12 v 20

A

ammo.crafter

New member
Other than the weight and size of the receiver, what is the advantage of one over the other?

After all, a 1oz load from a 12ga and a 1oz load from a 20 both send out a 1oz load of shot. Why lug around all the extra weight of ta12ga?
:confused:
 
My 12's and 20's, three pumps, one S/A, all weight within a lb of each other. I do know this; 1oz shot out of my 12ga, pump or S/A, recoil/kick way less than 1oz shot out of my 20ga guns. BTW, these are all field guns.
 
A couple of thoughts here: you're assuming everyone is only going to shoot 1 oz. loads? The 12 can be loaded down to 7/8th shot, no problem. The 20 can be loaded up to 1 1/4 shot, no problem. However, the 20 can't be loaded up to 2 oz hunting loads and the 12 can. Also, the weight of the gun absorbs much of the recoil. Many shooters like the extra weight when shooting clay target sports and some recoil sensitive people like the extra weight also. "all the extra weight of a 12 ga is kind of meaningless when a 12 can actually weigh less than some 20ga guns, and some 20ga guns can weight more than some 12 ga guns. You really need to learn more about shotguns, shot charges, and the differences in what they are used for. FWIW, simply getting a lighter pair of boots can save the difference in weight of the shotguns. The gun isn't the only thing you're toting around all day. At the end of the day, no one says you can't choose either based on your knowledge and applications.
 
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The extra weight soaks up more recoil. The pattern from two loads of equal weight but different bore sizes tends to be better from the larger bore. (410 patterns tend to really suck).
The nominal payloads for each bore size are:
12 - 1-1/8
16 - 1
20 - 7/8
28 - 3/4
410 - 1/2

Going to larger payloads than nominal, while certainly doable, doesn't always yield as satisfactorily results. If you like 1 oz loads, you can always look at a 16 gauge built on a 20 gauge receiver.
 
less pellets contact the bore in a 12ga bbl from 1oz of lead, than a 20ga. the longer length in the 20ga load causes more deformed pellets. and dont you guys tell me the wad protects them. not all pellets sit inside the wad and regardless, when it all hits the choke, deformity happens.
so....a 12ga shooting a 1oz load trumps the 20ga 1oz load.
 
*One ounce of shot through a 12 ga. barrel will have a shorter shot column with fewer pellets deformed by contact with the barrel and give better patterns and more hits than 1 oz of shot through a 20 ga. barrel.

*One ounce of shot through a 7 lb. 12 ga. will recoil far less than 1 oz of shot through a 6 lb. 20 ga.

* They make plenty of 7-7.5 lb 12 ga. shotguns, some in the 6.5 lb range. That is plenty light, and much lighter becomes harder to swing and hit with.

*12 ga shells are easier to find, cheaper, and with far more options than 20 ga.

* If you need more than 1 oz of shot for larger game animals it is a lot easier to make it work with 12 ga. This is especially true with steel shot where you need to go up about 2 shot sizes to be effective. Once you start shooting #2 shot or larger 20 ga doesn't put many pellets in the air.

* On the other hand I find a 6 lb., short barreled 20 ga to be a pretty decent turkey gun. With 3 " shells I can still put a decent number of #6 pellets into a tight pattern. Since I'm aiming it like a rifle instead of pointing like a shotgun the balance isn't as critical. This is where the lighter weight and short barrel are an asset. Plus recoil is a lot less than heavy 3" 12 ga turkey loads.

But for all around use, especially clays or hitting moving game I'll take a 12 every time.
 
You are overlooking the fact...that some of us ..
a. just want some 12ga's
b. and some 20 ga's
c. ..and some 28 ga's
d. ..and some 16ga's
e. ...and some .410's.... ( well ok, I don't need more than one .410 ) ;)

It isn't always about analyzing the amount of shot in a shell that matters...:cool:
 
For dove the 20 has the advantage of usually being a lighter gun. By EOD, this noticeable. I shoot 1 oz in 20 and 1 1/8 in 12. The dove don't seem to be able to tell the difference. But for the one gun shooter you need a 12 3" gun. Ducks do notice lighter loads :)
 
With the exception of an 8 gauge muzzle loader, I own 12 gauge shotguns exclusively. It simplifies life, needing only one reloading press etc.
You can load it down to 3/4 ounce for a gun that actually kicks less than a lightweight .410 or you can throw in the heaviest 3" magnum your shoulder can stand and anything in between. You can even buy Aguila mini shells that literally make it equal to a 3 inch .410.
 
12 ga. for more variety of ammunition and lower ammo prices. Also, depending on the firearm, more easy to find accessories such as alternate barrels.

20 ga. for possibly slightly lower recoil.
 
Shot column length and pattern density: The 12 has a shorter shot column and patterns better with 1 ounce than the 20. That can make a difference (dead bird vs. wounded bird) in some cases.

I shot 12g from a teenager until just a few years ago. I picked up a 20g barrel for my TC Encore for my boys. Single shot, lighter, easier to carry as they grew up. Sold that barrel last year as they moved up to 12. Then I picked up a Mossberg 20g pump to shoot up the free 20g ammo I had and an Ithaca 37 in 16g because I wanted one, nothing more. I hunt with all three, but mostly the 12g shotguns get the nod, especially if I go with my boys so we all have the same shells.
 
Try a 3" in my Stevens SXS

That will change your mind about 20 ga. recoil. It will get your attention.
It's pretty light weight.

As MarkCo above stated the 12 will have a superior pattern, shorter shot string with the 12 gauge. That's one ounce vs. one ounce.

We often forget that the pattern is a 3 dimensional event. Not all those little pellets get there at the same time. The longer shot string of the 20 does us no favors.

We agonize over patterns on the pattern board, thus my little old brain tends to think of the pattern like that piece of paper with all those little holes. Those little holes did not all happen at the same time. There are videos out there of what a shot string actually is thanks to high speed photos. Those photos and videos finally got my head wrapped around what a pattern really is and what it looks like.
 
You can walk into virtually any gunstore/outdoor shop in the world and ask for a box of shot shells and will almost always find 12ga.

12 Gauge is probably the most common chambering for a shotgun in the entire world, certainly here in the US.
 
And 20 isn't far behind. Now for targets and more stationary shooting like driven birds, a 12 is nice. But if I am schlepping uphill all day, I'll take a light 20, or even better, a lighter 28 gauge.

And this one is real nice:
Perazzi-MX-28-SCO-28-gauge_100337845_2240_4613B97FA18CD39D.jpg

at 6#, 2oz with 29.5" barrels it is nice for all day carrying.........
 
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CreekHenry is right and like mentioned before a lot of people prefer the 12 just because of the absorption of the kick compared to the 20
 
A guy once proved scientifically that the twenty patterned far better than the twelve and a longer shot string made hits far more reliable. He predicted that the twelve would be dead, relegated to nothing but pass shooting at waterfowl.

It was written in a gun digest back in the sixties, I believe.
 
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