I and many of the fellows I shoot with all spent years toting a 12ga.As the years advance and shoulders get more fragile and legs not up to carrying much wt on long walks,we have become good enough shots we don't need 12ga loads to achieve our goal.The lighter gauges do the job just fine with less punishment to our old fragile bodies.When I was 12 yo I went rabbit hunting with an old fellow.I was proud of my Stevens 12ga dbl, and thought I knew it all.I asked him the same ?.Ans-"Hits just as well and lighted for these old legs to carry."Well I'm that old man today.Besides,the esthetics are great!