20 Gauge for Sporting Clays

Camj

Camj

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I saw a beautiful SX3 20 gauge at Sail. It handled really nice and as I am looking for a sporting clays only shottie, I am giving this some serious consideration. I am left handed and the ambidextrous safety is a good thing too. Any how the question is, will the 20 handicap me in any way versus the 12 gauge in the same model.

Thanks
 
I have been looking into this too trying to educate my self I think the only difference is less pellets and a tighter pattern. Less kick and a lighter firearm is a bonus too. If I'm wrong someone will chime in.
 
I think a 20g will be ok but a bit light maybe ....I'm a lefty too and you can get a 12g Mossberg 500 combo with an ambidextrous safety too, comes with 2 barrels one 18.5 and one 28" that has a modified choke that's perfect for clays. It cost me $329 from Cabelas, then I added a Hogue over molded stock for $75 I think it was. Nothing fancy but when I took it out it busted clays excellent & with 2 3/4 target loads not much kick at all
 
I am a leftie and have the sx3 in 12 ga and know you will be happy with the 20 or 12 ga sx3. Great gun for the price. If you looking for a dedicated trap gun take a look at the browning silver sporting. I think they have 1 at lebarons in Mississauga. Same price and has two pistons so you can fire 1 oz loads which will lower the recoil.
 
No fly's on the 20 gauge for clay sports, while the 12 gauge is the standard for international competition, there are plenty of good reasons to choose a 20 for clay games. Lighter recoil and or a lighter gun are 2 great reasons.
If you like the SX3 and it fits you, you will not regret it. You may wish to switch the safety over, I shoot ambidextrously but I'm dominantly right handed. I've been teaching myself to shoot left handed since the year I dislocated my right thumb 2 days before the start of waterfowl season last year. All my guns are right handed and I don't notice the shells being ejected, some people this really bothers.
 
Great help guys. Being left handed has issues. I do not notice shells but I would prefer the safety issue. I am really thinking the tot ability is an issue on the course. The 20 is becoming gun of choice. Even carrying 60 or so rounds makes a difference.
 
a flat of 20 ga and 12 is the same price, and as for sporting clays will still work, i only shoot 7/8oz reloads, theres even guys who shoot 410 and as long as you hit it, it breaks no matter what, getting into hunting with it after is a whole different thing. But 12 or 20 is still a great gun.
 
A heavier gun smooths out your swing. If you're on target with your lead there is no difference between the 12 and 20 on a clay field. I even drop down to a 28 ga in sporting clays and my scores were only 4/5 less. If the gun fits and swings well you will shoot it well whether it's a 20 or 12
 
"...the only difference is less pellets and a tighter pattern..." Smaller pattern, but yeah. Mind you, sporting clays is or started out as practical practice for hunting. If you hunt with a 20, why wouldn't you shoot clays with one too?
 
7/8oz of 7.5 out of a 20ga is the same amount of lead as 7/8oz out of a 12. If you miss a target with a 20 you wouldn't have hit it with a 12.

You will not regret a 20ga, only challenge may be finding neat ones used, people hang onto them.
 
20 gauge is pretty much just a 12 gauge with less recoil. A little less lead but no big disadvantage, a lot of people I shoot with don't even touch 12 gauge anymore.
 
I own a SX3 Walnut Field in 20 gauge and it truly is an amazing firearm. Despite it's light weight, recoil is negated quite well by the gas action. I don't really even notice the recoil when using standard target loads. It has reliably cycled everything I've put through it including 3/4 oz light recoil hand loads. It will fire as fast as you can pull the trigger.

It points well as far as I am concerned; but you have to make sure that it fits you well as the newer walnut models don't have cast and drop shims anymore.

Don't use Challenger skeet loads as the casehead deforms and takes the shape of the ejector pin relief. The only real negative I can point out is that as a semi-automatic you will be bending over a lot to pick up spent hulls.
 
Great review Cintax. I am sold on the SX3. I plan on using my ole 870 for TRAP and the SX3 for sporting clays.
 
So let me get this straight... "When you hit the clay with a 20 gauge, 16 gauge, 28 gauge or .410 it breaks????" Would that also apply to a BB gun?
 
I have been looking into this too trying to educate my self I think the only difference is less pellets and a tighter pattern.
Click to expand...

The pattern size is dependent on the choke, and the load, not the gauge.

As to the the 20 gauge being a handicap, I don't have a sporting clays field handy, but my favorite skeet gun is my 28Gauge, and my scores are pretty much the same, as with my 12 gauge.
 
A 12 ga with 1 1/8 oz is no different that a 20 ga with 7/8 oz if you on the target . granted the 20 ga 7/8 oz pattern will be a little thinner. I have shoot trap with my 20ga with 7/8 oz loads and have broken 20 plus targets have also shot trap with my12 and only broke 15 . bottom line is if your on the target the gun will do its part . I have seen lots of 20 ga guns at sporting clays shoots this summer so there are people out there using them .
 
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