20g ammo?

Polar Man

Polar Man

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I picked up a cooey 20g in the EE tonight, and was in walmart later on and decided to check on the 20g ammo they had. I only ever had 12's before so I never bothered to check, it seems all they had was #8 shot, I was hoping for some slugs or even some BB, #4 or buck shot. Never had to to check Cambodian tire but I really hope they have something a bit better to stock up on.
If anyone can chime in on what their chain store carries in 20 g I may take the effort to drive around checking any stores within an hour from me.
 
Not many of them around in Nova Scotia, I will look into it though. I would be happy for some decent lead shot like 2 or 4, and I am partial to bb or bbb shot for the 12, sure it will do just as well in the 20. Basically I am just looking for a good all around shot size to stock up on for it.
 
Two not-so-close places to check are Hnatiuk's and Ferguson's.

<http://www.hnatiuks.com/>

<http://www.yellowpages.ca/bus/Nova-Scotia/Westville/Ferguson-s-Corner-Store-Sport-Shop/617727.html>
 
CT is the only source in Dartmouth for 20 gauge slugs. I haven't checked out the Army Navy Store yet for 20 gauge offerings. It seems that 12 gauge, .22 lr, and 30/30 are the calibers of choice in Dartmouth. :D

Polar man, you have 2-3/4" slugs? Consider yourself lucky, all I can find are 3" X 20 gauge slugs. :(
 
Polar Man said:
Not many of them around in Nova Scotia, I will look into it though. I would be happy for some decent lead shot like 2 or 4, and I am partial to bb or bbb shot for the 12, sure it will do just as well in the 20. Basically I am just looking for a good all around shot size to stock up on for it.
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As one who has owned and used several 20 ga guns I'm concerned that you don't seem to understand that the 20 ga. is not the same as a 12, and has a different purpose. You cannot stuff BB shot into a 20 ga. bore and expect to have decent patterns. A 20 ga. is a perfect gauge for upland birds with #6 shot or smaller, great for target shooting, and is serviceable with slugs for deer sized game. It is very inefficient with large bird shot and almost useless with buckshot. Even #4's pattern poorly out of most 20's. Use it as intended and you will be happy with your 20 ga. but put inappropriate ammunition into it, and you will be cursing it as a game wounder.
 
Longwalker said:
As one who has owned and used several 20 ga guns I'm concerned that you don't seem to understand that the 20 ga. is not the same as a 12, and has a different purpose. You cannot stuff BB shot into a 20 ga. bore and expect to have decent patterns. A 20 ga. is a perfect gauge for upland birds with #6 shot or smaller, great for target shooting, and is serviceable with slugs for deer sized game. It is very inefficient with large bird shot and almost useless with buckshot. Even #4's pattern poorly out of most 20's. Use it as intended and you will be happy with your 20 ga. but put inappropriate ammunition into it, and you will be cursing it as a game wounder.
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REALLY??!!:eek:
I guess I'd better quit using my 20 for geese and ducks then, there must have been someone else in my blind for the last 5 years other than myself, shooting and killing with the 20 using 4's and 2's!:cool:
Ive never loaded BB's in mine, but I have not problem cleanly killing waterfowl at decoy distances using the 20.
However, I don't take 50 yard shots with them either, but i rarely did with a 12....
Cat
 
3macs1 said:
catnthehatt said:
REALLY??!!:eek:
I guess I'd better quit using my 20 for geese and ducks then, there must have been someone else in my blind for the last 5 years other than myself, shooting and killing with the 20 using 4's and 2's!:cool:
Not with lead shot I hope:eek:
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Nope, mostlly facotry steel, but i have used some Nice shot.
Had super killing with everything from Winchester dri-Loc to Federal Premium in 2 3/4" #4's.
mostly. the last while I have been using Fassteel 3"'#2's.
Hit them properly in the head and neck that the birds go down!
Oh yeah, I shoot a O/U as well, not a semi....
Cat
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catnthehatt said:
3macs1 said:
Nope, mostlly facotry steel, but i have used some Nice shot.
Had super killing with everything from Winchester dri-Loc to Federal Premium in 2 3/4" #4's.
mostly. the last while I have been using Fassteel 3"'#2's.
Hit them properly in the head and neck that the birds go down!
Oh yeah, I shoot a O/U as well, not a semi....
Cat
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Faststeel is good ammo for sure.
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3macs1 said:
catnthehatt said:
Faststeel is good ammo for sure.
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I certainly don't worry if all I have in my dry box is Federal Premiums in 2 3/4" #4 as well, they kill stuff just fine!:)
This was the result after a quick set up in the morning a few years back, we went back that evening and I finished up with a daily limit of both ducks and geese that day using the Federals and cyl/ impcyl for chokes - I am a firm believer in not overchoking steel.
Cat
DSCF0811.jpg
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Longwalker said:
As one who has owned and used several 20 ga guns I'm concerned that you don't seem to understand that the 20 ga. is not the same as a 12, and has a different purpose. You cannot stuff BB shot into a 20 ga. bore and expect to have decent patterns. A 20 ga. is a perfect gauge for upland birds with #6 shot or smaller, great for target shooting, and is serviceable with slugs for deer sized game. It is very inefficient with large bird shot and almost useless with buckshot. Even #4's pattern poorly out of most 20's. Use it as intended and you will be happy with your 20 ga. but put inappropriate ammunition into it, and you will be cursing it as a game wounder.
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Don't say that too loudly all the geese I killed with 2's and B's (yes B's not BB) may hear you. Truth be told I never pattern the load but out of a factory I.C. Remchoke I killed a couple limits of geese out to 40 yards or so. Maybe I was just lucky though.

I did pattern Federal's 3 inch 20 gauge Steel load of 7/8 ounce 2's at 1300(?) fps and they were nice and even out of my Modified choke, I killed a goose that weighed 13lbs 12oz with it at a paced out 33 yards.

The 20 can be made work with large shot.
 
Polar Man, Longwalker is correct in some aspects you are better of sticking to smaller shot unless you are shooting at large birds in the wide open.

TSC has fair prices on 20 gauge last time I was there and also Ferguson's had a good selection when I visited 3 years ago, it's a bit of a drive but maybe you could cal them or get a friend to pick some up for you.

On a side note Ferguson's has the best selection of .410 shells I have ever seen, they literally had everything as far as .410 shells go.
 
Thanks guys, good input, but I should say I am not hunting with it just yet, I cannot find a place to take my hunter safety course, it books up too fast around here I guess.
It will mainly be for taking new shooters out as my cooey 12g recoil hit a bit too hard for the younger kids and the girls. It is an older one that has been refinished so if it is a bit rough looking I may even chop it to make a backpacker out of it too, but I won't be hasty with that decision.
 
catnthehatt said:
3macs1 said:
I certainly don't worry if all I have in my dry box is Federal Premiums in 2 3/4" #4 as well, they kill stuff just fine!:)
This was the result after a quick set up in the morning a few years back, we went back that evening and I finished up with a daily limit of both ducks and geese that day using the Federals and cyl/ impcyl for chokes - I am a firm believer in not overchoking steel.
Cat
DSCF0811.jpg
Click to expand...

Hey Cat where ya huntin? On a Golf Course?
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