20g or 12g

[moses 5]

Right the time has come where i can finnaly buy my shotgun i have decided on a semi auto but cannot decide what gauge to get. my main uses will be for ferreting pigeon and pheasant shooting i am slightly leaning towards a 20g at the moment but am not 100% sure. your thoughts would be appreciated

 

from a very confused newbie.

[JohnGalway 1,043]

12ga, cheaper ammo, no?

[fazerthou 2]

You say you are leaning towards a 20b, why?

 

As the other guy said, 12b is cheaper and far more choice in type, There would be hardly any difference in recoil with an auto. You did say for ferreting and pigeons, Auto's ideal,

 

for pheasants on a full shoot it probably wouldn't be allowed, same goes for clays. The odd pheasant on your permission, is no problem obviously!

 

Depending on your budget you could buy both, you could get a Hatsan Escort auto, and a Lanber / Baikal over & under if you look around, An auto and o/u for less than £500. all 3 makes are excellent, sturdy 1st time guns, without breaking the bank!

 

What you don't want to do is go and buy a brand new expensive gun and then regret it or want to change it in 6 months.

 

Hope this helps.

 

ATB

 

Ps

 

I put 20 ( and 12 ( because Bore is the English term, Gauge is the Yank term.

 

Proud of England, Disgusted with it's Government!

[Dan_Smiff 2]

Go for a 12 mate - the difference in recoil will be sod all, the cartridge prices, choice and availability will be vastly better!

 

Gun choice and re sale will be better with a 12 too!

[masmiffy 82]

As had been said 12G but I personally wouldnt touch a semi with a barge pole!

 

Oh and just to add if your doing a lot of walking the 20G will be a lot lighter.

[SNAP SHOT 194]

i would personally cut my teeth on a 12g because with the 20 you will need to be able to achieve more consistant accuracy to put the shot on target....

 

Also the 20g cartridges are a more expensive...

 

i'd personally go for a cheap 12g in whatever style you prefer be it side by side, over and under, or S/A

 

and cut your teeth on that,

 

 

just my opinion.

 

 

Snap.

[SEAN3513 7]

12g for me

 

espeially if you are pheasant shooting proper !!!!

 

they are frowned upon at clay shooting aswell !!

 

i would go for a .410 AND a 12g...........410 for close work in the feild and pigeons.........12g for pigeons and game shooting....................because it won't stop there...........you'll get addicted ( ask stubby....lol)

 

 

cheers

 

sean

[andyf 144]

Right the time has come where i can finnaly buy my shotgun i have decided on a semi auto but cannot decide what gauge to get. my main uses will be for ferreting pigeon and pheasant shooting i am slightly leaning towards a 20g at the moment but am not 100% sure. your thoughts would be appreciated

 

from a very confused newbie.

OK get a 12G! Like all the other guys said, gun choice in the 12 is unlimited, all the main types/makes/grades come in 12G, probably only 20% will be available in 20G.

Also unless you are exceptionally gifted as a shotgun shot, the extra pellets and pattern of the 12 will 'help' you a great deal.

Why are you looking for a semi-auto? As a beginner I would advise you buy a 'reasonable' multichoke OU (A decent second hand sporter Berretta or Browning can be had for £750) , if you take to shooting I guarantee you will be trading back whatever you bought within the first twelve months for something 'better' (i.e. more expensive and more sexy).

I have an O/U a S/S and a Semi Auto so clearly I havent taken my own advice, so see what happens to your gun cabinet contents after a few years.

Good luck with your first gun, make sure it's the first of many, we need new blood.

[allenyeates 3]

12ga, cheaper ammo, no?

 

Totally agree. More choice too!!

[dave1372 83]

As everyone says go for 12g as ammo is cheaper. As for a semi-auto just bear in mind they tend to need a lot more stripping down and cleaning to keep them cycling cartridges probably. As for comments about acceptability on pheasant shoots and clay clubs there are plenty that don't mind, so go for which one you like the most. ...... At the end of the day in six months time you will probably by another gun anyway so you will have both.

[arveyboy 0]

i'm going to disagree with everyone here so im prepared for the slating. i think a 20 bore or even a .410 is good to start with because it encourages you subconsciously to be a better shot. i found that having a 'harder' gun to work with made me a better shot as it made me more consistent and more accurate. then once you reach that level of consistency you can switch to a 12g and its happy days. my mate used to go on shoots with a .410 and was killing birds that the old buggers with their 12g's couldn't hit. obviously a 20g is more expensive as a general rule but it worked for me. just my 2p worth. bring on the slating

[Deker 3,478]

12g are vastly more popular than 20 and generally cheaper. Ammo choice is vastly wider and cheaper as well.

 

With a 12 you can do anything a 20 can...but a 20 cannot do everything a 12 can!!!

 

Weight wise there can be very little between them sometimes, as many 20g are based on 12 actions and are all but as big and heavy!

 

I'd say without doubt there is a place for both, but the vast majority of people will find a 12 does everything they want!

[IanB 0]

If you want a 20bore, get a beretta silverpigeon, excellent quality and light, as there actually based on the correct action as stated unlike some other guns... I've got a 12bore, but fancy a 20bore...

[danny01 0]

I had both, but in two years all I ever put through the 20 bore was 35 cartridges. I just use the 12 bore for everything

[Mr_Logic 5]

I shoot a 12, other half a 20. I've shot her 20 (which is a silver pigeon) and I really like it, despite it not fitting me. For carrying all day at a shoot or whatever, the little 20 has a lot going for it.