Missed160 Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 Looking for some input.. I hunt mainly pheasants over a springer. I do hunt turkeys & a little bit of geese, but I have a couple 12 ga pumps I use for those. I have wnated to add a pheasant gun and have decided on an Over/under. Now I need to decide on the gauge. 12 16 20. I would like the 20, but I may feel under gunned on late season birds. 16, are shells widely available? 12 - I all ready have a couple pumps. I would like something lighter/different for early season. All have adcantages/dis advantages.. Please give me your opinions.. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 Re: Gauge decsion?? I love shooting my browning auto 20! I think there are enough shell options that you'll be fine with the 20. You can always start shooting the 12 later in the season if need be! good luck todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beagleboy Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 Re: Gauge decsion?? I shoot a Browning Sweet 16. I believe that the 16 ga is the best all around gauge. I mostly use it on rabbits, grouse and pheasants. The 16 ga is very widely available and dependable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 Re: Gauge decsion?? Its really up to the shooter. What do you want? You can simulate a 20 by using one ounce or 7/8 ounce loads in the 12 ga. You then have the option of boosting the loads up to what your gun will handle. I have never seen the advantage of the 16 ga. The gun is the same size as a 12 ga, so its not lighter and handier like a 20 ga. It does not shoot as heavy a load as the 12 ga, so its not as versitile. I just don't get it. I am sure its adequate for a small game gun, but I can see why it almost faded into oblivion. The 20 ga is a nice upland gun. It can handle most situations with today's premium loads. Its available in compact, fast handling packages that are easier to carry on an all day hunt when the big 12 ga gun starts to feel like a piece of artillery as the sun goes down. It has mild recoil and has a variety of loads/chokes that will handle most situations. If I had a good 12 ga upland gun, I would go for a 20 ga or even a 28 ga. When situations like long range flushing of big birds became normal, the 12 ga would come out. Otherwise, it would be the 20 or 28 ga cradled in my arms as I beat the brush behind the dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 Re: Gauge decsion?? [ QUOTE ] The 20 ga is a nice upland gun. It can handle most situations with today's premium loads. Its available in compact, fast handling packages that are easier to carry on an all day hunt when the big 12 ga gun starts to feel like a piece of artillery as the sun goes down. It has mild recoil and has a variety of loads/chokes that will handle most situations. [/ QUOTE ] Bingo! I've carried a 20 my whole life. My preferred 20 right now is my Benelli, all 6.75 lbs of it. Personally, I'd recommend the 20. Get a 3" chamber, and like AJ mentioned a few premium 3" mag #5 or #4 loads, and you'll drop winter birds, even in front of a flusher like a springer. Carry a 20 and you can use the line I always use on my buddies when they rag on me for carrying a "popgun." I always tell them "if you hit them, you'll get them." To me, there's a certain air of prestige in carrying a 20, kind of like the underdog in a fight, you know what I mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 Re: Gauge decsion?? My favourite gauge is the 28ga, I think it'd be a great gun for the hunting you'd be doing. I have the Remington 1100 20ga, and it's great for bird hunting! I also have an over and under .410, which is great for close shots, but sometimes i'd like to have one in between. So that would be the 28ga. Like AJ said, I'd either go with the 20 or 28 gauge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob LeBlanc Posted December 21, 2005 Report Share Posted December 21, 2005 Re: Gauge decsion?? Personal opinion...and this is personal opinion only!!!... The 16 ga. is the IDEAL upland gun. You can load a 20 up, or a 12 down...but it will never be a true 16! (My Dad used a 16 all his life..there may be a bit of nostalgia in my opinion.) Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rolngthun Posted December 21, 2005 Report Share Posted December 21, 2005 Re: Gauge decsion?? I have a 12 single, 2 each 12 pumps, and a 20 single and a 20 pump. I bought that 20 pump for 25 bucks. I refinished the wood. The metal was in great shape. looks great. And is the best shooting shotgun I have ever had. It is the only shotgun I ever grab. This year I will be using one of the 12s for coyotes. But that old 20 guage is light, swings fast, shoots right on, and never lets me down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fourtrax_300 Posted December 25, 2005 Report Share Posted December 25, 2005 Re: Gauge decsion?? well around here it is hard to fins shells for the 16 ga you can ge them but have to drive a few towns over to the local sporting goods store and pay a hefty price normaly. where as 20 and 12 ga at wal mart just a short drive away. I would go with a 20 ga. i love them for everthing i do. I used to deer hutn with one but now use a new 12ga that i just bought. but i hunt quail,chucker and phesent when we go to the reserve. and i hunt rabbit,dove,squirre with them. there are lots of loads for them and they are light and dont have a hard kick if your gonna shoot all day long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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