Shotgun gauges

[Bud Tugly]

We see a lot of threads comparing one gauge to another, beginners wondering what gauge to get, or folks questioning what use a certain gauge has. They seem to pop up on a regular basis, so here's my take on the whole topic:

Get a 10 gauge if you hunt geese and other game at extreme long ranges exclusively.

Get a 12 gauge if you want to have one gun to do everything since shells are plentiful and available in the widest range of loadings, but most are tiring to carry long distances in the field.

Get a 16 gauge if you're a dedicated pheasant hunter since it has about the perfect balance of power vs. weight for them, but make sure it isn't built on a 12 gauge frame and be willing to buy used since few new models are available

Get a 20 gauge if you want to do everything except long range shooting at geese or other game, since shells are plentiful and they're generally lighter to carry than 12's.

Get a 28 gauge if you hunt upland game exclusively, especially if you do a lot of walking in the field and have the discipline to pass on most shots longer than about 35 yards or so.

Get a .410 if you want the ultimate challenge for clay games or hunt upland game exclusively in heavy cover where shots are always less than 30 yards, especially if you're very recoil-sensitive.

Get an oddball gauge like 14, 24, 32, etc. if you just love to stand out from the crowd and don't mind getting your shells exclusively from a very few mail order places.

Get a reloader if you shoot more than 5-6 boxes of shells a year out of anything but a 12 or 20 gauge.

Feel free to disagree with my opinions, and let the usual arguments begin.

 

[btg3]

IMO you've authored a post worthy of a sticky. The only edit I would suggest is italics for:

"12 gauge if you want to have one gun to do everything"

 

[jmr40]

Forget everthing but the 12. You can buy ammo to duplicate the performance all of the others. Why make life complicated.

 

[Mike1234567]

Although the data is excellent, I don't see any real need for anything more than 12ga, 20ga, and .410 because these will fit almost any need given appropriate ammunition. I think if one wants to go bigger than 12ga then maybe add 8ga to the list. Long action and short action should be secondary options.

I equate all the various shotgun calibers to US currency. Why do we still mint pennies, nickels and quarters? IMHO, we only need one coin... dimes. Printed currency should be limited to 10's, 100's and 1000's.

The same goes for rifle and handgun cartridges too. Okay, so "variety is the spice of life". But what we "need" and what we "want" are, more often than not, very different.

ETA: Not intending to be critical in any way. These are just generalized statements. I'm not saying we "should" limit our options. I'm saying we don't "need" so many options. I do, however, believe our US currency needs revamping to minimize waste.

 

[oneounceload]

And the opposite can be said - don't really need a 12 or 20 when we have the 16 and 28 - and if we get rid of the 12 and 20, then the availability of 16 and 28 will increase.

So what? It is about choice, and some folks use their guns for more than zombies

As to forget everything but the 12,

Forget everthing but the 12. You can buy ammo to duplicate the performance all of the others. Why make life complicated

then let's forget everything in rifles except the 30-06 and in handguns forget everything except the .45- not really realistic, let alone true

 

[Mike1234567]

oneounceload... my post wasn't intended to be critical. Maybe it came off that way? I was only making a generalized statement and it could be transposed to just about anything from handguns to automobiles to diapers. The operative words were "want" and "need".

 

[oneounceload]

No biggie - but too many, whose only shotgun experience is some HD/Zombie killer have no idea about using a 28 in quail country or similar seem to think the 12 is the be all-do all when - in many instances - it is a compromise

 

[Mike1234567]

True, that. But virtually everything is a compromise.

 

[jmr40]

then let's forget everything in rifles except the 30-06 and in handguns forget everything except the .45-

From a pure performance perspective that wouldn't be a bad idea either.

My original post was meant to be tongue in cheek. For a hunting or target gun I take the position that they are meant to have fun with, and one should use whatever gun, caliber,or guage you enjoy using. For a gun intended to save my life, I'm only interested in how well the gun performs.

From a pure performance perspective you can make a good arguement that we don't NEED anything but a 22, 30-06, 12 guage and 45. But if that were the case, what would we ever discuss here?

 

[Mike1234567]

*deleted* I've been unraveling this thread.

 

[bikerdoc]

Outstanding first post.