12 or 20 gauge for Wild birds

[nutntoit]

What is your caliber of choice for knocking down wild Pheasant and other upland birds? I have been considering switching from 12 to something smaller.

[87Ford]

Wild ringers = 12ga

[Man Tracker]

20, challenge yourself...

[jrebel]

Best all around shotgun is a 12 guage in my oponion but a 20 will get the job done and is better suited for smaller upland birds like chucker, hun, etc. 

You should have one of each.   

[Bob33]

A 20 can be lighter but a 12 has more shot capacity and is more versatile. Both will kill birds within their limitations which means shorter range with a 20.

[bobcat]

When you're hunting wild pheasants, especially after opening weekend, you really need a 12 gauge with at least 1-1/4 ounces of shot. Often the closest shots you get will be roosters jumping up at 40 yards. By the time you shoot they're at least 50. Not a shot you really want to try with a 20 gauge.

[metlhead]

If you choose a 20ga., be sure it has 3" capacity for versatility. I only shoot steel shot in mine, and never feel undergunned. Those late roosters are tough, and I do have to pass on some that a 12 or even lead loads may handle. 3" 7/8 ounce load of steel 4s will kill everything inside 35yds.

[nutntoit]

Thanks for the replies. Iv been hunting with a 12ga for years but after handling a few 20ga O/Us I have been considering a switch. Sounds like maybe I shouldn’t change a good thing since I hunt mostly wild pheasant.

[Bob33]

A lighter gun is more pleasant to carry, and a wee bit quicker to mount. You may give up 5 to 10 yards. If range is most important than you'll probably want a 12 but there are other considerations.

[T-Bone]

For only upland, I think the 20 Ga. is a better choice...Lighter, slimmer and the shells weigh less, too. If you ever plan to hunt waterfowl or hunt the State Pheasant Release Sites or NWR open areas, I would select the 12 Ga. for the versatility of a variety of non-toxic or steel shot loads.

To be honest, I start the pheasant season with a 28 Ga. and then move up to the 20 Ga. or my favorite, the 16 Ga. I do hunt late in the season with an extremely light Ithaca Model 280 SXS or Ithaca Model 37 pump both in 12 Ga. Even then 1 1/8 oz. of lead or bismuth #5 shot seems plenty. I'll save the 1 1/4 oz. lead #5 or #4 shot load for those windy, spooky bird days or the (ugh) group, gang pheasant drive...Grew up in Iowa...Been there/done that...Never again.

[tlbradford]

What dog are you hunting behind?  Pointers = 20 guage, flushers = 12 gauge.  With my pointer I often find myself waiting for the bird to get a little more distance from me.

[birddogdad]

depends on how well you can shoot. If you are marginal, smaller gauge just shows your marginal skills worse... I have friends that run 28's and make me look like a rookie with my 12.... weight concerns? look at something semi like the benelli ultralights, purist, O/U or SBS.... carry tubes to swap based on bird flushes in the field real time.

[ctwiggs1]

I'm at the point now where I use my 12 for turkey and waterfowl, and my 20 for everything else.  It's an easy day wandering fields with the pup and a 20.

[AWS]

I used to shoot both, 1oz of 5 shot in the 20 never let me down.  I finally found a couple of sub 6# 12ga sxs's and still shoot either with 1oz lead 6's or 7/8-1oz of ITX 6's or Bismuth 5's in 2 1/2" shells, I use the same soft non-toxic loads for waterfowl.  I can't tell the difference.  My old hunting partner(serious upland hunter) a few years ago went from a 12ga Berreta to a 20ga and thinks it is perfect, has a lease in WA, farms in MT and hunts ND & SD most years, pheasants, sharptails, huns and quail.

[nwwanderer]

Several of each and throw in a 28 and a 410 just because