3-inch 20ga ?

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sk8r

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Does anyone know if there is anyone who stocks 3" 20ga Target loads? I can find LOTS of 23/4", but no-one seems to carry 3" for 20ga.

I know.... I 'should' be using a 12 for Trap, but I'm female and maybe I'm being all 'girly', but I much prefer my 20 over my 12's for shooting Trap - I would just like to put a little more shot out there.


Thanks. :)
 
Winchester makes a 1 oz. AA load for the 20. It would be all you need for trap. For target shooting, 3" would be overkill on both ends of the gun.
 
I think you may have to take up loading your own for a 3" 20ga. target load, most manufactures consider the 3" a mag type hunting load. Win makes a 3" pheasant load but with a #4 shot to large for trap, as well as heavy game loads up to 1 1/4 oz with a #6 shot. Some others may load what you want but in a mag type load usually. My old 870 is a 2 3/4 so i haven't played with the 3" loads myself but lots of load data is available.
 
I'm not aware of anyone who makes a 3" target shell because most shooting organizations and clay target clubs limit the rounds to 2-3/4" shells only.
 
You can buy Winchester AA heavy target in 20 ga. The are 2-3/4" 1 Oz 2-1/2 dram eq. which is about 1165 fps. They are presently on sale at LeBaron and can be purchased in both #7-1/2 (AAH207) and #8 (AAH208) shot size.

There is also a mail-in rebate on the AA right now. You need to buy at least a flat but the rebate is for $2 a box. You basically get a flat of AA for around the same price of a flat of cheap target load.

http://www.lebaron.ca/pdf_files_sp13/2013specials_winaa.pdf
http://www.winchester.com/Products/shotshell-ammunition/Advanced/AA-Shotshell/Pages/AAH207.aspx
http://www.winchester.com/Products/shotshell-ammunition/Advanced/AA-Shotshell/Pages/AAH208.aspx

EDIT: Ah, I see that westward already mentioned the AA.
 
I always bring my 20g stogger coachgun with me trap shooting. Busts as many clays as the 12g and busts my buddies up how that little coachgun can keep up with the 12's.
Sorry....have never seen 20g trap loads, just heavy field loads, buckshot and slugs.
 
Is it a specific gun or the reduced recoil that you like about the 20? I shoot 7/8 reloads in my 12 gauge target guns. Very low recoil and if I miss its the fault of the nut behind the stock, not the amount of pellets in the air. Remember, International Trap loads are limited to just under 7/8 ounce and it does the job on those tough targets!

I see on Shotgunworld that Federal has come out with 7/8 ounce loads in their Top Gun line. If you can find a flat to try you may be pleasantly surprised. Failing that see if anyone you know that reloads can load you up a box or two
 
Thanks for all the answers, guys. Much appreciated.

Looks like I'l be going with 1oz in 2 3/4 - makes sense.

@ R & R - it's the gun I like - not just a lot less recoil than anything else i own, but the gun itself is light, so my arms don't get so darn tired just holding it up...(I know - bein' girly again...)
 
I'm not a small or weak man, but I still like a 20gauge for carrying the woods or skeet shooting. 2 3/4" for all that, usually just variations in the load for the purpose. Less noise, less recoil, less weight is basic physics pointing to being able to do more and quicker shots. The 12gauge is nice for waterfowl, although one has often accompanied me in the woods or at the skeet thrower, but for the latter two, it flings more lead than is really necessary. Rough maths same shell length - 2 12 ga equals 3 20 ga in shot weight, so the 20 ga shooter will save 33% in reloading costs on lead alone. (rough standard shot load masses taken from chuckhawks website equate roughly to the comparison I made)
 
If you are just causal shooting then use the 20 and enjoy! Buy some standard 7/8 ounce target loads and don't let the 6" between your ears make you worry about giving up anything over the 12 gauge. Focus on the bird and grind them up!
 
My favorite gun for skeet is a 28 gauge Citori Sporting Clays gun. My skeet scores with this gun are very comparable to my scores with my 12 gauge gun.
 
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