When I started down the tss road Andy along with several others said do 20 gauge. I could not wrap my head around it. So I spent 2 years shooting 12 gauge which is awesome. But today I bought a 20 gauge. I decided the extra weight was not worth what it gained. This 20 gauge is like toting a toy. So I admit it boys - yawl were right! Lol. Now if my wife don't take it away from me.
I must eat crow
- Thread starter muddyboots
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You will love it! I had previously carried a Mossberg 835! There is no comparison, I will never go back to a 12 gauge. That looks like a Savage/ Stevens 301 T. I have 20 gauge in obsession and a 410 in real tree timber. That 20 is a certified killer! You will never go back!
I have one just like it although diff camo pattern. Now if my reflex sight would come in. Expected delivery date of 2/27/21.
Southern Sportsman
Well-Known Member
I, too, rejected the wisdom of wiser men when I started loading TSS. I refused to shoot 9 shot. It was crazy talk. I prefer 7 1/2s over 8s for doves. No one in their right mind would shoot 9s at turkeys. I killed a few with a 3 1/2" 2.5oz load of TSS 8s. Slowly moved to a 3" 2oz load of 8s. Then 8.5s. Then I finally gave in and shot 9s. Then I started thinking about those 20 gauges everyone was shooting. Now I'm fully converted.
spoon
Well-Known Member
Lol, I stole my wife's 20 ga. I'm using it until I buy one after guns/ammo stuff is over
30-06 type of guy
Well-Known Member
I just ordered a Burris fast fire 3. It says ship in 3 to 6 days. Maybe I was not lied to.
Congrats Brent, you'll never look back!
Southern Sportsman
Well-Known Member
I haven't had a problem with things getting shipped out. But I've had a hell of a problem with things getting lost by the USPS.
Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
I've eaten plenty of crow...it's not bad with enough hot sauce. Seriously, you'll be happy with the 20 once you get it shooting like you want. A dream to carry and hunt with.
I'll NEVER go back to a 12. One if the best things I ever decided to do years ago.
I'll NEVER go back to a 12. One if the best things I ever decided to do. If I didn't duck hunt still I'd just sell my 12 and buy another 20. Could duck hunt with a 20 but still like a 12 for it
fairchaser
Well-Known Member
Just make sure you kill you first bird otherwise it could be a fire poker. Seriously some guns are killers and others aren't and I've had both. Good luck.
Wait until you try a .410 lol. I feel like I'm carrying my sons daisy red rider. I love it though
So if I'm successful this year and decide to buy a 20 ga you'll take responsibility when I tell the wifey.?!?
FARMTOFIELD
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Lol, I'm pretty sure I was the first on this board to shoot tss, and I started with a 10 gauge. Been toting a 12 for several years now. Should have a 20 gauge here next week.
Levee Jumper
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I'm all about saving that 2 lbs. However it seems as if those that jump up and down about the weight likely carry 2 lbs. of crap in their vest they don't need like a combination of (decoys, a chair, extra bottle of water, extra thick cushion, more shells then fit in their guns, or a box call lol.
Don't get me wrong sub gages are cool as hell I've killed them with a .410 but the "you don't need a 12 gauge" crowd is killin me with the 1- 1/2 oz. TSS loads.....BTW that is a 12 gauge load.
Don't get me wrong sub gages are cool as hell I've killed them with a .410 but the "you don't need a 12 gauge" crowd is killin me with the 1- 1/2 oz. TSS loads.....BTW that is a 12 gauge load.
My 12 ga hasn't been out of the safe since 2016. I love the light weight and reduced recoil and definitely don't feel under gunned.
I'm not knocking anyone Shoot whatever you want. But the day 2 lbs bothers me will be the day I quit hunting I guess lol. I don't carry a lot of other stuff with me though maybe that's why I don't think much of a heavier gun Don't bash me just a opinion lol
FARMTOFIELD
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Weight doesn't bother me much, I look at overall length first and foremost
i did not care either until I hit 50. Lol
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
I'm all for jumping on the 20 bandwagon. But I'm going to wait until things settle down (hopefully that happens) in the supply/demand side of things
Same here lost for weeks.
Turkey taste better than crow .
we got a 20 for dad in his late 70s and a friend hand loaded some tss. After seeing what kind of patterns he had achieved and how much more enjoyable packing a 20 on run abd gun was , I went to one 5 yrs ago , no chance of me packing a sbe over these hills again .
m2 is a killer and no I don't shoot past 40 -50 yds.
sure is amazing how things have changed over 45 years of chasing these birds .
we got a 20 for dad in his late 70s and a friend hand loaded some tss. After seeing what kind of patterns he had achieved and how much more enjoyable packing a 20 on run abd gun was , I went to one 5 yrs ago , no chance of me packing a sbe over these hills again .
m2 is a killer and no I don't shoot past 40 -50 yds.
sure is amazing how things have changed over 45 years of chasing these birds .
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What is tss and sbe???
artwork001
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Nice looking gun!
kbradley
Well-Known Member
Back 21 years ago . When I started turkey hunting ,seriously . Let my buddy use my twelve and i used my wife's twenty . Took my first coupe or three birds with it . My twelve is light and there is no way I will ever give it up by choice for the twenty . That is just me . To each his own .
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
As to the 20 vs. the 12, it's not JUST a gun weight issue.
The 20 has a smaller "footprint", allowing it to be carried "easier" even if it happened to weigh the same as a particular 12 ga. For those familiar with carrying a crossbow, it's like the difference in carrying a crossbow with very wide limbs vs. one with very narrow limbs. Rotational torque issue.
Next, the 20 ga shells are about half the weight of 12 ga shells even when using 1 1/2 oz loads in the 20. You shave off another 1/2 lb or so in your pockets just by carrying 20 rather than 12 ga extra shells.
And if you weigh guns fully loaded, you will find the weight difference loaded is more significant than unloaded, i.e. approximately another 1/4 lb shaved off with the 20 vs the 12.
Last but not least, I've found the 20 ga, despite being a lighter gun, actually has less recoil with 1 1/2 oz loads than my 12's typically have with 1 1/2 oz loads. This may not make "sense", so I welcome others' thoughts on this.
Not knocking the 12, which will always be ballistically superior to a 20 when both are using TSS.
But a 20 using TSS ballistically outperforms a 12 using copper-plated lead loads.
The 20 has a smaller "footprint", allowing it to be carried "easier" even if it happened to weigh the same as a particular 12 ga. For those familiar with carrying a crossbow, it's like the difference in carrying a crossbow with very wide limbs vs. one with very narrow limbs. Rotational torque issue.
Next, the 20 ga shells are about half the weight of 12 ga shells even when using 1 1/2 oz loads in the 20. You shave off another 1/2 lb or so in your pockets just by carrying 20 rather than 12 ga extra shells.
And if you weigh guns fully loaded, you will find the weight difference loaded is more significant than unloaded, i.e. approximately another 1/4 lb shaved off with the 20 vs the 12.
Last but not least, I've found the 20 ga, despite being a lighter gun, actually has less recoil with 1 1/2 oz loads than my 12's typically have with 1 1/2 oz loads. This may not make "sense", so I welcome others' thoughts on this.
Not knocking the 12, which will always be ballistically superior to a 20 when both are using TSS.
But a 20 using TSS ballistically outperforms a 12 using copper-plated lead loads.
Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
Regarding recoil, with 1-5/8 oz loads I can definitely tell when the lil'20 goes off...it's sharp. Might be somewhat softer in autos though.
Definitely softer with the semi auto, neither is bad but there is a difference. My first 20 was a youth pump. My semi autos definitely take some recoil out of the equation.
