Why do you pick 20 over a 12?

[squidd]

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.

[Yoder409]

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.

[30_06]

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

[MK M GOBL]

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

[RutnNStrutn]

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!!!

Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk

[Yoder409]

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     

[TrackeySauresRex]

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. 

[Chris O]

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.

[Jbird22]

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.

[zelmo1]

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

[Uncle Tom]

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.

[surehuntsalot]

weight

[Strutnut80]

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

[GuideGun]

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.