12 gauge vs. 20 gauge

[jen_in_southtexas]

???okay you gun experts...I dont know very much about guns but there is obviously an explanation to why a 12 gauge seems better than a 20 gauge. Can somebody please explain the differences in the two?
Ive been using my 20gauge because it was a gift but i am feeling that im not getting enough distance with it. Is distance one of the differences in the two? Thanks in advance.


-j

[kawalekm]

Hello Jen
The gauge is a relative measure of the size of the bore. Twenty gauge means that the diameter of the bore is equivelent to the diameter of a lead sphere that weighs 1/20 of a pound. Twelve means the diameter of the bore is equivelent to the diameter of a lead sphere that weighs 1/12 of a pound(larger). With a larger bore you have more space to throw out more shotgun pellets, typically 1 1/4 oz for 12 and 7/8 oz for twenty. The size of the pellets can be the same, and they are launched at more or less the same velocity, however, since there are more pellets/shot with the 12 gauge, you get a denser cloud of shot traveling to hit your target. That is how you get the sense that the 12 is harder hitting, or can "reach further". There is however a lot of overlap between the two gauges. The heaviest loaded 20 gauges have more shot than the lightest loaded 12 gauges. That information is printed right on the box. Look at the side of the box for "oz of shot", and "dram equivelent". The oz of shot refers to the total weight of the shot payload, while the dram equivelent refers to how much gunpowder is being used to push that shot. To get a stronger load for your 20 select a load that has more shot and a higher DE that what you've been shooting. That should improve things for you. Of course the trade-off is more noise and recoil, and the recoil with magnum 12 gauge loads can be wicked. The primary reason the 20 gauge exists is so you can have a lighter gun with less recoil when you don't need the power of a 12 gauge.
Michael

[DM]

ALSO,

Even though you can get loads for a 20ga. that have the same amount of shot as a 12ga., most times the 12ga. will pattern better because the 12 bore is bigger. That bigger bore means you aren't trying to push as large amount of shot through a smaller bore..

It also means the 12ga. "shot string" is shorter too... The "shot string" is the length of all the shot as it's strung out flying through the air to the target.

Think of it this way.... If the 1-1/4 ounce shot string from a 12ga. is shorter that the same amount of shot from a 20ga. it's "denser". So, if a bird flies through "that" string, more shot hits the bird makeing cleaner kills.

DM

[jjspirko]

Pete Capstick a writer who wrote many books on Africa and was also a featured writer for Guns and Ammo for a number of years wrote an article called "Anything the 20 Gauge can do the 12 can do Better".

On one level I agree and on others I disagree. First Capstick was correct for range, killing power and versatility the 12 really can't be beat if your judging pure ability to break clays or make game dead.

However, to me the 20 has a lot going for it too.

1. It kicks less and if you are shooting a lot (doves, quail, clays, etc.) it matters over a day of shooting even if you shoot a 12 well. I have no recoil issues on a 12 but a week of dove hunting puts a beating on you.

2. The 20 is usually built on a smaller and lighter frame be it in auto, pump or break action. If you hunt long distance then this means a lot. If I am putting on 10 miles a day or more I take the lighter gun, if that means a shot or two is past range so be it. ;)

3. In many situations a 12 is just over kill. If you are say hunting quail with good pointing dogs how far do you really need to shoot and how much power do you really need? Also say you are shooting squirrels with treeing dogs, do you really need a 12 gauge for that, do you really want that much shot in your tree rats?

4. To me the 20 and even the 28 and 410s (used in their limits) just have "class". Sure the 12 kills more and shoots farther but are you "killing" or "hunting".

Now if I am shooting in a competition or something I will use the 12 but I would also say I am a better shot because I shoot my 20 more then my 12. When I shoot clays or skeet with my 870 12 gauge the targets are pure dust! :) I remember one time I challenged my uncle to shoot 25 skeet, (he was a crack shot) when I was a kid. I practiced for three weeks with a 410, shot with the 12 against him and took the "match" 24 to 23 ;D I was really proud of that.

To me it is about what you are doing with the gun and what is most important to you. Like when I hunt geese, turkey and ducks I always go with my 12. Bigger birds and the waterfowl require me to use steel shot.

For most everything else I tend to take my 20.

[ChoochCharlie]

Thanks guys. I agree and even learned something.

[macgeoghagen]

Due to the nature of the animals that rattle my doorknob late at night, i keep a 12 guage. Im sure i could hold my own in a fistfight with one burglar, but one night there may be two, and they may be armed. its easier to blow one in half with a 12 guage slug than a 20.

[RangerRick]

I bought Sweetie a nice little double in #20 gage chambered in 3" with a modified and improved choke back in 1975 for bunnies in New England. It is light weight, points well and minimal recoil. I fell in love with it and have used it for ducks and deer and doves over the years and have probably put 700 rounds through each tube. It is high on options in that you can load a #4/6 in one tube and #00 buck in the other giving you the ability to shoot any small game or as luck may have it take a nice fat deer at the same time. Options will double your production in the meat department.

It is an ideal weapon for a woman or teen and it ""IS"" the house gun that we keep at bedside with two loads of 3" #00 buck.

I'm reminded of a late night a few years ago that a bob cat got in the fenced yard and pass the dogs to attack one of my geese. That little 20 gauge with 2 #00 bucks didn't leave much for the buzzards to clean up.

I've also got an 1100 and 870 Remmington which are excellent weapons but I've fired the 20 gauge much much more as it cannot be beat as a double duty weapon and if I only had one the choice would be simple.

;D

Rick

[Pitdog]

For most practical purposes, a .20 is just fine. Unless you are long range turkey hunting, or duck hunting, then you are not undergunned with a .20.

[jim]

The biggest single limiting factor is the ability of the shooter. I have both, and wouldn't hesitate to use the 20 on anything around here.
jim

[rAcErRicK]

Like most have said, it depends on what you intend to do with it. I had a Rem. 1100, souped up for competition, because the world champion at that time used the same gun. Had an 11 shot tube extension and it was awesome. I dare say as fast as a mini 14. Nicest thing for me was that you can empty the mag. (mine was also ported) on a target and it would never move off target. Which is a large part of why the world champ chose it. Not too many can hold a 12 on target and empty it, I sure couldn't. For self defense, bring it on ! A 3" chamber also tends to equal things up a little more too. I could shoot mine all day long with no recoil pad, and no blue shoulder. I think if I had to make a choice between the two, I'd take the 20. 12's are nice, but they can beat up a small guy pretty good if you shoot a lot. If you reload, you can brew up a multitude of loads for just about any situation. I never saw a 00 buck that really had 00 buck in them though. The boxes say 00 buck, but they really have #4 shot, which isn't all that bad really. I found a reload for 20, #4 buck that was deadly at 75 yds with full choke, for deer hunting, along with the sabot slugs, which are pretty fast. Load them in the tube one buck, one slug, one buck. Don't wanna get found in the woods with that 11 shot tube though. Oh yeah, don't look in catalog for a 20 ga 11 shot, it isn't there, you have to get a 12 ga tube, it worked fine.

[Florida_boy]

Most police tactical load now are REDUCED 12 ga loads so a 20 ga. defense load should be just fine.