Savage 212 or 220 Youth?

[slowr1der]

I have the option to buy either a Savage 212 12 gauge bolt action slug gun or a 220 youth model 20 gauge at a greatly reduced price. I see the 20 gauge seems to get favorable reviews, but I'm unsure about the youth stock. I'm 5'11" and it felt okay, so i think I'd be okay with it, but that makes me hesitant. The 212 is a full size and seems to be a slightly better deal, but I don't know that I want that recoil for something that doesn't seem to hit any harder. It's only $30 more than the 220, while it is about $100 more online. Which is the best choice here?

 

[eastbank]

the new saboted shotgun shells for both are proven deer-bear killers, i lean towards the 20ga over the 12ga. i think you will have to decide on the stock that fits you better. eastbank.

 

[cdb1]

In a dedicated slug gun I'll take a 20 gauge like eastbank. If LOP is too short it is pretty easy to lengthen it.

 

[eastbank]

top is a encore with a custom shop 20 ga 3" rifled barrel and the bottom is a H&R pardner tracker 11 SB1 12ga 3"rifled barrel. due to the stock and being in 20ga the encore is not to bad to shoot heavy sabot rounds. but the H&R is the shotgun from hell at a little over 6 pounds with heavy sabot rounds and because of that i have only shot 4 rounds to make sure the sights were on at 75 yards.eastbank.

 

[22250Rem]

I'm assuming your primary use will be for deer..... That's about the only thing I've ever done with a slug gun. If the 220 fits OK that's what I would go with... In fact; if I had to buy a new slug gun today I'd get a 220. I'm highly impressed with those things, having seen them perform very accurately both at the range and in the woods harvesting deer. Over the last 40 years or so I've come to realize that a 12 ga. isn't REQUIRED to harvest deer and since the advent of rifled barrels / sabot slugs the 20 ga. has really come a long way. Six years ago I decided my 12 ga. rifled slug gun was overkill after seeing a 220 cleanly take a huge doe with one shot at just under 100 yards. Now that I'm retired I ask myself why should I subject my shoulder to more recoil than is needed to get the job done? 67 year old buddy of mine has a 220, (he decided his shoulder needed a rest). and he calls it his "20 ga. rifle". That sums it up pretty well

 

[HoosierHunter128]

Better think about eye relief with the youth model, unless you like scars above your right eye; you're probably alright with 2 3/4 in slugs; just a thought

 

[PapaG]

I had a 210, forerunner of the 212, and it was a big, heavy beast. Accurate it clumsy. Now have a standard 220 and love it. Did I say, love it?

 

[red rick]

I would check the price for a full size stock for the 220 . At your height the youth is going to be to short for you , a gun that does not fit is no bargain .