I know its too late asking opinion - I have already got the gun. Just couldn't pass on 100$ pump shotgun. My first shot gun by the way. The Question - what is 20 gage good for? I enjoyed blasting away today, but there is a thought on the back of my mind if its powerful enough for ducks and geese. And what is effective range for shotgun? This particular one takes 3" shells. Your opinion gentelemen will be highly appreciated.
just got myself 20 gage pump shotgun
- Thread starter 22lr
- Start date
It is good for anything that a 12g. is good for ,
you just have to aim a little better (that's my problem)
a few less pellets is all, A 20 g. is perfect for upland
game , I know a fellow uses a 410 and 20 on goose,
Why the 410 ,I don't know , but has worked for him
for 40 yrs. Good luck - great buy, I wish I could find
$100 20g's I could make $200 on each one.
BTW- what model of pump?
you just have to aim a little better (that's my problem)
a few less pellets is all, A 20 g. is perfect for upland
game , I know a fellow uses a 410 and 20 on goose,
Why the 410 ,I don't know , but has worked for him
for 40 yrs. Good luck - great buy, I wish I could find
$100 20g's I could make $200 on each one.
BTW- what model of pump?
I'm interested too.
Boy! Any $100 pump gun would be in my hot sweaty little hands faster than you could ka-chunk. But a 3-incher in 20. Good deal.
I paid $290 for an Ithaca Model 37 20 gauge last year, and it is a sweet little gun. Only in 2 3/4 though. I managed to knock down a quail and a pheasant with it last year, and a few clays this spring.
I'd love to try it on ducks, but I'll have to learn to shoot better with my 12 gauge before I go for those small loads out of a 2 3/4-inch 20 gauge.
Boy! Any $100 pump gun would be in my hot sweaty little hands faster than you could ka-chunk. But a 3-incher in 20. Good deal.
I paid $290 for an Ithaca Model 37 20 gauge last year, and it is a sweet little gun. Only in 2 3/4 though. I managed to knock down a quail and a pheasant with it last year, and a few clays this spring.
I'd love to try it on ducks, but I'll have to learn to shoot better with my 12 gauge before I go for those small loads out of a 2 3/4-inch 20 gauge.
Its Ted Williams as far as I can see. Or something like that. Model 200. I love it. My first shotgun. I like the idea of point-shoot, fits me well. Sweet gun, maybe I should have bought shotgun earlier. Or there is another question by the way. Is there any reason switching between different loads or should I pick one good particular load and get used to it. I was blasting away yesterday with 2 3/4 led 7 1/2 shot and 3" steel 4 shot - they are so different, especially down the range. What would be the round that covers everything or should I keep switching?
One more question - that gun has adjustable choke and turning that thing doesn't seem to make much difference - could it be that choke leafes are somehow worn out?
One more question - that gun has adjustable choke and turning that thing doesn't seem to make much difference - could it be that choke leafes are somehow worn out?
It's either a Winchester or a Mossberg, depending on if 200W or 200.
For clays, just pick a standard common target load of #7-1/2 or #8 and stick with it while you're learning.
Sounds like a Polychoke. Best thing to do is to set up a big piece of paper/cardboard at 40 yards and fire some test shots into it to see what sort of pattern differences you're getting.
For clays, just pick a standard common target load of #7-1/2 or #8 and stick with it while you're learning.
Sounds like a Polychoke. Best thing to do is to set up a big piece of paper/cardboard at 40 yards and fire some test shots into it to see what sort of pattern differences you're getting.
MauserMike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
The info I found on the net says its a Winchester 1200 but it should be pretty obvious if you post some photos.
Like was said already, for "plinking" (clay shooting with a shotgun?), choose the light target loads. Your shoulder will thank you, especially if this is a light pump gun. $60 or less for 250 shots goes a long way. Try some clay shooting. I was getting bored with rifle shooting and in a bit of a slump about that a while ago. Clay shooting has really re-ignited my interest in getting out to the range. It makes me grin when I "puff" a bird into dust. (if you trap shoot, you'll be itching for a 12 ga very quickly)
As for the rest, if you are hunting, you need to consider things like range, pellet density, toughness of your quarry, toxic or non-toxic shot. There's everything from light loads for small birds to the heavy non-tox loads for geese, all the way up to buckshot and slugs for deer/bear etc.
There's lots out there on the net regarding shotshell choice, and probably a lot of conflicting opinion too. If you are hunting, what do you plan to shoot with it?
Grouse Man said:Is it like this?
yes, thats the one. I will be hunting whatever comes my way. Ducks and geeze if I can hit them, grouse for sure, there is a lot of grouse everywhere, big ones. That is assuming my son won't steal it from me. Thanks everybody for suggestions - its all good stuff.
HI .22LR
I juat wanted to comment on the part of your original posting about "will the gun be powerful enough for ducks and geese"
many folks i have hunted with have always been convinced that a 10 ga is more "powerfull" than a 12 ga, which is more powerfull than a 16ga and so on. i wish i could find my old ballistic tables; the fact of the matter is that regardless of what ga. of gun being used, the pellets will be travelling at roughly the same speed. thus, a .410 will project the pellets with the same force as a 10 ga. hence, a .410 will be able to knock down a big honker. the only deal is, the .410 has much less pellets than a larger ga. so the chance of hitting the target in a kill zone is much less. i have hunted with 20 ga for years and took a lot of abuse in the goose blinds because of it. however, a 20 ga chambered in 3 " mag can accomodate a shell that holds as much or more lead as a 12 ga. my father would always say a 20 ga is perfectly suitable for anything as long as it was pointed in the right place and he proved it time and again.
so for ducks and geese, pay attention to the loads. get heavier ones and larger shot and it will all be good.
ps. none of my favorite shotguns are usable now that steel is a must. steel shot being forced through a full choke does really wierd things to the pattern. so i am going to have to invest in poly chokes or the brand name ones. thanks, just had to get that off my chest.
I juat wanted to comment on the part of your original posting about "will the gun be powerful enough for ducks and geese"
many folks i have hunted with have always been convinced that a 10 ga is more "powerfull" than a 12 ga, which is more powerfull than a 16ga and so on. i wish i could find my old ballistic tables; the fact of the matter is that regardless of what ga. of gun being used, the pellets will be travelling at roughly the same speed. thus, a .410 will project the pellets with the same force as a 10 ga. hence, a .410 will be able to knock down a big honker. the only deal is, the .410 has much less pellets than a larger ga. so the chance of hitting the target in a kill zone is much less. i have hunted with 20 ga for years and took a lot of abuse in the goose blinds because of it. however, a 20 ga chambered in 3 " mag can accomodate a shell that holds as much or more lead as a 12 ga. my father would always say a 20 ga is perfectly suitable for anything as long as it was pointed in the right place and he proved it time and again.
so for ducks and geese, pay attention to the loads. get heavier ones and larger shot and it will all be good.
ps. none of my favorite shotguns are usable now that steel is a must. steel shot being forced through a full choke does really wierd things to the pattern. so i am going to have to invest in poly chokes or the brand name ones. thanks, just had to get that off my chest.
With the price of lead shot going nuts and hard corps clay shooters loading their 12's down to as low as 3/4 oz of lead, 20 ga (and 28, and .410 bore) might just be the ticket. BUT: you will need to re-load if you shoot a lot: the ammo costs more than 12 ga.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
You know I have a few M37 Ithacas, most are 12 gauge too.
But the 20 gauge is the only one I purchased a rifled barrel for, and also a 26" I/C barrel for upland game.
I suspect this fall, it will get a lot more use while hunting upland game.
For wild boar this past early spring though, the 12 gauge M37 was extra piece of mind with brennekes.
For anything that cannot chew on me, I suspect the 20 will do splendidly for me and you too....
But the 20 gauge is the only one I purchased a rifled barrel for, and also a 26" I/C barrel for upland game.
I suspect this fall, it will get a lot more use while hunting upland game.
For wild boar this past early spring though, the 12 gauge M37 was extra piece of mind with brennekes.
For anything that cannot chew on me, I suspect the 20 will do splendidly for me and you too....
