12 Gauges Are Overrated Change my mind

[Bluefish]

I have sold off most of my 12’s. Use a 16, 28, or 410 for bird hunting. Use TSS if I need non tox.

 

[sololearn9]

It’s not a big deal but I personally would never ditch a 12 for a sub gauge lol

 

[Hnthrdr]

I'm in the middle of new gun research and I'm leaning towards a 20... i own 2 pump 12's and want a semi-auto. tell me I'm wrong for wanting a 20 semi over a 12 semi....

Not wrong franchi makes a fantastic auto loader in 20. My fave shotgun

 

[Hnthrdr]

@Public Land Drew you'll get no argument from me, you're right!

I don't even use a 12 hunting turkeys anymore.

Waterfowl I'd still take a 12 most of the time. If I was expecting ducks close the 20 would be fine.

Yep 20’s or 410 with tss are deadly!

 

[CjMelendrez]

Not wrong franchi makes a fantastic auto loader in 20. My fave shotgun

i am actually looking at a Franchi! any experience with the affinity 3 elite vs 3? sorry if I'm derailing the thread.

 

[Hnthrdr]

If you decoy birds waterfowling a 20 is plenty of shot, if you are into pass shooting or sky busting… cough cough then ya probably want more shot in the air

 

[Hnthrdr]

i am actually looking at a Franchi! any experience with the affinity 3 elite vs 3? sorry if I'm derailing the thread.

I own the affinity 3 I opted for 24” vs 26” it’s fantastic, 1000’s of shells down the tube only malfunctions came from excessive dirt in a goose pit and -20 had some lube freeze it’s a work horse.

 

[CjMelendrez]

I own the affinity 3 I opted for 24” vs 26” it’s fantastic, 1000’s of shells down the tube only malfunctions came from excessive dirt in a goose pit and -20 had some lube freeze it’s a work horse.

good to hear!

 

[RockAndSage]

It depends on what the circumstances and purposes are. Limited shot opportunities on waterfowl or sage grouse, where I might go all day with only 1 or 2 shot opportunities? Or a situation where your family is relying on you to feed them with that shotgun? 12ga, no questions. A more fun oriented, gentlemanly upland hunt, where you might go through a box or two of shells? Different story entirely.

 

[TaperPin]

When someone says a 12 g recoils more, they obviously aren’t comparing similar weight and velocity loads. Gone are the days only one or two velocities and weights are available. Physics is physics - if anything the lighter smaller rifle will kick more, unless you’re just picking random shells off the shelf at Walmart.

Do smaller gauges pattern better with same weight of shot? No.

My buddy has a streak of aristocrat in him leftover from his big deal first marriage who wouldn’t be caught dead with anything less than a $15k Brittany sired by Sir Douche Dove Licker, and a 28 ga costing at least that much. I laugh when he drags out 1 oz loads doing 1400 fps and tries to say his gun recoils less, but it makes him happy and reminds him of the days when his ex father in law would talk down to him while on the family’s fancy Texas hunting ranch with the ex wife treating him like dirt whenever possible. Lol

 

[Dexter Grayson]

Got a M2 20ga last year. I may never touch my 12ga again.

 

[JDT1982]

You are correct. Go with a 16 ga.

 

[gerry35]

Anyone try the 1 3/4" short shells in their 12 gauge? Should work fine with any break open style shotgun.

 

[Macintosh]

Old news. Been shooting a 20ga for 100% of my upland bird hunting since 1983.

12ga's have their place though. Steel shot being one. TSS is great where longer range is needed, but given the cost of TSS now (and I think it's likely to double or triple from even where it is now due to tariffs and export restrictions from china on both tungsten and bismuth), I'm not so sure that's going to be as viable an alternative in the future.

And, depending on the activity, a heavier gun can be decidedly better from a shootability and recoil standpoint. On a clays range I'd rather shoot 1oz loads all day from a 8 or 9lb 12ga. When I was into sporting clays I went through about 5,000 reloads a year of 7/8oz 12ga, those things are a joy to shoot. You can get heavy subgauge guns, but they arent nearly as common. As mentioned above, all other things being equal any given shot-weight of lead shot patterns better the larger the bore, by "better" I mean less shot deformation and therefore more consistent patterns with less fliers lost from the pattern, and less shot stringing. If I was going to occasionally shoot 1 1/8oz or 1 1/4oz loads of lead 5's or 6's at late-season pheasants on the prairie where a legit 40 yard shot isn't unlikely, a 28ga or 20ga wont handle that payload as well as a 12 will. But a 12 can still easily step down to standard 20ga payloads like an ounce (or 7/8oz or even 3/4oz if you handload) with great effect for ruffed grouse, quail, clays, etc.

Did I mention my new-to-me beretta 3901 12ga waterfowl gun cycles the cheapie 1160fps 1oz loads without a hiccup?

 

[doc holiday13]

I mostly agree with OP... I carry a 28g most of the time nowadays. 5# gun and 50 rounds of ammo are 1/2 the weight of a 12g with 50 rounds

 

[flyfisher117]

I am tempted to get a 20 gauge semi auto. I really want one but I'm all set up to load 12 gauge so part of me feels it's not worth it.

 

[Macintosh]

I am tempted to get a 20 gauge semi auto. I really want one but I'm all set up to load 12 gauge so part of me feels it's not worth it.

easier to carry around depending on what the 12ga is, but if you havent already try loading some 7/8oz 12ga loads. Clays is a great powder for it, burns clean, very mild recoil, easily available, and it's a 20ga standard payload, great for clays and smaller birds like grouse, doves, quail, etc.

 

[fuzzymarindave]

I have 12, 16; and, 20 in Citoris and I rotate between them for fun.

 

[z987k]

It depends on what the circumstances and purposes are. Limited shot opportunities on waterfowl or sage grouse, where I might go all day with only 1 or 2 shot opportunities? Or a situation where your family is relying on you to feed them with that shotgun? 12ga, no questions. A more fun oriented, gentlemanly upland hunt, where you might go through a box or two of shells? Different story entirely.

Yup. Pretty much this. If i think itll be a very limited shooting day I'll just bring the 12.
If were going to shoot a lot the semi auto 20 or if I feel that's unfair the break action 410 comes.
I've got my spots for hundreds of birds a day and I'll bring the semis and always the 410 for day 2 or 3.