Shotgun Adapters for Survival and Sustainability

Shotgun adapters allow you to shoot multiple calibers out of your break action shotgun. This is an advantage in a survival situation, providing greater versatility in a single firearm. With an adapter set you can reduce your 12-gauge shotgun to 20-gauge, or to .410. Include an adapter in the caliber of pistol that you carry, and now that ammunition can be fired from your shotgun, as well.  Including a .22LR adapter and a hundred rounds of ammo in your pack adds little weight while further increasing your ability to hunt small game in a survival situation.

You can use most any break action shotgun with an adapter. I personally like the Mossberg Maverick double barrel, with adapters for my pistol caliber, and a .22WMR adapter. It should be noted that when using an adapter in your shotgun, you decrease the barrel length to that of the adapter. For this reason, I recommend using the 8-inch Rifled Pathfinder Series Adapters. The eight-inch adapter increases the length of barrel over that of most pistols, but is shorter than any rifle or shotgun. Be sure to sight in your gun using the adapters so that you know where it shoots when using different calibers.  Also, if you carry a 20-gauge shotgun, you can reduce it to .410, but you will not be able to go up in size from 20-gauge to 12-gauge by using an adapter.

A single shot 12-gauge shotgun can be found for very little money in most gun stores, and for even less on the used market. Combining this inexpensive shotgun with a couple adapters greatly increases its versatility, creating a true "survival firearm" for most long-term sustainability situations.

Another interesting option made by Short Lane Gun Adapters is the reloadable ‘black powder’ shotgun shell, and the 209 shotgun-primer adapter, allowing you to fire your shotgun like a muzzle loader, using black powder. While this may lack value in a short-term survival situation; it is certainly of value in longer-term sustainability scenarios. The Pathfinder School has a YouTube about this device, which they helped to design here: The 209 Primer 12GA Adapter    

The Rossi firearms company sells multi-barrel firearm, the "Trifecta" with the concept of one gun - multiple calibers. The availability of calibers could be expanded even further by including a set of adapters to be used with the shotgun barrel of the Rossi Trifecta.  This is designed as a "youth gun" and may be a little small for some adults, but that small size can be an advantage in a survival gun.

The concept of multiple barrels can also be had in Thompson / Center firearms. Thompson / Center makes great firearms, but you will pay two or three times what you pay for the Rossi Trifecta. Still if you have the money and want the best multi-barrel firearm available, get the Thompson / Center.

Versatility and adaptability is an essential part of fieldcraft and survival. Shotgun adapters provide you with many options to expand the capabilities of your firearm, allowing you greater versatility in the field.