.45Coltguy
Member
Agree with the bleating; except maybe the 6.5 Swede. What a round that is! And the 20ga? Fantastic for my uses, which is occasional upland birds.
Is the 20 gauge the 6.5cm of the shotgun world?
- Thread starter AJC1
- Start date
Agree with the bleating; except maybe the 6.5 Swede. What a round that is! And the 20ga? Fantastic for my uses, which is occasional upland birds.
CoalCrackerAl
Member
My 1st shotgun was my moss-berg 500 20 ga pump with select choke. My dad bought it for me while i was taking my hunter safety course. Back in 1977. We went for dove that after noon. I have a 12 ga too. I still prefer my 20 ga.
I’m mostly a dove hunter and like both depending on the situation. 20s are good if I’m walking a lot. Lighter gun and more shells per pound with standard loads, and less bulk even with 1oz loads. Same if stands are close and birds are flying lower. I’ve also always liked the yellow shells.
12 is better if you are staying put or expect long/high shots. I’ve found a slight edge for the 12 with 1 1/8 and my standard 1 oz 20 between 35 and 40 yards. Beyond that it’s more about luck than skill with either.
I also find I go through shotgun moods and phases with what points best for me. Some seasons it’s a 12 ga Wingmaster, some it’s the 20 gauge Nova. For doves, pointing matters more than load.
I’d compare the 20 to the 30-30 and 12 to the 30-06. Both classics. One does most of what most people want to do most of the time. The other can do it all but may be more than is necessary at the lower end.
12 is better if you are staying put or expect long/high shots. I’ve found a slight edge for the 12 with 1 1/8 and my standard 1 oz 20 between 35 and 40 yards. Beyond that it’s more about luck than skill with either.
I also find I go through shotgun moods and phases with what points best for me. Some seasons it’s a 12 ga Wingmaster, some it’s the 20 gauge Nova. For doves, pointing matters more than load.
I’d compare the 20 to the 30-30 and 12 to the 30-06. Both classics. One does most of what most people want to do most of the time. The other can do it all but may be more than is necessary at the lower end.
35 Whelen
Member
I started with a single-shot 20 gauge when I was about 9 years old, killed ducks with it every Saturday during the fall and winter when dad and I went to feed the cows. Then there was a SxS 20, same thing. Then I started shooting trap and switched to a 12. Got into quail hunting over dogs with the 12 and found I was destroying too many birds so went back to a 20. Now I'm shooting sporting clays with either a Remington 1100 or a Browning Model 12 (yes, a pump) both in 20 gauge, and doing quite well (much to the chagrin of the 12 ga. shooters).
So I now have no use for a 12 gauge, even when turkey hunting (call 'em in close).
35W
So I now have no use for a 12 gauge, even when turkey hunting (call 'em in close).
35W
irishlad
Contributing Member
Last edited:
InTheSwamp
Member
The 6.5 CM became so popular because it can hurl high BC bullets at distances where the 300 WM takes a toll in your shoulder - and, at those distances, it kills stuff fairly well.
Other than less recoil, what's the advantage of the 20 over the 12 between 7 and 50 yards?
Other than less recoil, what's the advantage of the 20 over the 12 between 7 and 50 yards?
entropy
Member
Less weight carrying it all day. Not a pheasant hunter, I gather?
InTheSwamp
Member
No, I am not.
entropy
Member
Pheasant, chukar, quail, grouse and woodcock aren't as tough as ducks, geese, and turkey; a 12 ga. isn't really needed for the upland birds. ( Yes, the waterfowl and turkey can and have been taken with a 20 ga. but the rounds needed for doing so are painful to shoot.) 20 ga. guns are a joy to carry all day, 28 ga. even more so. With the 28 ga., it's also kind of a " I can take a deer with .22 Hornet" thing.
InTheSwamp
Member
Thanks
BigDmike
Member
2 shoulder surgeries. I gave my 12 ga away. Bought a 20 ga. Very happy with it.
.45Coltguy
Member
Don't get me started on chukar. Those birds have caused some mighty colorful language going after them out here[Western states]. Do love "chasing" them however. 20ga seems to work fine.
Freudianfloyd
Member
I prefer the 12 to any others, but the .410 is king for squirrels. I have all gauges except a 28 and have shot all of them over the years, however I like a 16 because they remind me of my Grandpa. My wife gave me her first shotgun, an H&R single shot 20, and that thing is miserable to shoot. I'm not buying the reduced recoil of a 20.
irishlad
Contributing Member
Chuckars were alot of fun in my younger years. You're right, 20 ga work fine on them. I used high based #6s .
entropy
Member
It's not so bad out of an O/U or SxS, or pump or auto. Yes, every gauge except .410 kicks hard in a lightweight single shot.
.45Coltguy
Member
Southern Utah. irishlad, you've been in chukar country alright. You know those rascals!
I learned on an H&R single shot 20, and agree that it was far more punishing to shoot than the 20 or so other shotguns I have tried over the years, both 12 and 20! Whoever designed that stock should have had it applied to their backside!
I have stayed away from 20 gauges due to my bad experiences as a kid with them. I had an old Mossberg 20 gauge bolt action goose gun that kicked like a mule no matter what type of shell we used. I also have an old Savage/Stevens pump action 20 gauge that kicks more that my 12 gauge pumps do. Now if a 20 gauge is built on a 12 gauge receiver, then it won't have as much recoil as one built on a smaller/lighter receiver. The most uncomfortable 20 gauge I ever shot was an old Spanish made SxS. It had a small receiver and a thin stock. It was super light but also kicked a lot more.
That being said. A 20 gauge is a good all around shotgun to have for most hunting and shooting sports. And until the start of the plandemic, 20 gauge shells could be found everywhere for decent prices.
Now on to the "pop guns". I grew up hunting with a 410 and still hunt with one to this day. The only shotgun we had in the house when I started hunting was my dad's old Western Field single shot 410. I used that for everything from squirrels, rabbits, quail, and turkey. That old single shot has a very tight full choke. I saved up my lawn mowing money and bought a Mossberg Model 500 in 410 around 1986 and still use it for everything except waterfowl hunting to this day. And I hunted all over the Ozark's with my little pop guns and never had any problems hitting squirrels high up in the trees.
That being said. A 20 gauge is a good all around shotgun to have for most hunting and shooting sports. And until the start of the plandemic, 20 gauge shells could be found everywhere for decent prices.
Now on to the "pop guns". I grew up hunting with a 410 and still hunt with one to this day. The only shotgun we had in the house when I started hunting was my dad's old Western Field single shot 410. I used that for everything from squirrels, rabbits, quail, and turkey. That old single shot has a very tight full choke. I saved up my lawn mowing money and bought a Mossberg Model 500 in 410 around 1986 and still use it for everything except waterfowl hunting to this day. And I hunted all over the Ozark's with my little pop guns and never had any problems hitting squirrels high up in the trees.
mcb
Member
With regards to the OP subject, isn't 3.5-inch 12 gauge more like 6.5 Creedmoor? And in that light 10 gauge would then serve the role of 6.5x55 Swede?
3.5-inch 12 gauge is the newest hotness in the shotgun world and all the haters keep trying to say it couldn't do anything 10 gauge could. In a very similar manner to the 6.5CM vs 6.5x55 arguments.
3.5-inch 12 gauge is the newest hotness in the shotgun world and all the haters keep trying to say it couldn't do anything 10 gauge could. In a very similar manner to the 6.5CM vs 6.5x55 arguments.
Anchorite
Member
There is simply no substitute for cubic inches. You can download your 12 to a 20, but you can’t upload your 20 to a 12.
The 12 is a v-8
The 20 is a v-6
The 28 is a in-line 4
The 16 is a Wankel.
The 410 is your JD Gator.
The 12 is a v-8
The 20 is a v-6
The 28 is a in-line 4
The 16 is a Wankel.
The 410 is your JD Gator.
I hope everyone at one point in their lives can hold a high quality 20 ga double in their hands, whether vertical or side by side, and swing on a dove whether real or imaginary.
Yes, the V-8 will do the job. Vive la difference!
Yes, the V-8 will do the job. Vive la difference!
Yep, .410 is a real attitude adjuster.
