12 Gauge vs 20 Gauge
02-01-2012, 09:02 AM
#4
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Warsaw, Indiana
Posts: 112
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.
02-01-2012, 09:13 AM
#5
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Kansas
Posts: 339
I have a friend thats a nurse that kills birds regularly with a super Black eagle 20g
02-01-2012, 09:29 AM
#6
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 7,437
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
02-01-2012, 10:15 AM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: West Central Illinois
Posts: 1,099
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.
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.
02-01-2012, 12:53 PM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Southern TN
Posts: 1,018
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
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
02-01-2012, 01:53 PM
#9
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Warsaw, Indiana
Posts: 112
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.