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Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1545 Location: Michigan

Has anyone ever used the Gauge-Mate or the Gauge-Mate Gold reducers?
I would like to get a set of these for 20 gauge, down to .410.
However, I plan on shooting skeet with it, and don't want to buy these reducers if the shells are a pain to remove.
So, what are your thoughts and opinions on these?
Thanks, Dave Miles

I actually have a set of Gauge-Matea for a 20ga to reduce to .410, that I used for puppy training. I was borrowing the 20 ga and don't have any use for them.

I would be willing to send them to you to try. If you like them you can pay me 1/2 the price of new plus the postage. If you don't like them you can send them back.

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1545 Location: Michigan

Did you use them with an ejector gun, or an extractor gun?
Do the shells come out easy?
Yes, I'm willing to give them a try if you're okay with it.
I'll PM you my address.
Thanks, Dave

Ejector gun (Ithaca (SKB) 280E).

I only shot a handful of shells through them a couple of years ago. I can't really remember how hard they were to extract. but I don't remember carrying a dowel as a manual helper.

I will send them out hopefully tomorrow. This afternoon I am waiting for a breeder from north of Minneapolis to bring down his pudelpointer bitch to breed with my 3 yr old Cedarwoods male.

Hope they work out for you ....

Dave,

I have the GaugeMate-Gold for shooting 12 ga in my 10 ga 1883 Colt. Extractors work fine. The company does suggest using Rem STS or Win AA hulls for best results. I used some Fiocchi hulls and occasionally they would stick in the reducer. Have had no problem with STS or AA.

A drawback with mine is the split in the adapter will split the hull and make further reloading of the hull impossible. I believe the 20-410 size uses an O ring and you won't have that problem.

A friend used them in a recently purchased Ithaca Crass 10 ga for a 50 target round of sporting clays without problem.

Jeff

Hi Dave
I have some of the gold Gauge Mates reducing the 12 gauge to 20 gauge. Have used them on a range of guns both extractors and ejectors without problems (although the the GMAtes in the gun become an extractor). However, I have only used game loads - with high brass - and have heard that low brass target loads can end up with cases stretching just above the brass and becoming difficult to extract.

Ross