i switched to a 20 in 2007. use the 12ga for sky busting snows... also started using a 28ga i have found if you sneak in on a feed the 28 is way less likly to spook the birds
Alot of people have commented saying they love a 28ga. I can see where that would be fun. May end of picking one up and give it a go. Thanks for commenting
I bought a Winchester SX4 20ga just to duck hunt with this year! I’m shooting a 3” 1 1/8oz Boss bismuth load out of the 20 and I shoot a 2 3/4” 1 1/4oz boss load out of my 12 ga for years, they’re deadly! And have shot 1 1/8oz out of the 12… giving up nothing as long as you pattern the 20 and get the choke right it’s just as deadly.
Got a 28” SX4 20 Gauge in March of this year. Looking forward to not lugging that 3.5” SX3 12 Bore in the AR flooded timber this year. Like the slower shot out of what measures our to be improved modified Carlson’s choke. Using 3” #3 and #2 Apex S3 Steel Shot at 1250 fps. I am good to 40 yards with that set up.
I might add it is important to know the measurement of your choke. A lot of these aftermarket, extended chokes called “full” are actually modified or improved modified to compensate for the use of steel shot. My longest shot is 25 to 30 yards. I pattern to 40 just in case. Steel shot is just fine out to 25 or 30 yards. Beyond that, in my experience, the slower steel shot does better as it slows down later. Fast steel shot tends to slow down quicker and distort at distance for me. I want the heaviest charge of steel shot possible in the slowest speed. The old Winchester DryLok 1-3/8” oz. DryLok #2’s traveling at 1300 fps was deadly for us in the green timber in the 1990’s. They are making that again FWIW and Mack’s has it.
A #4 pellet going 1350fps hits with the same energy fired out of a 20ga as a 12! The 12ga only got real popular for waterfowl hunting when the lead ban came into existence and steel shot loads sucked. With modern steel loads being pretty good, and all the other non-toxic loads like bismuth having much closer to or even better than lead performance the 20ga and other sub gauges are back to being popular and frankly more ethical guns to use for waterfowl.
I understand, trust me. I have enjoyed the hell out of mine since purchasing it. Bought a new 12 last year after handing my Franchi over to my oldest son, but sometimes ask myself why, when I have been so happy with my 20
Hunted with a browning 20ga 3inch magnums for years, gun my dad gave me when I was 12. Gave it to my son. It worked fine with any duck!!
Less weight. Less recoil. Effective in home defense using #4 birdshot with the least overpenetration risk when you miss your target.
Well said....we agree!
i switched to a 20 in 2007. use the 12ga for sky busting snows... also started using a 28ga i have found if you sneak in on a feed the 28 is way less likly to spook the birds
Alot of people have commented saying they love a 28ga. I can see where that would be fun. May end of picking one up and give it a go. Thanks for commenting
I bought a Winchester SX4 20ga just to duck hunt with this year! I’m shooting a 3” 1 1/8oz Boss bismuth load out of the 20 and I shoot a 2 3/4” 1 1/4oz boss load out of my 12 ga for years, they’re deadly! And have shot 1 1/8oz out of the 12… giving up nothing as long as you pattern the 20 and get the choke right it’s just as deadly.
Excellent! I would agree.
Got a 28” SX4 20 Gauge in March of this year. Looking forward to not lugging that 3.5” SX3 12 Bore in the AR flooded timber this year. Like the slower shot out of what measures our to be improved modified Carlson’s choke. Using 3” #3 and #2 Apex S3 Steel Shot at 1250 fps. I am good to 40 yards with that set up.
I might add it is important to know the measurement of your choke. A lot of these aftermarket, extended chokes called “full” are actually modified or improved modified to compensate for the use of steel shot. My longest shot is 25 to 30 yards. I pattern to 40 just in case. Steel shot is just fine out to 25 or 30 yards. Beyond that, in my experience, the slower steel shot does better as it slows down later. Fast steel shot tends to slow down quicker and distort at distance for me. I want the heaviest charge of steel shot possible in the slowest speed. The old Winchester DryLok 1-3/8” oz. DryLok #2’s traveling at 1300 fps was deadly for us in the green timber in the 1990’s. They are making that again FWIW and Mack’s has it.
A #4 pellet going 1350fps hits with the same energy fired out of a 20ga as a 12!
The 12ga only got real popular for waterfowl hunting when the lead ban came into existence and steel shot loads sucked. With modern steel loads being pretty good, and all the other non-toxic loads like bismuth having much closer to or even better than lead performance the 20ga and other sub gauges are back to being popular and frankly more ethical guns to use for waterfowl.
Great points! I love mine and have not seen a fall off.
I switched two years ago to 20 ga…..shooting steel and bismuth…..never going back to 12 ga again.
I understand, trust me. I have enjoyed the hell out of mine since purchasing it. Bought a new 12 last year after handing my Franchi over to my oldest son, but sometimes ask myself why, when I have been so happy with my 20
Switched to a 20ga for my water-fowling three years ago…lighter, swings quicker…
Yes! Everything that you just said is exactly what we have witnessed. Glad you liked it