Does anyone else think the 20 gauge is underappreciated/underrated?

[CajunBass]

I'm a big fan of the 20, especially in side by side doubles, but really there isn't much it will do the 12 gauge won't do better, except look sleeker.

That's the practical side of me. Now the side that loves sleek, svelte guns loves a 20, especially as I said in a side by side. When I was a kid, my grandfather's prize possession was a Parker 20, sorry I don't know the grade, but it was a step or so above the Trogan. I had both a 20 Hunter, and a 16 Lefever that I'm sorry I sold, but I just don't use a shotgun anymore. I also had a beautiful AYA 20 side by side that I got from Sears many years ago. Alas, I foolishly sold that one off for something else too. (Insert head banging icon here)

 

[Captcurt]

At one time I had 7 O/U's, a pump and a pair of Semi-autos in the safe. The pump 12ga was my turkey and duck gun. Had 2 barrels for it, a 28"VR with screw-in's and a 21" smoothbore slug barrel with sights that took a screw-in turkey tube. The go to gun was and is a Beretta BL-3 in 20ga. That little gun fits me, is light and sees about 90% of my shotgun use. As I grow older I have trended to smaller gauges and calibers, and lighter arms. There is a Verona 28ga/410 two barrel set in the safe that is too nice to drag through the briars. Now those are unappreciated gauges.

 

[bannockburn]

All I ever used for upland game was a 20 gauge. Started with a borrowed Ithaca Model 37 until I could buy my own, which was a beautiful Remington 870 Wingmaster with a 26" vent rib barrel. Unfortunately I had to sell it some years later but eventually I replaced it with a Winchester Model 1300 for which I purchased an extra 22" vent rib barrel. To me this is the perfect length barrel for hunting upland game.

 

[George P]

I had the opportunity to shoot a Rem 1100 28 gauge at skeet in a practice round in the NSSA tournament in Elkhorn Nebraska in 1970 when it was held at Roberts Shooting Park when I worked there. I guess it might be good for close range quail hunting, but I failed badly with it (not the gun's fault). Shells are spendy these days when you can find them, and then buy a case of them.

Good luck in your endevors, sir.

Jim

28 gauge ordered from Academy will be $90/flat. Time it with the $2/box Win rebate and then sell the empties for .12/each for another $3/box and you're shooting premium ammo for $4/box. I had a 1100 Sporting in 28 gauge. Once I started reloading 12 and 20 down to 28 shot load levels, I sold it.
BUT, if you're talking about taking a nice walk behind a good dog, a well-balanced 28 O/U or SxS is perfect for doves, quail, grouse, chukar and even pheasant........

 

[FL-NC]

I hunted quail last weekend using a borrowed 20 gauge O-U. That setup is ideal for that type of hunting IMO. I don't have a gun like that because I am not a habitual quail/pheasant/ etc. hunter. When I hunt squirrels, I use a 22. About all I use a shotgun for hunting-wise is dove and turkey, possibly deer with buckshot or slugs (Florida jungle). So for me, 12 gauge makes the most sense for my needs.

 

[entropy]

For upland birds, it's hard to beat a 20. I started on ducks with a 20 ga. bolt action, talk about doing things the hard way! I still kick myself for trading off the 20 ga. 870 Express I bought for my youngest when he was about 10, and anti-gun. He's now 20, and has a 20 ga. bolt. (not the one I started with. My best friend gave it to him for helping him move.)

 

[oldrevolverguy]

I have had the privilege to introduce several young people to skeet and sporting clays. I have a 20 gauge Remington 1187 with a 28" barrel and three different replacement stocks to tune the length of pull to the individual shooter that I use as a training gun. For me it strikes the perfect balance weight, low recoil and point-ability particularly for young shooters. I have a Remington 1100 Sporting Clays and a Beretta 390, both in 20 gauge that I usually shoot along side my students. I want them to see that they are under no disadvantage as a new shooter with a 20. The Beretta 20 is my favorite dove and quail gun.

Like most on this thread, if I only had one shotgun for all sporting purposes it would be a 12 gauge. Fortunately, I can enjoy the strengths of both gauges.

 

[brewer12345]

I prefer the 20 by a lot. That is what I use for trap, upland game, etc. I have and use 12s only for two things: waterfowl (and if geese are not included in the hunt I often use the 20), and jackrabbits (when they run I have very little margin of error plus they take a lot more to bring down than a cottontail).

 

[Virginian]

The ergonomics of the guns and the joys of shooting them are totally unappreciated by the "you can shoot anything with a 12" bunch.

 

[fjblair]

My first gun was a 20 gauge Winchester Model 37A, so I'm partial to them. Still have the gun too.

 

[Iroquois]

I think the 20ga in certain situations is quite adequate and I think the 12ga in certain situations is as well. It all depends on what you are doing and which gun fits the situation better for you. So “ no” the 20 is not underrated or under appreciated IMHO. I have had a couple of 20’s, one was a Citori Upland Special that was lights out on quail, grouse and woodcock. I should have never sold that one. The other, I still have, is a Remington 1100 LT 20 that I shoot doves with. Just my $.02 FWIW.

 

[MCgunner]

20 is definitely at a disadvantage in the duck marsh where steel shot rules. For geese, forget about it.

I have a 20 SxS coach gun and an O/U I got last year and have used for one dove season so far.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Remington Model 17 only came in 20 gauge
If you find a sexier pump shotgun please let me know

 

[oldrevolverguy]

That 17 is gorgeous!

 

[Zendude]

My shoulder appreciates the 20 gauge.

 

[sixgunner455]

That Remington sure looks like my Ithaca 37.

My first, and only shotgun for many years, was a Zabala 20g SxS. I don't hunt waterfowl, and we use rifles for deer here, so I was following a nice Brittany on walks after quail and dove. Didn't need anything else.

Came across a smoking deal on an excellent condition old Ithaca skeet gun, so now I have a 12g as well. I've always preferred shooting a 20g over a 12g.

 

[red rick]

I bought a lightweight 20ga. a couple years ago when I started rabbit hunting a lot and I appreciate the weight . I also bought a youth model 870 in case a younger hunter wants to go . I've had a Savage 220 for awhile now , so I do not think the 20ga. is under appreciated . My nephew , who hunts with me a lot just bought a new 20ga. semi auto a few weeks ago , he had been using a 20ga. 870 youth model .

I think the 28ga. is under appreciated , I kind of wish that I would have bought one instead of my 20ga. for rabbit hunting .

 

[mnrivrat]

I stopped water fowl hunting when steel shot became mandatory. I have used only 20ga guns since that time and have 4 guns in that chambering. I can no longer hunt due to disability but my HD shotgun is a 20ga. When I was still hunting I used the 20ga for pheasant, and deer with slugs (we do not use buckshot in MN for deer. I keep and old Stevens Model 520 in 12ga around but it gets no usage.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

I very much appreciate a 20 gauge in the dove fields. Magic wand!

And I would not turn my nose up at a 20 gauge properly set up for HD either. A valid choice for smaller or newer shooters and I also would not feel undergunned using one.

 

[Virginian]

The ithaca Model 37 could have been the Model 35 but they had to wait for Remington's Patent rights to expire.

 

[d2wing]

I use both. If I had just one I could get by with either, but a 12 is a little more useful.

 

[ChanceMcCall]

I have a 12 gauge 1100 Special Field with a 21" barrel and I've found it nice to carry and deadly on birds. That said, I prefer to carry a 20 ga O/U in the fields these days. I've had four 20's, including a Weatherby O/U that my son now owns, a Franchi O/U that points like my finger, and a newer addition, a beautiful new/old Beretta ONYX that shoots great. We road-hunt and walk grouse/woodcock in the North Maine Woods and it's handy to use O/Us when getting out of the truck to shoot roadside birds. I just like 20's and never feel under-gunned, but tend to use high-brass #6s a lot.

Interesting. I have a 20 gauge 1100 Special Field that I use for most birds - except pheasants where I use my Browning Citori in 12 gauge with 26" barrels. For doves I use a Remington 1100 in 12 gauge with a 30 inch barrel. Like many here, I have never thought of the 20 gauge as under appreciated. I think the .410 is more under appreciated.

 

[Sistema1927]

I was just thinking the other day that I need to get a 20 ga upland game gun.

I was browsing the used guns racks at a local store today and found a very clean Stoeger Condor 20 ga O/U w/ extended choke tubes Mod/Mod. Shouldering it felt good, the LOP seems to be just right. They had $349 on the tag, but I offered $315 cash OTD, and it was accepted. I found some additional choke tubes on Ebay.

I will take it out to pattern and shoot some clay birds with it, and if all goes well I will use it in the Fall.

 

[Shimitup]

Here's the 20ga I learned on, Remington model 11, 30's vintage. I first shot it when I was maybe around 10. It started my love affair with humpbacks, Remington and Browning.

 

[RUT]

>>I have a 20 gauge 1100 Special Field<<

And if you note the prices on used 1100 20ga. vs. 12 you'll see that the 20s are commanding a premium price over the 12. In fact, I wouldn't mind finding me a nice 1100 in 20! (already have a 12)