Wasn't Francis Sell a proponent of the 3" 20 gauge for waterfowl, in the pre-lead ban days? I suppose I'm dating myself, but, I bought a Ruger Red label 20 based on his writings, trying to have the mythical "All Round" gun.
Hey, I was a teenager, and low on cash-it was used, and less than $400. Blued frame, and fixed chokes. Worst patterning gun I have ever owned, by a huge margin, when loaded with any type of 3" ammunition I could get my hands on. This gun was my introduction to regulation, or, more correctly, lack thereof. Don't start saying I ripped all Rugers, it was just the copy I owned that was a problem child, and why it was cheap and used-some lessons are learned the hard way.
Anyway, I bought a better, non 3" double, also in 20, and said the hell with ducks (shooting a canvasback or redhead was like shooting a bald eagle in MN, circa 1981) and went grouse hunting. I think much better quality tungsten matrix and heavy-shot loads exist today, which might make using a 20 a reality on turkeys, ducks and geese.
However, should I travel that path again, I'll have a better suited tool than the 20 for the work at hand. I don't need to try to make a 20 into a 12 these days. An additional lesson I've learned, I guess you could say.
Best,
Ted
