Originally Posted by Drew Hause
Back on p.3 Ted proved himself the sage of DoubleGun wink
"A 2” 12 gauge would make a lot of sense-if the 20 gauge hadn’t been invented."

Reviewing Burrard's 1947 2nd Edition of The Modern Shotgun and there is very little regarding the 2" 12g, but found this:
"The 2-inch 12-bore...was originally introduced as an alternative to the 20-bore (when desiring a lighter gun) and fired the standard 2 1/2-inch 20-bore charge of 3/4 ounce, its purpose being to eliminate the danger caused by the accidental intermingling of 12- and 20-bore cartridges...But experience proved that this shot charge was too light (related to lower pressures and velocity) so the shot charge was increased to the standard 2 1/2-inch 16-bore weight of 7/8 ounce."

The point of Lancaster's pre-1900 "Pygmies" 1 oz. load was to enable the sportsman to carry more shells, not a lighter gun.


The cheap, but, effective, Federal 20 gauge promo loads are showing up, in quantity, at the local Wally World-I use them to good effect trying to perfect my shooting off the right hand shoulder with my (GASP!!!) 1100 gas gun. My hope is to be somewhat proficient with one of the 20 gauge doubles about the place come fall. I tried my Brother’s 12 gauge 1100, and, damn if I don’t shoot better, and enjoy, the 20 gauge version, more.

Little is promised to us. Much less this bit of hope of mine, but, hope is all I’ve got.

Two inch 12 gauge ammunition has not been noted to be in stock. I would not consider that a criticism of Wally.

My late Father, 22 years active duty, 8 years of making reservist’s lives hell for one weekend a month, considered hunting trips to be gauge specific, to all participants. Logistics are a big deal to Marines, I’ve noticed.

Best,
Ted