Ultralight 12 gauge or 20 gauge

[lil' bear]

Split the difference and get a browning in 16g

If you do order the benelli get in left handed 20g. I, as a left handed shooter, only shoot right handed shotguns. And I genuinely don't understand why more right handed shooters aren't shooting left handed shotguns.

 

[lil' bear]

Because we dont have to

Do you enjoy flipping the gun over to load, unload and run the action? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to cut your reload time in half?

 

[Jason Snyder]

And I genuinely don't understand why more right handed shooters aren't shooting left ha

I shoot a left handed side by side.

 

[lil' bear]

I shoot a left handed side by side.

See i agree with that one too lol. I like pushing the lever rather than pulling it.

 

[Macintosh]

I genuinely don't understand why more right handed shooters aren't shooting left handed shotguns.

Fit is one huge reason, a gun cast for a lefty will not fit a right handed shooter. Assuming the stock has shims for cast and can go either righty or lefty, the other reason is that you need both eyes open to shoot a shotgun and shells ejecting in front of your off-side eye hurt your ability to maintain focus on a target for a followup shot or to acquire a second target. People do it (mainly leftys shooting righty because they have to), but there is only drawback with no benefit that matters to me. Faster reloads is questionable and even if true its WAAAAAAAY down the list of importance compared to fit and not interfering with your vision.

 

[lil' bear]

Fit is one huge reason, a gun cast for a lefty will not fit a right handed shooter. Assuming the stock has shims for cast and can go either righty or lefty, the other reason is that you need both eyes open to shoot a shotgun and shells ejecting in front of your off-side eye hurt your ability to maintain focus on a target for a followup shot or to acquire a second target. People do it (mainly leftys shooting righty because they have to), but there is only drawback with no benefit that matters to me. Faster reloads is questionable and even if true its WAAAAAAAY down the list of importance compared to fit and not interfering with your vision.

Most factory shotguns don't have cast. But if the gun does have cast that can be a deal breaker for sure. As far as the shell, it's out of there so fast you can't see it.
I just like bringing this topic up from time to time because 100% of left handed shooters I've talked to prefer the ergonomics of having the action on the inside of the body. But I've never met a single right handed shooter willing to even try shooting a left handed shotgun.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Yea but what barrel do you shoot first?

The front trigger one…

My post was a joke. It’s actually cast for a right handed shooter.

Although, one year i disassembled my Berretta for cleaning. When I reassembled it I screwed up and installed the shims for a lefty shooter. It took me a bit the next year but I shot it all year with it like that before I pulled it apart and realized what I did.

 

[SC HUNTER]

I have a Franchi little light weight 20 gauge that my grandfather bought to carry quail hunting. He shot it on 1 hunt and gave it to me. It is brutal, light short and a hard recoil pad. Its rough.

 

[Macintosh]

Most factory shotguns don't have cast.

This is demonstrably false. At a minimum many of the most popular shotguns DO, ie all berettas, all benellis, all franchis, etc. many brownings do as well.

But if the gun does have cast that can be a deal breaker for sure.

Yes, it would be for me.

As far as the shell, it's out of there so fast you can't see it.

Its fast, but your eye is faster. A split second is plenty to break your focus. Major issue? Probably not. But 100% harming your ability to maintain binocular focus on a moving target.

I just like bringing this topic up from time to time because 100% of left handed shooters I've talked to prefer the ergonomics of having the action on the inside of the body. But I've never met a single right handed shooter willing to even try shooting a left handed shotgun.

Yes. For a very good reason.

You do you, if you prefer it thats great, but its not good general advice. Dont want to derail the 20 vs 12 thread with this, but since op is asking about a new gun thought it was on target enough to make the point.

 

[SC HUNTER]

I've got an M2, affinity 3 and a stoeger 3020 all in 20 gauge and like all 3 of them. I've got several 12 gauges as well and never shoot them.

 

[voltage]

I hunt public land pheasants 15-30 times a year (frequency depending on tags drawn and age of tax credits) in Missouri, South Dakota, and a couple states in between. Every year, I put away my 12 gauge Benelli Ethos for my 20 gauge Benelli Ultralight for a couple hunts. And every year, I go back to the 12 after a couple of winged birds don’t make it home with me. I walk too far to feel like I’m leaving birds on the table. My GSP threatens to run away when I bring the 20.

I seem to be in the minority, and the mid November 2025 version of me will probably get the 20 out again, but I doubt this is will be the year I become a convert.

 

[Ecampbell25]

Browning sweet 16 would be my option…

 

[Bidwell]

Like the thread regarding .223 for everything, you may want to check out a 28 gauge. Plenty of folks, including myself, have picked up a light semi auto in a 28 and loved it. I have 12's, 16's, 20's as well. I do have a Benelli Ultralight in a 12, love it. I really enjoy the pleasant shooting 28, and take that more often than not.
https://www.americanhunter.org/content/why-you-should-shoot-a-28-gauge/

How's the ultralight recoil on heavier 3 inch shells? 28 gauge is also tempting too

 

[Bidwell]

@Bidwell since you are in california, are you able to use lead shot for clays, or is non-tox mandated for everything?

You can shoot lead on all designated shooting ranges and BLM land, just not for hunting. I think national forest land is all non-toxic for both target and hunting.

 

[SC HUNTER]

So put a pad on that thing?

I've just never bothered with it. I shoot it 1 time a year on a guided quail hunt. If I were to take it dove hunting I would absolutely add a pad to it.

 

[farmermail]

How's the ultralight recoil on heavier 3 inch shells? 28 gauge is also tempting too

Recoil with 3" is noticeable for sure. Like any hunting situation, don't really notice too much shooting at game. At the range practicing on clays, yup, it is felt for sure.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

I've got an M2, affinity 3 and a stoeger 3020 all in 20 gauge and like all 3 of them. I've got several 12 gauges as well and never shoot them.

My dumb ass made a new thread. Between M2 and Franchi.....which would you prefer?

 

[SC HUNTER]

My dumb ass made a new thread. Between M2 and Franchi.....which would you prefer?

My wife shoots the M2 more than I do and loves it. That's why I bought the Franchi. I like them both but if I was only going to have one it'd be the M2 I believe.

 

[Bidwell]

My wife shoots the M2 more than I do and loves it. That's why I bought the Franchi. I like them both but if I was only going to have one it'd be the M2 I believe.

Do you have the old or new m2? Was wondering about those ridges on the forearm. I believe other than the sx4, I think the m2 is the only other semi auto that has an after market rifled slug barrel. I think that's a neat perk.

 

[SC HUNTER]

Do you have the old or new m2? Was wondering about those ridges on the forearm. I believe other than the sx4, I think the m2 is the only other semi auto that has an after market rifled slug barrel. I think that's a neat perk.

Our M2 was bought in 2016 I believe.