Do I need a 20g?

[crackerman]

I am a certified shotgun fan, big big time. Currently have a few pumps and one semi all chambered in 12g. Mostly a duck hunter who enjoys dove season with little upland fun thrown in. Also a big fan of trap shooting.

Now I have all those pretty well covered with the 12s but 20g seems interesting. Any reason to not pick up a 20g before my lusted after 12g O/U?

I like to do the occasional charity event or fun shoot and it seems like 20g gets you into the subguages pretty easily, a little lighter to hike with and I don't think dove care about getting hit with 1 oz of shot from 2 3/4" 12 or 3" 20 any differently.

So any reason to not buy a 20g?

[sargenv]

They are nice guns.. the 1 ounce 20 ga load is a bit long in the shot string.. 7/8 is plenty for most things of small feather. I've used mine for early season ducks using either #3 steel or #4 Tungsten-Polymer that I picked up for a good price a few years ago. You could also get tubes for your 12 ga O/U to allow you to shoot the same gun with different gauges.

[BigDogatPlay]

If you have to drag around a gun all day shooting upland birds, a 20 is an outstanding choice and gives up nothing to the 12.

[Turo]

If you already have a few 12 gauge shotguns, and the recoil isn't a complaint of yours, I don't see any reason that you would need a 20ga, unless you just want one (in which case, I want one too )

In all seriousness, 12ga is superior in every way and the only advantages of 20ga I can think of is it recoils a little bit less, makes it more of a challenge to hit birds, and lots of them are made with shorter stocks to accommodate shorter-statured shooters. I dont' see the weight argument unless you're directly comparing pump to pump, semi to semi, or O/U to O/U. I've handled a few 12ga semi auto shotguns that weighed less than my 20ga pump, and recoiled less to boot because of the gas system. If you're comparing the same model and make with one in 12 and one in 20, then yes the 12ga might be a smidge heavier, but that was never enough to keep me from shooting 12ga almost exclusively.

[resident-shooter]

try shooting 7/8 or 3/4 loads in a semi auto 20ga. Feather light recoil. Also light gun.

[Newshooter]

I absolutely LOVE my 20 gauge O/U. I have a Beretta 686 in 20 ga and that is all I use for upland birds. It has 26" barrels, is light to carry, and just a pleasure to shoot. I can't tell you the last time I hunted upland with a 12 ga.

One nice thing about 20 ga is it doesn't turn your birds into sausage when they are a little closer than you think.