12 Gauge vs 20 Gauge

[bnzartman]

Is there a big disadvantage with the 20 gauge as far as grouping and distance compared to the 12 gauge?

[Wingbone]

Yes, but due to improvement in turkey loads and chokes, it's not very much. With a hevi-shot load and a good choke tube, you should be able to take a bird at 40 yd. with a 3" 20 ga.

[Mr. Longbeard]

Im sure you can get a 20ga to kill out to 40 yards... But Im sure what ever you can do with a 20ga a 12 ga will do better...

If you can handle the 12... I'd get the 12ga

[bnzartman]

Originally Posted by Mr. Longbeard

Im sure you can get a 20ga to kill out to 40 yards... But Im sure what ever you can do with a 20ga a 12 ga will do better...

If you can handle the 12... I'd get the 12ga

The only reason I'm even considering the 20 gauge is because I have some young daughters that are interested in turkey hunting, which I am thrilled about. So I'm sure the recoil is not near as bad with the 20 gauge.

[gun870guy]

Originally Posted by bnzartman

The only reason I'm even considering the 20 gauge is because I have some young daughters that are interested in turkey hunting, which I am thrilled about. So I'm sure the recoil is not near as bad with the 20 gauge.

I have a friend thats a nurse that kills birds regularly with a super Black eagle 20g

[JW]

Originally Posted by bnzartman

The only reason I'm even considering the 20 gauge is because I have some young daughters that are interested in turkey hunting, which I am thrilled about. So I'm sure the recoil is not near as bad with the 20 gauge.

A few things to consider - a semi-auto shotgun recoil is far less than a pump which is less than a single shot - so keep that in mind.

A 20 ga will do just fine at 40 if you pattern. My daughters used a Remington 1100 with 3" #4 copper shot with no problem at all. I even added a Tru-Glo sight to help them concentrate on the hit zone.
And we always tried to get the bird in at 20 yards or so as that is how I hunt.........

What a 12 does bring is more payload as far as number of shot per shell fired

........but a 20 will kill just as dead......

JW

[rogerstv]

I agree with the others. There is no need to beat her up with a 12. Just call them in range. It's waaay more fun to have them in your lap.

A Rem 11-87 20ga is what my daughter uses. My gun dealer advised me to buy a regularly sized gun and purchase a youth stock on Ebay, separately. It is less expensive than buying the youth model. Plus, we have a full sized gun later on. But, if I were doing it all over again, I would look into something with a thumb hole stock. Wow, they tuck right in there. My daughter picked one up the other day and loved it.

[Bible_Man]

Originally Posted by JW

A few things to consider - a semi-auto shotgun recoil is far less than a pump which is less than a single shot - so keep that in mind.

A 20 ga will do just fine at 40 if you pattern. My daughters used a Remington 1100 with 3" #4 copper shot with no problem at all. I even added a Tru-Glo sight to help them concentrate on the hit zone.
And we always tried to get the bird in at 20 yards or so as that is how I hunt.........

What a 12 does bring is more payload as far as number of shot per shell fired

........but a 20 will kill just as dead......

JW

Well said. I have shot some 20 guage pumps that kicked more than some 12's I have shot. With a decent semi-auto, they have very, very low recoil. That's what I'd recommend. Even a semi-auto 12 over a pump 20. If you went with a semi-auto 12, you could have your daughters shoot lighter loads and have less recoil than a 20 ga pump with more pellets sent down range. Just an idea.

[bnzartman]

Originally Posted by Bible_Man

Well said. I have shot some 20 guage pumps that kicked more than some 12's I have shot. With a decent semi-auto, they have very, very low recoil. That's what I'd recommend. Even a semi-auto 12 over a pump 20. If you went with a semi-auto 12, you could have your daughters shoot lighter loads and have less recoil than a 20 ga pump with more pellets sent down range. Just an idea.

I understand what you guys are saying about the semi-auto, but I don't have the funds to get one. Been looking at the H&R and Mossberg Maverick.

[Adrian J Hare]

You 12 gauge chest pounders make me laugh...