doublegunshop.com - home

I dunno, Brittany Man. I shoot a lot, all year long. If I reach into my shell bag or vest pocket and my hand closes around a 20 ga. shell, when I'm shooting a 12, I know it before it ever sees light. The size, the weight, it's too different. But, I guess if someone is OCD .................

You know, between the cars, tractors, trucks, combines, power units and generators, I've got twenty-something that burn either diesel or gasoline. We've never put diesel in a gas burner or gasoline in a diesel. Ain't that just a pluperfect wonder? Why, it would certainly make more sense to own either all gas burners, or all diesels.

SRH

Lloyd3
Bumps are quite nice

Back in the Days when Francis Sell was heavily promoting the 3"20 gauge he stated the 20 would actually out range the 12 when both were loaded with 1 1/4 oz shot. He published pictures of patterns to "Prove" it. The reason he gave was the slower, more progressive, powders used in the long 20's gave denser centers to the pattern with adequate coverage to a bit longer range. Of course they also gave raggeder outer edges as well. My personal "Opinion", though unproven is the longer shot column in the 20 put more shot in contact with the choke which put more shot in the center of the pattern. I believe the .410 has even more of this effect. It an be a good killer out to around 30 yds, give or take a bit, if one is a very good shot. I well know my own personal limitations & prefer a light 20 with ordinary 7/8 oz loads if shooting factory. If handloading 3/4 oz loads can be used with good affect in many situations. For my personal hunting I have little use of anything smaller than the 20, love the 16 but freely admit the 12 is the most versatile gauge ever built or likely to be built in shotgun design as we know it today "Long Live the 12". This was intended for the 12 gauge society thread but I believe it has been locked so these seemed the next best place to post it.
Miller/TN

Thank you Skeettx.

I've always had a soft place in my heart for a 2" English sxs but have never found one I could justify the cost. The closest I can come is a Bernardelli 12ga sxs at 5 lb 15 oz shooting 7/8 or 1 oz of shot has been deadly on wild pheasants and sharptails.

I'm a big believer in Murphey's Law & if you carry 12 ga & 20 ga shells in the same vest very often you will likely be a convert of Murphey also.

I would agree. A hunting trip has been gauge specific for me since my Dad taught me that.
Actually, Dad's gun cabinet was gauge specific. 12s only. Mine, not so much.

Best,
Ted

Brother recently put 'Roundup' in the diesel tractor. Anyone who can do that could load the wrong shell...Geo

The 2 3/4 loaded in a gun chambered for 2 5/8 will have 500psi or less rise in pressure, so you should be safe if you know your pressure. I have many old Remington SxS's and have never worried about it, but I do hand load at lower pressures.

Ken, sorry for so long to get back to you - got busy. Below are two averages of 20 gauge guns in my data base. There is actually a pretty strong break between the types. Note that there is little difference between the 12-2" and the Very light 20 gauge and, likewise, between the light 20 gauge and the light 12 gauge game gun.

Average very light 20 Gauge - 5# 8 oz, Bal to trigger = 4", Unmounted swing = 1.03, Mounted swing = 4.91, Bbl length = 26 9/16", LOP = 14 1/8", Compactness = 9.35

Average light 20 Gauge - 6# 6 oz, Bal to trigger = 4 1/2", Unmounted swing = 1.16, Mounted swing = 5.89, Bbl length = 26 5/8", LOP = 4 1/16", Compactness = 9.18

Hope this helps with the discussion.

Post back with any questions.

DDA