I bought a 20 Ga Stoger Uplander to use as a HD/ Field Gun. Origonal idea was to chop the barrels etc to mod it but it was such a pretty, well balanced and fitted gun that I couldn't do it. Glad I didn't!
Having bought it from a Pawn shop, unfortunatelly it did not come with the 12 or 28 Ga extra set of barrels , only the 20 which proved to be a great shooting set! Screw-in chokes added versitility but I am still learning the origonal ser. I think they are Mod/ IC ( not sure what the stamped dots mean?),
With my new intrest in Doubles I have noted a definate movement toward the smaller gauges of 20, 28 and 410 these days Especally the 20/28 combos. I don't have any experience with the 28 but have read some pretty glowing reviews of the gauge for all around shooting! It throws only a slightly smaller charge of shot than a 20 and seems to pattern quite well for many uses.
Being a 12 GA advocate forever, the purchase of a 20 Ga was done because of a damaged left sholder and the hope of lessened recoil. Well I sure got that!
Th further describe the little Double, it's an English cut buttstock which fits me like a glove and seems to help my trigger hand move the slight amount needd to fire both triggers very easilly and so nautral feeling! Having owned one Savage 12 GA Double in the pasr, I swore off doubles because I couldn't hit a thing. This Uplander on the otherhand, fits me perfectly and the barrels cross at a pertfrct point for EASY hits! I don't know how to describe the way it's fitted but everything is centered perfectlly for me!
You can immediatelly tell the difference between 12 and 20 ga shot loads but with the sure hit capibility of the little 20, it dosen't matter much. I really appreciate the soft recoil! I am just now trying different loads and find the 20 Ga Phesant load to be a powerfull, long renge choice. The light target loads are a dream and even the smaller 6&7 shot loads carry well.
In my redings, I noticed what seems to be a resurgence of the want of lighter gauge guns over the past couple seasons. I can attribute this to shotshell developement, producing excellent game and target loads for these lighter Gauges. ( I wonder if the same is happening with the 16 GA?).
I would not feel undergunned going after big Phesants with the 20Ga! Wirey Jacks beware also! Smaller Game birds can be easilly handled with light powder and shot loads. Evidentlly the 20 carries and patterns like a 12 with just a lesser shot load. The bulk of the pellets get there the same, just less of them but are traveling at the same velocities. Your pattern is smaller but any decent shot should be able to compensate for that. You can loose 1 1/2" around the edges and still get the job done well! It makes you into a better shot.
Rhis smaller gauge movement seems to be an American Movement, since the Europeans already had experience in that area. U.S. Shooters seem to be embracing the idea with some enthusasium.
Far as the guns go, the downsized recievers and shorter barrels make for plesant all-day carry and immediate quick swings! Ammo is also lighter thus aiding all-day carry weight. Maybe that is one of the reasons?
Personally, I think my 20Ga has shown me that a large gun isn't always necessary. You can get the same results with a lot less weight to tote around and reduced kick that leaves extra stamina late in the day!
I'w2ish the gun would've come with the 28 Gaq barrel set so I could see what they are like? Really nice I bet!
I hope I am reading the articles right because there are a lot of guns offered in the smallet Gauges in my Gun Annuals books.
Like I said for years all I used was a 12Ga for everything, and it surely will di that! However I am now finding the alternatives at a time inlife when my stamina and muscles are going downhill AT 65yrs old you DO yearn for thepower of a 30 yr old body! LOL!
How bout it? Have any of you downsized as you've ggotten older?
Thanks
ZVP
Having bought it from a Pawn shop, unfortunatelly it did not come with the 12 or 28 Ga extra set of barrels , only the 20 which proved to be a great shooting set! Screw-in chokes added versitility but I am still learning the origonal ser. I think they are Mod/ IC ( not sure what the stamped dots mean?),
With my new intrest in Doubles I have noted a definate movement toward the smaller gauges of 20, 28 and 410 these days Especally the 20/28 combos. I don't have any experience with the 28 but have read some pretty glowing reviews of the gauge for all around shooting! It throws only a slightly smaller charge of shot than a 20 and seems to pattern quite well for many uses.
Being a 12 GA advocate forever, the purchase of a 20 Ga was done because of a damaged left sholder and the hope of lessened recoil. Well I sure got that!
Th further describe the little Double, it's an English cut buttstock which fits me like a glove and seems to help my trigger hand move the slight amount needd to fire both triggers very easilly and so nautral feeling! Having owned one Savage 12 GA Double in the pasr, I swore off doubles because I couldn't hit a thing. This Uplander on the otherhand, fits me perfectly and the barrels cross at a pertfrct point for EASY hits! I don't know how to describe the way it's fitted but everything is centered perfectlly for me!
You can immediatelly tell the difference between 12 and 20 ga shot loads but with the sure hit capibility of the little 20, it dosen't matter much. I really appreciate the soft recoil! I am just now trying different loads and find the 20 Ga Phesant load to be a powerfull, long renge choice. The light target loads are a dream and even the smaller 6&7 shot loads carry well.
In my redings, I noticed what seems to be a resurgence of the want of lighter gauge guns over the past couple seasons. I can attribute this to shotshell developement, producing excellent game and target loads for these lighter Gauges. ( I wonder if the same is happening with the 16 GA?).
I would not feel undergunned going after big Phesants with the 20Ga! Wirey Jacks beware also! Smaller Game birds can be easilly handled with light powder and shot loads. Evidentlly the 20 carries and patterns like a 12 with just a lesser shot load. The bulk of the pellets get there the same, just less of them but are traveling at the same velocities. Your pattern is smaller but any decent shot should be able to compensate for that. You can loose 1 1/2" around the edges and still get the job done well! It makes you into a better shot.
Rhis smaller gauge movement seems to be an American Movement, since the Europeans already had experience in that area. U.S. Shooters seem to be embracing the idea with some enthusasium.
Far as the guns go, the downsized recievers and shorter barrels make for plesant all-day carry and immediate quick swings! Ammo is also lighter thus aiding all-day carry weight. Maybe that is one of the reasons?
Personally, I think my 20Ga has shown me that a large gun isn't always necessary. You can get the same results with a lot less weight to tote around and reduced kick that leaves extra stamina late in the day!
I'w2ish the gun would've come with the 28 Gaq barrel set so I could see what they are like? Really nice I bet!
I hope I am reading the articles right because there are a lot of guns offered in the smallet Gauges in my Gun Annuals books.
Like I said for years all I used was a 12Ga for everything, and it surely will di that! However I am now finding the alternatives at a time inlife when my stamina and muscles are going downhill AT 65yrs old you DO yearn for thepower of a 30 yr old body! LOL!
How bout it? Have any of you downsized as you've ggotten older?
Thanks
ZVP