12 ga or 10 ga

T

thepolinator

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I am looking at buying a another shotgun, primarily for goose hunting. I am debating between a 12ga with a 3 1/2 inch chamber or a 10 ga. Aside from being more expensive to shoot, which one would you guys recommend.
 
A 10 is a great goose pounder. Better than the 12 -3.5, but how much????

Comparing decent ammo.......maybe 5 bucks more a box.

At longer range, the 10 really shines.
 
Considering the fact that I've knocked a few thousand geese, stone dead, out of the air at ranges between 50 to 62yds, on a regular basis, with old 2 3/4" Federal 1 1/4oz loads of #1 shot @ 1275fps and newer 2 3/4" Challenger 1 1/4oz of #1 shot @ 1450fps...I'd say...just get a 12ga. and practice more so that when you actually go to pull the trigger on a goose you'll be able to center the pattern on it!

The Winchester SX3/Browning Silver in 3" or 3.5" is the semi-auto I recommend and the Remington 870 Wingmaster 3" or Browning BPS 3" in the pump actions. All of them with the 28" barrel option. The pumps actions aren't adjustable for drop or cast so check fit before buying.
 
12 ga shells dont even come close after 35 yards, 10 ga if you can handle the cost and recoil but they can hit better and are a better performer for geese, ducks, all you need is 12ga. 2.75 or 3", 3.5 ive never used and is a big waste, look at the shelves and wonder why there is always 3.5: 12ga there, cause its not needed if you have good shot placement.
 
I guess the jury is out on this one. My lack of success might be a result of a lack of skill when it comes to shooting geese, may be I will stick with my 870 3" and just do some more practicing.
Thanks all.
 
I use a 10 for geese. You can can really knock them down at longer ranges. I also find them heavy enough that the recoil isn't as bad as you'd think. The 3.5 12's seem to be light and kick like a mule.

In all honesty though, practice shooting clays a lot with the gun your hunting with, and I think this matters more than anything.

Another thing is get good at calling and decoy placement. The closer you can bring them in the better.
 
thepolinator said:
I guess the jury is out on this one. My lack of success might be a result of a lack of skill when it comes to shooting geese, may be I will stick with my 870 3" and just do some more practicing.
Thanks all.
Click to expand...

You have to start with the paper and pattern that gun to see what it is doing and develop a load / choke combination that works for you and that gun. Remington has to be one of the worst for providing poor patterns with steel shot and factory choke tubes
As far as the Jury there is nothing in 12ga even close to a 10ga that has been set up with the loads and chokes that work for it in the hands of someone that can shoot.
I was sold on the 10ga probally in 1982 when I shared a blind with two guys shooting sp-10's and could not believe the range they had. Next year I had my own sp-10 and never looked back
I own 4 now 10ga semi and quite a collection of 3 1/2" 12ga semi and pumps which I have patterned side by side and never could a 12ga 3 1/2 produce the results of the 10 and that included a 12ga 3 1/2 gold next to a 10ga gold.
Under 35 yards if one is a fair shot no it really doesn't matter and if anything the 10ga is real hard on damaging meat over 35 it is night and day and will put more birds at your feet especially pass shooting.
Shells are hard to find here for sure which is why I have always reloaded so it is no issue for me.
Hit the pattern board first with the 870 then some practise at the club and after that see if you can shoot someone's 10ga . Since they are quite heavy and not for all
Cheers
 
ya it takes alot of practice, you cant just jump into in and expect to hit alot, it took me 2 hunting season, 1000's or rounds of ammo to hit consistanly more then not. Expect to use a ton of shells, get to a club that has skeet(not trap because most birds dont fly away from you), even better if you can get some sporting clays experience, international skeet which flys almost as fast as a duck or goose at 45mph+.
 
If you want a 10 gauge you owe it to yourself to at the very least try it for one hunt or two. I was lucky enough to be able to try a hunting buddies SP-10 and BPS 10 for a few hunts. If I was set up pass shooting for waterfowl all the time 10 gauge would be my gun, I don't though I shoot most of my birds well inside 40 yards and often add a afternoon grouse or jump hunt to my days waterfowling so I'll stick with my 12's and 20's.
 
Guy came in the shop one day with an 32" barreled, over under, 10 guage. Friggin' thing weighed 15 pounds. You don't need a 10 ga for geese. Geese ain't armoured. A 3" 12 will do nicely.
Mind you, if you just want a 10 guage, you should haul yourself to your local gun ship and order one. "I want one" is the best reason there is.
 
I've shot truck loads of honkers with an 870 SPS 3" 12. It'll get the job done. That being said I picked up a ten for fun. I haven't got any interest in messing with a 3 1/2" 12, if I'm going to run a 3 1/2" shell it'll be outta the ten. I believe they both have their place. Realistically I'd stick with the 870 until you get the hang of it and then expand your horizons.
 
Geese and Ducks, I use an AYA 3 1/2" 10ga. mag.



This is the second one as I foolishly sold the first. The plus, this one has nicer wood.



I had planned to get the chokes opened up so I could use steel shot but as tight as it patterns with the old Federal Premium loads, I'd prefer to leave the chokes as is. Got the loader, empty hulls and wads all ready and plan to try and get some Bismuth or the somewhat similar ITX shot.
 
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