Chantry: Sherman Bell's report for Gauge Mate in 2006
In the 16-gauge gun with 28-gauge Gold adapter:
A Remington 28-gauge STS factory load of 3/4 ounces of #8 lead shot, gave a velocity of 1215 ft/second and developed a pressure of 5100 psi at the front of the forcing cone.
A Winchester 28-gauge AA factory load, also with 3/4 ounces of #8 shot, gave a velocity of 1252 ft/second and developed a pressure of 5800 psi.
A 28-gauge handload in the STS hulls used the following components: W 209 primer, 13.5 grains of Universal Clays powder, Remington PT28 wad and 3/4ounce of #8 lead shot. The hull was closed with a six-point fold crimp. This load gave a velocity of 1158 ft/second and developed a pressure of 4900 psi.
In the 12-gauge gun with 20-gauge adapters:
A Winchester 20-gauge A-A Sporting Clays factory load of 7/8 ounces of #7 1/2 lead shot, fired in a Silver adapter, gave a velocity of 1319 ft/second and developed a pressure of 7700 psi. The same 20-gauge load fired in a Go1d adapter gave a velocity of 1324 ft/second and developed a pressure of 7800 psi. With all 0-rings removed from the Gold adapter, per your request, the velocity was 1302 ft/second and the pressure was 7900 psi.
In the 12-gauge gun with 28-gauge adapters:
A Winchester 28-gauge A-A factory target load of 3/4 ounces of #8 lead shot, fired in a Silver adapter gave a velocity of 1247 ft/second and developed a pressure of 8300 psi. The same 28-gauge load fired in a Gold adapter gave a velocity of 1285 ft/second and developed a pressure of 8400 psi. With no 0-rings in place on the Gold adapter the velocity was 1255 ft/second and the pressure was 8100 psi.
A different lot of the same Winchester 28-gauge A-A factory target load was fired with Gold adapters. The velocity was 1318 A/second and the pressure was 8200 psi. With 0-rings removed the velocity was 1297 ft/second and the pressure was 7700 psi.
The variation in measured pressure and velocity produced by changing from the Silver to the Gold adapters is of no ballistic significance and no more than the variation one can expect between various lots of the same ammunition.
All the tests indicate very good performance of the sub-gauge ammunition fired in Gauge-Mate adapters.
I tried 12-20 and 20-.410. Worked OK but messy and tiresome when target shooting.
