Adam2340 Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Ok guys, need some advice. I want to get a Supersport, mostly for clays, but also for pheasant or quail. My question is: 12 or 20 gage? I've only ever owned 12 gages and currently reload for 12. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tucker301 Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Well then it's a 12 for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splashtx556ftw Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 i prefer a 12ga, but have a 20ga. its nice on occasion to shoot the 20. just for something different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cksh8me Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 There are some bragging rights when using a 20 and all your buddy's are shooting a 12's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam2340 Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 There are some bragging rights when using a 20 and all your buddy's are shooting a 12's. Forgive me, but could you elaborate? Is it more difficult to hit with a 20, or is there just a perceived superiority of the 20? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Pill Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Yes, it is more difficult to hit with a 20 gauge. Fewer pellets mean fewer hits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TMAC Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 The 20 might require a little more operator skill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackDogs3 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I have used both 12 ga and 20 ga for pheasant. Right now my favorite pheasant gun is a 20 ga Super Sport. The 20 ga is much easier to carry all day on long hunts in North Dakota and Iowa. A twelve gauge is a bit of overkill for pheasant and definite overkill for quail. I use a 28 ga for quail or grouse. Since I switched to 20 ga, I am getting almost no "blown-to-hamburger" birds and a lot fewer "downed birds with legs" (i.e. birds you knock down but outrun the dogs once they hit the ground). My assumption is that the 20 ga is more of a kill or miss gun. I think that the increased number of pellets in a 12 ga gives more wounded birds on the outsides of the pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Pill Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 The size of the pattern is not what really changes between 20 and 12 gauge. Rather it is the density of the pattern. More pellets = a denser pattern. Take a look at this video. http://americangundog.com/movies/AGD4-E4_SS_20-ga.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splashtx556ftw Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 i wonder if the 16ga will ever make a return?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackDogs3 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 (edited) I agree the patterns are pretty much the same size between a 12 and a 20 ga. That's why I said that I think that the increased number of pellets at the edges of the pattern leads to more wounded birds with legs using a 12 ga. My current assumption is that the bird flies through the holes at the edge of a 20 ga pattern pretty easily so that you don't knock as many birds with an off center shot using a 20 ga. This season the boys only lost 2 birds that I knocked down using my 20 ga. When I was shooting 12 ga, I was constantly knocking down birds with legs in Iowa and North Dakota that four very good dogs could not find. This was a real big problem with a 12 ga in Iowa where you can only shoot steel loads in the public areas. I think the 12 ga becomes an asset late in the pheasant season when the birds are flushing wild at distance and 40 yd or longer shots become the norm. I have actually shot a Browning "Sweet 16" hunting pheasants. It kicked my ass. The 16 ga has almost the kick of a 12 ga with the weight of a 20 ga. The browning had a horrible kick with 2 3/4" 16 ga field loads. Edited February 13, 2009 by BlackDogs3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftie Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 CLAYS?do you mean skeet ,trap or sporting , skeet i have seen some shoot a 20 fore sure ,trap i havent seen many shoot a 20 ,and sporting there are a few also that can shoot a 20 , but i think and its my opinion if you are going to shoot a lot of clays you would enjoy the hits from a 12 and you can load it down fore the lighter hunting ,if you are only going fore one gun. enjoy what ever you decide to get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splashtx556ftw Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 i generaly hunt with a 12ga, but i prefer the franchi 20ga for 5 stand. its a little lighter than the CharlesDaly is, and is a little quiker on the draw. i shoot 5 stand as if i were hunting. gun at my side rather than on my shoulder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Mac Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I like to use my 20 gauge for upland game birds (except turkey) simply because it's a lot more sporting and does take a bit more skill over a 12. I also like it at the skeet range. I use my 12 gauge for turkey and waterfowl just for that extra bit of shot in the air. The 12 gauge is also pretty good to have at the trap side of the range. As for reloading, get another press, some wads and empties and you're in buisiness for 20 gauge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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