You know I have never hunted with 20g until last year, for years I have hoofed around my Browning BPS 12g, last year got jr a Remington Wingmaster 20g, when he is not using it I find myself sneaking out with it. I like it.
For those of you that use a 20, what are your thoughts?
Thinking of switching to a 20g?
I use both, but prefer a 12 gauge. I find that I really need to be “on” to consistently down birds. However, I really find a 20 gauge more rewarding because I know my shooting is on if I harvest a bird with it. Less bb’s and knock down power + good shot = Bird on ground. Less bb’s and knock down power + “OK” shot = bird still flying. 
I hunt with a buddy that is a great shot and that is all he uses is a 20 g. 
I guess what I’m saying is a 20g is more challenging.
other than waterfowl hunting i prefer a 20g. i have 3 of them and i really like for pheasant and deer hunting, smaller, liter. i am not ashamed.
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I use both, but prefer a 12 gauge. I find that I really need to be “on” to consistently down birds. However, I really find a 20 gauge more rewarding because I know my shooting is on if I harvest a bird with it. Less bb’s and knock down power + good shot = Bird on ground. Less bb’s and knock down power + bad shot = bird still flying.
I hunt with a buddy that is a great shot and that is all he uses is a 20 g.
I guess what I’m saying is a 20g is more challenging.
Lip could not have said it better.
I have used both, I prefer the 12 Ga, so I wised up and got an O/U in 12 Ga. About a pound lighter than my 12 Ga. pump gun Plus it seems I can’t miss with it 
big G 
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Plus it seems I can’t miss with it
What?? The Barn 
Tell you what Lip….I will give you a 10 second head start….. 
big G 
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Early and mid season a 20 for the close range flushes we tend to get. Come December 1st I switch to my 12. Further flushes plus the feathers on those Dec. Roosters are much thicker than they are in mid-October…RR
I agree. Early season and late season are not really even the same species. I go down to 4 shot late season with a 12 for the knockdown power as well as the extra range I feel it gives me.
love my 12 ga but after 20 shots it bruises the crap outa my shoulder 
Some really great thoughts on this subject.
I know many that shoot a 20 for pheasants and do really well. I for one like a 12 gauge. For me nothing makes me more upset than losing a wounded bird, I think that I owe the bird a clean kill.
I agree with the easy early season birds VS. the wily old veterans.
As for the pounding that your shoulder takes shooting those heavy load, people might need to look into a recoil reducer. The newer gas shotguns are the cats meow, I hardly feel a difference between a 2 3/4 inch 7.5 trap load or my 3 inch 4 shot magnum loads. Plus the more you shoot the more your body gets use to it, I shoot about 40-60 rounds of trap a year.
Not saying that it will make you a better shot though
Ron
Wild birds like in S Dakota for example… You need a fast potent 12 ga load.
Planted or pen raised released birds…a 20 will do them in from a good shooter.
I mostly shoot a couple 16 gauges and they work pretty well. I do tote out my 12 now and then. Haven’t used a 20 in many years, but I think they worked well for birds that are in decent range. Bottom line, it’s hard to beat a 12 guage for wild roosters. The Browning BPS 12 is a pretty heavy gun. If you can find a lighter 12 gauge you’ll be glad you did. That said, I really like those oddball 16 gauges.
I hunt behind my two Brittany’s and next year with my new German Long Haired Pointer pup. We travel to the Dakota’s and Iowa. I only use a 20 ga and find this to be more than adequate. the 20 ga keeps me a very disciplined shooter, which is the key word here. I’ve talked to hunters that do not know the pattern of their guns chokes or their range.
Crippled or lost birds are a result of not knowing the shooter or guns limitations, whether 12 or 20 ga. A good dog with help in finding the cripples buy not know our limitations.
Have a good and save hunting season.
I hunt SD several times a year and I think Im a fairly good shot but even with a 12g and high V. shell you see feathers fly and the rooster still flys away on what you thought was a good shot. I couldnt imagine a 20g unless your on some young birds that have never been hunted. I think you would be injuring many a good roosters.
I second what Ron said. When I flush birds, they usually get away. But when I hit one I want it to be dead. I hunt regularly with 2 guys that shoot 20 ga. and they cripple more than just a few birds a year. One of my friends is actually a very good shot, but countless times I’ve seen a few feathers drop and the bird just keeps on going. As for pen raised birds and training I used to shoot a 28 ga. alot. The gun was very light and worked great for that application.
I had the same problem with hitting birds and not hitting them hard and loosing them. I went to the local outdoors shop and talked to a friend of mine who ran the shop and told him the problem. I told him what was going on and we got out the loaders book and came up with a recepie for an ounce and a half load with a 2 3/4″ casing, dram equivelent of a 3 1/2 nitro mag. I loaded up some and took them hunting. My first bird got up and I pulled the trigger and when the 4 shot hit him I watced the bird go sideways about a foot and a half, needless to say he was dead befor he hit the ground. An ounce and a half of 4 shot with a double A red wad and they bring down pheasants at 50 yrds comfortably out of a full choke, a very good fast load for anytime of the season. One thing good about 4 shot and that speed is I’ve never once picked shot out of my birds, it went right through, even a going away shot. Most were dead befor they hit the ground. For pheasants, especially a going away shot where most birds are lost, I use a 12 gauge full choke. A 20 gauge for early season when they fly sideways is a good choice but for late season birds its a 12 gauge with a good shell.
Missed me G!
Slider Nice Avatar!
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love my 12 ga but after 20 shots it bruises the crap outa my shoulder
If you are shooting 20 shots to get your 2 or 3 bird limit, I’d wager that the guage you are shooting is the least of your issues…… 
Just funning,…..Tim
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love my 12 ga but after 20 shots it bruises the crap outa my shoulder
If you are shooting 20 shots to get your 2 or 3 bird limit, I’d wager that the guage you are shooting is the least of your issues……
Just funning,…..Tim
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love my 12 ga but after 20 shots it bruises the crap outa my shoulder
If you are shooting 20 shots to get your 2 or 3 bird limit, I’d wager that the guage you are shooting is the least of your issues……
Just funning,…..Tim
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love my 12 ga but after 20 shots it bruises the crap outa my shoulder
They may laugh at you, but I forgot where did you say you were hunting that you are able to see 20 birds? It’s not the same 2 birds you are taking 10 shots at is it?
16 gauge for me I just think it is the pefect gun for the job!
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