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Was wondering your guys thoughts on why you chose a 20 over a 12 gauge. Most of the time they are about the same length.  weight can be lil heavier not much. Just got to thinking with all the 20 gauge and smaller hype...why this started? Wouldn't you be better off just dropping to a 2 3/4 or 3" shell? Just kind of curious to your thoughts?

Some of the reasons are due to weight, more compact, they load their own ammo (TSS) which in most cases will give better patterns over  the 12 using less oz of shot, and you have another turkey slaying platform.

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Quote from: USMC0331 on February 22, 2022, 07:26:00 AM
Some of the reasons are due to weight, more compact, they load their own ammo (TSS) which in most cases will give better patterns over  the 12 using less oz of shot, and you have another turkey slaying platform.

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Pretty much how I feel.  I like small, lightweight, handy guns.


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I understand compact. But there is 12 gauges almost just as compact. You take a Remington 870 youth 20 gets alot of praise. Then they add shurshot that gun becomes just as big as 12 not counting barrel length

Light, compact, minimal recoil, fun. My mossberg 510 weighs 5lbs 2oz with 3 shells and a delta point and a sling.

I'm a run and gun guy, have never shot a Turkey over 25yds. I've had and used a litany of guns and shells and now use the lightest smallest 20ga made and I shoot 2 3/4" high brass plated 6's.


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I ended up picking the 20 over the 12 mostly because......... I had to, at the moment.  Had a dot sight (an expensive one) crap its britches in the middle of a Wyoming/Nebraska hunt.  Had to go from my 3.5" SX3 12 gauge to my spare gun on that trip which was a 20 single.   The performance of the 20 in filling my final tag in Nebraska was enough for me to slide the SX3 into the back row of the safe.

Let's face it................. The capability of the 20 with today's chokes and shotshell technology is beyond what ANY 12 gauge would do 20 years ago.  So, if you want to, there's no reason NOT to.  Sure......... An NEF Pardner 12 gauge can be had in every bit as light and compact a package as the 20 (I have one that's actually MORE compact than my 20) and with a 2 3/4" shell would have nearly identical recoil.  I just have seen over and over and over again what my 20 will do and I have COMPLETE confidence in it.  So, now......... I chose it over the 12 simply because I can.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46959194854_afebf820c0_k.jpg)

Quote from: DirtNap647 on February 22, 2022, 07:42:04 AM
I understand compact. But there is 12 gauges almost just as compact. You take a Remington 870 youth 20 gets alot of praise. Then they add shurshot that gun becomes just as big as 12 not counting barrel length

I prefer a 12 or 10. I briefly toyed with the idea of getting a 20 for turkey, but i really don't have a reason to do it. Weight is a non issue to me, my 12s are plenty light enough,and I like the overall versatility of a bigger bore.Nice not to be locked into trick of the week ammo to have an effective 40 yard turkey gun. Still have a 16 gauge browning a5 on my "do want" list though.

I think both gauges have a different outcome when it comes to cost of buying shells these days, reloading a 12 gauge vs a 20 with TSS is expensive compared to lead shot if you can find any TSS factory loads, if you had not put the TSS factor into the mix today and only shot lead today like in the past what gun would outperform 12 vs 20 with factory loads.

Decided to try the 20 route this year. My 12 weights in at around 7.8 lbs. The 20 of the same manufacturer weights in at 5.6 lbs. That's over a 2 lbs difference. 2lbs might not make a difference to a guy sitting in a gobbler lounger, pretty sure it's going to make difference for me when toting it up and down ridge lines all day. Holding steady for an extended period waiting for a gobbler to step out from behind that thicket will be easier as well.

If it will kill a turkey and you like it what difference does it make what gauge it is?

My motivation initially was a lighter overall platform. Another nice thing is reducing felt recoil. I admit to being somewhat recoil sensitive. I'm a big believer in a lot of preseason practice and my 20s are just more pleasant to shoot.

99 percent the weight.  Also when I started loading my own shells there were no commercial loads I liked in 20ga and the 12ga offering I liked best was changed, hevi shot changed and winchester stopped making the xtended range.

I always liked a 20ga for any of my wing shooting as well.

Weight was my driving factor to get into the 20 gauge craze. My franchi is a fun little gun to carry around all day. They also pattern as good as my 12 gauges do

I prefer the 20 ga. over the 12 , just because i can ... I use what i want and with the new shells and chokes , no need to carry 12 ga. anymore ... If people want to carry a 10 ga. go for it, i trying carry one of those ball and chain gun's one year, never miss the day i got rid of that gun.. LOL..

Quote from: DirtNap647 on February 22, 2022, 06:58:50 AM
Was wondering your guys thoughts on why you chose a 20 over a 12 gauge.  weight can be lil heavier not much.  Wouldn't you be better off just dropping to a 2 3/4 or 3" shell?

I didn't chose one over the other. I still use both. Sometimes I hunt the mountains, and sometimes I hunt public land where I have to walk or bike miles. When I do those, I take my little lightweight 20 ga. It weighs less than 5 pounds, compared to my 12 gauge land cannon. LOL!! Switching down from a 3-1/2" to a 2-3/4" or a 3" doesn't change the weight of the 12 gauge.

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I'd rather carry a gun that weighs 5.5 lbs with substantially less recoil, than my 7.5 lb 12 gauge that kicks like a mule.  The turkeys I've killed with my 20 gauge out to 40 yards are just as dead as the ones I've killed with my 12 gauge. The ammo for the 20 ga is also cheaper.

The advent of TSS has made the 20 ga the best all around turkey gun in my opinion.  If I were shooting lead I'd stick with a 12 gauge

There's a certain mystic about using a sub gauge to accomplish better performance than was attainable just a few years ago from a 12 ga 3.5" or even a 10 ga.  Now I went down that rabbit hole and came back to the 12.  Yes it's a little heavier but reloading components are easier to get and I've settled on a 2 3/4" load. The performance is still overkill, but so is most 20 ga tss combos.

Quote from: RutnNStrutn on February 22, 2022, 10:00:30 AM

Quote from: DirtNap647 on February 22, 2022, 06:58:50 AM
Was wondering your guys thoughts on why you chose a 20 over a 12 gauge.  weight can be lil heavier not much.  Wouldn't you be better off just dropping to a 2 3/4 or 3" shell?

I didn't chose one over the other. I still use both. Sometimes I hunt the mountains, and sometimes I hunt public land where I have to walk or bike miles. When I do those, I take my little lightweight 20 ga. It weighs less than 5 pounds, compared to my 12 gauge land cannon. LOL!! Switching down from a 3-1/2" to a 2-3/4" or a 3" doesn't change the weight of the 12 gauge.

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You can't change the weight of a 12 but you could certainly choose a lighter one

Weight! I wanted something lighter than my 13lb 12. And I personally believe tss in a 12 is silly and there are no longer any htl loads being made that are worth a flip and plain lead loads just don't hold a candle to htl in performance. Plus squeezing off a 3 or 3.5 load out of a sub 6 lb gun didn't sound appealing.

I'm not knocking a 20. Just trying to find out why you choose it?

I originally chose a 20 just for something different to try. 

After a while, I enjoyed shooting it a lot more than I do the 12 and at 40 yards and in, it will work just fine.  Honestly, hate the shoulder busting punch of my Mossberg 535.

Quote from: hunter85 on February 22, 2022, 11:18:26 AM
Weight! I wanted something lighter than my 13lb 12. And I personally believe tss in a 12 is silly and there are no longer any htl loads being made that are worth a flip and plain lead loads just don't hold a candle to htl in performance. Plus squeezing off a 3 or 3.5 load out of a sub 6 lb gun didn't sound appealing.

Lol didn't even know they made a 13lb 12

Quote from: DirtNap647 on February 22, 2022, 11:22:57 AM

Quote from: hunter85 on February 22, 2022, 11:18:26 AM
Weight! I wanted something lighter than my 13lb 12. And I personally believe tss in a 12 is silly and there are no longer any htl loads being made that are worth a flip and plain lead loads just don't hold a candle to htl in performance. Plus squeezing off a 3 or 3.5 load out of a sub 6 lb gun didn't sound appealing.

Lol didn't even know they made a 13lb 12

Concrete for a magazine plug?

Quote from: Yoder409 on February 22, 2022, 08:17:28 AM
I ended up picking the 20 over the 12 mostly because......... I had to, at the moment.  Had a dot sight (an expensive one) crap its britches in the middle of a Wyoming/Nebraska hunt.  Had to go from my 3.5" SX3 12 gauge to my spare gun on that trip which was a 20 single.   The performance of the 20 in filling my final tag in Nebraska was enough for me to slide the SX3 into the back row of the safe.

Let's face it................. The capability of the 20 with today's chokes and shotshell technology is beyond what ANY 12 gauge would do 20 years ago.  So, if you want to, there's no reason NOT to.  Sure......... An NEF Pardner 12 gauge can be had in every bit as light and compact a package as the 20 (I have one that's actually MORE compact than my 20) and with a 2 3/4" shell would have nearly identical recoil.  I just have seen over and over and over again what my 20 will do and I have COMPLETE confidence in it.  So, now......... I chose it over the 12 simply because I can.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46959194854_afebf820c0_k.jpg)

is that a harrington and richardson topper jr.?

Boredem, mostly.  I had a 20g 870 from my childhood that was collecting dust in the safe.  Decided to play with TSS and red dots. 

I still carry a 12 a few times each season. But it is amazing how much heavier it feels and how much more it seems to stomp me.

Quote from: bigriverbum

is that a harrington and richardson topper jr.?

NEF Pardner.

Same difference.

Quote from: DirtNap647 on February 22, 2022, 11:22:57 AM

Quote from: hunter85 on February 22, 2022, 11:18:26 AM
Weight! I wanted something lighter than my 13lb 12. And I personally believe tss in a 12 is silly and there are no longer any htl loads being made that are worth a flip and plain lead loads just don't hold a candle to htl in performance. Plus squeezing off a 3 or 3.5 load out of a sub 6 lb gun didn't sound appealing.

Lol didn't even know they made a 13lb 12

My 1187 on my scale when loaded ready to hit the woods was 12.6 lbs so 12 and a half but close enough. The NEF 10 my dad has is a single that is probably close to that too.

When I was starting my kids it was less weight and recoil  that brought me to the 20 guage.

More recently when starting my grandkids reduced weight and recoil lead me to the .410.

With TSS ammo they are both  Turkey killers.

I don't own a dedicated turkey gun. My guns are used for all types of upland hunting and weight has always been the main issue for me when selecting a gun not recoil. The older I've gotten my 7lb. 20ga. Browning magnum started getting a little heavy for me so last year I went looking for something lighter and bought a 20ga. Benelli that weighs 5lb. 12oz. For me that one and a quarter pounds made a big difference in carrying a gun for four or five hours on three different upland hunts. I also carried it for several days and finally shot a nice fall merriam with it. Anyway for me its the weight.

Hunting isn't a one-size fits all deal.  For me, I ONLY hunt turkey with my shotgun.  Just not into wingshooting.  With the evolution of ammo and turkey chokes, there's simply no need for me to have a 12 gauge when I can get the job done with a nice little .20ga  Just a preference/use thing for me.

Agree on the recoil from the 12 gauges. My Winchester 1300 belts me silly during patterning session.

Weight had nothing to do with my choice to move to the 20 gauge platform. For years I carried a H&R single 12 gauge factory dipped in original bottomland. That gun is a pleasure to tote through the big woods.

Bottom line for me is the Mossberg 500 20 ga. patterns better with 2.75" TSS #9s than my H&R 12 ga. with 3" Hevi #7s.

That 20 gauge with TSS patterns so well, stepped up to straight TSS #8s now. That's a freight train of a load.

Ok the consensus is most folks like a 20 gauge because of weight. Tell me how far do most of you walk on average every time you hunt? On average I might walk 2 miles or less if I'm patient some days sitting longer pays off better. Weight of a shotgun never seems to be a issue for me.

Plus, most turkey hunters that have any skill at all kill most of their gobblers at 20 yards or less. Personally, I've killed 80% of my gobblers at 20 or less. So I feel no disadvantage at all hitting the woods with my lightweight 20 gauge.

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I hunted for years with a 12ga. 870 Supermag. When I carry my 3 inch 870 It feels like a 20.

I can carry and shoot both with no complaints or preference. They both do their job well and I look awsome carrying either one. However my boy has taken a liking to my mossberg after carrying it one day last year and my 20 is pretty nifty so I have a feeling I will be carrying the 20 more in the future. But I can't totally abandon a gun I carried 20+ years. I am sentimental like that.

First turkey I ever killed, I killed with a 410.   I worked my way up to a 3 1/2" 10 gauge.   Then I started working my way back down.   I am now about 50/50 between my 20 and 410.  At no point in my hunting career have I ever felt under gunned.   Just the opposite really.    I feel I can kill a 15 to 20 pound bird with a 410 or a 20 with no issue.     

Weight and compact.  Mobility is key in the style hunting I tend to do and everything I carry in the woods is there purposely.  I came up with the plan one season to ditch as much as possible and also switched to a 11-87 compact.  Had my best season ever, noticed I could maneuver thick cover much easier, and just didn't get nearly as fatigued.

I switched from a 12 gauge (Browning BPS) to a 20 gauge (Remington 870 Express) for a few reasons. I won the 870 at an NWTF banquet and decided to try and make it into a dedicated turkey gun. I liked the lower recoil, the less expensive shells and choke tubes and most of all the novelty of using a 20 gauge shotgun to kill gobblers. I was also really impressed with the patterns the 20 was showing. I have had several birds fly off after being shot with the BPS at 35 yards, but I have had none get away after the 20 Roars. As a matter of fact, they have all died right where they stood. Longest shot was right at 40 yards  ::).

I don't see any need to go back to being walloped by a 12 gauge again.

Quote from: Ol timer on February 22, 2022, 01:16:03 PM
Ok the consensus is most folks like a 20 gauge because of weight. Tell me how far do most of you walk on average every time you hunt? On average I might walk 2 miles or less if I'm patient some days sitting longer pays off better. Weight of a shotgun never seems to be a issue for me.

Obviously that depends on the day/terrain/situation, but on average I'd say 3-4 miles.  But for me, it's rarely about the mileage as much as it is terrain.  I hunt mainly mountains so it's a lot of vertical climbs.  I did it for decades with a 12g, so it's not that I can't do it.  But I sure don't complain when I have less weight to carry. 

20ga is not as loud and has less recoil. Allows more chances to double or triple up when the situation presents its self. 410 is even better yet!

To start I had a pinched nerve in my neck and was out of the load I had well patterned in my 12 gauge 870, so knew I had some patterning to do.  I shoot a 20 for dove and quail because it is plenty of gun for that. I just like the thought of an auto 20 for patterning to be easier on the neck and shoulder which was pretty dang painful at the time.  I got over that, but never got over the light pointing, smaller gun so it easier to walk through the thick briar underbrush in the Florida swamps I seem to be in all spring.  Can hold the little thing up all day with minimal effort and killed birds at 12 gauge ranges.  Got mega sale price on the ammo I liked and am literally stocked up for life.  Plus it is fun to have people look at me and ask me what the little pop gun is. 

So for me, it started as recoil and now it is not about weight and more about the shorter gun to make my walks easier. 

Quote from: CALLM2U on February 22, 2022, 03:20:44 PM

Quote from: Ol timer on February 22, 2022, 01:16:03 PM
Ok the consensus is most folks like a 20 gauge because of weight. Tell me how far do most of you walk on average every time you hunt? On average I might walk 2 miles or less if I'm patient some days sitting longer pays off better. Weight of a shotgun never seems to be a issue for me.

Obviously that depends on the day/terrain/situation, but on average I'd say 3-4 miles.  But for me, it's rarely about the mileage as much as it is terrain.  I hunt mainly mountains so it's a lot of vertical climbs.  I did it for decades with a 12g, so it's not that I can't do it.  But I sure don't complain when I have less weight to carry.

Agree. Total distance start to stop isn't the issue, its the elevation change in between.

I carry my 20 the majority of the time but still enjoy hunting with my 12 and 10 gauge guns. Be interesting to see if the small gauge craze continues with the rising cost of TSS and low availability.

Quote from: paboxcall on February 22, 2022, 05:50:59 PM

Quote from: CALLM2U on February 22, 2022, 03:20:44 PM

Quote from: Ol timer on February 22, 2022, 01:16:03 PM
Ok the consensus is most folks like a 20 gauge because of weight. Tell me how far do most of you walk on average every time you hunt? On average I might walk 2 miles or less if I'm patient some days sitting longer pays off better. Weight of a shotgun never seems to be a issue for me.

Obviously that depends on the day/terrain/situation, but on average I'd say 3-4 miles.  But for me, it's rarely about the mileage as much as it is terrain.  I hunt mainly mountains so it's a lot of vertical climbs.  I did it for decades with a 12g, so it's not that I can't do it.  But I sure don't complain when I have less weight to carry.

Agree. Total distance start to stop isn't the issue, its the elevation change in between.

Same here on the "depends on the day", but I have averaged 5-7 miles/day when hunting public and more if I'm out of state.  My personally will not let me sit still and if I hear a bird a long way off, I am literally sprinting...except when I went to WV.  Found out really quick sprinting ain't the best ideal up there  :bike2:

I love guns!!! I have a couple of dedicated 12's a 410 so I added a 20. I'm not walking miles and miles so my 870 supermag isn't any problem. So the 20 really shouldn't be a problem.

Weight and use across everything I hunt from doves to ducks; even carry a few slugs during deer season if the opportunity would arise.

Hunts go from 5-6 miles to a few hundred yards depending on the WMA hunting.

Quote from: paboxcall on February 22, 2022, 05:50:59 PM
Agree. Total distance start to stop isn't the issue, its the elevation change in between.

LOL !!!!

That ain't no joke.

There is more change in elevation on my property than there is in the entire state of Florida.  There are days I'll never walk more than a few hundred yards.  Other days, a couple miles.  Probably walked 3-4 miles in a day last year in Florida.  A couple 6 mile days in Wyoming.  Only hunted two days in Mexico.  First day was probably 8-10 miles.  The second day about that or more.  Shot my second day bird a 4 mile carry from the truck and the first 1/2 mile of that was a 1000 foot elevation gain on to the mesa.  A couple pounds of gun weight goes a long way at 8000-9000 ft above sea level.

I switched to a 410 when I was getting my daughters involved. I was impressed with the performance, it is a sub 4lb gun with optic and ammo, it is compact, and the reduced recoil is phenomenal. What's not to love!

Esse quam videri

The 20ga Franchi Affinity Compact 20ga is lighter than my Rem 1187 12ga.

The 12 is for me, kids do like the 20


MK M GOBL

Quote from: Yoder409 on February 22, 2022, 09:01:02 PM

Quote from: paboxcall on February 22, 2022, 05:50:59 PM
Agree. Total distance start to stop isn't the issue, its the elevation change in between.

There is more change in elevation on my property than there is in the entire state of Florida. 

As a guy who grew up in Florida, I can honestly say that ain't saying much!!!

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Quote from: RutnNStrutn on February 22, 2022, 11:24:31 PM

Quote from: Yoder409 on February 22, 2022, 09:01:02 PM

Quote from: paboxcall on February 22, 2022, 05:50:59 PM
Agree. Total distance start to stop isn't the issue, its the elevation change in between.

There is more change in elevation on my property than there is in the entire state of Florida. 

As a guy who grew up in Florida, I can honestly say that ain't saying much!!!

345 feet     :icon_thumright:

Easy choice for me. When HW7's first came out and I saw the photos of patterns here on OG, I put down the 835. My 500 patterns well, it's lighter and much more enjoyable to carry. I definitely don't miss that punch in the face after touching one off with a 3-1/2" mag.  :z-dizzy:

I wanted a short barrel!!! Those are hard to find in adult size guns so I bought a youth 20ga with a 21" barrel. The weight is also nice when you have to hold your gun up when a bird is coming in a weird angle and you can't rest on your knee.

I swapped to a 20 around 5-6 yrs ago because it's lighter and just as deadly, thanks to TSS. I plan to carry my 12 ga a few times this year because it holds a certain sentimental value to me. Otherwise, I wouldn't consider carrying a 12 ga. To each their own though.

No wrong answer here. I was always a 12 gauge 3.5" magload guy. Then my Buddy Ryan showed me what his 20 with #7 heavyweights would do and I was sold. I still have 2 20's but my whole family went to 28 gauge. I like the patterns on my 28 and developed my own 1.25 Oz load, professionally tested. I am a busted up old man and the lighter weight and recoil suits me. I have also cut my gear weight down to just what I need. Like I said, it suits me and my girls. Good luck and God Bless

When I was a kid growing up I always like pulling back a hammer on whatever I was shooting, whether it was a Roy Rogers pistol as a kid, a Marlin 30-30, or a shotgun killing squirrels and rabbits. Well as the 20 gauge single shots with that hammer sticking up there, I knew I had to get one in my hand. Went in to my LGS and there was that Stevens 301 sitting behind the counter, all 20 gauge of it. Asked to see it and throw it up to my shoulder.....pulled my wallet out. Need not say more, but if you know what I am talking about you owe it to yourself to pick up some kind of 20 or 410 gauge. That little 410 got no flies on it either. Load my on TSS #9 and at any yard that want to shoot....near and far, it gets it done. The red dot on it cost more than the gun, but that is what it is. Only thing, it so light you better not lay it down and forget to pick it up...when you get there and ready to shoot there ole bird and realize you have no gun.....has not happened yet but knowing me...it could.

weight

Personally, I never hunted with a 20 until my son got big enough for me to buy him his own turkey gun. But once I bought his I loved the light weight and decided to hunt with one as well. It wasn't a big deal for me as I limit myself to 30yds  regardless of what gauge I'm shooting. If he's further than that I consider it a loss and he wins

I hunt with both of them and enjoy them both. I'm not recoil sensitive so that doesn't bother me. My 20 weighs a pound less than my 12, so not a huge difference there either. I like the 12 on days I know I'm hunting open spaces or areas with a lot of under brush or grass. Both get the job done.