Hi, does anyone know if these are still made or sold anywhere ? I have the 12/16 type but was looking for the 20 gauge/bore or the universal type with the interchangeable head.
I've got a pair of 20 barrels on the bench with a nasty dent that's pretty close to the choke, I've got most of it out but would like to do some measuring before I carry on. It was at that point I remembered that my gauge won't fit down the hole.
Did a quick search on the Internet but no luck, Brownells don't list them any more. There are other makes but they're a bit to pricey for me at present.
Any ideas please gentlemen ?

I think the Skeets gauges are gone. I had heard that they will repair the old ones, but, aren't selling new ones.
A pity, as not everyone needs or wants a Hosford's set. Hosford's=Very nice, very expensive, and used but once on a new gun.
If, by chance, you discover an option that costs about what a Skeet's did, post it here. I have access to a 12/16 Skeet's, would like to own a 20/28 set.

Best,
Ted

There is a guy on Trapshooters.com who makes bore gauges for 12's for $95 (or at least he used to). If you could put together a group order, he might be able to build something for 20's (maybe through 28?). I have one that is .640-.800 that I used for 12s and 10s and am very happy with it. His name is Kenny Helderlein. If anyone wants it, PM me for his contact info assuming it is still current.

Thanks Ted,
I feared they may be out of production. That's a shame, they were good affordable tools, I'd never had a problem with mine and found it to be reasonably accurate, never needed to determine depth of pits etc but it saved me buying a couple of lemons in the past.
I didn't know Hosford made them to be honest, I have their dent raising set and wall thickness gauge and found both to be easy to use.
I'll have a look on their site, I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get one from somewhere.
I'll keep trawling the Internet aswell, if anything turns up I'll let you know.

Dan, thanks for that too, there must be a demand for specialist tools like that, may be worth asking the question.

No longer available. But as noted above, old ones can be repaired. I used the Skeet's contact info and had mine fixed, promptly and at a very reasonable price.

Can/will Skeets provide a second head for your old Skeets Mike? I have a couple 12's and would love a small bore head to add or change one for 20/28's. I got lucky and bought my second one off EBay for less than 30 bucks. Worth checking for them on EBay. They pop up several times a year for not too much money.

I have one of his gauges. To be honest, I think they are a better quality gauge. As easy to use as the Skeets (I have a Skeets also). The fellow who makes them is great to deal with. I'd recommend them any time.

Good Luck!

Greg

The gentleman on the Trapshooters website has a very loyal following and his prices are low. He will make 20-28 as well as 10-12-16. $125 plus shipping for dial, $50 more for digital. He has pictures on the For Sale Vendors subforum. He is Gary and his phone number is 406-961-3311. He also makes cases for the gauges, and offers free shipping until December 20, and will make a gauge up to eight feel long. Yup, eight feet.

I believe this is it:

http://www.theunloader.com/

His website say 8" to 18". How does one decide which length is appropriate?

It's whatever you feel you need, at least half as long as your barrel. FYI, Gary actually says he can make one 8 feet long.

Thanks for the link VictoryXC they look very good. I'm guessing the 18 inch version will fully measure a barrel of 36" if used from both ends.
I've sent an email to see if he will export to the UK
Thanks again,
Nick.

edit- I didn't see the post above which answers the gauge length question sorry.

Would anyone like to comment on whether to go with the dial or digital version? Pros and cons? Thanks in advance.

Just debating that with myself right now.

Digital or Dial indicator is a personal preference. Digital is probably easier to read and everything is going digital. I don't think they are more accurate then a dial.

On the other hand dial indicators have been around a long time. Easily calibrated if you have a set of gauge blocks & most of the bore mikes come with one. Fool proof if you know how to read it. I have a good dozen micrometers, mechanical dial indicators and calipers in my shop. One Digital indicator, the battery is dead. Been dead several years, odd battery not easily purchased, too much trouble to look for a battery when I can pick up a mechanical tool and do the same thing.

Boats

One advantage to a digital is that most can be switched from Inch to Metric if you like comparing the numbers. That said I put in over 35 years as a machinist & on occasion had to work from a print with metric measurements. I never owned a digital tool, my little Casio calculator would do all the conversions I needed.

Boats, those are good points. Not that the overall number is big but the dial version is significantly cheaper and will always be ready to go.

I never have a problem with my safe with the classic analog dial, as long as I remember the code. Not always true for my safe with the digital keypad. I'm currently locked out of it.

here's the link to the guy at trapshooters

FWIW he has a fine rep

http://www.trapshooters.com/threads/chri...der-now.320537/

Personally I use a Stan Baker gauge and would recommend them highly but alas Stan has long since passed and few people will part with his stuff.

have another day
Dr.WtS

It would be an interesting thread to see who used Stan Baker over the years. He installed a screw-in choke in an old Ithaca M37 barrel for me in 1977. Gil

Skeets bore gauges are still available. Due to family health issues production was stopped for awhile. But we are up and running again.

To order call
Ed Patton
706-949-1469

If Skeets is back in business, and they are both priced at $125 for the dial gauge, any opinions as to which is better quality/easier to use?

I like being able to specify length.

I'm have doubts about the zero rings with my new gauges from centrefire ranch. There's a difference between the .700" ring and my old skeets one. I've not had chance to look into it yet but one of them must be out. One guy I know who also had a skeets gauge had his zero ring measured and it was within 6 microns, good enough I'd say.. I'm not knocking either product but need to check against another set or ideally, get them measured , getting some made is another option but I doubt it'll be cheap given the accuracy needed. It's good to know there is another maker out there too though.
Ironically, a few days after my new gauges arrived I spotted a chubb gauge on the 'popular auction site' but missed out on it when I fumbled the keys in the dying seconds of the auction. It would have been mine for a good price otherwise. It's the only time I've ever seen one on there but still keep an eye out for one.

I just now measured my Skeets set rings circa 2002 with a set of telescoping gauges and micrometer from LS Starrett.

While they do not have a high polish, they both measure within .001 of target which is about as close as I can get given a little waviness in the set rings. Close enough.

I never thought to check before now. I always knew that waviness was there, at least in the .700 ring.

I just talked to Ed Patten and says the 'O' ring on the older two head units is 3/8" ID, 1/4" OD, 1/16" thick. A common size soft rubber ring. My 'O' ring has turned hard and provides inadequate friction. Apparently, the current units are single head and do not require the O ring.

Skeets bore gauges are back! I am now building the gauges for the skeets family.
16-12ga or 28-20 ga. Prices are 125.00 shipping included (USPS)for U.S. only.
All international shipping will have to be quoted per order.
Ed Patton
706-949-1469

Can extra heads be purchased to add a small ga measuring ability to my 12 ga Skeets? I have a couple of 12 ga. units which work well down to 16. If possible a extra head so I could measure 20-28 would be great.

Ed, are you making them with the longer reach also? I had sent mine back to Skeets for some work and had talked to Dean because they had made a longer reach, 16" I believe, and Dean made one for me.


Ed, sent you a pm

Over 10 years ago I purchased a 12 gauge skeets bore gauge that I have been using. But as my collection increased I had need for a gauge to measure 10ga down to 28ga. Upon good recommendations from this board I purchased two gauges from Centerfire Ranch. One to measure 10ga - 16ga and another for 20ga and 28ga. I just tested my original .700 skeets truing ring with the new ring and they are less than a thousandth off. Both my gauges indicate the same diameter.

I'm glad there is another option, but I am very happy with the ones from Centerfire Ranch.

Jason

JDW,
I can make a custom length when requested. Extra cost maybe additional depending on request.

KY Jon,
If you have the old universal Gauge a 28-20ga can be added, just give me a call.

I also want to thank you all for the repeat interest and enthusiasm for the skeets Gauge.

Ed Patton
706-949-1469

Ed,

Could you make one for .410 bore?

SRH

Ed,
What range does the 12-16 measure?