How many 12ga proponets have actually shot a 20ga? Blind Poll

[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.

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]

Honestly

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...