12 vs. 20 guage

[MJ1657]

I posted below about buying a Savage 212. When I was talking to the manager at the Scheels gun dept he said alot of guys are switching to a 20 guage slug gun.

I sit on some field edges so having the ability at some distance shots is important to me. I have not looked at the ballistics info a whole lot yet but thought I would throw it out here for some opinions.

I can say I would not mind a little less kick.

[Archerysniper]

I watch one of the savage sponsored hunting shows last fall where they used the savage bolt .20 gauge and were shooting deer at 250 yards and dropping them on the spot. Not a shot I would recommend but impressive to watch.

[MJ1657]

Not a shot I would take either but I bet its interesting to watch.

[Jackpine Rob]

You get a lot of bang for the buck out of using a 3" 20. The projectile is a narrower slug, and although its been a few years since I looked seriously at that project, the 20 has an awful lot going for it. There is a thing called ballistics coefficient, and pay careful attention to what the ammo companies have done with the newer sabot designs. Pretty freaking cool!

When the dedicated slug guns first came out, the guys playing with it went to the 20 almost immediately, and there is even a gun built around a newer Hornady hopped-up 20 round.

I have 2 extremely nice shooters in the safe - one is my 12 with a Hastings barrel, and the other is my son's 20 with a Hastings barrel. Both are capable of sub-MOA, and I have successfully shot both out to 175 off the bench. Maybe I'll try for little more distance now that the slugs have improved even more - but the pain on the shoulder is always a consideration.....

[jkcmj]

My son has hunted bear, deer, and turkey with his 20 gauge, and all were nice solid quick kill. Can't ask for much better. I on the other hand have killed nearly everything with my 12 gauge 870 express, although after shooting his, I would prefer a 20 gauge for sure. To bad me and the old 12 have so much history, can't bear to part with it after all these bruised shoulders and memorable hunts together...