Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 17:00:49
+0000
From: Kevin Winker <ffksw@AURORA.ALASKA.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list AVECOL-L <AVECOL-L@listserv.lsu.edu>
Subject: Auxiliary barrels
Dear Brian,
Just back from the field. Hope
I'm in time to be of some help. From
being unable to get in touch with Herrick this spring I assume
his
business has gone under. The number doesn't work, and information
has no
listing for MCA Sports. I needed auxiliary barrels in a hurry,
so I went
with Robinson's Gun & Tackle: 855 Street Road, Southampton,
PA 18966.
Tel. 215-357-7381. His prices are similar to what Bill Herrick's
were.
At Mark Robbins' request, Robinson makes the .22 auxiliary barrel
with a
slightly bent tube to bring the shot out into the middle of the
barrel.
I haven't used a 12 gauge .22 aux before, but this one does not
do as
well as my 20 gauge .22 aux (which left the shot coming out of
the side,
which seemed required for rimfire cartridges, as you know). This
may be
a consequence of gauge, however. His barrels are superior for
unloading;
he makes a groove for prying out the shell from the rear. Robinson
was
just as courteous and fast as Herrick was. I used both .410 and
.22 aux
barrels that he made on this trip just over and found them to
be
perfectly suitable, with a lessening of range in the .22 over
my
previous gun/aux combination.
One thing we should all be aware
of (and I meant to send this out
over avecol), is that Robinson now seems to be the only easily
available
commercial source for auxiliary barrels that we know of. And he
is
getting a lot of business from the museum community - it sounds
like it
is more than he really wants, since it is a sideline and he doesn't
make
much on it. If anyone knows of other sources, it would be a good
thing
to let everyone know and spread our business out so we don't overwhelm
the one good one left.
Best,
--
Kevin Winker
University of Alaska Museum
907 Yukon Drive
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-6960
907-474-7027; ffksw@uaf.edu; fax 907-474-5469
========================
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 11:00:31
-0700
From: "Braden, Gerald" <gbraden@CCR.CO.SAN-BERNARDINO.CA.US>
Reply-To: Bulletin Board for Bird Collections and Curators
<AVECOL-L@listserv.lsu.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list AVECOL-L <AVECOL-L@listserv.lsu.edu>
Subject: aux barrels
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Dear Subscribers,
On the issue of aux barrels,
I have a supplier, Mr. Michael R. House, an
engineer, who operates a small business called TimeRider Technologies
out of his home in southern California. He has made .410 and .22
mag
inserts for 12 gauge shotguns for us here at the San Bernardino
County
Museum. But, if you're looking for fast delivery, you're probably
out
of luck with this supplier.
On the plus side, the quality of the aux barrels he makes is
outstanding. The barrels are milled from solid core stainless
steel.
The aux barrels are tapered so they don't get stuck in the 12
gauge
barrel. The aux barrels are polished to increase the muzzle velocity,
which also improves the reach and accuracy of the shot. The .410
and
.22 chambers are tapered so the spent shells can be removed by
hand,
literally. (He mills a bevel into the .22 mag aux barrel, but
I've
never had to use it to pry out the spent shell.) Because the .22
mag
aux barrel is milled from a solid core, there is no bent tube.
Thus,
the accuracy is much improved. The .22 mag insert will also shoot
.22
caliber mag slugs, although I'm not sure why one would need this
option.
Because the aux barrel has no riffling, the accuracy is of the
slug is
poor.
I highly recommend these inserts,
even though delivery can take some
time. (It took two months to get one aux barrel.) I suspect that
part of the
delay was because Mike doesn't do this for a living. Another reason
for
the delay is that Mike is extremely meticulous. He tests each
aux
barrel at a shooting range to check the shot pattern at specified
target
distances. If he doesn't like the pattern he throws the insert
away and
starts over.
I talked with Mike to get his
permission to post this email. He
suggested that anyone interested should send him an email
(MRHouse@CSUPomona.edu). He also said he could make aux barrels
for
nearly any caliber shell for a 12 gauge, but I would expect a
increased
delay for aux barrels other than .410 or .22 mag while he re-tools
and
tests the insert(s). The aux barrels cost us $75.00 apiece. But,
I
don't know if that's a fixed price. I recommend that anyone contacting
Mike should be sure to discuss specifics such as cost, caliber,
customization, delivery time, number of aux barrels, etc.
Gerald Braden