20 Gauge Fans ?

I do believe Peter Hathaway Capstick once said every gauge has a specific use.

Certainly a big gauge is technically more useful especially with the option of down loading reloaded shells.

But I don't need a heavy 10 gauge coach gun for my upland bird hunting. The sub gauges below 12 work just fine for me. My two bits.
 
Rob! said:
Guess I'm more on the dissenting opinion side of this one. Loads are available in the 12 for anything the 20 has and FAR more. If it's a lighter weight gun you want, there are lighter 12s as well. Reduced recoil is placebo, because same weight, fit and action gun with same load, recoil doesn't care how big your hole is. Ammo options and availability are better for the 12 as well. Nothing wrong with the 20 if it meets your needs, but IMHO, most of the hype is urban legend.

I've recently developed a very special relationship with a 28 - but I think more because of the gun than the gauge.

Some really sweet 20s out there though.
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You claim the 20 is hype and urban legend and then claim a special relationship with the 28. The 28 does a good job considering it’s limitations, but it is the one gauge that is all about hype and urban legend. How many gun writers have used the phrase,” it’s hard to explain” when talking about the 28. Yes, it is hard to explain a bunch of nostalgic BS to people who know better.

As far as the 28 gauge guns, to light and whippy for me. I would take a 28 on a 20 frame over a scaled frame 28 every time.

I agree with you on the 12, far and away the most practical and efficient gauge of all.

All you 28 fans can lighten up. The OP was about the 20, but as usual the 28 comes up.
 
Westward1 said:
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You claim the 20 is hype and urban legend and then claim a special relationship with the 28. The 28 does a good job considering it’s limitations, but it is the one gauge that is all about hype and urban legend. How many gun writers have used the phrase,” it’s hard to explain” when talking about the 28. Yes, it is hard to explain a bunch of nostalgic BS to people who know better.

As far as the 28 gauge guns, to light and whippy for me. I would take a 28 on a 20 frame over a scaled frame 28 every time.

I agree with you on the 12, far and away the most practical and efficient gauge of all.

All you 28 fans can lighten up. The OP was about the 20, but as usual the 28 comes up.
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Too funny you know better NOT from that post

Unfortunately IMHO from shooting and owning all gauges except 24 not all have developed their shotgunning skills to use one proficiently :)

As the experts say

The combination of pattern , gun trim, light and quick-handling qualities with no flinch-inducing recoil makes a well-designed 28 eminently forgettable. And that’s what a shotgun should be. You should forget you’re even operating it. It should become an extension of your vision. You should use it as naturally and instinctively as throwing a ball. The bird gets up, you lock laser focus on it, the gun rises to your face, and you shoot without so much as thinking about the gun.
This makes you cousin to the falcon, brother to the bobcat. Natural predators don’t think about their legs, wings, talons. They just focus on their prey and strike. That seems to be what 28-gauge aficionados do. Maybe you should, too.

Back to the 20ga :) my apologies . But kick the 28 and expect more
 
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3macs1 said:
Too funny you know better NOT

Unfortunately IMHO from shooting and owning all gauges except 24 not all have developed their shotgunning skills to use one proficiently :)

As the experts say

The combination of pattern , gun trim, light and quick-handling qualities with no flinch-inducing recoil makes a well-designed 28 eminently forgettable. And that’s what a shotgun should be. You should forget you’re even operating it. It should become an extension of your vision. You should use it as naturally and instinctively as throwing a ball. The bird gets up, you lock laser focus on it, the gun rises to your face, and you shoot without so much as thinking about the gun.
This makes you cousin to the falcon, brother to the bobcat. Natural predators don’t think about their legs, wings, talons. They just focus on their prey and strike. That seems to be what 28-gauge aficionados do. Maybe you should, too.

Back to the 20ga :)
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Wow, you managed to dredge up exactly what I was talking about. “Eminently forgettable, aficionados, falcons, bobcats, blah, blah , blah” thanks for helping me making my point. ��
 
Westward1 said:
Wow, you managed to dredge up exactly what I was talking about. “Eminently forgettable, aficionados, falcons, bobcats, blah, blah , blah” thanks for helping me making my point. ��
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Some point. All I see is lack of shotgunning experience and knowledge especially with the 28ga
As they say
The 28 ga. can do deadly work, but it has to be the right gun in the hands of the right man. Clearly NOT you :)

For me when I shot the 4 gauges seriously at shoots it was always the 12 or the 410 but most times the 12ga that kept me from winning and dropped birds.Rare for the 28 or 20. Both were a pure joy to shoot. If you reload there is nothing a 28ga cannot do that a 20 can.
IMO if you have to buy factory ammo the 20 ga is cheaper to shoot, with more selection and the way to go for most
In the end to each their own
Take care :)
 
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30 years ago, i bought my first 20 gauge single shoot. I started using it for partridge hunting and was realy impressed. To me, this is the perfect caliber for partridge and rabbit and this is why i have:

8 semi auto
4 pump
2 O\U
1 S\S
1 Bolt Action
2 single yes 18 of them so you know now the best caliber for hunting perdridge..
 
Westward1 said:
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You claim the 20 is hype and urban legend and then claim a special relationship with the 28. The 28 does a good job considering it’s limitations, but it is the one gauge that is all about hype and urban legend. How many gun writers have used the phrase,” it’s hard to explain” when talking about the 28. Yes, it is hard to explain a bunch of nostalgic BS to people who know better.

As far as the 28 gauge guns, to light and whippy for me. I would take a 28 on a 20 frame over a scaled frame 28 every time.

I agree with you on the 12, far and away the most practical and efficient gauge of all.

All you 28 fans can lighten up. The OP was about the 20, but as usual the 28 comes up.
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20 is the most punch I can get for a weight to shot charge ratio for a field gun.

Certain types of upland birds is hunting an opportunity hrs upon hrs for just one chance, the 28 doesn’t make the cut most of the time.
 
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3macs1 said:
I'm spoiled here also. Since I was 8 or 9 I had access to every gauge from 410 to 10ga since my dad and grandfather were active hunters and clay target shooters. I still have 95% of their guns
I have a love of all shotguns as a result and nothing against any including the 20ga but the 28ga is indeed the special one of them all IMHO which is why I collect them :) followed by the 16ga
Those that shoot them know where I am coming from
Cheers
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3macs1 said:
Nope sorry :) But can can join your cult since there is one real sweet 16 :)
But only because it is a 16ga LOL . I hate A5's lol
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…..........:sok2..................f:P:2:...................:ang3......................:rey2.....................:stirthepot2:................:onCrack:
 
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