This is perception, so I may be all wet here, but... the 12 gauge is the yardstick I use to measure lethality. Most birds I shoot at with the 12 expire fairly quickly and are "brought to bag". With the 20s and 28s I've owned and used, I noticed what I believe to be a definite loss of lethality. Birds that would likely have died if I'd been using a 12, end up being lost and likely wounded with little chance of surviving. The 16 seems to hit a truely "sweet" spot, balancing very good lethality and a much better weight and balance than most 12s can deliver.
I agree with that, Lloyd. I have noticed that loss of lethality on the dove field with the .410. I swat them down with it, but they aren't "dishragged", as we say. Many, many more of them are still alive. A good retriever is very important there. If I were losing any of them as cripples I would quit using it, but I've got a jam up retriever right now!
He loves it as much as any Boykin or Lab that ever drew a breath. Proabably went 98% for me the past season. He's so good a buddy tried to buy him off me 'bout a month ago. Gonna lose him soon, tho'. He'll start shooting a little next season, but I've got a chocolate Lab pup on the way.
SRH
