Using 20g o/u for waterfowl? Y/N?

LuckyLuc82

LuckyLuc82

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Rockwood, Ontario
I don't have the money for a good semi, all I have is my 20g over/under with fixed over improved cyl can I use this for some recreational ducks/geese until I get something better? If so what 20g load is a good idea. Also I can change chokes, I have to buy them but that's a very small expense compared to a new shotgun.
 
There's a fellow called catnthehat on the Alberta Outdoorsmen forum who uses a 20 gauge o/u exclusively for waterfowl. He's a great guy to talk to about it.
 
I love it. 20 guage is perfectly fine and like said above keep the shot on the smaller size to get enough coverage. I don't notice much difference between the effeciveness of a 12 and 20 in actual use other than maybe selection of ammo at any store. 10 to 1 in selection at most places I shop.
 
If using a 20 gauge I'd recommend one of the high density loads from Remington or Winchester for more humane kills, especially on geese.
 
My kids all used or are still using the same twenty gauge Remington youth Express with 3" Kent #2s and sometimes #3s. Inside 30 yards it works about as good as anything else for ducks, after that it starts going downhill real fast.
 
It will get the job done, provided you play within its limits. I found its very effective over the decoys, so inside 30 yards. Never tried it on geese, but I wouldn't be afraid to with either a High density shot or fast load of 2's or 1's over the decoys. I like the kent 3" 7/8 loading, but your gun may not pattern it well.
Get in front of them and you'll take home birds.
 
LuckyLuc82 said:
I don't have the money for a good semi, all I have is my 20g over/under with fixed over improved cyl can I use this for some recreational ducks/geese until I get something better? If so what 20g load is a good idea. Also I can change chokes, I have to buy them but that's a very small expense compared to a new shotgun.
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Chamber on this shotty of yours 3 inch? Send me a PM might be able to free up some 20 gauge Tungsten Matrix, a product that really evens up the playing field when it comes to " killing" waterfowl. Matrix in number 5 shot takes geese out of the sky with relative ease. FS
 
Turkeyslayer 1300 said:
I like TM 3's for all around waterfowling, packs a wallop for longer range ducks and does VERY well on geese to atleat 45 yards (as far as I've pushed it so far).
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I used to save the 3's for geese, then I tried the 5's with a mod choke, death at 50 yards easy.
I remember being with a bunch of fine fellows from the USA were shooting 12 gauge steel and the was one mallard left making the get away, directly in front of me, I held about 1 foot under that bird and it fell out of the sky, dead before it hit the ground. The fellow next to me says" I thought that bird was out of range" and I said "for you with steel it was", we had a good laugh over that long shot. FS
 
20 Gauge

All I ever hunt with for ducks and Geese,is my spanish side by side 20 gauge.It's a Traditional shotgun,and its more challenging than useing a 12 gauge.

I shot my limit of eight ducks tonight with it,I got 4 Redheads,2 gadwall,& 2 blue bills.:D

was useing Kent Fast steel #2, and #4 shot.
 
I've seen my wife successfully use her 20 guage 870 for ducks. She uses an improved cylinder choke & this year we bought Kent steel going 1550 fps in #2 for geese & #4 for ducks. Had to look a little for steel that was doing a decent speed... The local CanTire & LeBaron had stuff doing 1300 fps (roughly), which IMHO is not fast enough to make up for the 30% mass steel has compared to lead... Hence, my belief that you have to drive steel @ 1550 fps to make up for that...

Cheers
Jay
 
The 20 gauge will do the job effectively.Make sure you use highest velocity steel 3" ammo available,#2 or #3 shot.Modified choke is a good choke out to 35yds., I would recommend a Patternmaster long range choke tube.
 
Waiting for my new 12 to come in, so I've been using my Ruger 20 this weekend. Shooting Kent #2, I managed my most successful bird hunt yet. Never limited out, but I dropped two Canadas, a snowy and a handful of ducks. Maybe not that impressive to those who field hunt, but wandering around pond-hopping is a great way to spend a morning, and getting birds is just a bonus to me. Had a few that needed a follow-up shot, but a honker folding up and smacking the water like a ragdoll tells me a 20 gauge will do the trick.
 
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