The Beretta Silver Hawk in 20 gauge.

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pythagorean

Moderator
Man! This side by side cost me more money than I ever thought I'd spend after my decades of fiddling with shotguns. Started with the 870 in 12 gauge, a Savage O/U .22WMR, 20 gauge with 24" barrels. That 20 gauge was the best "single shot" shotgun I ever owned.
Went the 12 gauge route. Thought the 20 was enough and went to the 20 when it was time to pick and choose an expensive side by side. Is an ounce of shot enough? For me it is. Or I just miss.
So now this side by side is my last shotgun. Solid rib to the bead and on target. Two shots. So then I get a .410 870 Sporting and find out the lesser gauge is entirely proficient at the trap range. Either I miss or I hit. The shot pattern is either there or too far away no matter how much lead is blasted out of the barrel.
So why is the 12 gauge still popular?
I don't really know.
Guess I am a bit clueless here.
Anyone have a 20 or 28 or .410 and feel the difference with a responsive shotgun versus the less responsive heavier gauges?
 
The shot pattern is either there or too far away no matter how much lead is blasted out of the barrel.
So why is the 12 gauge still popular?
I don't really know.
Guess I am a bit clueless here.
Click to expand...
Actually, you are mistaken. A 12 gauge has more than double the pellets than a .410 shotgun. A 12 gauge with a skeet choke will have a larger kill zone in it's pattern than a .410 You will break more birds with a 12 gauge than a .410 due to the number of pellets and the more dense and still wider pattern than a .410 offers.
 
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