12 or 20 gauge Savage

[MJ1657]

Posted this on here about a year ago but I didn't end up buying the gun. Thinking about it agsin but I can't decide which one.

I'm set on the Savage 212 or 220. I currently shoot a 12 gauge benelli slug gun. The reason I would go to the 20 is for less recoil.

My main concern is a clean efficient kill so if I have to sacrafice some extra recoil I have no issue with that. I sit on some field edges which provide the opportunity at some longer shots.

Whats your guys thoughts.

[Gordie]

Mj if you hit that deer in the vitals with a 20 ga it will go.down same as a 12 ga .

You are still hitting them with a hefty chunk of bullet .

A friend of mine hunt with a 20 ga has for 30 plus years and he fiesta regret it at all last year he purchased the savage in 20 ga and loves it.

[skee0025]

If your not adverse to a single shot look in to an H&R ultra slug hunter. It may be a single shot but you can get one new for half the price of a savage. Everyone I've spoken to that has them or has shot them has nothing but great things to say. I'll be picking one up in 20 gauge within the next week or so.

[Farley]

Go with the 220. I almost bought one last year myself but picked up an 870 20 ga. with both rifled and field barrel instead. I wanted the open sights. Not sure if the 220 comes with them or not.

[MJ1657]

212 and 220 do not have iron sights

[PerchJrkr]

Buy the 220. 3 rounds touching at 100 yards with Rem Accutips. I havent shot out to 200 yet but ive heard 4" groups. I've only dropped the hammer on one doe with it so far and she went about 60-70 yards and piled up, made a real nice hole..

[lawdog]

I have heard one big complaint about the 220 and that is that the 20 gauge sabots they want you to shoot are hard to find. Great gun though...

[Gordie]

212 and 220 do not have iron sights

You could always have a gunsmith put sights on that barrel.

[PerchJrkr]

Hornady SST's are everywhere now days. The AccuTips are a little harder to find. krugerfarms had plenty of them before the season though.

Why would you put iron sights on a tack driver? Put a scope on it and prepare to be amazed. Pretty impressed so far with my Vortex 3x9

[MJ1657]

I don't want iron sights

[Gordie]

Guess I took it wrong from the way you worded it.

Another plus that this gun has it made the rifle of the year award. So that has got to say something for it.

[Tom7227]

At an advanced hunter ed class I went to years ago the claim was that the 20 gauge is more accurate than a 12. That may not be accurate any longer. But you asked about whether the force would be enough to be lethal. Absolutely. Best thing to do once you get the gun set up is to get a couple boxes of a couple different kinds of slugs and spend some time at the 25 yard range with a bench rest and see what works best for you. I would bet that you can dial that gun in to 3-4 inch patterns at 100 yards if you spend the time and money to work it up.

[uffdapete]

I hunted SE MN with a 20 ga Mossberg youth with a rifled barrel/cantilever scope mount for 10 yrs and it did a fantastic job for me. I shot Remington Copper Solids cause that's what it shot best. Haven't kept up with the advances in Sabots but there are probably better rounds today. I also went with a 20 for lighter recoil. It was good for at least a dozen 1 shot kills out to 140 yds. If I was going to hunt with shotgun again I'd use the same set up.

Nearly used it for deer after moving north but ended up buying a rifle cause we do encounter 200 yd shots occasionally.

[MJ1657]

Guess I took it wrong from the way you worded it.

Another plus that this gun has it made the rifle of the year award. So that has got to say something for it.

I should have made that little more clear.

I think I should have worded my whole post a little differently. I undertand that the 20 ga. will cleanly kill a deer.

I guess my question is if the 12 ga. is superior to the 20 ga. enough to put up with the extra recoil.

[Gordie]

Is bigger better I think only the shooter can honestly answer that. In my opinion the only significant difference is the recoil,but the ballistics guys may tell you different

[96trigger]

I have been researching this gun for a year now. I would buy the 220. Both seem to be great guns but the 220 seems to be more accurate at longer distances. One forum had a guy (a supposed professional gun tester) shooting 3.5 inch groups at 200 yards. It is hard to say whyit's more accurate. My best guess with 220 is that there is less recoil and maybe the loads fit that gun better. I just looked at a 212 last weekend they are a nice fitting gun.

[Tom7227]

The drop of the slug beyond 150 yards is pretty steep. At 200 yards it is close to 12 inches. Check out this link or google shotgun slug ballistics

https://www.google.com/search?q=shotgun+slug+ballistics&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=fcd&tbo=u&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ydALUe2QBNH8yAHQyICYBw&ved=0CEcQsAQ&biw=1440&bih=745#imgrc=LyFN3sekhPcgrM%3A%3BOQv3H_lsI84VtM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fi285.photobucket.com%252Falbums%252Fll60%252Fplasticexperts%252FTrajectoryChart-3andahalf600pix.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fslugshooting.accountsupport.com%252Fforums%252Fviewtopic.php%253Ff%253D8%2526t%253D952%3B600%3B432

[JackPineGuy]

I like 20 gauges a lot. For slugs i prefer an auto loading 12 gauge, but ive shot plenty deer with my 870 20gauge. I like 20 gauges to for pheasents, sum hunters would shun me for that but hey.

[Whoaru99]

I guess my question is if the 12 ga. is superior to the 20 ga. enough to put up with the extra recoil.

That's too open ended to answer. What is your measure of "superior"?

[96trigger]

The hornady HSOforum has the droop for the 20 gauge sst at 8.2 inches at 200 yards, that is sighted in dead on 150.