12 Gauges Are Overrated Change my mind

Switched from a 12 gauge Benelli SBE to exclusively shooting 28 Tri-Star Bristol SxS this year for upland birds, out west chasing Chukars, Huns, Quail, and Pheasants. I am shooting over a GSP and Black Lab.

I have found that if I do my part right inside of 35 yards the birds crunch dead strictly shooting #6 lead all season with a Modified and IM choke (except chukars, a 20 would be nice in those rugged mountains). The reduced recoil, follow-up shots, and less damaged birds have been the upside.

I missed birds this year don't get me wrong but the difference between 28 and 12 killing power was minmal (maybe 10-20 birds a season)

I am curious what everyone's thoughts are on the 12 vs sub gauges for Upland Birds. I am convinced that anything over 20 is overkill for Upland Birds.
I don’t disagree with the fact that for most upland birds anything over 20 can be overkill. My wife uses a 20 every year for turkey as well. My only problem with some of the gauges besides 12 and 20 is the availability of the rounds. I don’t find myself forgetting to bring my ammo on trips but I like to know that if I did I can find what I need easily and it’s hard to argue with the availability of 20 and 12 gauge ammo!
 
I mostly agree, but find myself still shooting 12's for upland and waterfowl where non-tox is required. Turkeys I can stomach the increased cost for tungsten, but not the rest.
 
I only own 12 gauges. I have shot everything from mourning doves to swans with them, and everything in between. My daughter hunts with a 20 gauge. I use boss 2 3/4 inch 1 1/4 oz loads, she has 3 inch 1 1/8 oz loads. They are pretty even. 1/8 oz of number 4 bismuth is 20 more pellets for me. I dont consider a 20 to be a sub gauge.

I have shoot a lot of 28 gauges when I was a shooting instructor at a sporting clays resort. I shot them very well but have never had the desire to buy one. Shells are pricey and recoil doesnt bother me. My 12 gauge autoloaders have low recoil, fairly light weight. I hate a super lightweight shotgun, it affects my swing. Nothing against sub gauges but I am not running out to buy one.
 
I want a gun that can dump giant Canada's at 50 yards, roosters at 40 and teal at 10 all on the same hunt if needed.

If I'm busting catails for roosters and a flock of mallards buzzes over at 40, I want one for the roaster.

So for that reason. I carry a 12.

And 12-20 birds is not a small number.

But I bet... if I carried a 28 for a change of pace. It would be a fun change up.
With the right load you can do that. Tss is some wicked stuff.
 
16 gauge ammo is easy to find. You won’t always buy it local, but who cares? Order a case or two at time when you can find a free shipping deal.

Thats what I do with my 28. I bought 500ish rounds when i bought the gun, i'm about out at this point. #6 is about all I use in heavy quantity for the last year. I'll shoot 7.5 if i'm after clays and #9 tss if its turkey
 
Knowing that regardless of gauge, your shot is the same size moving at the same velocity. And your choke determines pattern density. The only difference in a tuned shotgun should be the diameter of the spread. You should have the same density in a 410. As a 12g. So the only question is, "are you talented enough to shoot a 16 inch pattern. Or do you require a 30 inch pattern to hit your target?

If you think that a 12g "puts more rounds on target" then your gun isn't tuned properly.
 
Switched from a 12 gauge Benelli SBE to exclusively shooting 28 Tri-Star Bristol SxS this year for upland birds, out west chasing Chukars, Huns, Quail, and Pheasants. I am shooting over a GSP and Black Lab.

I have found that if I do my part right inside of 35 yards the birds crunch dead strictly shooting #6 lead all season with a Modified and IM choke (except chukars, a 20 would be nice in those rugged mountains). The reduced recoil, follow-up shots, and less damaged birds have been the upside.

I missed birds this year don't get me wrong but the difference between 28 and 12 killing power was minmal (maybe 10-20 birds a season)

I am curious what everyone's thoughts are on the 12 vs sub gauges for Upland Birds. I am convinced that anything over 20 is overkill for Upland Birds.
All i own are 12 ga.

Closest I can come to bird hunting out west is that we hunted pheasants in corn fields some - that was always a fun time with the older guys and the shooting easier than grouse in thickets or ducks or geese. The cackle and that big tail rippling in the air in front of the brittanies.

Not trying to change your mind. It is nice you're happy with the 28 ga.

Glad you started this post, I thought of some hunting we haven't done in a long time, some great times, great memories.

If someone feels more like a man for shooting a 410, then so be it. Good for him.
 
Knowing that regardless of gauge, your shot is the same size moving at the same velocity. And your choke determines pattern density. The only difference in a tuned shotgun should be the diameter of the spread. You should have the same density in a 410. As a 12g. So the only question is, "are you talented enough to shoot a 16 inch pattern. Or do you require a 30 inch pattern to hit your target?

If you think that a 12g "puts more rounds on target" then your gun isn't tuned properly.
Wouldn't you have a higher pattern density at a longer distance with say a 2oz 3.5in 12ga than a 1 1/8oz 3in 20ga with the same choke? Both moving the same speed, but at say 50 yards, wouldn't the 12ga with a lot more shot, maintain a higher density at the same yards?
 
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. i.e. 7/8oz fired from a 12ga yields a better, more consistent pattern than does 7/8oz fired from a 16ga, 20, or 28ga. Ditto for 1oz. Ditto for 3/4oz.

I've been "into" sub gauge shotguns for going on 40 years. There are particular uses where I always reach for a smaller, lighter gun. And there are particular uses where I always reach for a 12ga. For sure a 12ga isnt "necessary" for lots of things, and if you're made of money then TSS shot can also help close the gap. Anyone that thinks 12ga's are overrated probably isnt wrong, but I'd say they probably also have a relatively narrower perspective than some other people.

Regardless, I'm not sure I wouldnt take 12ga overrated-ness over subgauge snobbery.
 
No idea why 12 gauges are so popular. I sold all of mine and will never own one again. 20 gauge all day, even for ducks and geese.
 
Wouldn't you have a higher pattern density at a longer distance with say a 2oz 3.5in 12ga than a 1 1/8oz 3in 20ga with the same choke? Both moving the same speed, but at say 50 yards, wouldn't the 12ga with a lot more shot, maintain a higher density at the same yards?
The larger bore of the 12 should print a broader pattern even with the same choke. For this we look at the 3rd dimension of your pattern which is shot string. One thing larger bores have in advantage is the "flatness" of the pattern. Compared to a narrow bore creates a long string. Meaning from the time the first pellet hits the target compared to the time the last pellet hits. This cannot be measured on paper really only with high speed cameras. However I would argue on a stationary target like turkey having a long string is advantageous. On crossing birds not so much.
 
20 ga SxS (6#) choked IC & Mod is tough to beat for upland hunting. But for late season roosters and chukars I really like the 16 ga SxS (6-1/4#) choked IC & Mod. We've got a decent Vizsla so most birds are pointed.

And I like my old Winchester Model 12's in the same gauges choked Mod (20 ga @ 6#5oz)) and Light Mod (16 ga 6#7oz). They get carried a fair bit too.

I've got nice Beretta 20 gauge...O/U 686 and AL391 semi-auto. Nice hunting shotguns but don't get used much now. The Beretta A400 28 ga semi auto is a dandy to carry (5-1/2#s) and it got hunted it a lot 4 years ago, but got tired of looking for empty cases 15' or 20' away. Definitely didn't work as well for me in the uplands as my SxS's (each are AYA #2 Round Body side locks).

I reload for all the gauges and like an ounce of #6 shot at a bit over 1200 fps for most birds in 16, 20 and 28 ga guns.
 
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