20 gauge for duck hunting

[lunker651]

I was thinking about going duck hunting this year. This is my first year hunting ducks. I was thinking about taking a 20 gauge shotgun. I do have a 12 gauge but I don't want to use it for ducks. What do you guys think about using a 20 ga. and what kind of # shells should I used? Tell me what you should recommend?

[ChuckN]

I wouldn't. I couldn't kill a duck with a 20 ga w/ 3" mag shells. I sold the gun a long time ago.

Why not use the 12 gauge? I personally won't own another 20 ga.

[FOOT]

Lunker, I've used a 20ga for ducks and pheasants but did find it a little restricting. If at all possible I would use your 12ga rather then your 20.

Unlike Chuck I own several 20ga and like them all but you have to know your distance and loads.

[Nova]

If you have a 12ga. use it. The 20ga is ok at close range, but with steel shot you need all the punch you can get. If you use the 20ga I would use no smaller than 2 shot and only take shots within 30 yards. 12ga you can use 4 or smaller, but bigger is better in my opinion. When shooting big ducks like mallards I use BB,other ducks I use 2 shot.

[Quackaddict9]

I've always done good with 20 ga., shot 2 and have had quite couple great memories with that gun, shooting 3 mallards 3 shots, 1st duck I shot with that 20 ga was a banded mallard and killed my first goose, but now I'm older and bigger I use my Benelli 12 ga. So I think you'll be fine.

[Tyler Holm]

All shotguns are designed to kill. There are a few situations that a 12 will out-perform a 20, but I would say 70-80% of the time, the guns are equal.

I use a Browning 12 BPS with 3.5 shells. I don't think its necessary unless you want to capitalize on the additional 20-30% of the birds that may get away with the 20.

Those birds are hard to bring down and there is no sense in wounding a bird and letting it die or suffer later. That's the main reason I go with a bigger gun (and shell). Also, I don't take shots that I know I cannot kill the bird. With my setup, I am not afraid to shoot at ducks 45-55 yards away. With a 20, I would keep it well under 45 yards.

[tealitup]

If he is shooting over decoying birds there will not be a problem. If you hunt with someone else you might always want to take the first shot. (good excuse anyways).

I can understand not wanting to hunt with your 12ga. if it is special to you. I think most people on here have beat up there waterfowl guns pretty good.

You can buy hevi-shot in 20 ga. and you will increase your odds a little more. If you go with steel then a #2 or #1 3 inch load will be fine.

Oh, welcome to the great sport of waterfowl hunting!

[Mark Christianson]

I use my 20 gauge Benelli on opening weekend.

Woodies and teal typically are the birds filling the bag for us. So the 20 is perfect in my eyes for the smaller birds. I don't see a need to use a 12 gauge when the birds decoy readily, and are just smaller birds overall.

I bring my 12 gauge with though. Just in case.

After opening weekend of duck hunting I pretty much convert over to my 12 gauge depending on the birds that are around.

If there is still a bunch of the smaller local type birds, I'll break out the 20. I just love shooting that gun.

Once the northern birds are down, the 20 stays in the gun cabinet. I need those extra pellets in the 12 gauge to fill my pattern gaps. It seems that later in the year, the pellets just don't seem to hit the birds as much....

[mwal]

A 20ga is fine for waterfowl with the proper shells. Use hevi shot or Kent tungsten matrix. Both are heavier than lead and steel. A 20 ga with hevi shot is better than a 12ga with steel due to hevi shots weight. Remember in shotguns pellets traveling at 1250 fps have the same power whether they are shot form a .410 or a 10ga the only difference is pattern density. If you are going to use steel only I would use your 12ga. to get pattern density with the lighter steel pellets.

Mwal

[Mark Christianson]

I use 3 inch steel 4 shot for early season birds, and have no issues at all. Well, I shouldnt say no issues at all, I miss just like the next guy.

But again, I am using my 20 gauge when the conditions(types of birds and how they are working) are right.

I am not confident shooting be fat Greenies with the 20, unless they are working the dekes real good.

[Bassboy1645]

i know u didnt metion goose, but for 4 bucks u can get a goose permit for early season. your bound to see some geese fly by too and i like to have it all covered. but dont get me wrong a honker is a big tough bird. I had one honker take three direct hits from my 12 before the third shot dumped him. and this was three inch bb loads!!!!!! besides if you dont need all the power of a 12 or the recoil u can downsize shot and or lenght of shell to get less bang. good luck with ur duck hunts!!!!!!111

[riverrat56]

I would have no problem bringing my 20 banger into the sloughs duck hunting, My old 1100 12 ga has a fixed full choke, not good for steel shot, can't afford hevi shot, last year all I used was my 20 ga and it had plenty of power for ducks, as long as you know your shots and choose wisly.

O btw, my 20 is only 2 3/4 in and last year i shot 12 ducks and lost one, not because I crippled it, it kept diving and I could not for the life of me find it, after 20 mins I gave up on it.

So if you choose your shots right a 20 will be just fine.

Oops, I suppose since that duck was diving it was crippled wasn't it

[wyldewal]

I was just thinking of this the other day. My oldest boy starts hunting next year and I was debating the 12 vs the 20. I finally decided that I'll just wait and see how much he grows over the next year.

I also have a buddy who shot his first duck with a 410. But that was back in the days of lead shot.

[captkev]

I have several 12's and a ruger 20 red lable, If I'm shooting birds over decoys, I love the 20 over/under... Improved cyl and Mod Its probably killed more birds than all of my 12 guages put together. I would'nt sit in the goose pit with it but its great over decoys for woodies and teal.