12 Gauges Are Overrated Change my mind

[sndmn11]

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

I have one I'd sell, model 41411; it and I haven't become besties but it is great to carry and has had zero hiccups.

 

[Sinistram]

No, 12's aren't overrated, but they're generally not necessary for upland bird hunting. Sure, a windy, snowy day in the pheasant field might call for a bit more oomph. Enter the 12ga. for that. I still also greatly prefer them for turkey hunting, as I'm not on the TSS bandwagon (yet, at least). On a pleasant day for any flying game or furry woodland critters, one of the 20ga. doubles is likely coming out of the safe.

The conflation that might be happening here is that 12ga. GUNS are generally bigger and heavier than their sub-gauge counterparts, and that's the drag when you're covering the miles. I've handled petite, 6lb 12ga. doubles you'd hardly notice during a day afield. Those are few and far between. One of my favorite bird guns is my Remington 870 Special Field 12. They trimmed down all the dimensions and it's about 6.5#. It's a great companion when the action is fast.

 

[hardincobucks]

Always felt the same. I use a 28 gauge for all my upland hunting and I personally would only use a 12 for waterfowl. I don’t have any issues shooting pheasants quail and sage grouse out to 35 yards. Really the only difference between gauges imo is the effective range. 95% of birds get killed under that 35 yard range anyways so I’d rather have the lighter gun and lighter ammo when walking 8-10 miles that day. Almost all the birds shot in these photos were shot with my Benelli legacy 28 gauge

 

[Spikehorn]

I still prefer the 12ga for waterfowl and late season pheasants. Everything else 20ga gets the nod.

 

[flyfisher117]

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.

It's a Benelli Super Nova or a Mossberg 500. The Benelli is not the most fun to pack but it's not horrible either.

I haven't tried 7/8 loads yet. I got started into reloading shotshells 2-3 months before covid. So once covid kicked off I bought the components for 1 ounce loads and that's what I have been doing since. Now that components are trickling back I should try some 7/8

 

[westslopelaker]

I only hunt waterfowl, so it's a 12 gauge for me. Most the times a 20 would be fine but it your chasing a cripple or have birds finishing at 40 yards, the 12 takes the edge

 

[Pony Soldier]

I started with a 16 in the 60s and still have it. The choices on ammo are dismal and rare. The fit, weight and balance is unbeatable.

I still use my 12 for geese and the choices there have diminished over the years. I have to buy when I find it and stockpile for my needs. It brings tears to my eyes when I pay $25 for a $5 box of shells. Or have to buy 10 boxes of 16 gauge shells because I haven't seen them offered for a couple years and the choices for shot range from slim to none.

The only good thing that came out of steel shot was the elimonation of 70% of the hunters which of course was the purpose.

 

[kblewis4]

My opinion it depends on the situation and personal preference. Each gauge has its upsides/downsides and uses.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

12 and 20 for me. The recoil has never bothered me, and that goes for high power rifles.

 

[Nick4050]

12 gauge shells are (generally) cheaper and easier to find than anything else. They’re also more versatile, as you can shoot as light or heavy of a load as you want. Other than the gun itself being a little heavier, there’s no inherent advantage to any other gauge imo. One could argue recoil, but again that can be remedied by selecting a lighter load.

 

[Robobiss]

I’m in agreement but I’m not much of a waterfowl guy. Just turkeys and upland birds.

The 20 gauge does everything that I need it to, and more, with less recoil. I do own two 12 gauges but they do not get used for much. My youth model 870 in 20 gauge is basically the only shotgun that I actually use for anything. Remington XLR #6’s are what I typically feed it.

I’ve seen a 9 year old kid with a 20 gauge tip over 3 turkeys with one shot during fall turkey. The sub gauges are no joke.

 

[MarkOrtiz]

I shoot a 12 and my son shoots a 20. He gets more birds than I do each year, so I can't say the 20 is a disadvantage at all.

 

[Public Land Drew]

Thus far, my mind has not been changed.

12 gauges are still overrated

 

[Loper]

Anyone use a 410 for anything other than slow moving turkeys or squirrels and rabbits?

 

[z987k]

Anyone use a 410 for anything other than slow moving turkeys or squirrels and rabbits?

Grouse.

 

[RockAndSage]

I started with a 16 in the 60s and still have it. The choices on ammo are dismal and rare. The fit, weight and balance is unbeatable.

I still use my 12 for geese and the choices there have diminished over the years. I have to buy when I find it and stockpile for my needs. It brings tears to my eyes when I pay $25 for a $5 box of shells. Or have to buy 10 boxes of 16 gauge shells because I haven't seen them offered for a couple years and the choices for shot range from slim to none.

The only good thing that came out of steel shot was the elimonation of 70% of the hunters which of course was the purpose.

For rare or cheapest, this is the first place I always check - you can select for everything from shell length to shot size to shot material: https://ammoseek.com/ammo/16-gauge

 

[redtop65]

20ga for all upland hunting FAIR SxS, Rizinni O/U
Used to use a 12ga late season Pheasant when I had a flushing dog, I only have pointy dogs now.

 

[C Bow]

I love this tread

 

[E.Shell]

I love this tread

 

[jmez]

Anyone use a 410 for anything other than slow moving turkeys or squirrels and rabbits?

All I shoot when grouse hunting. Sometimes for pheasants.

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