When/why do you switch between your 12GA and 20GA? Are there certain reasons why you head out in the morning with one or the other?
I have both 12 and 20ga and a 16ga as well which I mainly carry these days.
I have a Winchester 1300 12 ga. and a Remington 870 20 ga. When I hunt out of state I use the 1300 and the 870 20 ga. when hunting MI. I shot 4 gobblers with the 1300 in 3 different states but the most impressive was taken here in MI with the 20 and a load of Heavyweight 7's.
Pretty much depends on terrain where hunting and how tough i expect the hunting to be. Or with 2 tags this spring i took the 12 870 for the the first bird. Then went to the Win. 37 single shot 20 gauge, which needed a bird to its credit, guess the pressure was off? Skipped the 870 20 which has a pile of birds to its credit and is a spectacular killer and also the other 12 and 20 gauges.. Rotate them , they all deserve a day in the woods.
Guilty on both counts. No reason needed but if insanity is an excuse I guess that's me as well.
No real preference on either although the 20s are much more pleasurable to shoot and carry.
Have both a SBE2 and a M2 20. I like both as the sbe has a steady grip and ff3 on it. If I'm walking s bunch then I take the 20 due to weight and easy of carrying it all day
I have both and carry both each spring. I don't really have a reason in mind when I carry one over the other. Usually whichever I choose first will be my choice until I get a bird, then I switch to the other to try and fill my second tag.
Good thread.
My reasons seem pretty much like everyone else. I normally hunt with whatever gun I've been using most at the time be that a 12 gauge or a 20 gauge. When Doris and I hunt together I normally take a 20 because that's also what she uses.
Frankly, with the right choke/shell and remembering to take only shots where that combo is effective, either will do the job very well as long as I do what I'm supposed to do.
Thanks,
Clark
One thing that goes with the multiple gauge grabbers = make sure you have both shells in the turkey vest. :( those 12 gauge shells are just a bit to tight for the 20 gauge chamber :lol:
I carry an 835 as my main gun but in tougher terrain I take my 11-87 20 ga. Fun to tote now and again.
Sent from the Strut Zone
I do own both and hunt with both. I like the lite weight twenty but the 870 12gauge 28 inch barrel has an advantge. Ive killed a ton of turkeys with it. Reguardless of what gun I use Ive learned to carry a full choke in addition to extra full or super full. Sometimes the turkey makes the choice for me. Even a modified looks good if he's in your face saying take your best shot! They can make me look like a fool. But thats turkey hunting. cluck
i hunted with my 870 20 guage for a long time but it dosent see much use since i got my 535 12 guage though it has killed birds just like my 12 has the 20 gets used now when i take someone that cant stand the heavy recoil of my 12 (you might as well put it against the tree instead of your shoulder its that bad)
I have a sbe2 and a 20 gauge BPS. I usually use the sbe for my first bird and after the self imposed pressure is off I use the bps..but like others have said, it mostly depends on terrain, weather, mood...
I own a 10, three 12's and a 20 ga. shotgun that are dedicated turkey guns. The 10 is a Browning BPS "Stalker" 24". It's very effective but also HEAVY so if I must walk any distance it stays home. The 12's include a Rem. 870 SM, a Benelli SBE I and a Knight TK 2000 ML. I carry the Benelli the most and I feel most comfortable hunting with it. The 20 ga. is a Benelli "Nova". I carry it when I know I will be doing ALOT of walking and covering ALOT of ground.
I leave really good 12 gauges at home because M2 20 weighs 5.5 lbs and is lethal further than I will shoot.
I find myself carrying the 20 gauge single shot that I bought for my grandsons whenever they aren't with me. It's so much lighter and softer shooting than my 835 that I'm saving my money for my own 20 gauge. Not to mention easier on the ears!
You can get great 40 yard killing patterns with them and the right choke these days and I'm not seeing much downside to a 20.
When I hunt with a 12 gauge, I make sure that all my 20 gauge shells are out of my vest and pockets. It's very easy to drop a 20 gauge shell into a 12 gauge gun and fire it.
That happened a few years ago at a still target shoot with one of the most experienced shooter there. He just took the wrong gun to the line. He fired a shell and did not see anything wrong. Fortunately, several of us heard the shot and knew something was wrong. The shell fired and the entire shell then went into the bore.
Had he fired a 12 gauge shell next, the consequences could have been a disaster either for him or for the shooters next to him on either side. He kind of laughed it off but none of us did.
Thanks,
Clark
I also have both a 12 and a 20 ga. set up just for turkeys. My Benelli SBE 12 with a Fastfire II is my primary carry, and has busted a pile of beaks!
For those "run & gun" hunts I tend to prefer the lighter T/C Encore 20, (topped with a Moeller Quick Shot) it is just as deadly, and much easier to carry. I always keep shells for both in my Brossie bag.
I have both and hunt with both. I use the 20 if I plan on walking a good distance due to its lighter weight. :OGturkeyhead:
I have 2 12ga's and 2 20ga's
I carry the 835 and the 1100 once in a while for the heck of it,but 90% of the time it's the 870 20ga over my shoulder.
I've got 4 20 ga. turkey guns and 2 12 ga. guns. I've got everything to start loading TSS for the 20 gauges.