20 Gauge Fans ?

I really didn't realize I was a fan of 20 gauge until I found a gun that fit me just right. A few years ago I was looking for a "nice" semi auto shotgun and was shown the offerings from Weatherby in the Element line. I am of average height 5'11 and tried both the 12 and 20 gauge, the 20 fit me just right. Its light and lines up perfectly I will say due to the weight the recoil is similar to a 12 ga but It it just feels so nice when I swing it and I hit more clays than I used to. Also its a dream to carry in the field and is very reliable. I am not really an expert with shotguns my only other is a 12ga 870 and 1100 but the Element just feels so refined and is really a quality gun. Plus 20ga is the same price as 12 where I am so why not?
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The sub gauges remind us that we don't always need the 10 or 12 gauge shotgun for many of our birding requirements. Many of us begin our foray into the light shotguns selecting the 20 as our second shotgun. Others might explore other options in this exact same pioneering spirit. In the 1950s and 60s some shotgunner was black balled because he desired a 16 gauge for pheasant hunting amongst 12 gauge enthusiasts.

The reality is they are all very useful with the right load against certain flying things. And there is the appeal of.minimum force for maximum.gain with no animal sufferage.
 
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I like the twenty gauge so much I own and shoot a Remington 870 lightweight a 870 lightweight special field a Browning Superskeet a Browning Superposed field gun a Remington Light weight 1100 special field and Winchester pigeon grade 101 a model 12 skeet gun a Ithica 500. Bought most of them years ago when things were more affordable and a dollar was a dollar , All in all the twenty is a winner .
 
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There is so much overlap among the gauges that the differences are not that great. On a pheasant hunt I had another shooter sneer at my light 12 declaring the 20 gauge was all anyone needed. I was shooting 2-3/4" 1 ounce shells while he was shooting 3" 1-1/4 ounce. Meanwhile, the 1/8 of an ounce difference between a 20 and a 28 doesn't make that much difference.

What does make a difference IMO is the guns themselves. I wasn't a great fan of the Wingmaster until I owned one in 20 gauge but hated the same gun in 28 gauge. I have two Beretta 391s and the 20 is much better handling than the 12.
 
This 20ga Ithaca/SKB is probably my favourite shotgun and by far the one I carry the most.

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warzaw said:
I like the twenty gauge so much I own and shoot a Remington 870 lightweight a 870 lightweight special field a Browning Superskeet a Browning Superposed field gun a Remington Light weight 1100 special field and Winchester pigeon grade 101 a model 12 skeet gun a Ithica 500. Bought most of them years ago when things were more affordable and a dollar was a dollar , All in all the twenty is a winner .
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If you like the remington 1100 LW upland 20 gauge I have two in 1100 that are upland guns. Both DU guns one with choke tubes and english stock the other just a fixed IC choke but on a 21 or 23" barrel I cannot remember. Have one of these DU's also in 870 20ga with the IC and 21" barrel
Cheers
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Rare pieces Mac those were made in the good times . I was involved in a Woodcock survey out of New Brunswick years ago I just about wore out a 20 gauge special on those birds. Those huge flights are a thing of the past in Ont .things have changed . Regards
 
warzaw said:
Rare pieces Mac those were made in the good times . I was involved in a Woodcock survey out of New Brunswick years ago I just about wore out a 20 gauge special on those birds. Those flights area thing of the past things have changed . Regards
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Yes sir. Early 80's I was gathering them. They were all NIB until I joined here and seen they were not worth more than a regular one so started firing them .
No regrets. I know the english stock with the short barrel is some sweet
I still have my 20ga skeet guns from the 4 guns sets also two 870's one large frame and two 1100 one large frame. Lots of rounds through those
Cheers
 
The DU editions don.t seem to enhance the price for sure . I shoot most everything I own . Getting to old to worry about money just want to have fun burning powder.
 
I started hunting with a Stevens 58, in 20 gauge when I was 16.

As I got older, and made more money, I went up to 12 gauge, lots of them.

Now that I'm a far better shot, and have the means, I currently have 4 20s in the safe. OU, Mossberg 500 3-in-1 combo, semi, and the original Stevens 58. They get the heaviest rotation, unless I'm out waterfowling, then it's still my 12 gauge semi.
 
mbogo3 said:
The 20ga is a staple for our house,but I am also fond of the 28ga.
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Mbogo ? Is this where we hear a 28 is perfect for Cape Buffalo because of the ballistic efficiency, bore size vs. shot column height, square load, magic, voodoo or whatever ? 😊
 
3macs1 said:
If you like the remington 1100 LW upland 20 gauge I have two in 1100 that are upland guns. Both DU guns one with choke tubes and english stock the other just a fixed IC choke but on a 21 or 23" barrel I cannot remember. Have one of these DU's also in 870 20ga with the IC and 21" barrel
Cheers
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I started my oldest daughter shooting skeet with an 1100 Lt-20, they're heavy enough that the recoil is negligible and that gun didn't miss a beat for a long time. I'm not really sure why I got rid of it, I probably saw something else that I needed the money for I suppose. I also do quite a bit of trading with a guy who's very persuasive at talking me out of guns that I should have kept........
 
Falconflyer said:
I started my oldest daughter shooting skeet with an 1100 Lt-20, they're heavy enough that the recoil is negligible and that gun didn't miss a beat for a long time. I'm not really sure why I got rid of it, I probably saw something else that I needed the money for I suppose. I also do quite a bit of trading with a guy who's very persuasive at talking me out of guns that I should have kept........
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20ga semi is perfect as you know for youth starting. Mine I started of course with a 1100 28ga which I put a youth stock on
That lasted until she found boys at about 17 :( and the gun is still in the locker
She tells me someday she is going to shoot again. I hope so
Cheers
 
Glad some are having fun kicking the 28ga owners. They make is sound to me like us 28ga lovers have no experience with the 20ga.. I know my herd has been reduced big time in the last 10 years but I can assure you I shot , reloaded and owned a hell of a lot of them over the years and still I think can go gun for gun with most 20ga owners here so can still join the 20ga club :) Nothing wrong with a 20ga unless you were hatched / raised on the 16 and 28 as I was and reload
I still have in 20ga today. But nothing high end now

1100 full frame skeet
1100 LW skeet
1100 choke tubes wood
1100 choke tubes stalker
1100 upland DU tubes
1100 upland DU IC fixed
870 WM DU
870 WM LW skeet
870 WM full frame skeet
870 WM 3" choke tubes
870 express
Model 31
Browning BPS
Ithaca 37
Model 12 20ga
Browning model 12 20ga
Cooey 84
Cooey 840
High Standard Flite King 20ga
Loaders MEC Jr, sizemaster and 9000G

Off the top of my head
Cheers
 
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