, only on the EE and such. But everyone in my skeet league shoots a gun with tube sets or even better tube sets with carrier barrels.
Having the means, one should buy a full kit like those from Kolar that allow you to shoot the same gun, at the same weight, with a custom stock or a precision fit stock.
Having the means, one should buy a full kit like those from Kolar that allow you to shoot the same gun, at the same weight, with a custom stock or a precision fit stock.
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For target shooting the tube sets rule. They are lighter and less expensive. The best set up is a 12 gauge with a second "carrier" barrel reamed out for the tubes to keep the gun weight consistent.How popular are these? The 12,20, 28 and .410 sets or 20,28 and .410 or even 12/20 or 20/28 have these gone by the way side in favor of tubes? If you had the means would you be better off to buy one model of O/U in each gauge?
thanks
RSR
Multi-barrel sets aren't that common. IIRC the only companies currently offering a four-barrel target set are Browning and Krieghoff. Beretta has offered them in the past but they've been discontinued for many years. I owned a Winchester 101 three-barrel set when I was shooting more skeet and preferred it to the four-barrel sets. I shot the 12 gauge events with the 20 gauge. The downside to a multi-barrel set is that when cased they were a bulky and heavy item to haul out to the club but swapping barrels was easier than changing subgauge tubes.
Even if I had the means I would not buy a matched set of four identical guns in each gauge and would go with tubes and a carrier barrel instead.
At one time, I was a pretty serious skeet shooter. I tried both the multi barrel sets and sub gauge tube sets. My preference was the multi barrel sets. Like Claybuster, I shot the 20 gauge barrels in both the 12 and 20 gauge events. The tube sets were way more troublesome to set up for the next event with all the parts,tools and fussing involved.
I now shoot Sporting Clays, but if I was going back to skeet, I would look for a 20,28,410 three barrel set.......I just know that it would be difficult to find one of those older sets with the longer barrel length which I now prefer.
Stubble's K 20 three barrel set in 30 or 32 inch would likely be one sweet set up !!!
I now shoot Sporting Clays, but if I was going back to skeet, I would look for a 20,28,410 three barrel set.......I just know that it would be difficult to find one of those older sets with the longer barrel length which I now prefer.
Stubble's K 20 three barrel set in 30 or 32 inch would likely be one sweet set up !!!
Beretta687EELL
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Kolar is now making a 4 barrel set, which starts at $25,980 US. Like their tube sets, all the barrels shoot in the same place and weigh the same and balance the same. The older 4 barrel sets were not consistent in weigh, balance or where they shot.
I have been shooting it for about a month now. I ended up saving about $7k compared to a new gun, for a gun that has seen very little use, and is in excellent condition.
It was a good thing, as was delivery in six days, instead of waiting a year for a factory order.As well, I hadn't planned on getting 410 barrels, but now I am enjoying alternating between the 410 and the 28 for skeet.
the spank
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
I have never owned either and only shot tube sets but a 3 or 4 barrel set is much more appealing to me for the reasons previously mentioned. If I were a serious skeet shooter I'd give priority to a 3 barrel set first and failing that buy a 20ga with 28 & 4.10 tubes. There is no good reason to shoot a 12ga in the 12 events.
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It just so happened that Clay was headed down to pick up shotguns on the weekend when I made the purchase on Wednesday. The gun arrived at the FFL Friday, the paperwork was done immediately, and the gun was brought across the border Sunday. Monday was a holiday, or I would have had the gun in five days. It was a bit of a gamble buying such an expensive gun based on some pictures and a description, but all worked out. I actually drove to Calgary to shoulder a K-20 before making the purchase to make sure that the gun would fit me.
That's the cost of playing with the higher end guns that you don't find at the local gun shop. Of my four most expensive guns, three were bought sight unseen without pictures. It is a tortuous blend of excitement and trepidation when you open the box. Forrest Gump got it wrong. Life is a shotgun case containing a gun that you paid a hefty price for that you haven't seen yet. You never know what you're going to get.
