12 or 20 gauge shotgun?

[police women of America]

Thanks for all the replies!
I actually got my shotgun a couple months ago. Unfortunately I haven't had time to shoot it, but after deer season I will. And maybe I'll give another update on how it shoots.  After all the replies I decided to get a 12 gauge Remington express model 870 26" barrel and it can hold 3" or 2-3/4" shells. It's a beautiful gun, and I got it for a great price too it was only $300. I'm still deciding whether the second one should be a 20 gauge, but I think I'll shoot this one first before I decide.

[boneaddict]

Ironically enough, my favorite pump.   Action as smooth as it gets.  Yay!   You'll like it.

[JLS]

A very solid purchase.  I killed a lot of birds with my 870 before I upgraded.  Good choice on the 26" barrel, that will make it a much better upland gun.

[JDHasty]

A very solid purchase.  I killed a lot of birds with my 870 before I upgraded.  Good choice on the 26" barrel, that will make it a much better upland gun.

26 or 25 is my favorite. 

[jetjockey]

870's are great guns.  I grew up with a Wingmaster 12ga with 28" barrels that I love, but I don't shoot anymore.  You can use them for anything. 

[Alpine Mojo]

12 gauge for duck or geese, 20 gauge for upland.  All other details come down to personal preference.  Ford vs Chevy pretty much sums it up.

[jackson7]

nice 20 gauge Remington 870 on weapons classified. I prefer the older ones, only thing I would do is open the choke.

[MP123]

The obvious solution is 16 gauge! 

Seriously, it more about stock fit than gauge...

[police women of America]

I'm glade to hear I made a good purchase! Definitely gotta get another 870 next year.

[nwwanderer]

Great choice, especially with all of the barrel options available.  You might want to expand your horizons for #2, pick them all up and point them, you might find a 28 gauge that just falls into place.  Stack barrel even.  Who knows?

[police women of America]

Great choice, especially with all of the barrel options available.  You might want to expand your horizons for #2, pick them all up and point them, you might find a 28 gauge that just falls into place.  Stack barrel even.  Who knows?

Thanks for the advice! That's true, there might be one that fits me a little better. I'll definitely test out all my options before buying the second.

[Wacenturion]

Great choice, especially with all of the barrel options available.  You might want to expand your horizons for #2, pick them all up and point them, you might find a 28 gauge that just falls into place.  Stack barrel even.  Who knows?

Been shooting 28 gauges since the late 60's.  Still have one 12, a short barreled turkey gun that I use, but quite honestly the range I self impose on myself to shoot turkeys, a 20 or 28 would work just fine.  I used a 28 on just about everything upland and as long as you know the capabilities of any shotgun, they all work. An open choked 28 in a duck blind on close (25 yards and under) decoying birds is an absolute killer. I might add that a more open choke will make you a better wingshot.  JMO

[huntingfool7]

28 gauge is a great bore if you're a reloader.  Otherwise ammo choices are exceedingly limited and carry very high prices compared to the more popular 20 gauge.  However, pack that little hull with handloaded HW or TSS and it'll kill way out of proportions in a five pound shotgun.

[jetjockey]

With the ease of buying ammo online and having it delivered to your house, the 28 is a fantastic little round.   You can buy premium RST Pigeon loads for $12.50 a box.  Those little buggers are 1oz of #7 1/2's at 1300fps.  I watched a guy smoke wild late season SD rooster after rooster with those loads.....  Wih that said, I have a sidelock 12ga SxS coming my way that i really don't need.  I have found no reason to need a 12 bore, but this one has a lot of personal meaning as it belonged to one of my best friends, and the guy who bred my current trial dog.  He lost his life 2 weeks ago flying home from a hunting trip in Europe. I will happily carry that gun in the field and hopefully kill many, many birds over it in his memory.  The last thing he and I talked about was me possibly buying that gun from him. 

[police women of America]

28 gauge is a great bore if you're a reloader.  Otherwise ammo choices are exceedingly limited and carry very high prices compared to the more popular 20 gauge.  However, pack that little hull with handloaded HW or TSS and it'll kill way out of proportions in a five pound shotgun.

Yeah I really want to get into releoading but I won't be able to offerd all the tools for another five years or so. Thanks for the tip!