Never bring a knife to a gunfight. That was the first thought that crossed my mind when I was asked to gather up a variety of double-barrel shotguns for an article in Rifle Firepower. But, as I soon discovered, there was a method to my editor’s madness: When accessorized with X Caliber Gauge Adapter system barrel inserts, any side-by-side or over-under shotgun can be quickly converted into a rifle! Why do that? you might ask. In a survival scenario, a single gun with multiple functions can be a lifesaver. For less serious circumstances—say a weekend backpacking trip or just camping in the wilderness—one gun, when properly outfitted, can serve a multitude of needs.

Adding any of the eight X Caliber barrel inserts allows a 12-gauge chamber to fire 10 different calibers, both handgun (9mm, .38 SPL, .357 Magnum, .45 Colt and .45 ACP) and rifle (.308 Winchester, 7.62x39mm,

.223 Remington and .22 LR). In addition, the .45 Colt insert allows a 12-gauge barrel to be stepped down to .410 gauge. That’s a lot of options, especially if you find yourself in a situation where the only ammo available is what you can scrounge up.