Is there a place for a 20 gauge?

[elkguide]

Was 12 for everything. Now I shoot 12 (mostly) for sporting clays, with the 20s being used for waterfowl and the 28s for all upland. Way more fun and enjoyable days.

 

[ianpadron]

I don't even remember the last time I shot a 12 gauge at a bird on the wing.

Whenever it was, there have been a few hundred upland birds and waterfowl that were cleanly dispatched since with a 20 or 28.

For a guy that can shoot, I don't think the extra payload capacity of a 12 is worth anything at normal hunting ranges. If your exclusively pass shooting with steel... I'll take a 12 but I don't hunt like that

 

[CjMelendrez]

I picked up a franchi affinity 3 upland elite in 20 gauge this summer. It swings like a dream. I shot 2 boxes of clays with it, took no time to learn.
I can't wait to chase dove in a week and take it to the hills shortly after. I can already tell I won't miss my 12.

 

[huntineveryday]

I have a franchi affinity in 12 gauge. Pretty similar to the M2, but the affinity recoil spring is located in the forearm vs the M2 in the stock, so the balance is a little different and the forearm on the affinity is a little thicker. (Although I think they still feel significantly thinner compared to a stoeger or remington)

One thing that hasn't been pointed out is how easy it is to strip down the affinity. Very simple, very straight forward. Not that they need to be stripped down completely very often, but it makes those deep cleanings pretty quick. Franchi also has a 7 year warranty with a good reputation from thier customer service.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Bought a Franchi Affinity 3 in Left Hand and 20 gauge. Be half a month before I can get it out of jail. But already laid in two cases of ammo. Case of 2 3/4 copper 6s and mix of 7.5/8 target

 

[noles33]

Just picked up an A400 in 20 gauge. Doubling down this season and strictly hunting birds with sub gauges. 20 for doves and woodies/teal and 28 in the quail woods.


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[Jesse Jaymes]

Is there any real difference in sound/report for the sub gauges? Anything that says a 20 or 28 more kind to the ears? I doubt it, but I have a handful of buddies who claim this is real

 

[David Gough]

I shoot my 28 ga SBE3 almost exclusively. Decoying ducks and not shooting steel, but I love it.

My 20 guage was shot exactly zero times last year.

I used my 12 guage once during a snow goose hunt in February.

I've killed everything from teal to swans with my 28ga, I don't really target honkers though. 20 ga is plenty for everything if you use shot that's heavier than steel.

 

[lantern68687]

The only reason to get a 12 gauge for what you want to do is that it’s easier to find ammo for it.

 

[WYWestCoast]

Other than waterfowl, my question has become, is there a place for a 12 gauge? My first firearm was a 12 gauge 870 for upland bird hunting and I have picked up a couple other 12s over the years but for the last 5-7 years, I've moved almost exclusively to 20s unless I'm looking for Canada Geese specifically.

 

[danhuntingmi]

I think you start your post with is there a purpose behind the 20 gauge and then go on to specifically discuss waterfowl hunting with nontox shot and wide open country uplands. I guess if you set the criteria you find the answer.

You seem to suggest sub gauge is a newish fad when, in fact, it isn't even slightly a newish fad unless you consider anything post 1800 a newish fad.

The 20 ga is what the 16 ga used to be. With modern shells and chokes it will pattern the same or better than the 16 ga used to. With modern steel shot barrel it will weight the same or more than the 16 ga used to.

Like the 16 ga used to, it will kill or overkill anything in the big woods and take any normal shot in the farmlands. That's why people used to like the 16 and now like the 20.

If you're looking for the largest possible payload to kill at the longest possible ranges, well duh.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

What do you use?

 

[redtop65]

Only 20ga or below for years, used to use a 12ga late season Phez when I had a Springer,
He's dead only have pointy dog now.

 

[eaglemountainman]

Hell of a question to ask, now, after I been using an old Beretta AL-2 20ga for over 50 yrs....

 

[LONE HUNTER]

I don't know how many ducks I've shot with a 20 but it's more than a few. I hunt pheasants with my old man and I run a 20 or a 28 and he shoots a 12, more than once I've cleaned up his birds for him at 40 yards or so...... The 20 is plenty of gun for someone who can shoot.

Is there any real difference in sound/report for the sub gauges? Anything that says a 20 or 28 more kind to the ears? I doubt it, but I have a handful of buddies who claim this is real

And, no, based on research I've seen done at the clubs as well as my own experience no it's not any nicer on the ears ( they checked 12 down to .410 and measured the sound at a fixed location away from the gun to be consistent). Get a longer barrel and that's about all that helps, beyond that, wear ear pro, I wear axil electronic ear buds and while Id never wear them shooting a rifle with a brake they are adequate for shotguns.

 

[LONE HUNTER]

20 ga is plenty for everything if you use shot that's heavier than steel.

Hell, it's even surprising what the 20 gauge can do with steel!

 

[Woolley Bugger]

This is a timely topic. I took my 2 sons on their first pheasant hunt yesterday. I have only 2 12 gauges, so I let the boys use them. That left me with a 60s vintage 20 gauge wingmaster which I had bought for them to shoot clays when they were little. I’d never hunted with it before, and to handicap things further, I was shooting steel shot just to get rid of it. I was surprised at how effective it was, and it was a pleasure to carry through the fields.