Fashion governs sporting guns as much as in clothing. For a generation or two, the 20 has been espoused as the perfect tool for upland hunting, starting off a kid or female or for use by older hunters. Words like light,fast,and responsive get used, and a sure way to get a discussion going in a gun shop is to be either quite supportive of the 20 or stating it's only good for itty bitty birds and/or itty bitty shooters.
As with most myths, there's a kernel of truth in there somewhere.
Most American made 20s weigh 6-6 1/2 lbs, about what the best Brit "Game Guns" do. They shoot a similar load, about an oz, and oft swing and handle nicely.
But....
That light weight comes in part from a slimmer and smaller butt. Less surface area means more felt recoil, AKA kick. Some 20s are vicious with 1 oz loads, most are emphatic. For tyros, this is no good thing.Drop the load to 7/8 oz,as was intended for the 20,and it's much more comfortable to shoot.Slow it down to 1150 FPS, Huzzah, much better.
And, that smaller bore means more shot squeezed through a smaller hole, thus more shot deforming.
A load of shot from a 20 rarely duplicates the pattern efficiency of a 12, all else equal. And a smaller bore and load means a little more choke is required to keep pattern density up. A 25 yard shot at a quail with a Cylinder bore 12 gauge needs a Light Mod choke in a 20 gauge to match the density. A smaller pattern is then made that means it's easier to miss with, or at worst cripple and lose. All else equal, a 20 has maybe 5 yards less effctive range.
Fast and responsive means the swing starts AND STOPS, more easily. One has to work a bit harder keeping a light shotgun going. It certainly can be done, but the shot goes with a different rythym and pace. Practice is needed to make things work.
A round of any clay game will show you why hard core skeet shooters go for those tube sets instead of true 20 gauge sized guns. It's too much work adapting to a lighter weight and faster swing.
So. what's the 20 good for?
Where light and fast means more than payload weight,like for quail,grouse,dove etc. And while good squirrel loads are not rare, a 7/8 oz load of hard 6s through a tight choke is close to optimum for gray and fox squirrel.This definitely is 20 gauge territory.
For deer. If a hunter is relatively recoil tolerant, a Brenneke in a 20 is one great close range deer load.
For tyros, IF a 7/8 or lighter payload is what's used.
And for a change of pace.One dedicated shotgunner of my acquaintance uses 12 gauges on waterfowl and clays, but birdhunts with the venerable 20 gauge A-5L that was a birthday or Xmas present to him in his youth.
And for HD. Statistically there's little difference in effect between the gauges.
Hope this explains things well, sing out if there's questions...
As with most myths, there's a kernel of truth in there somewhere.
Most American made 20s weigh 6-6 1/2 lbs, about what the best Brit "Game Guns" do. They shoot a similar load, about an oz, and oft swing and handle nicely.
But....
That light weight comes in part from a slimmer and smaller butt. Less surface area means more felt recoil, AKA kick. Some 20s are vicious with 1 oz loads, most are emphatic. For tyros, this is no good thing.Drop the load to 7/8 oz,as was intended for the 20,and it's much more comfortable to shoot.Slow it down to 1150 FPS, Huzzah, much better.
And, that smaller bore means more shot squeezed through a smaller hole, thus more shot deforming.
A load of shot from a 20 rarely duplicates the pattern efficiency of a 12, all else equal. And a smaller bore and load means a little more choke is required to keep pattern density up. A 25 yard shot at a quail with a Cylinder bore 12 gauge needs a Light Mod choke in a 20 gauge to match the density. A smaller pattern is then made that means it's easier to miss with, or at worst cripple and lose. All else equal, a 20 has maybe 5 yards less effctive range.
Fast and responsive means the swing starts AND STOPS, more easily. One has to work a bit harder keeping a light shotgun going. It certainly can be done, but the shot goes with a different rythym and pace. Practice is needed to make things work.
A round of any clay game will show you why hard core skeet shooters go for those tube sets instead of true 20 gauge sized guns. It's too much work adapting to a lighter weight and faster swing.
So. what's the 20 good for?
Where light and fast means more than payload weight,like for quail,grouse,dove etc. And while good squirrel loads are not rare, a 7/8 oz load of hard 6s through a tight choke is close to optimum for gray and fox squirrel.This definitely is 20 gauge territory.
For deer. If a hunter is relatively recoil tolerant, a Brenneke in a 20 is one great close range deer load.
For tyros, IF a 7/8 or lighter payload is what's used.
And for a change of pace.One dedicated shotgunner of my acquaintance uses 12 gauges on waterfowl and clays, but birdhunts with the venerable 20 gauge A-5L that was a birthday or Xmas present to him in his youth.
And for HD. Statistically there's little difference in effect between the gauges.
Hope this explains things well, sing out if there's questions...
