best use for 20 ga-
 

From what I understand, the 20 ga shotgun round is a bit overkill for small game like squirrels and rabbits, but most fowl hunters prefer the full punch of the 12 ga. So where does the 20 ga fit in all of this?

IMO, it's great for rabbit and squirrel along with dove, quial, chuckar,etc.

i agree with howler, the 20 is my go-to small game gun for when im in the thick stuff or anything fairly fast moving. Last year I took a few squirrels out of the top of some tall poplars that were pretty leafy...im not sure I could have gotten then with anything smaller

The 20 ga. is my go to gun for upland birds, mostly pheasant and sharptail grouse. I suppose its not for everyone, but it is a great performer on these birds when hunting behind a good dog.:)

great for deer as a slug gun...

don't have the dog, but my father gave me a decent browning 20 ga when i was younger. took my first deer w/ it, actually. thanks for the advice- do you guys use a "light" load for squirrels and rabbits, just a standard bird shot? (i'm not real keen on shotgun shells, as u can see)

Buy the promotional loads available at places like Dick's, Wallyworld, Gander Mt. etc..

Some of them are even labeled " Squirrel & Rabbit " loads...

Low brass, 7/8 oz. #6 shot... They kill rabbits and squirrels just fine and are about the cheapest shotshells you can buy...

awesome, thanx for the tip- :0)

20 makes a great duck and goose gun also.

It's a great small game gun actually. Get some cheap #6 shot and and go kill some stuff!
-Jake

Works great pheasant hunting especially if you get to some birds that haven't been shot at a bunch. I have matching Benelli shotguns in 12 and 20. I will take the 20 everytime until I start having birds flush out farther than it will reach.

I use mine for Dove and Quail and the occasional rabbit if I see one.

I use mine for small game and small birds particularly, in tight cover - after all, that's what a sub gauge is for !

"tight cover"- you mean like if you're in a ground blind, or you can't move much?

Thick brush/woods.

Quick shots from a gun that's lighter, shorter and swings easy.



Here is what I use;

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/prod...ducts_id=84622

My shotgun is a 20 ga, and I use it pretty effectively for small game. For small game shotshells walmart is my go to store. they usually have a 100 round sporting clay value pack for around $22. perfect for dove. for squrrel and rabbit I use 6 shot

beagle- i think that's what i bought a few years back. they were federal, i believe. thanks to all u guys who gave advice, i'll try the 6 shot on the tree rats and bugs bunnies.

For the last 20 years I've used a 20ga for all of my upland bird hunting. I'll only take out the 12ga for Ducks and Turkey. The 20 is plenty for all types of upland birds. In fact the last two years I've taken nothing but a .410 bird hunting and have not skipped a beat putting birds down.

good for anything the 12 can do with less recoil

Actually I used a 12 ga for almost all my hunting of small game, upland birds, waterfowl, and turkey. However now that I've gotten a bit older and wiser I went out and purchased a 20 ga youth model 870 for my grandson. I liked it so much that I got another one for myself. It is small, light and easy to carry. Over the past 3 years I've used it successfully for upland birds (grouse and pheasants) and turkey. Believe me when I tell you that a big old eastern gobbler does not like being thumped with a load of 3" 4 shot from my little 20 from 25yds. Now my big old 12 is used only for waterfowl and coyotes.

i see a lot of people recommending using 6 shot for squirrel, which i used to do, but i read somewhere last season of using express 4's for squirrel and i liked that a lot better. By using the 4's they seem to reach out a little farther, and they also go thru squirrels a little better (less chance of biting down on a shot when youre eating them). I aim a little off the front of the squirrel so it doesnt get a full blast of shot, give it a try

I love the 20ga for all types of hunting from deer, squirrel, doves, and waterfowl. I take my Browning O/U and Remington 11-87 to Wisc. to hunt geese with Hevi-shot and slay them!!!!!!!! If I were to go back to using a shotgun for deer hunting I would use the 20 again w/o question. I used one for several years and then went to an in-line. I am going to have my wife using a 20ga for turkey hunting this spring.

I think a young hunter is better off shooting a 20ga than anything smaller myself.One has to be a pretty good marksman to be able to hit game with .28ga and 64ga's. The smaller size shells mean less powder, fewer pellets mean more likely to miss or wound at any range, cause the hitting power won't be there, and fewer pellets
will be reaching the target carpared to a 20ga.I think the 20 ga combined with interchangable choke tubes is perfect for both upland and alot, not all, but alot of fowl hunting especially over decoys.
But yeah nothing wrong with the 20ga.

question- how do chokes work? my dad always took care of them, and i never learned how they work. do you just use a shot shell choke for "bird" shot, and a slug choke for a slug?

I think you'll find this helpful;

http://www.trulockchokes.com/cgi-bin/eShop/index.cgi


Call George Trulock..................

I'd recommend to always buy extended chokes - no wench/tools needed to change chokes

sheridan-

hey thanks alot- that's a great link you gave me. much appreciated :0)