All around shotgun - any reason NOT to buy a 12 gauge ???

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Hokkmike

Hokkmike

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Looking for probably my last shotgun. Don't have one currently.

The only actions I am pretty sure that I do not want are an autoloader or single shot. I LOVE the looks of O/U's. Pumps are ok. S/S would be my last pick.

I have hunted small game and birds only 3 or 4 times in my life. I have done sporting clays about half a dozen time at the range. I have NEVER shot skeet but probably should. Home defense is always an option with a shotgun in my opinion.

I have fired 20's, 16's, and 12 gauges from a variety of guns.

I have been told that, for a guy like me, 12 gauge is the BEST way to go. It will do everything that other gauges may not possibly do as well. A few have suggested to me that a 20 gauge is just as lethal and effective for most application with less felt recoil.

I am very interested in your collective opinion about any reason not to buy a 12 gauge. If you have a favorite or preferred model feel free to thought that suggestion in too... NOTHING beats the wisdom of the many shotgunners on forums like this. Thanks....
 
One reason would be a shotgun for the ladies in the house. For that I got a Mossberg bantam tactical 20 gauge pump; 7+1, ghost ring sights and spacers for LOP. The closest I ever got to a do everything gun was a 12 gauge Browning BPS upland with a 3 shot mag extension. This pump model has a 24" barrel. I hunted with it once without the mag extension and it was ok. Imho, one shotgun can be used for everything but I wouldn't personally enjoy doing it. Have a 28 gauge citori for doves/skeet, 12 gauge Urika for early in the season when I suck at shooting, 20 gauge citori for the rest of the season and 12 gauge short barreled, extended mag, ghost ring pumps for home defense. This might change in the near future as I no longer hunt and home defense semi's are popular.
 
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Find a friend or well known acquaintance that has something you're interested in
Get them to let you shoot whatever they
have that you like and buy some of the
shells they usually use, maybe a box to
give them for the favor.
If you don't like it, you're only out the
price of the ammo and you've learned
what's good or bad for your own use
 
No reason not to get a 12 guage.
The only real question is which one.
I own single shot, over / under, semi-auto and pump guns. I like shooting them all.
That being said, there's no "do-all" shotgun.
You need to think of exactly what your gonna use it for most and buy one that fills that need. I think from what your saying a 28" pump guns with a second shorter barrel might be a good option
 
A 12 is certainly the most versatile. With lighter loads you duplicate the performace and recoil of the 20 ga. And if needed you can use heavier loads, albeit with much greater recoil.

For a upland hunter a 20 can be a lot lighter to carry all day. But even with light loads there is some overlap with 12 ga in recoil. It is possible for a lightweight 20 to recoil harder than many 12's.

Sounds like you're going to mostly shoot at clay targets. If so an autoloader is probably your best option. For serious shooters a quality O/U is what they will use. But good ones are well into 4 figures, and cheap ones will leave you disappointed.

For a fraction of that you can get a quality semi-auto. All of the informal clay shooters I know use auto's. A pump is just too slow for all but the fastest shooters. But would be a good choice for defense and hunting. But it sounds like hunting is not an interest and SD is less of a concern.

My brother has one of these and is quite pleased with it. I've read a lot of others who highly recommend this as well, especially for the money. A decent O/U will cost you at least double this. A good one 4X as much. And a high quality pump like an 870 Wingmaster will cost more.

Beretta A300 Outlander Semi-Auto Shotgun with Black Synthetic Stock | Cabela's (cabelas.com)

The barrel is a bit long for defensive purposes, but for that there are plenty of short barreled pump guns at reasonable prices. I'd be looking for 2 guns. Which I got 1st would depend on what I felt was more important.
 
20ga built on 20ga frames are smaller and lighter....for what I do thats a good reason to go to 20ga.

For what you want I think going with a 12 is probably the right way to go.....
personally, I PLAY with my shotguns far more than shoot them...take them out, admire them, shoulder them, pretend im swinging on a bird or something, then put them away. Personally, at this point I want something that I LIKE to handle and look at, as opposed to the most versatile....just my thoughts
 
LoonWulf said:
20ga built on 20ga frames are smaller and lighter....for what I do thats a good reason to go to 20ga.

For what you want I think going with a 12 is probably the right way to go.....
personally, I PLAY with my shotguns far more than shoot them...take them out, admire them, shoulder them, pretend im swinging on a bird or something, then put them away. Personally, at this point I want something that I LIKE to handle and look at, as opposed to the most versatile....just my thoughts
Click to expand...

Much less expensive that way too!
 
Just picked up a 20ga Citori-----what a sweet little, light and trim gun-----its probably going to turn out to be my main all round gun---if I need more power, I can easily slip a 3in shell in there and be on my way.

My other guns--all 12 gauges --- aren't going anywhere though and the 590 will still retain its HD duties. I tend to buy lighter, smaller guns anyway--a 24in Citori Superlight--a 21in M2 and have a 30in SKB 600 that's a beast but it sure does swing smooth. But those 12's can't match the 20 for overall feel though---they are always going to be bigger and fatter in the hands--no matter the weight.
 
For an all around shotgun, a 12ga pump is hard to beat. However, the contrarian in me just has to put this out there...I do love 16ga. Proper 16ga mind you, not one built on a 12ga frame, but a nice light, well balanced 16ga pump is about as good as it gets for me. And, in most cases, sitting nearby that box of 28ga was a box of 16ga during all but the worst of the shortage. But, yes I will concede, 12ga is probably the way to go
 
Recoil and blast/shockwave are the only reasons I can think of.

I own(ed) both a 12 & 20 Maverick 88 with same barrel lengths and chokes. (18" security OC barrel & 21" or 22" barrels with chokes, for both)

The 20 is slightly smaller, IOW, doesn't appear to be built on the same chasis as the 12ga.

I ended up selling the 12 because of the blast/shock wave made it not pleasant to shoot many rounds at a time even after taming the recoil.

The 20 I can shoot quite a bit with no ill effect.

Availability of rounds seems to be about the same but having to find reduced recoil 12s to match 20 recoil will be more difficult in these times, (& more expensive) ... that will last for who knows how long.


So, if recoil & shockwave of a 12ga isn't an issue and you dont foresee it ever being an issue, the 12 is the way to go as it will do everything a 20 does and more. If it is or might be in the future, I'd say 20 especially if this may be your only & last one.

Some history for context:
I still own a 12ga SxS coach gun. Its fun to blast things with but only a few rounds at a time, for me. I originally bought it for that reason and just to see if I liked shotguns at all by playing with it.

I liked it well enough to buy & try the Mav 88 12ga next but didn't shoot it much for reasons above.

Before giving up on shot guns, I bought the 20ga and I'm glad I did. I actually enjoy shooting it.... I don't shoot it enough which is something I've never said with 12ga.

I sold the Mav 88 12ga for a small covid profit.

That's my opinion... admittedly from someone that doesn't have a lot of shot gun experience.
 
Ranger99 said:
JMHO- I know a good many disagree, but
I think a break open single is pretty close to
a do it all. Not much you can't do with it
Click to expand...

Doubles, Sporting Clays, 5 stand, Skeet. It pretty much leaves you with Singles and Handicap Trap. It's also the last choice in shotgun action I would choose for HD. Since these are the two uses the OP specified,(clays and HD) why would you recommend one of the actions he specifically ruled out?

Especially since you gave him the best advice I've yet seen in this thread.

Ranger99 said:
Find a friend or well known acquaintance that has something you're interested in
Get them to let you shoot whatever they
have that you like and buy some of the
shells they usually use, maybe a box to
give them for the favor.
If you don't like it, you're only out the
price of the ammo and you've learned
what's good or bad for your own use
Click to expand...

Here's my .02, based on my experiences;
12 is more versatile than 20; even more so for a reloader. But factory ammo also has more selection in 12 than 20.

Less expensive O/U's ( Tri-Star, Legacy Sports, Stoeger) are a crapshoot on quality; They are serviceable if you are going to shoot a few boxes at clays a year, and maybe a box at birds. If you are thinking of joining the local Trap, Skeet or Sporting league, your best bet is as Ranger 99 said; ask your friends if they will let you try theirs shotguns. As a Trap shooter, I've done this so many times, and found which guns I like, and some I don't. I, in turn offer the use of any of my shotguns to those who ask. O/U's I would recommend, if buying new; Browning Citori CX, CXT or CXS. Beretta 68x series (I like the 686 Onyx personally) Mossberg Silver Reserve (though I will warn you of the gritty, heavy trigger), and CZ Drake. The last two are the best of the Turkish made O/U's. Older Beratta and Brownings can be lower in price, but know what to look for, or bring someone who does.
If a pump is what you are looking for, New in this order I'd recommend: Ithaca ($$$$), Browning, and (NOS, if it can be found) 870 Wingmaster, though older ones are better.
 
You know, if I could only have one shotgun it would be a 12. Hands down.

If I was budget conscious, or just wanted a pump, I'd spend money on a high grade pump. A good condition, Older, 870 wingmaster Remington would be my 1st choice. Lots of 1 gun versatility with this gun.

If a little more spendy I'd go with either a browning citori or a Beretta 686 new or used. Personally, Beretta fit me better but I am a huge citori fan.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and cast my vote for the 870 wingmaster. It is probably the most prolific shotgun on the plant and for good reason. Just like the 12. Can't go wrong with that combo.
 
No reason to not start with a 12 unless you can’t find one that feels right. Shells for a 20 are at best the same price per box unless you reload and others cost more.
I like 20s better than 12s personally. The advantage of a 20 is being lighter to carry gun and ammo in the field. I figure I can carry 100 1 oz field loads in 20 for the same weight as 75 1 1/4 12 ga or at least a smaller volume of the same number of shells.
If a 20 feels better and you aren’t going after waterfowl then it can do most of the things a 12 can.
 
Bandit67 said:
If you're going to shoot thousands of clay targets each year get a quality over/under, but for an all around gun that can do it all, just go get a Remington 870.
And I can't think of any reason NOT to get a 12 gauge
Click to expand...
I'm not a seasoned shotgunner and only recently has my interest in scatterguns been reignited but I'll echo bandit67's suggestion. The 870 is sort of the jack of all trades, master of none.

All that can be said for the 870 can basically be said for the 500 as well. Excellent guns
 
A pump in 12ga, from most any reputable manufacturer. An older Remington 870, new Ithaca 37, Winchester, FN, Browning, etc, etc.

With the exception of the new 870, new Ithaca 37, and old er production Winchester’s/Browning’s/Stevens; most of em are made in Turkey or overseas anyways, so... have at it. Find whichever one fits you best, and support our enemies...

While your at it, get a ~28” vent rib barrel for hunting and recreation, and an 18.5” barrel for home defense.
 
Buy a 12 gauge. Most shooting now is going to be at clay targets. A O/U with 30" barrels is very good for all the clay games and you can hunt with it. Very good guns are the Browning Citori and the Beretta SP1. New guns in those brands may be hard to find now. Lots of good used ones around. Buying used with a tight budget also look at 28" barreled guns. A pump is a fine gun for many uses but is a severe limitation for most clay target games. If the budget does not allow a O/U or if you want to keep the gun loaded for home defense then get a pump. Get both if the need and the budget are there.
 
To me, all-around means all-purpose. While a magnum capable 12 gauge pump might not be "ideal" for things like clay birds or quail, IMO it is definitely the better way to go for things like waterfowl, turkeys, and big game like deer, bear, and hogs- not to mention defensive purposes. Add to that the general diversity in ammo choices for these different tasks, and the availability and diversity in different makes and models of 12 gauge guns and the accessories available for them, 12 gauge is the closest thing with a "universal adaptor", if you are just going to have 1 shotgun. Something like a Mossberg or 870, possibly with a couple of different barrels and screw in chokes is easily adaptable in seconds for whatever you may want to use a shotgun for.
 
i would like to have the money back i spent on various shotguns trying to find the perfect pump or auto in 12 or 20. get a used citori and be done with it. immediately picked up a bunch of birds in all of the clay games. ...a 1oz or 7/8oz 12guage load takes care of the perceived need for a smaller gun,,,,,dc
 
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