[vicdotcom]

Hey all,

This is just a blind poll. Yes I have, No I have not. It is not meant to be a thread to argue 12ga vs 20 ga. (but it might wind up that way anyways).

I was shooting with my friend who is a huge 12ga for everything man. And I had my 20ga. He was harping on me about it and I asked if he even fired a 20ga before? Supprisingly he said no he had not.


It made me think how common is this. So here is a blind poll. Im thinking most people have shot both, but I can be suprised

[Birdmang]

I have one of each, both have their practical applications.

[JoeMal]

My first shottie was a 12, never had anything else. I've shot probably 2 rounds from a .410

[vicdotcom]

I have one of each, both have their practical applications. Yea I do also. Each have very different characteristics even for the same model shotgun, especially when fully loaded.

[earlthegoat2]

I have no need for the 12 gauge. I dont have one now and may never again unless I am looking to turn a profit. I have found the 20 to do everything equally well including skeet and waterfowl.

Its just the idiot behind the gun that matters.

[hillbillydelux]

As posted by others. I use both and both have served me well. I use the 20 for squirrels, birds, clay birds and such. I use the 12 for turkey.

[Cougfan2]

My first shotgun was an Ithaca M37 in 20ga. which I still have. Shot many a cottontail, squirrel, quail, pheasant, duck, etc........ growing up in Kansas. Got a Wichester 1400 as my first 12 ga when I was in High School and have had several 12 ga guns since and still have now, but the little 20ga. Ithaca is still my favorite. Hoping to pass it down to a Grandchild one of these days.

[buck460XVR]

Not only have shot one but own a couple. They have their place when it comes to upland bird hunting, but IMHO, a 12 is just more versatile. Just shooting them is not the answer, using them both in similar applications and then comparing is the right way.

BTW.....my "go to" SxS for most upland game(besides Turkey) is a 16 ga.:neener:



Its just the idiot behind the gun that matters.


takes one to know one, eh?

[earlthegoat2]

I was referring to myself.

[Hhrshooter]

I like the 20 gauge, but I prefer the 12. It just does it better for me:)
Dave

[rcmodel]

Have enough of both to say each has it's own place in the world of guns.

A little 20 quail gun is a far cry from a 3" 12 duck gun.

rc

[BHP FAN]

I've got two 12's and a sxs 16 ga.I've had 20's,but with all the loads available in 12...low noise , low recoil, various weights and sizes of shot,I probably won't be buying any 20's unless it's a really fine double for really cheap.Not that there's no great 20's out there-there are-I'm just already covered.

[Bud Tugly]

I'm strictly an upland hunter and my favorite gun is a 20 SxS. Never owned a 28 but I might like that even better for my needs. I've owned a 12 gauge and found it tends to put way too many pellets in the game for good eating, especially on close shots.

For extremely dense cover I prefer a .410 single shot since it's lightness helps in getting off quick shots, and it's all you need inside 25 yerds or so.

[Mags]

When I was 12 my old man gave me an 870 Wingmaster slug gun in 20 ga with a Redfield 3-9 scope. Shot it every week during hunting season for practice. Joined the AF and they issued me a Mossberg 500 in 12 ga. I fell in love with the simple takedown of the Mossy and bought one myself. The 870 is still back home but here in Abq where I am stationed I enjoy the 12 ga and havent looked back except for sentiment of the how I recieved the 20 ga.

[oneounceload]

You left off 16, 28 and 410......why??????

[MCgunner]

I've got a bird hunting friend who only owned 12s, quite a few of 'em, and snubs smaller gauges, though he did buy a 10 for geese. But, I went up there with my 20 last couple of years and out shot him on doves. :D 12 is fine, though, for anything from doves up, he has a point, but I like the little gun a lot. Steel shot is the reason I shoot 12 most 'cause waterfowl are my main targets and 20 ain't up to the 12 for that, being truthful. The 20 3" can do it, but the 12 does it better. I've gone to a 10 gauge for Ts and geese, too. I've fired .410, 20, 16, 12, and 10. Still lacking 28 gauge experience and they intrigue me a bit, but not enough to pay for the ammo. LOL 20 is a good 'nuf light gauge to suit me and it's very popular so the ammo is no more than 12s at Wallyworld. I still haven't gotten me some steel shot for that MEC reloader in 10 gauge I have. Need to do that soon. 25 bucks a box is a little high, though 12 3.5" runs $21 and don't toss the patterns, generally.

[nathan]

I only shot a 16 g many years ago. It was a light kicker. Now a 12 HD REmington 870 is my only shotgun. I hope i wont be able to use this in real life SD.

[wrs840]

I have one 20, one 16, and seven 12s.

12s don't have to shoot the heaviest loads you can find. 12ga rounds are more plentiful, more varied in type, and usually cheaper. It's one instance where "going with the flow", the popular standard, is often a good idea.

my .02

Les

[seanie!]

I've shot skeet with a 20 and 12 ga. I prefer the 20 for skeet, but as I only own one shotgun, I went for a 12 for a more diverse use of skeet, home defense, and hunting.

[MCgunner]

12s don't have to shoot the heaviest loads you can find. 12ga rounds are more plentiful, more varied in type, and usually cheaper. It's one instance where "going with the flow", the popular standard, is often a good idea.

There is merit, though, to a light, quick pointing shotgun on birds many upland birds, doves, even teal. 20 can kill 'em just as dead and get on 'em a little quicker in a lighter gun. It ain't all about the size of the hole or 8 gauge would be more popular.

New shotgunners and old shotgunners that don't know any better think 12 is all you need. :D The "popular standard" is okay for the conformist. Well, 12 may be all you "need", but it ain't all I want. I mean, yeah, you can putt with a driver.

[RyanM]

A 20 gauge can do everything a 12 gauge can, but a 12 gauge can do everything a 20 gauge can, cheaper.

[Two Cold Soakers]

Got a 28, 20 and 3 or 4 12s.

Prefer a 12.

[madwell]

i have both and a 16 gauge to boot, but when i hunt i always reach for a 12 gauge

[wrs840]

New shotgunners and old shotgunners that don't know any better think 12 is all you need. The "popular standard" is okay for the conformist. Well, 12 may be all you "need", but it ain't all I want. I mean, yeah, you can putt with a driver.

You make a good point, and I'm no expert, and yeah, I may putt with a driver. I'm also not much of a hunter. The 20ga is my wife's original HD shotgun, although she generally prefers a full-size hi-cap 9mm now. I might borrow her 20 as a bunny hunter. My 16 belonged to my grandfather, so that's it's value to me. I have leaned toward 12s because, well, I'm not a very good golfer...

:D Les

[vicdotcom]

You left off 16, 28 and 410......why??????

Only because most people get into the 12 or 20 argument the most. Never really many questions question about "12 vs .410" or "12 vs 28" The "12 vs 16" argument, maybe, but with ammo choices the 16 is started to get left out of many arugments.

I am glad to see that many more people have tried shooting the 12 and 20, then choosing after comparison.

[MCgunner]

I hear a lot of 12 vs 10 gauge arguments on the goose hunting sites. Why not the 10? :D

[CYANIDEGENOCIDE]

I have a 20 but I have only shot it a handful of times, I prefer the 12, and In all honesty I really prefer the 10. Remington sp-10 kicks less than a wingmaster in 20.

[wrs840]

I hear a lot of 12 vs 10 gauge arguments on the goose hunting sites. Why not the 10?

I get it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0PIdWdw15U

No 10s in pawnshops around here. :D

Les

[JohnBT]

If you don't count inexpensive bolt action .410s, the first real shotgun I ever shot was my father's Win Model 12 20 ga.

I was about 4 or 5 and finally bugged him to shoot it one time too many. Being a new gun, this must have been 1955, he held his hands under the gun to catch it because when i pulled the trigger it sat me down in the road. Those were the days. From the dirt road in front of the house we could shoot out into the apple orchard. It was convenient.

John

[BlackHand1917]

I haven't shot a 20 gauge but if a friend offered me a chance to try one I would. Heck, I would shoot any firearm at least once.

[JHansenAK47]

I only own 12 gauge shotguns. I like 20 gauge shotguns and have shot a couple of them, but I already own more than one 12 gauge and I want ammo interchangeability.

[Sauer Grapes]

I guess the only one I haven't owned is a 20ga. I can load my 12 down to 20, so I doubt I'll ever buy one. But never say never I guess. I really like shooting my 28ga. for skeet. They are great upland bird guns too, so is the 20.
Wow, just remembered, my 16ga., hasn't been shot in 25 yrs.

[AcceptableUserName]

a 20 would work, dont get me wrong. i started on a 20 and still enjoy nef 20 ga single shot. but it is NOT equal to a 12 in damage. i choose 12 for defense, 20 for small game/fun.

[JWF III]

...and 16, and 28, and 10, and .410. That should about cover it. I don't hang around with the wealthy type too much. You know the kind that spends $25,000+ on a European SxS in 36ga or 24 ga (or any one of a number of other shotgun gauges). And I have the largest selection of shotguns of any of my friends. They come to me whenthey want to try before buying.

Wyman

[arizona98tj]

It is, IMHO, easier to put with a driver than it is to drive with a putter. For reasons other than that, I gave up golf 20 years ago.

I was shooting a 20 gauge, as a kid, long before I bought my first 12 gauge. It now sits in my safe awaiting my grandson. In the mean time, I will continue to use my 12 gauge as both a putter and a driver. Since I am no longer shooting birds, putting isn't as much of a requirement as it use to be. ;)

[Kevin5098]

The only thing I use the shotgun for anymore is trap shooting. I have always had a 12 GA Rem 1100, but recently purchased a compact 20 GA 870 for my wife, since she wanted a pump with light recoil. With modified choke in both guns I broke a lot more targets with the 12. I bought a full choke for the 20 and we will be trying that next time at the range.

After shooting the 20, I can definitely imagine circumstances where the smaller size would be more useful than the 12.

[Ben86]

I enjoy shooting the 20ga much more, but I stick with the 12ga for home defense for added stopping power.

I prefer 20ga for skeet, small game, and varmints.

[maulme]

I have 12, 20, 28 and .410.

The 20 is my favorite, though if I ever go duck hunting I'll take the 12.

[Guillermo]

I have had a .410, couple of 20 gauges and a slew of 12s.

I love a 12 gauge!

[oneounceload]

My favorite is the 28..........busts clays, kills small birds with aplomb........does a wonderful job........

[lead-inspector]

I use a 12 auto for HD and Action Shotgun Competition. For Cowboy action I use a sxs 20.

Steve

[SodiumBenzoate]

I'm curious why so many people use a 20 gauge for clays. I admit there's unlikely to be a significant advantage to a 12 gauge for that, but it's not like 12 gauge 2.75" #8 target loads have much recoil.

[chuckusaret]

I have fired all gauges even an 8 gauge, they are designed for a special hunting need. IMO opinion 12, 16 or 20 gauge with the right shot would be a good HD weapon.

[uki]

call me biased, but to me, bigger is better... from my shooting experience, 12ga is versatile and multi-purpose. :)

[oneounceload]

but it's not like 12 gauge 2.75" #8 target loads have much recoil.

depending on the load, there can be a MAJOR difference.....if you're shooting a 12 with 2-3/4 DE and a 7/8 oz. load, you're right - just about at a 20 gauge level.....but if you're shooting the basic cheap wally world 3 or 3-1/4 DE 1-1/8 oz loads.....that will take its toll over the course of 100 or 200 shots in one day

recoils is NOT your friend nor something to be proud of handling; rather it is to be avoided at all cost as much as possible

[SodiumBenzoate]

To some degree, I agree... I've seen people shoot magnum loads at clays, and that's the peak of stupidity. But the recoil from normal, cheap 12ga target shells doesn't bother me nearly enough that I'm going to spend money on a 20 gauge. That said, if I had one, I'm sure I'd use it sometimes.

I have shot a 20 gauge, and I absolutely don't think there's anything "wrong" with that gauge. I just don't think that I would personally benefit from one, at least not to the extent that it's worth spending the money. Reduced recoil loads are fine for new shooters, and you have the option to use extremely powerful shells that simply don't exist in 20 ga (though I can't think of any realistic uses for some of the 12 ga super-magnums).

[Marlin 45 carbine]

as others have posted I use my 12 for deer and turkey, my 20 for other generally.
I take my 20 down the river along the cornfields for dove, squirrel and duck usually. I always use it for rabbit and squirrel. corn fattened squacks is some good eating fried, gravy with pan drips, brown rice, simmered green beans or turnips/greens and hot biscuits.

[TehK1w1]

10, 12, 28, .410... I like 'em all. 12 GA is my choice for pheasant, ducks, geese, and SD. 20 is my preferred gauge for smaller stuff, although 28 is fun for quail. 14GA and 16GA are the only US gauges I haven't shot, although I've had a hankering for a 16GA SxS for a while now...

[doc2rn]

I have 3 20s, 1 12, and one 22lr 20g o/u

I can do anything with a 20g that I could do with a 12g and still have a 22lr in reserve! Yeah my combo is my favorite hunter but my 20s are the ones I wanna shoot all day long!

[Kentucky Windage]

Both have their uses. A lot of folks forget that it's not the gauge that kills -- it's the shot pattern. While I own plenty of shotguns, two of my favorites are a matched set of Beretta Silver Pigeon IIs in, you guessed it, 12 and 20 gauge.

[Will Fennell]

I make my living with a 12 gauge, so I guess that makes is my favorite. While I have fired many thousands of 20 ga rounds, the more I shoot a 20 ga, the more I respect and enjoy my 28 gauge;)

[cchris]

Have my autoloading 12ga, if I get a Saiga it'll probably be a 20.

[vicdotcom]

Hey everyone! Thanks for taking part in this. The results seem to be steadying at about 15% no for the past few weeks. Seems pretty accurate. Again no other purpse than to see how many people actually tried both before making their personal choice.

Thanks for all who participated!
Vic

[paintballdude902]

i love my 12guage and id take it any where id trust my life with it

but sometimes whne im working at the farm id rather carry the 20 guage its lighter and will take care of snakes all day long

[Zach S]

A 12 gauge is like the 9" ford rear end. Its pretty much the standard everything else is compared to for two key reasons: popularity and versatility.

Yes, I've shot several 20s. I just lack the need or desire to own one.

[scottishclaymore]

Well, I don't guess I qualify as a 12-gauge proponent... I use a 12-gauge for hunting and other "serious" applications. But for fun? I have killed more little birds and busted more clays with a 20 ga. 870 than anything else.

[nody]

yes to 20 ga

shot skeet for years with 20 o/u. now shooting with rented 12 auto and field 1 1/8 loads...my shoulder feels it and I'm breaking about the same # of birds.

Thinking of going 28ga.

[btg3]

I have killed more little birds and busted more clays with a 20 ga...
Same here, but with a Sportsman 58.
These days, I go with with a 12ga 870, because, as others have stated, it's more versatile and less expensive than 20ga.
Also have shot (and reloaded) 28ga and 410 over the years which are very enjoyable, but don't shoot as much now and these are no longer in my possession.

[usmccpl]

Got both a a 16 and a 10 and a 410 each has its own uses.

[1911Tuner]

Back in the day, when I took to the field after quail and such, I much preferred to tote a fast-handling 20 gauge double. You learn to appreciate the weight as the day wears on.

What can I say about the 28...besides sweet? ;)

[Savage Shooter]

Well my first gun was a nef 20ga that my dad bought for me it wasn't bad but it lacked knock down power. I then talked my parents into getting me a mossberg 500 bantam 20ga for christmas it shot great but it kicked like a mule. The stock wasn't long enough for me so it kicked me in the face and the shoulder as I found out the hard way after taking it to a FFA trapshoot and turning the right side of my face and shoulder black. I don't think it weighed much over 5lbs. I sold it for my best gun ever that I bought off a buddy a "old" mossberg 500 12ga I haven't looked back since. It has killed 30-40 deer by him and the kids he loaned it to. This spring I plowed over a 24lb tom with 8.5" beard with it:D and I've taken some nice bucks with it too. I have a old winchester SXS model 24 12ga of my grandpa's that probably hasn't been shot in 50+years and a ithaca 51 featherlight 12ga 3" magnum I bought. After having all these guns i would take the 12ga any day over a 20ga there generally cheaper to buy and shoot and there very versitile.

[bad_aim_billy]

I'm the opposite of this poll--never shot a 12.


And frankly, unless I become a hardcore waterfowler, there's no reason I'll ever have to...

[Guns and more]

I have shot both, but I wouldn't call myself a 12 ga. proponent.
I have a 12 ga. and it's good for a lot of things.
Lately, I think if a woman would shoot it in H/D situations, I'd recommend a .410.

I find that the 20 ga. recoil is as much as the 12 ga. and ammo is harder to find (buckshot)
So if you're buying a 20 ga. because you want reduced recoil, forget it.

Think a .410 has no power? Buckshot has 5 pellets, each the size of a .38 traveling at 1200'/sec.

[handle02]

Have both and love both!

[Quickdraw Limpsalot]

I own and use both. Use the 12's most often, but for small game my little old H&R Topper 20 gets first crack at 'em.

[JEB]

yep. i just prefer 12ga

[McCall911]

I'm not exactly recoil shy, but my shoulder now hurts after shooting heavy-recoiling long guns. I prefer the 12 gauge because it's more versatile, but I wouldn't mind settling on a 20. When I was a kid, my first shotty was a Revelation single-shot 20 gauge and I loved it.

[76shuvlinoff]

timely

I'm coming up on 50 years old and shot my first 20ga 3 days ago.

My buddy was showing me the gun his daughter gets at least one deer with every year. I didn't get the make but it's a single shot slug gun with a HEAVY rifled barrel and he had it ported. There is a some kind of "Red dot" optic on it.

This thing kicked like a .410, my 30-30 hits harder. I do not like porting on a handgun because of the blast but even without muffs this 20 was not bad at all.

[Hornet 6]

I started with a 12, then moved to a 20, went back to 12 for clays because of ammo costs.
Now I shoot few clays I'm using a 28 it does all I need except for anything needing non toxic shot, mainly because I don't load, and nobody stocks non toxic in 28 over here.

Neil. :)

[WardenWolf]

I had a 20 gauge Winchester 1300, and upgraded to a Saiga 12 gauge. The 20 gauge is nice, and I can shoot skeet with it all day, but I hit a quail with 7 1/2 and it didn't kill it. Just messed it up real bad and I had to finish it with another shot because it was still mobile. The 20 gauge's range and power just leave a bit to be desired when dealing with quail (fat birds) that tend to fly straight away from you and get to range quickly.

So yes, I've shot both, I own both, but I prefer 12 gauge in the appropriate gun. I dislike my father's classic Remington 1100; it recoils hard, is unbelievably loud, and just tends to shatter your nerves, making followup shots difficult. In short, it's just not what I'd consider a good gun by today's standards. I opted for a Saiga 12 instead, for many reasons. There's enough low-recoil 12 gauges on the market nowadays that the reasons for many of the smaller shotguns are quickly vanishing.

[farscott]

I own pumps in and use all four of the common gauges, 12, 20, 28, and .410. I have fired 16-gauges. I also have an O/U in 28-gauge.

I think each gauge has its sweet spot, and I try to use the right tool for the task at hand. 16-gauge has been obsoleted by the improvements made with the 20-gauge. 12-gauge is great when I need lots of pellets in the pattern; 20-gauge is nice when I can get by with less pallets in the pattern and want a lighter gun. 28-gauge seems to be the ideal balance of payload and pattern, and .410 is fun when I want no recoil.

[ArmedBear]

I hit a quail with 7 1/2 and it didn't kill it

And you think that was because the 7 1/2 shot came from a .615" tube instead of a .729" tube?

Next time, try some #6 shot on tough wild quail. 7 1/2 doesn't kill any better or worse from a 12 or a 20. Pellets hit birds one at a time. Also, #7 1/2 shot at 1200 fps won't have one inch more effective range from a 12 than from a 20.

Of course, you also have to hit the bird with your pattern, not just a few stray pellets. When I wound a bird, it's almost ALWAYS because I didn't hit it with the dense part of the pattern. A light 20 Gauge load, 7/8 oz. of 7.5 has 306 pellets in it. That's plenty. If I wound a bird, I probably didn't hit the bird with anything near the center of that pattern....:)

All of that said, I think that those who say 7.5 is as big as you ever need for quail haven't hunted the quail down in the desert near the border. I have. And I ended up using #6 shot almost exclusively.

Put #7.5 in a 12, and it won't work any better. #6 is the way to go for those birds IMO and IME.

[7.62x54mmR]

I do own a
12 gauge a 20 and a 410 i like them all
but yes my favorite is still My 12 gauge :evil:

[JimKirk]

I own 12 ga, 16 ga, 20 ga and 410. I've shot 10 ga and 28 ga but do not own either. I've also shot a 9mm and 24 ga shotgun of some sort back when I was a teenager, one of Dads rich old friends had them, wish I could remember what kind of guns they were. I can do with my 20 ga what any of you can do with your 12 ga except geese and maybe steel shot loads.

Jimmy K

[50caliber123]

No way that 2 3/4" 20ga Buckshot kicks as much as 2 3/4" 12ga Buckshot. Havng gone from a 20ga to a 12ga ten years ago, I am considering going back to the 20ga. I can shoot the 20ga all day long, and recoil is only an issue if I sit down while shooting slugs. It doesn't seem that there's a lot of love for the 20ga for HD. I'm sure that at close range, the bad guy won't know the difference. The difference for me is less blast, flash, noise, recoil, and faster follow-up shots. I think in HD, rounds on target matter most, and that too many people who can't handle a 12ga end up shooting that gauge, but not enough to be proficient. 20ga shells are about the same as 12ga in price, and the cheap buckshot out performs the cheap 12ga buckshot. For one, its all buffered. Every factory load has that plastic buffer material between the pellets. A lot of people mention the .410, and I have considered it, but I am curious as to what kind of shot deformation you get out of those buckshot loads. Are patterns very consistent? I am in the process of extensively pattern testing factory buckshot and hope to post my results after I finish patterning all seven factory loads in 20ga.

[mljdeckard]

One day a few years ago, I went out with a friend of a friend who loads his own shells, and has a safe full of old break guns in various gauges. We shot 12, 20, 16, 28, and .410 at clay pigeons all afternoon. It was lots of fun.

So I thought about getting a 28, my dad has an old 16, and I found that you have to dig to find any ammo AT ALL for them. I talked to the guy I was shooting with, and he said if you want to use the more obscure ones, get ready to roll your own, because if you are at the mercy of the market, you won't get much variety in loads.

I might get a 20 for my kids, but I'm sticking with 12.

[Zach S]

No way that 2 3/4" 20ga Buckshot kicks as much as 2 3/4" 12ga Buckshot. Depends a lot on the guns. My 20" 590 with buckshot kicked a lot less than than youth model 20 gauge with buckshot. My 590 is a good bit heavier though.

With the low recoil LE132 in my 590, its actually pretty pleasant to shoot.

[Hardtarget]

I'm in the "Yes I Have" group. I've used the 12, 16, 20, and 410 over the years. Never had the chance to shoulder the 28 ga. In fact, I don't know of one among my shooter friends. One day I'll get the chance because I have two grand daughters...and I plan on one being in my gun safe when they are ready to try skeet or sporting clays.

Maybe I should start looking. :D

Mark

[CajunBass]

I use both. The 12 gets used mostly for deer hunting because you can't get the good big buckshot in a 20 ga. I use a 20 for most everything else though. Squirrels (when I use a shotgun) and doves mostly. I don't hunt any other birds and there don't seem to be as many rabbits around as there used to be.

If I only had one it would be a 12.

[CZ223]

I think the 16 guage is the best of all but that is just my not so humble opinion. The 20 is just fine for many things but overall the 12 guage is much more versatile. This is because of the miriad of offerings from major ammo manufacturers as well as unlimited reloading possibilities.

[50caliber123]

I was looking at the 18.5" Mossberg .410 pump. What a tiny little shotgun. I have fired .410's n the past, but that was a long time ago. I do recall them having a maximum effective range of about 20-25yds when hunting grouse.

[oneounceload]

Mt sporting clays scores are no different when using my 12 or 20 target guns, even though the course is primarily set up for registered targets where 99.9999999999999% use a 12.

It ain't the arrow, it's the Indian.

A 7/8 oz. load at 1200 fps is the same whether it is from a 12 or a 20

[ArmedBear]

overall the 12 guage is much more versatile. This is because of the miriad of offerings from major ammo manufacturers as well as unlimited reloading possibilities

In theory, a 12 Gauge can "do everything." In practice, if someone really thinks that, there's a lot he has never tried to do with a shotgun.:)

[dagger dog]

Have hunted ,shot, owned .410, 20 16 12, got to get a .28 , the older I get the more 12 ga. guns remain in the locker.

[Two Cold Soakers]

No way that 2 3/4" 20ga Buckshot kicks as much as 2 3/4" 12ga Buckshot

I reckon that's a function of the shotcharge weight, and the amount of powder behind it. You can stuff more happiness into a 12ga hull.

Admittedly, I have never loaded buck, but a check of two references show 20 ga recipes for nothing larger than #3 buckshot. I'd rather have a 00 pellet moving at 1200 fps out of the pipe than a #3 at 1200 fps. Food for thought.

[oneounceload]

So I thought about getting a 28, my dad has an old 16, and I found that you have to dig to find any ammo AT ALL for them. I

28 gauge is easily available, not only online, but at every wally world that sells shotgun shells - GRANTED, it isn't cheap, but it IS available........

Currently, Winchester AA sporting clay loads, (which are great for Southern quail), run about $11/box and the hulls are easily reloadable many times, or sold as once-fired to target shooters for .15/each

[nicksterdemus]

E-co-nom-ics.

Price the various ammunition in the gauges mentioned.

Take note on which is not only cheaper, but readily available (on the shelf) in differing loads and shot.

It's the 12 every time. I think 16 is a great gauge. However, it seems it was too close to the 12 and not far enough from the 20.

I'd love to have a dedicated o/u 28, not a heavier 20 w/smaller holes, but they tend to be pricey.

Danged ole 410 would be a fun little gun if the ammo was priced according to size.

The 20 was the kid/lady/old fart scattergun of choice due in part to the lighter weight and recoil. Real men shot a 10 gauge and those stricken w/bursitis, arthritis, palsy or crippled joined the ranks of ordinary men and shot the standard 12 gauge.

That's not to say that the little twenty can't handle various jobs as well and not totin' a heavy gun helps keep you sharp & light on your feet towards the end of the day; should you have a ballet or interpretive dance recital awaiting.

I think the lighter loads of the 20 make you concentrate a little more by having a smaller margin of error, yet they should pattern better w/identical shot weight compared to the 12 coz of the smaller hole.

Maybe that's a stretch, but evah little bit eh?

I know w/30" full choke in 12 it's hard for me to lay off of Dan'l Boone length shots. I start gettin' the notion that if my old eyes can see it then I can hit it square.

My first scattergun was a 20 and I kilt two birds w/one shot.

Dance w/what brung ya and enjoy...