after years of shooting 12's...

S

Slugo

Moderator
I'm now shooting 20's 75% of the time. Sporting Clays and Skeet with a 20, and 12 gauge for trap. I like carrying a gun that weighs at least 1 pound less, but still is as deadly as any 8 pound 12 gauge. Browning target grade Citoris are my cup of tea... :)
 
IIRC, I made AAA with the 20-ga before I did with the 12-ga, but I still use the 12-ga in all-gauge and doubles events. I confess, one NSSA season I finished with a higher 20-ga average than I did with my 12-ga. I shoot P-guns with Briley tubes.
 
I agree with the above, which is why I think the NSCA should accept a 3" target 20ga load whose maximum loading is no more than that of the 1300fps 1 1/8oz 12ga load. The only reason for the switch is the slimming down and better patterns with the same load of shot. Kinda like the 3" european trap shells which the 391s carrier was designed for.
 
except that 3" 20 gauge loads tend to pattern lousy compared to their 2.75" cousins

Bunker uses 24 gram loads and FITASC uses 28 gram loads - and those targets are harder and faster than the typical American sporting variety. And when they switched, their scores went UP.

Shoot a 7/8 oz 20 at 1200-1250 for sporting and, properly chokes for the target, you are not handicapped
 
I devoloped a condition where I couldn't shoot a 12 without devoloping clots in my shoulder. Thought I was done shooting clays at all until I found a .410 1100. I could shoot it, but I wasn't hitting much with it. The 20 with light loads didn't seem to cause any trouble but then I started loading a 3/4oz load in the 12. Very light on the shoulder and although I haven't run 25 yet I run 22-24 pretty regualr and it's kept me in the game for now.
 
I don't like the swing characteristics on a real light gun ....

and I like shooting different guns - week to week / just for the heck of it.

Sporting Clays - primary gun is a 12ga Citori 8.5 lbs ( XS skeet model )O/U with 30" barrels. I like shooting a 1 oz load of 8's at 1225 fps .... My backup gun - will continue to be a Benelli Super Sport 12ga with 30" barrel as well - for a light ( 7.2 lb gun ) and for rainy days.

Skeet - I will stay with Citori XS Skeet models 8.5 lbs & 30" barrels - and I do shoot a lot of 20ga, some 28ga and some .410 ...each with stand alone guns ( built on the XS Skeet 20ga receiver ) ...

Trap - I just like a heavier and longer gun. So I go to a Citori XT with 32" barrels and around 10 lbs with a gra-coil etc....

Field shooting ....whatever gague I want ( but the 20ga and 28ga get the call a lot / although I haven't hunted in awhile ) - but I'd be hard pressed to give up the 20ga or the 28ga. I'd like to be able to say I shoot the .410 with confidence / but I don't. I may hunt with it for part of a day ---but I will always have a 20ga or 28ga with me as a crutch.

But I just can't bring myself to just shoot one shotgun ....or one handgun / I went to my indoor handgun range on Sunday with 3 revolvers in .357 mag and a 1911 in 9mm ...and went back yesterday with 2 different revolvers in .44 mag and a different 1911..in .45 acp ....( maybe I'm ADD ...):D....but it was all fun :D.
 
variety is the spice of life...

I rotate three target grade Brownings and an SKB. Two 12's and two 20's... :)
 
Okie - when I was experimenting with 3/4oz loads, I found them to work great when I tightened my choke another constriction - for skeet, I went from SK/SK to IC/IC; for sporting, I went from IC/IC to LM/LM or even M/M.

I had to be on my game a little better - no room for sloppy chips, but the recoil reduction is amazing, especially if you keep the speed at 1200 or less
 
too much is made of "what's the right ammo"...

I read all these posts about loads and patterning and "felt recoil", etc. Maybe I'm just a simpleton (you don't have to agree!!) but, I just buy whatever factory target loads are on sale, and go shoot. I have NEVER even patterned a gun, ever. I have fun rotating guns and enjoying the shooting sports. If I have to convert it to a science, I'll just stay home with a jug of hooch...
 
I'm shooting more 20 gauge these days. My Beretta 391 in 20 gauge is a more nimble and better balanced gun than the same model in 12 gauge.

But if you like the 20 gauge you will LOVE the 28. ;)
 
Come on Slugo .....patterning those guns ...is just like taking the stock off an O/U a couple times a year....its soothing to the soul...../ and makes you appreciate them more !!! :D ....and check all the springs, firing pins, etc -- lube em up a little ...and put them back together and shoot them some more....

Never ---- ever patterning a gun ??? ...that's just not right ...( are you drinking cheap hooch too ) ...my word man ...get a grip ! ....:D

I mean its bad enough you don't reload ...( don't make me start talking about different wads, and primers, and shot hardness ...and powder options...) ...you're not living a full life ....you have some big parts left out ...:D
 
As a wise sage of a friend once told me - "take the gun out and shoot it - if you are centering the targets, then there is no need to pattern or change a thing"

If it works, don't screw your mind up with chokes, patterning, trying 1000 loads, etc. - just shoot it.......:cool:
 
Well I have no choice in my chokes, it's full/notquiteasfull unless I want to shoot skeet with the 870. At this stage I wish I could just buy whatever is on sale, last time I figured it out I think I'm running about $3.15 a box on my loads. But I'm flirting with trouble now as it is, I figure I may have another year before that .410 becomes the only alternative.
 
sure you do - you can have someone open them up for under 100 and still be fixed - something around .010 and .018 should do nicely
 
I'm shooting more 20 gauge these days. My Beretta 391 in 20 gauge is a more nimble and better balanced gun than the same model in 12 gauge.

But if you like the 20 gauge you will LOVE the 28.
Click to expand...
I'm killing more birds on the first shot with my 20 than I ever did with my 12.
I agree, much nicer to carry, too.
 
You know, the 311 I'm using right now was bought because it has a bit more meat to the barrels and I was planning on having tubes put in, but other things keep getting in the way. Now that I've stopped buying every Contender I find getting tubes in this one is on the top of the list.
 
There's two 20s here, an SKB and an 870 Express. Since I shoot 7/8 oz reloads in my 12s, there's not much difference between them.

The SKB has redefined the term, "Dove Gun".

That little 870 would be a fine Quail gun, but wild quail here are history.

Outside of waterfowl, there's not much I couldn't do with them.
 
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