12ga. Or 20 ?

[Leon County Slayer]

I'm sure this topic has been beat to death before but i did a search and didn't find it so....

My wife wants me to pick out a silver pigeon over under for my Christmas gift and I'm not sure which to get. I do a little dove hunting each year and hope to do a bit of duck hunting next year but it will be primarily dove. I've read numerous articles and it seems to be a real mix out there. I'm not too concerned about kick so much as application. Thanks for any help. Mods can move to other side of the ranch if hats a better fit.

Thanks.
Brian Milinski

[Smart]

Dove hunting with an O/U is 20 gauge all the way with me. I'm personally not a fan of 12 gauge OUs due to recoil....but that just me. FND handles one just fine with the occasional hickey on his shoulder.

Duck with an O/U is cumbersome loading and unloading in a blind or without getting your barrels wet if you are wading. Besides that silver pigeon is too nice to take duck hunting...

Also....look at minimum 28" barrels....

[Gherkin05]

Hard to beat a 686 20ga for doves and upland game. You can shoot 20ga on ducks but 12ga is recommended if you don't shoot a lot. HeviShot out of a 20ga on passing ducks is impressively devastating.

[Smart]

You can shoot 20ga on ducks . HeviShot out of a 20ga on passing ducks is impressively devastating.

Yup....so is steel over decoys..

I went exclusively to a 20 for ducks and geese in 2005 to 2009 and those 3" #3s out of the Benelli M1 20 were deadly.

Found a few pics with 20ga shells in there for proof. Now I did have to head shoot the goose when he decoyed in.....I treated the head like a dove...

[AtTheWall]

Since you mentioned ducks = 12 gauge.

You can reduce load charge on a 12 for dove and upland style wing shooting but, hunting ducks with a 20, you want as much umph as you can get from a shot shell on ducks. And reduced load charged 12, require reloads to get there.

Duck feathers are dense and they require a solid hit. You can nail ducks with a 20 but, you will wound more versus a solid 12 shot shell.

Course, you can get the 20 gauge for quail and doves and pick up a cheap 12 gauge pump for ducks, down the road.

Get a decent shooting jacket or vest, kick and recoil solved - my .2

[mjbtexas]

I use a yildiz 20ga for ducks and dove. I beat it up, had the "shoulders shaved" on the pins and it works like a charm. Clean it and keep greased and you'll be fine.

[jerp]

Most will say that if you are going to own just one shotgun ,go with the 12 because of it's versatility - and they are probably right. However I have been dove hunting for close to 40 years and never used anything other than a 20 gauge. I don't duck hunt often and prefer a 12 when I do, but I have shot plenty of ducks over decoys with a 20. In 20 gauge I have a Remington 1100, an older Franchi auto, a Ruger Red Label and recently picked up a Silver Pigeon 1 with 30" barrels. (my current favorite!)

[Razrbk89]

If you're working ducks close and finishing them, a 20 gauge is more than enough. If you're trying to pass shoot/treetop/sky bust, not so much.

I'd go with the 20 for the purposes you described

[3rdShot]

I use a yildiz 20ga, had the "shoulders shaved" on the pins.

What was that for? I have 12 and 20 ga Yildiz O/Us, haven't had any issues.

[AntlerCollector]

I'd go with the 20 over the 12. Awesome dove gun, and with the right ammo is plenty gun for ducks too

[Quackerbox]

I'll second what Smart said.

A 20 will smash a decoying bird all day everyday. Even a 14 year old can do it




But theres only a few places Id tote a silver pigeon

[Richard M.]

I've never liked the idea of the thought entering my mind if I have enough gun or wishing I had a little more. I've always shot 12ga and tried to switch to a 20, but ended up going back. If recoil is not a concern then I say a 12 will do everything a 20 will do only better.

[DapperDan]

12ga. Or 20 ?

20 o/u with mod choke in top and light full in bottom. 28" barrel. Then buy a benelli nova for a duck gun. Or a benelli sbe ii. I have both benellis and they just shoot. No jams nor issues. Just shoot. Covered in mud or frozen. Just shoot.

Disclaimer: I could never take one of those o/u duck hunting. Waaaayyy to pretty of a gun for how I hunt ducks!


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[WyoBull]

I skipped over the 20 and went to the 28 gauge for upland game including dove, quail and pheasant. A 28 will work well on ducks over decoys if you are a pretty good shotgunner.
I then use my Beretta Extrema for ducks and geese.
Just a thought as something different to think about. You can get a nice 28 for upland do game and then a Benelli Nova or something like that in 12 gauge for ducks.
There is nothing like carrying my 4.9 pound Benelli Legacy 28 for upland birds versus a heavier gun. Just a thought.

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[sharkhunter]

Go with the 20ga your shoulder will be glad you did.