For those who prefer a 20 gauge...

[Spurs Up]

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or any other sub gauge, what single attribute do you value most in those guns?  What one thing--more than any other-- leads you to choose a sub gauge when heading to the turkey woods?

Is it the lighter weight of the gun?

Is it reduced recoil compared to big bores?

How about compactness (shorter barrel and stock)?

More affordable ammo?

Other?

To me...I think I value the lighter comparative recoil above all else. Using HTL ammo, I'm not trading off much effective range/lethality but avoiding the punishment from some of the lighter weight and ez to carry bigger bores.  Honestly, if I had to shoot straight lead out of a sub gauge, I'd probably rethink it and still be getting concussed by my 10 and 12 gauges.

What about you???

[Greg Massey]

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It has a lot to do with the gun, but what has step the 20 gauge up is Ammo and chokes...Ammo like today's Federal HW and TSS shot...carrying a lighter gun, shorter barrel accomplishing the same as the old 12 gauges.

[BandedSpur]

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Weight of gun closely followed by degree of recoil, but only with HTL shot. If I was still shooting lead, I would definitely carry a 12.

[nyhunter]

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#1- weight

#2- compact

#3- pattern

[SteelerFan]

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#1- weight

#2- compact

#3- pattern

Yep

[rangerGT]

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I just love carrying the light little 20.  I can throw it on my back and hit the ground running.  Now with TSS it's even better. 


Sent from my typewriter

[surehuntsalot]

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as I get older, the weight and the lighter recoil is what I like

[wvspitndrum]

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Just really love the way it carries , points , and shoots  .
Especially with the ammo availabe today , a big heavy 12 ga. just is not needed for my style of hunting,   especially as i get older !  These WV mountains seem to get a little steeper each year ! Lol !

[Duffer58]

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For me the primary reason is the reduced weight for carrying.  I covered what felt like half the county for one of my birds this year.  The reduced weight improved the quality of my hunt.  Also like the reduced recoil.  The Federal HW's are great but based the info here I'm going to learn how to load TSS for next year.

[turkeyinstrut]

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With TSS the 20 ga. is absolutely DEVASTATING!!!

[g8rvet]

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For me, it is:

#1 Compact

#2 Weight

And #1 is WAY ahead of #2.   

I actually started shopping for one because of a pinched nerve and wanted less recoil while patterning, but in reality, that has not really affected me much.  Once I have the load dialed in, it does not get shot much.  And I spend all fall shooting my 12 at ducks and geese.  My pinched nerve and neck are all better.  I still love how easy it points and how I can hold it up, steadily, for a very long time while waiting on old Tom.  The bird I killed this year was coming in from my hard left and I just eased the gun up and waited on him to walk into the sights.  Easy peasy.  I would have been shaking with my old Nova 12. 

[Stumpy225]

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Carry weight and recoil for me.

[Greg Massey]

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Carry weight and recoil for me.

  Also i guess you could say the shells weigh just a little less...i always like carrying a few extra shells in my bag...