Slug Guns - 12ga vs 20ga

[de novo]

It appears as though I will be fortunate enough to visit Illinois during their 7 day firearm season.

While researching and trying to decide what type of 12 ga slug gun I should go with, I have found articles stating that the 20 gauge has very similar ballistics to the 12 gauge with reduced recoil.

http://randywakeman.com/Slug_Guns_Twent ... _Gauge.htm

Wakeman asserts that with ballistics being practically equal, the shooter should decide if he wants a larger hole (12 ga) or less recoil (20 ga).

I despise shooting my Encore turkey gun and I plan on spending considerable time at the practice range. So my question is:

In your opinion, would there be a considerable difference taking a 75 yard shot on a 230 pound buck with a 20 or a 12 gauge?

 

[switchbacker]

I shoot a 12, never shot a 20, not had too many deer run on me either

 

[tn droptine]

I've hunted with both (growing up in Indiana it was shotgun and muzzleloader only for gun season), and I have killed deer with both. You definitely feel a difference in the recoil, but as far as ability to take a deer down a well placed shot with either will do the trick. I even know guys that switched to a .410 slug gun because they claim it has better range (not sure as the validity of this tho, haven't researched it myself). Really it all comes down to this - a 12ga will be somewhat more forgiving if you make a bad hit than a 20ga will.

 

[Winchester]

The new 20 ga slug guns have came a long way, but that said I have and use a 12 ga with rifled cantilever barrel for a solid scope mount myself. It seems the very best 20 ga slugs and guns are harder to find and more costly than the readily available wide range of 12 ga slugsters as well. As for the shoulder issue that can be solved with a lead sled on the bench.

 

[stik]

i would use my muzzleloader.

 

[horn master]

i would use my muzzleloader.

 

[de novo]

i would use my muzzleloader.

I've got a nice one but there are several scenarios where I would be sick if I missed the chance to take a nice Illinois buck because I limited myself to one shot. :) The plan is to spend a lot of time practicing and have 2 extra shots to seal the deal if needed.

I've heard that the 20 Gauges are noticeably more accurate, but I don't know why that would necessarily be true.

One reason given is the flatter trajectory.

It defies logic to me that a 12 and 20 gauge would have almost identical ballistics but that is what my one morning of internet research is turning up. Advantages for the 20 are slightly better accuracy and significantly less recoil. The 12's give you a larger entry and wound channel. I just wanted some in the field stories of both gauges on deer at shots under 100 yards.

 

[BigSatt]

i would use my muzzleloader.

I do.

 

[102]

Where will you be hunting?

 

[redblood]

It appears as though I will be fortunate enough to visit Illinois during their 7 day firearm season.

While researching and trying to decide what type of 12 ga slug gun I should go with, I have found articles stating that the 20 gauge has very similar ballistics to the 12 gauge with reduced recoil.

http://randywakeman.com/Slug_Guns_Twent ... _Gauge.htm









Wakeman asserts that with ballistics being practically equal, the shooter should decide if he wants a larger hole (12 ga) or less recoil (20 ga).

I despise shooting my Encore turkey gun and I plan on spending considerable time at the practice range. So my question is:

In your opinion, would there be a considerable difference taking a 75 yard shot on a 230 pound buck with a 20 or a 12 gauge?

are u planning on using a slug barrel on your encore?

 

[turk870]

ive got a 12ga savage bolt action it is as accurate as a rifle.has worked well for me

 

[de novo]

are u planning on using a slug barrel on your encore?

Not sure yet. I could do that or buy a slug barrel for my SX3, but I'm always looking for an excuse to buy another gun. :)

 

[44fanatic]

Ive got a Rem870 20ga with the 18" rifled barrel. It is accurate, 3-4" at 100yds (will blame that grouping on me and the 4x scope).

I hit a small buck twice at 80yds using Hornaday SSTs, both shots exactly where I was aiming. Neither round did a complete pass thru but they did their job. Right shoulder was destroyed on the 1st shot, never recovered the round in the left shoulder. This shot stopped the deer within 30yds of where he was hit and he stood for 5-10min before laying down for 10min. After getting up, the second shot was quartering away into the right rib cage and into the left shoulder (recovered just under the skin).

 

[wayers]

ive used and seen deer shot with both, the 20 gauge kills them just as good as the 12 in my experirnce. if ur figuring shoots at around 100yds on your hunt i would look into the remington buck hammers thats what we use and they shoot real good in our guns out to about 120yds. the slugs are the most devastating on deer compared to others ive seen.

 

[de novo]

Where will you be hunting?

Wayne/ Edwards/ Clay county area

ive used and seen deer shot with both, the 20 gauge kills them just as good as the 12 in my experirnce. if ur figuring shoots at around 100yds on your hunt i would look into the remington buck hammers thats what we use and they shoot real good in our guns out to about 120yds. the slugs are the most devastating on deer compared to others ive seen.

Thanks. That's exactly the type of first hand information I'm looking for.

 

[Headhunter]

a savage 220f in 20 ga will be hard to beat. Will kill out to 200 yards and will shoot under 2" at 200.

 

[tnshooter]

I own 4 slug guns. Three 12's and a twenty. I switched to the 20(a savage bolt) two years ago from a savage 12 then went back to a 12 last year because I bought an a-bolt. I liked the 20 better because of better accuracy and less recoil but the browning is a much better gun than the savage. I am not knocking the savage because they are really good guns and they don't cost $1200, I just feel the a-bolt is better. Between the 20ga and the 12ga I can't tell if one is better than the other. They both kill deer dead and shoot well at 200yds. The 20 is going to give you less recoil and a tighter group by a little also in a bolt gun the 20 works smoother when you work the bolt. The 12 will give you more felt recoil but more sustained knock down power at a longer range. So I am not sure what to tell you.

 

[Gravey]

I hunt corp land each year at least once but not usually much more and always used my encore muzzleloader. Problem is when deer are jumping and moving on through thick stuff I wanted more than one shot so last year after going back and forth on the 12 vs. 20 I bought a Mossberg 500 20-gauge. First hunt with it I dropped one in his tracks at about 75 yards with iron sites. It put one heck of a hole through him and I was impressed.

 

[switchbacker]

not to hijack the thread, but i shoot a pump, does the bolt action make that much more of difference?

 

[medwc]

I have a 20 gauge H & R Ultra Slug Hunter that will shoot 1 inch groups at 100 yards all day long using Remington Copper Solid slugs.

I have the same but I use Remington buckhammers and get 3 inch groups at 100 yards. The BHs are a low cost big ol'lead slug and like wayers said they are devastating. They will smash both shoulders on TN size deer.

Note: A 3 inch group is about the size of a baseball.

 

[tnshooter]

It has been my experience the bolt action isnt that much better up to 75yds after that you can really start to see a difference

 

[TENN.BOY]

MOSSBERG 835 AND REMINGTON COPPER SOLIDS 2-3/4" I HAVE USED THEM FOR 15 YRS AND THEY WORK GREAT, BUT THE NEW SAVAGE 20GAUGE IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE BOMB!!!

 

[de novo]

, BUT THE NEW SAVAGE 20GAUGE IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE BOMB!!!

That's what I'm hearing and that's the gun I'm leaning towards now. Just looking for a good deal on one.

 

[Andy S.]

Bud's has them for $440 and free shipping. http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod ... 20GA+22%22

 

[de novo]

Bud's has them for $440 and free shipping. http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod ... 20GA+22%22

That's the best price I've found. Would I have to add sales tax to that on top of the FFL transfer fee?


Dicks and my local guy will let them go for $499.

 

[Andy S.]

Would I have to add sales tax to that ....

I do not think so. Best I can recall, I have never paid sales tax on an out of state purchase. To be sure, I would call Buds and see what they say. They have always been very helpful when I called with questions.

 

[Tn Joe]

I know several guys that shoot the Savage 220. They all love the accuracy but a couple have had misfires. This is the only reason I don't already own one.

 

[DaveB]

Interesting-I work in Buffalo NY and there are quite a few shotgun only areas. Nearly every person I talk to about deer hunting is shooting a 20 or wishes they were. I may be borrrowing a shotgun to hunt this year in NY and the guy I would be going with has a 12 he put away years ago because of recoil.

When I'm at the range, I always use a PAST magnum recoil pad and it quiets down everyting up to my 300 winmag. I've never felt recoil in the field which I belive is the same for just about everyone.

 

[LIL JOKER]

i have to get me one of them 220

 

[de novo]

i have to get me one of them 220

The day I receive confirmation I got a tag, I will be ordering one as well. Most local shops have it for $499 but Buds $440 is the best price I have seen on a new one