Returning to smaller gauges

[TreeDoc]

Dad started me on a 410 when I was 8 and from went up in gauge every few years. 28 at 10 and when I turned 14, me and my 2 older brothers all got new 20g shotguns. We thought those 20s were cannons, couldn't miss. Dad only had 1 shotgun while we were growing up a 16 Ithaca. After high school the 12.
I'm 50 now and most of my hunting buddies are in the same age range. Last years dove hunt, I was the only 12 in the field, most had moved to the 20 and one has went to the 28. I've since acquired a Ithaca 20 and like it very much. Have any of you went down in gauge as you went up in years.

 

[samuelcmm]

I'm not up in years yet (23) but I have already moved back to smaller gauges of 16 and 28 depending on my purpose because I like them and it's less material for me to reload. Actually out of all my shotguns I only have one 12ga at the moment
Plus always have had a soft spot for the more uncommon

 

[TruthTellers]

While the 12 gauge is the most popular, I think that popularity came out of the widespread notion bigger was best. We've seen this concept in the movies with Dirty Harry's .44 Magnum, Charles Bronson's Wildey Magnum in Death Wish, etc. and thankfully that seems to be a thought that's disappearing.

IMO the 16 gauge is a sweet spot for just about everything, but the guns are impossible to find and the ammunition much higher priced than 12 gauge and doesn't have as much selection for specialty loads. If the 16 were as common as even the 20, I'd look into buying one but for now I'm happy with 12 gauge.

 

[Virginian]

I use a 20 or 28 for everything but waterfowl, and have for about 20 years now. But for waterfowl it's a 3" 12 gauge since tungsten arrived. I sold my 10 gauges.

 

[T.R.]

Since the 1970's, I've been favoring my Fox side by side in 16 gauge. It points well and has just the right amount of power for my needs. But for waterfowl, I reach for my Mossberg pump in 12 gauge.

TR

 

[Captcurt]

Bought a Beretta BL-3. 20ga in 94. Had choke tubes put in and shoot it 75% of the time. Also have a Verona 501 two barrel set in 410/28ga that gets 20% of my attention. The 12ga only comes out for ducks and turkeys and I don't chase them much anymore.

 

[bannockburn]

First shotgun I ever fired was a well used Ithaca Model 37 in 20 gauge with a plain 26
" barrel. That was one of the slickest pump action shotguns I have ever shot. Balance and weight were perfect for that shotgun and I often took it out hunting for small game and upland birds. Over the years I find myself gravitating back to the 20 gauge in my shotgun selection.

 

[12Bravo20]

My goto shotgun is a .410. I use it for everything except waterfowl. I;ve taken turkeys with my little Mossberg pump.

 

[rbernie]

To me, the benefit of smaller gauge guns is their lighter weight. When I can get a 12ga field gun down to 6lb or so and use everything in it from heavy field loads to 7/8oz target loads, the allure of the smaller gauges starts to wane.

 

[Gordon]

Yeah moved to 20 gauge about 20 years ago for everything except waterfowl. Surprise even with steel shot mandated for upland in Ca. it still works . The .410 was always for around ranch work, now where I have neighbors 500 feet away on one side it is Necessary and I mostly use .22 smooth bore for vermin daily.

 

[bearman49709]

I've always had 16 ga, picked up my first 20 ga when I was in my twenty's.( 57 now)
I have one 12 ga and I cant tell the last time I used it.

 

[FL-NC]

I'm only 49. I might would go from a 12 to a 20 for quail, rabbit, and squirels, but my only 20 is a old retired remington model 17, so I guess I'm sticking with my 12.

 

[Candyman87]

I mostly use a 12, sometimes a 20 for skeet/sporting clays. If I'm bringing newbies, I'll handicap myself with the .410 while they shoot my 20. Evens things out a bit score-wise.

I love the smaller gauges, but frankly, the price of .410 is getting cost prohibitive. I haven't started reloading for that yet.

 

[loose noose]

With the cost of lead going up to astronomical prices and my being a reloader, I generally go down to a .410 for dove and quail in the early season, and 20ga, as the season progresses. I still use the 12ga. for Trap. I do appreciate the hand loads for a .410 as they are relatively cheap, as am I.