How effective is the 20 gauge
- Thread starter crazydave
- Start date
- Location
- Saskatchewan
35 yds or so with steel shot is a reasonable range. Stretch the range and you will be disappointed. Keep it close and your 20 will prove deadly.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
I have used a 20 for quite some time now, and love it.
You will have no problem with "normal " ranges, but be aware that you are shooting less shot than a big 12, and that is where the big difference is.
I firmly believe that most shooters think the 12 gives them more range, and it does, but for the wrong reason!
It has to do with the amount of shot thrown, not the distance the gun is able to kill at.
Shoot a 12 with 1 1/8 oz of shot and a 20 with a 1 oz load and this readily becomes apparent- there is not much difference.
However, the 20's are made on lighter frames, and i like the way i can swing my quickly on decoyed birds , and it's short as well so it doesn't feel cumbersome in a blind.
I can't shoot the big guns any more, and haven't for many years, the 20 was a necessity at first, but I prefer it now!
If you put the shot on a goose's head it's going down, no question, but with a 12 there is simply more shot heading towards the goose, so a greater likelihood of getting a few where they are supposed to go.
Take your 20 out with a bunch of Fassteel #2's and whack some honkers!!
Cat
1 oz of number 4 shot traveling at 1200 ft/s in a 20 gauge, is exactly equal to 1oz of number 4 shot traveling at 1200 ft/s in a 12 gauge.
Having that said, a 20 gauge is equal to a 12 gauge with the exceptions of magnum 12 gauge shells.
Further to this, recoil is proportional to the weight of the shotgun.
How does all this blubbering make sense??
It means that a 20 gauge is capable of every bit of power as a 12 gauge, until you get into magnum/heavy loads. It also means that your 20 gauge will boot just as hard as your 12 gauge, given that both rifles are (maybe?) very similar in weight. A lightweight 20 will boot harder that a normal weight 12G .
So... if you have an injury where recoil is a problem, then use lighter loads in your 12g. if the weight of the shotgun is a problem to your injury, then a lighter shotgun would be better, but it will kick harder with the same given charge of the shotshell.
If both kick and weight are a problem, then use a lighter load in a lighter gun.
Having that said, a 20 gauge is equal to a 12 gauge with the exceptions of magnum 12 gauge shells.
Further to this, recoil is proportional to the weight of the shotgun.
How does all this blubbering make sense??
It means that a 20 gauge is capable of every bit of power as a 12 gauge, until you get into magnum/heavy loads. It also means that your 20 gauge will boot just as hard as your 12 gauge, given that both rifles are (maybe?) very similar in weight. A lightweight 20 will boot harder that a normal weight 12G .
So... if you have an injury where recoil is a problem, then use lighter loads in your 12g. if the weight of the shotgun is a problem to your injury, then a lighter shotgun would be better, but it will kick harder with the same given charge of the shotshell.
If both kick and weight are a problem, then use a lighter load in a lighter gun.
20 guage effectiveness
If you let your birds get about 5 yards closer when using the 20, then you will be all right. Your 45 yard 12 gauge now becomes a 40 yard 20 guage.
Nicer thing about the 20 is that it seems to point better. Over decoys you will probably not notice any difference, except the recoil.
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If you let your birds get about 5 yards closer when using the 20, then you will be all right. Your 45 yard 12 gauge now becomes a 40 yard 20 guage.
Nicer thing about the 20 is that it seems to point better. Over decoys you will probably not notice any difference, except the recoil.
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- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
He didn't have louie then , that was two years before he got him,IIRC.
Louie isn't much for waterfowl, but he is getting better on upland birds every time he goes out !
Cat
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
The problem i have is not only the nerve damage in my shouldr but lifting the mass of a 12 gauge.
Also, the felt recoil,in a 20 is softer than a 12 because of the pressure curve.
I would shoot my 100 but their are a few things wrong with that, the weight of the gun being one.
I took my SXS black powder gun hunting geese last fall, using 80 grains of FFG and an equal scoop of Nice Shot - sure is a lot more fun than shooting the modern stuff!
Cat
Turkeyslayer 1300
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Russell, Ontario
I shot a 20 for all my late season waterfowling, I was shooting 7/8ths of an ounce of 1's at 1700 fps. The whole pattern tended to hit the bird and worked very well out to 45 yards.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
I'm a really big fan of the Italian guns for O/U's, but CZ ( Huglu) is also producing great guns at a very reaonable price.What would you recommend in a new model 20 guage for upland birding? Need to buy one for the wife to go with her new English setter pup.
The big thing to do is to get out and try as many as you can to see which one fits the best, because these days, most modern guns are pretty well built, some a little better than others, and some a little prettier than others.
personally i shoot SXS guns, but do have an O/U 20 that I use for geese and ducks, but it sems I'm using it less these days because my vintage SXS guns are so much fun!
Remeber tha a field gun is going to be carried far more than it will be shot, so many ae on the lighter side - TOO light for some hunter's tastes.
As far as barrel length goes, 28" seems to be about the normal these days, and for open hunting , it's not an issue, but for tight cover a few inches shorter is nice when woinding through thickets!
Chokes? to not complicate things , one barrel in modified and the other in improved cylnder will do you for anything you want .
Cat
Yildez I don't think I spelled that right. But they make a really nice light sxs in 20ga. Aya #2 would be amazing if you have the coin. Best is to go shopping at every gun store you can go to and handle everything till she finds the one she likes
Ahsan Ahmed
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
What would you recommend in a new model 20 guage for upland birding? Need to buy one for the wife to go with her new English setter pup.
What's her current level of experience with shotguns? Does she have a particular preference in terms of action type i.e. breechloading guns (SxS, O/U), semi-auto or pump? A good 20ga SxS or O/U, as already mentioned, will likely be great for Upland particularly for someone starting out very new at the sport.
Gun fit must be the top criteria for selection of a shotgun.
Little to no practical experience. She's fired a variety of firearms before, but never hunted or used them regularly. I think an O/U would be my preference too. Maybe the CZ Redhead Deluxe? (Sorry to hijack the thread, but I thought it might be relevant to the discussion).
Ahsan Ahmed
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Breechloading shotguns are comparatively way easier/simpler to operate, handle (due to usually slimmer profile), prove safe and perform maintainance chores involving take-down, re-assembly etc. One may agree that those are kinda common attributes that members of the fair ### generally look for while considering most things in life (no pun intended).
Around the $1k price range - a 20ga CZ SxS or O/U field models may offer much satisfaction. One could also use such for informal/occasional clay shoots. The firearms, however, weren't designed for high volume shooting.
You may wish to check out the 20ga Redhead (O/U) as well the Ringneck (SxS), those are both equipped with SST (single selective trigger).
Alternately, you may also wish to look at the 20ga Bobwhite with DT (double triggers).....my personal preference, as the lower priced DT guns will be less prone to mechanical troubles. Having said that, there are plenty of CZ shotguns with SST in current use that haven't had any trouble at all.
Look for CZ guns made after 2006 (the first two digits of the serial indicate the year of production in the CZ models).
Personally, I haven't had an opportunity to use Yildiz shotguns yet. However, the reviews have been mostly positive from what I have read so far.
As far as used guns are concerned, it would be great if you come across something such as a 20ga SKB 100 (SxS) or SKB 500 (O/U) in VG to Exc condition. Or something like a 20ga Savage Milano O/U (now discontinued).
With around $1.5k and more - Brownings and Beretta (my preference) can also enter the equation.
Again, gun fit will matter the most regardless of brand/type. 26in bbls may be a better option in view of the end user. Best of luck in your quest.
