Subgauge tubes

Necroman99

Necroman99

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Location
Whitby Ontario
Hey all,
So got my skeet gun, a 30" dt-10, and I'm ready to go to subgauge shooting...shoot some 4 gun tournaments. I can afford to spend about a grand right now, or I can wait a year, go up to 2 grand. I'm not looking for opinions on which I should do:).
I'd kind of like to make a move now.
New options available to me that I'm aware of are Briley sidekicks, briley companions, briley fitted. Rhino stingers. Kolar fitted. Of all of those the only ones that seem within reach are the sidekicks.

I decided I should go nosing around for something used. I put my ad up in EE and have gotten a lot of nice offers from a lot of nice guys. But every time I get something offered I find myself backing off when I research it. I wanna see if any of my quibbles can be addressed here.

First set that came up were sidekicks. It sounded good to me and I thought they were one size fits all. Just to be sure I called Briley. Briley said no, one size doesn't fit all...and said based on the original gun they were bought for they wouldn't fit my dt-10. What they didn't do was tell me what would fit. So that's not helpful.

Next came several offers for 28" fitted tubes from other guns. This is a tough one for me. Several of the guys offering them are the second owners. One gent said when he got the tubes 2/3 sets fit fine but one needed a tweak, which he had the skills to do. My struggle here is that I didn't think fitted tubes are supposed to work in guns other than what they are fitted to. Internet research tends to confirm this. Meanwhile these folks are pulling it off. I could see if they were a little sloppy putting a few loops of Teflon tape, but if they're too tight I'm pooched. And even if they "seem to fit", I can't replace a dt10 anytime soon if something goes screwy...and I don't wanna scratch or damage it even.

Is the conservative move to just buy the new sidekicks?
Any relevant experience?
 
Sidekicks and like short tubes work OK for 20 gauge and iffy for 28 gauge, but the .410 suck. You have a premium gun and if you plan to actually compete, then you are better off to wait and buy the Kolar full length sub-gauge tubes. I've talked to Kolar about refitting their tubes and the guy that actually does the work said that sometimes they fit properly, about 50 / 50, if they are the same bore. I'm sure that some folks that know what they are doing can cobble up a set of tubes, but the impression that I get is that you don't get the life expectancy that you should.
 
Hold out for a fitted set of tubes. Don't waste your money on sidekicks or rhinos. You spent a lot of money on a quality shotgun don't cheap out on tubes.
I wouldn't recommend using somebody elses fitted tubes and fitting them to your gun.
 
Just shoot olympic rules it's a 12gauge only discipline, then you never have to think about tubes again, it's what I do with my DT10 skeet.
However, if I was going to shoot American than a fitted set would be the only way I would treat my DT10.
 
If you want to play, try the short tubes. If you want to get serious about 4 gun shooting, get a proper set of full length tubes fitted (Briley or Kolar; I've used both and broke lots of 100s with either set. I don't think there is a significant difference between them).

It will be less expensive to do it right the first time around. A resale set could work ok, but after spending the money, I doubt that you will want to deal with the problems that could possibly come up with non-fitted tubes.

I know people who have used short tubes, and they work ok. They often sound funny, but seem to be able to break the targets just fine. I believe that over time you are putting yourself at a competitive disadvantage though.

One big disadvantage with having tubes fit, is the time you will have to be without your gun.

Brad.
 
Beretta687EELL said:
Sidekicks and like short tubes work OK for 20 gauge and iffy for 28 gauge, but the .410 suck. You have a premium gun and if you plan to actually compete, then you are better off to wait and buy the Kolar full length sub-gauge tubes. I've talked to Kolar about refitting their tubes and the guy that actually does the work said that sometimes they fit properly, about 50 / 50, if they are the same bore. I'm sure that some folks that know what they are doing can cobble up a set of tubes, but the impression that I get is that you don't get the life expectancy that you should.
Click to expand...

Agree
 
nemesisincanada said:
Just shoot olympic rules it's a 12gauge only discipline, then you never have to think about tubes again, it's what I do with my DT10 skeet.
However, if I was going to shoot American than a fitted set would be the only way I would treat my DT10.
Click to expand...

Yeah but, you need a pistol grip stock to play that game properly, and that costs more than a fitted tubeset.
 
bmcrae said:
If you want to play, try the short tubes. If you want to get serious about 4 gun shooting, get a proper set of full length tubes fitted (Briley or Kolar; I've used both and broke lots of 100s with either set. I don't think there is a significant difference between them).

It will be less expensive to do it right the first time around. A resale set could work ok, but after spending the money, I doubt that you will want to deal with the problems that could possibly come up with non-fitted tubes.

I know people who have used short tubes, and they work ok. They often sound funny, but seem to be able to break the targets just fine. I believe that over time you are putting yourself at a competitive disadvantage though.

One big disadvantage with having tubes fit, is the time you will have to be without your gun.

Brad.
Click to expand...

If I get fitted tubes how long am I without my baby?
 
Necroman99 said:
If I get fitted tubes how long am I without my baby?
Click to expand...

Depends on shipping and how busy they are when they get there. Call the folks at Kolar (they are in Racine Wisconsin), make an appointment and drive there. I think they can install them in less than a day. I've seen the guy working on them lots of times, but never asked how long it takes. You will need a passport and your Form 6. Kolar can give you a letter to use as an invitation to bring the gun over the border.
 
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