What can a 12 ga. do that a 20 ga. can not?

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kerank

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Looking to get into shotgunning, and I confess to being overwhelmed by all the information out there. I need to buy a shotgun, and would like to get a "nice" one without breaking the bank too much (I could go up to $1300 if justified, but would like to keep it within $700 - $1000).

I have a bunch of questions... on fit? Dominant left-eye, right-handed shooting, and more. But I thought I would start with a simpler question...

What gauge? Should a grown man choose a 20 ga. over a 12 ga., or is that only for children? I plan on using it for clays (skeet, sporting clays, etc..) and maybe dove, quail. What will I NOT be able to do with a 20 ga.?
 
12 or 20

For what you stated, a 20 will work just fine. I kill lots of pheasent in SD with a 20. Good luck.
 
Other than a few hunting tasks (long shots at ducks and turkey hunting), a 20ga is just as capable as a 12ga. A clay target cant tell the difference.

Having said that, I would recommend a 12ga over a 20ga for a beginner since every extra 1/4oz of shot increases your chances of a hit. Clay shooting is way more fun when you can actually hit something.

Most shotgunners start with a 12ga, and work their way down.
 
if you are at least a mid-sized man then go with the 12. The uses you describe will not require high loaded shells plus you get a little more shot out in that pattern with the 12. That being said, there is no reason not to get a 20 if that is what you like. A box of shells for either costs the same at some place like Wal-mart. 16 gauge used to be a good compromise, but the popularity of the 16 has waned in recent years. I don't shoot 16 any more simply because of the ammo $$$ difference and availability. 12 & 20's seem to be the rulers of the market now. The money you are talking about spending will actually get you both if you don't choose the top models. Whatever you get have fun!
 
20 Ga

Is a great gauge, and very popular. 12's do goose hunting better, large game better, general waterfowl better, turkey better, SD they can deliver more payload on target.

That being said the 20ga is no slouch, the 12 is just more versatile. The 20 is certainly lighter kicking but I wouldn't hestitate to get one.
 
12 gauge advantages include a wider spectrum of ammo choices and oft cheaper ammo. With the new 7/8 oz loads getting more common, one can duplicate 20 gauge performance if not the lighter weight of many 20s.

Either will work for what you want. Get the one that feels best...
 
I'm not a big fan of the 20, there are plenty of light loads in 12 gauge that duplicate 20 gauge recoil. There are also plenty of light weight 12 gauge shotguns on the market today.
 
I suspect the shot string is shorter with a 12 because the shot column for a given load is shorter.

Ammo for a 12 is as cheap as it gets. Maximum variety.

If you need to, you can throw more pellets with a 12.
 
I suggest getting a copy of
Shotgunning: The Art & Science - Bob Brister

Then meet some folks, shoot various guns, and learn to use a pattern board.
All this will assist in making informed choice of what shotgun, what gauge for you.
 
Should a grown man choose a 20 ga. over a 12 ga., or is that only for children?
Click to expand...


I can't imagine what you've ever read here to even think to ask that question. No firearm is a toy and 'only for children'. In my view, children are better suited for certain firearms, not the other way around.

That said, a 12 ga is probably the best choice for a new shooter. For the money you're considering a nice Wingmaster 870 seems like a good versatile choice. As for your other concerns, there's lots of talk in the forums but you might be best served vising a range and getting some instruction. I think the more direct hands-on approach would do you good.
 
I have both, and I like both. For the "one gun" scenario you might be better off with a a 12, if only for the availability of a wide variety of ammo.

If you go with a pump, you'll have no problem staying in your price range: Mossberg, Remington, Browning, Benelli, etc. If you go with a semi-auto, I suggest Remington (1100, 11-87) for your lower range and Beretta (390, 3901, 391) for your upper. These are guns with a proven track record and wide availability of parts, service, etc. (This is personal opinion only, and I'm sure fans of other guns have a good case to make.)

I don't know much about eye dominance issues. Try the search function to see if there are other threads about this, either here or at Shotgunworld.com.
 
12 gauge advantages include a wider spectrum of ammo choices and oft cheaper ammo.
Click to expand...
+1
I agree, that would have been my #1 answer as well. For the purposes you describe, I'm sure a 20g would suit you just fine. If on the other hand one is discussing a shotgun for defensive purposes, the 12g wins hands down specifically due to loads available.
 
A 12 Gauge can shoot a better pattern with larger pellets at a higher velocity, but can also shoot #9 skeet loads very well. It generally swings smoothly, but doesn't point as quickly as a 20.

A 20 Gauge is generally a quicker-pointing gun, plenty of payload for dove and quail, and easier to hunt fast-moving birds with than a 12.

For dove and quail, a 20 is probably a better choice. For skeet, it'll work as well as anything. None of these requires bigger than #7.5 shot. A lighter, quicker gun is an advantage, generally, especially if you jump quail. In the field, a lighter gun feels a lot better after an hour or so.

Sporting Clays is dominated by 12 Gauge, particularly if there are longer shots. A longer, heavier, smooth-swinging gun is an advantage, generally. Trap is completely dominated by 12 Gauge, and long, heavy guns. In the field, though, carrying a long, heavy gun around gets tedious. Field 12's are lighter, but not like most 20's. You wouldnt want them to be.

Shotguns are like golf clubs. Your choice has more to do with swing characteristics than gauge, unless you NEED to shoot large diameter pellets, and need to get enough pattern density (waterfowl, turkey, and distant pheasant loads, for example).

20 is not a kid's gun; it's a great upland gun. 12 Gauge shotguns are incredibly versatile, and they're generally heavier. Different purposes.

If in doubt, a 12 will do whatever you want. Eventually, you'll get a 20, also.
 
My 1/50th of $1....

12-Ga has a much wider selection of 'factory-off-the-shelf' ammo than any other shotgun....from the extra-light target loads to the super-duper shoulder-tweaking waterfowl & turkey shells. Widest selection of buckshot & slugs, too. 12-Ga is loaded from #4Buck through 000Buck, I have only seen #3 Buck in 20-Ga.

That being said, 20-Ga guns are quite versatile, too; usually a bit lighter in weight and faster to point than a 12-Ga of the same type/brand. Good for most small game and birds. I have seen deer taken w/20-Ga slugs, too, with no appreciable difference in performance, based on good shooting....it doesn't matter if you only 'wing' a deer with a 20-Ga or a 40MM canon, same result if the hunter doesn't do his part, game is lost, only to suffer a miserable end.

I started shotgunning with a Savage/Stevens 94B in 16-Ga (single-shot), then I got my hooks on a Rem "Sportsman" 20-Ga. After we had to start using 'unleaded' shot for waterfowl, I stepped up to the Maverick 88 12-ga.

Other than waterfowl-n-turkey, can't really think of too many things that a 20-Ga can't do.
 
Shot selection in either 12 or 20 is a non-issue for me. I can get Win AA's (clay games), promo loads, cheap practice loads, and good hunting loads for both. Pretty much in any shot size I want. And they cost less than I could reload them for.

The one shotgun in my safe that has killed more birds than any other is a 20. I hunt a lot of quail, and the 6 lb 20 is about perfect. In fact I often use a 28 with no apparent difference. Just bought a lightweight 20 that I think will be even more pleasurable in the field.

My 20's are O/U's and sxs's. My 12's are semiauto waterfowl guns.

Sooner or later you'll have both, assuming you enjoy shotguns.
 
a 12 gauge can blow a man through a wall in a defence cituation. I've never seen a 20 do that!

A 12 will make it easier to hit the target, yes, theortically. more shot= more chances. but i bet everybody here learned on something OTHER than a 12. you can learn to be a better shot shooting a smaller load. many here started on 410's and are good shots because of that.
 
A TIN can blow him thru TWO walls
and an ATE can get him all the way to the street
Neither is half as bad-A as my glock:)barf:) NINE:neener:
 
Really think a 20 is as useful as a 12ga.
I started using a 28ga for dove last year and liked it, but the 391 20ga never gets used- I almost always end up grabbing my O/U 12ga Beretta. I have a 20ga O/U and NEVER have hunted with it. Been in its case for the better part of 5 years - only coming out for its semi monthly cleaning.
 
For clay targets, the 12 gauge does everything a 20 does...only better.

Better pattern with the same amount of shot, less shot "string" than a 20 and generally better weight/ balance than a 20. Remember, heavier guns are better for clay targets generally speaking.

Buy a 20 if you want a smaller "framed" gun, lighter weight, etc. Otherwise, IMHO, there's no functional reason for a 20 in the clay target sports. It "hangs on" probably because of Skeet, which still has 20 gauge events.
 
Shoot over 1 oz of shot well.

The old rules still make a lot of sense. 7/8 = 20, 1 = 16, 1 1/8-1 1/4 = 12, 1 1/2 and up, 10. You can stuff more shot in the same bore by making the shells longer, but something's gotta give. Patterns usually suffer. 3" 20s are infamous for this. If 7/8 oz isn't enough lead for you, and sometimes it isn't, get a bigger gun. Me, I actually prefer a 16 to a 12 or a 20 for upland use, and I'd probably skip the 20 and go to a 28 for a smaller bore, since I already have a 12 and a 16.

Me likey the 16 bore, although the 12 rules for flexibility. If you can only own one shotgun, get a 12.

--Shannon
 
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