20 gauge vs 12 gauge

[Super-Dave]

What is anyone's guess is the difference between the recoil of a 20 gauge shotgun vs a 12 gauge shotgun, if you were using the same model gun and same type of ammo?

I was guessing 15% reduction?

[banditt007]

many times the 20 gauge recoils more.. and i'll explain why.

recoil is basic

-payload
-speed of payload
-weight of gun

many times a 20 gauge weighs a pound or so less than a 12 gauge. you can buy 1oz loads at 1300fps or so for both of them. with that being said the 20 gauge is going to recoil more. also take note that some 20 gauges are built on a 12 gauge frame and arent 'smaller' than a 12 gauge.

IMO unless you can't find a 12 gauge in a gun size that fits you, no need for the 20 gauge. you can even get 7/8oz loads factory in the 12 gauge. and with the 12 gauge you can go much much higher in payload than the 20 gauge.

i like 20 gauges, i've shot many of them, but i just dont see the use over a 12 gauge. The #1 misconception is that automatically if its a 20 gauge its recoil is less. which many times is not true. its very easy to get a heavier recoiling 20 gauge shell vs a lighter recoil 12 gauge shell and visa versa.

and remember too that all shotguns shoot shot at pretty much the same speed. the only difference in gauge is the PAYLOAD that the gun can fire. so one #6 pellet from a 20 gauge at 40 yards has the same killing power as one #6 pellet from a 10 gauge. its just that the 10 gauge can launch out much more shot and give you a higher concentration of pellets in a given area...all other things being equal.

[chris in va]

All I know is my rusty 20ga Pardner single shot recoils a LOT harder than my 12ga Mossberg. Ow.

[HogManMagnum]

im glad this topic was brought up because im looking to buy a shotgun in the next couple of months and im pretty much decided on a mossberg 500/maverick 88. being completly green when it comes to shotguns i was considering the 20 ga for recoil reasons, but i keep hearing people say theres no point in getting a 20 when u can get a 12 as the recoil is the same or worse with a 20.

its going to be solely a home defense gun so i am concerned about recoil with a pistol grip. i have a friend who had a pistol grip 12ga 500 and sold it because the recoil was too much for him (maybe hes just a puss tho...). does anyone have any experience with the 20 & 12 ga mossberg models and can honestly say if theres a big enough difference to warrant going with the 20 over the 12?

also, im considering getting the maverick 88 in 20 because im on a budget at the moment, basicaly as a cheap learner gun. later when i can spend more i'd probably look to buy a 12, either mossberg 590 or persuaer or a 870 marine. does that seem wise or should i just cut the crap and get the 500 12 ga?

thanx & cheers

btw, any thoughts on the norinco remington clones?

[lon371]

I have Mossberg 500 in the 12-20-.410. We primarily hunt deer. We do shoot clays occasionally in the field and take them to the range often. We use the cheap wally world shells for clay and just shooting. So there is a difference in payload. Given all that, the 20 is easier on my shoulders. They do have full stocks, not pistol grips.

I would think if you were to use it for home defence, either would be fine. You probably shoot it a lot anyways (hopefully Im wrong).

I do know here in Southern Indiana, It is hard to find a deal on a used 20. In fact, around here buying used the 12s are cheaper. If I were to buy new for HD, it would be the 12. I would get stock fitted with a good pad and make sure the pull length fits.

What banditt007 said is probably all true with equal ammo. But for us Deer hunting with slugs all things are not equal. I shoot the 12 reguardless of kick. It leaves a really nice hole.:cool:

Go to your ranges or ask your buddies if you can shoot what they have. Until you put lead down range, you wont know.


Good luck

[tube_ee]

and the gun you shoot it in.

If you're using appropriately sized loads in both guns, the 20 will recoil significantly less than the 12, even though it's lighter.

If you're shooting 1 1/8 oz of shot at 1200+ fps in both, the 20 will kick harder, as it's a lighter gun. But then, if you're shooting 1 1/8 oz of shot, why in the heck are you shooting it out of a 20 gauge?

Stick with the right loads for each bore, and you'll be fine.

7/8 - 1 oz: 20

1 oz - 1 1/8: 16

1 1/8 - 1 /4: 12

> 1 1/4: 10

And yes, I know that going to a longer (3" or 3.5") shell will allow you to go up at least one load class in the same gauge. But there's no free lunch, and you'll pay for it in terms of recoil and poorer patterns. The classic bore to payload ratios exist because they work.

--Shannon

[BigJimP]

To answer your question - if you were shooting the same gun (and the guns weighed exactly the same ) and the same load ( 7/8 oz at 1200 fps ) - the answer is the recoil is the same. 7/8 oz load in a 12ga has the same number of pellets as in a 20ga, etc.

My primary gun is a Browning XS Skeet over under, with adj comb, 30" barrels - in 12, 20, 28 and .410 ( the 20, 28 and .410 are all built on the 20ga receiver ). The receiver on the 12ga is a little bigger - and the 12ga weighs about 8 1/4lbs / the 20ga weighs about 7 1/2 lbs. To get them to really balance out the same, I add some lead tape under the forend on the 20, 28 and .410 so they swing and feel exactly the same.

If I shoot the same load in both guns ( 7/8oz of shot at 1200 fps ) the recoil on the 20ga will be 9.9924% higher - using the recoil formula than the 12ga because its a lighter gun. The Ft Lbs of recoil on the 12ga will be 13.21 Ft Lbs and the recoil on the 20ga will be 14.53 lbs.

Its a common misconception that a 20ga has less recoil than a 12ga - and they don't - but it also depends on what you're shooting in them for a load and what the guns weigh. If for some reason you wanted to compare shooting a 1 1/8oz load in a typical 12ga gun that weighs 8 1/4 lbs vs a 20ga gun that weighs 7 1/2 lbs and shooting a 7/8 oz load at the same 1200 fps - then yes, the recoil on the 12ga will be 35% more than the 20ga. But at that point - you are comparing apples to oranges ( its the same model gun, but not the same weight, and its a typical load for each gague gun but it is a very different shell.

[Ruger4570]

BigJimP pretty much hit the nail right in the center. It is all about velocity and payload weight along with the weight of the gun. There is NO magic in the equation, it is simple fact and physics.
I read so many posts saying get your kid a NEF 20 guage, it will not hurt him or her compared to a 12, when in fact a 20 guage 1100 will actually hurt them less,, they just cost more. There is no use in trying to get a a youngster involved in shooting when it is painful to them.

[olddrum1]

One thing that you will not find is the same model of gun and the same ammo. Burn rates on the powder used versus guanity of powder in a twenty versus the same in a twelve is different. 7/8 ounce of shot over 19 grains of International in a twelve will give you around 7100 psi but in a twenty with only 14 grains of powder it jumps your pressure up to 11,000 psi. Whats the difference? Shot column length. BigJimP is right, apples to apples, oranges to oranges. And Amen on the 20 gauge 1100. I highly recommend getting a shotshell data book. I reload and its as much fun as shooting. I only shoot to empty the hulls. A good place to ask that question is at your nearest skeet range on a busy saturday morning.

[BigJimP]

Part of the fun of reloading - and I load for 12, 20, 28ga's and .410 - is that you can customize everything you do. Loads for yourself for sporting, skeet, trap, the field whatever - and loads for new shooter, the grandkids coming up, etc. I have 9 grandkids now - and customizing a 20ga or a 28ga load for them gives them such a better chance of breaking a few more targets - plus they can participate in the reloading - its a great thing.

[jlbpa]

winchester AA 12 ga, 2 3/4, 2 3/4 dram eq., 1 1/8 oz, 7 1/2 shot - remington 870 police magnum

winchester super target 20 ga, 2 3/4 , 2 1/2 dram eq., 7/8 , 7 1/2 shot - H&R Topper single shot

I, and likely you too, will find the 870 more comfortable to shot all afternoon.

However, I'd sure like to have an 870 or 1100 in 20 ga. That would be a nice gun for an afternoon of clay birding. Plus for the high cost of everything I'd probably save a little money loading 20 ga compared to 12.

[oneounceload]

However, I'd sure like to have an 870 or 1100 in 20 ga. That would be a nice gun for an afternoon of clay birding. Plus for the high cost of everything I'd probably save a little money loading 20 ga compared to 12.



I do that with my 1100 in 28 gauge....even easier on the shoulder:)

[BigJimP]

Just load 7/8 oz at 1150 fps or 1200 fps in a 12ga load - and you can save money on shot and balistically turn the 12ga into a 20ga. Far be it from me to tell you not to buy another 20ga if that's what you want - but you can save money by loading a 12ga shell to 20ga specs ( and use the same gun for everything, if you want).

[Boris Bush]

One plus of a 20 gauge is a slimmer feel, slightly lighter, and for smaller people will balance better (I am "smaller" so I know).

I use "20 gauge loads" in my 12 all the time now that I do not have a 20 anymore, but I miss the feel.

[ropadop]

I also handload 12 ga down to 20 ga levels. However, for similar factory loads, the 20 ga will have less recoil than the 12 ga because the shot charge weighs less. I would recommend a 20 ga over a 12 ga for recoil sensitive shooters every time because they would have a better selection of lighter weight loads in the smaller gauge. I have a 20 ga NEF ultra slug hunter and a 20 ga Mossberg 500 slug gun because I prefer to recoil of the 20 ga slugs compared to the 12 ga.

[TxGun]

Delete.

[nemoaz]

its going to be solely a home defense gun so i am concerned about recoil with a pistol grip.First, forget the pistol grip (assuming you mean pistol only grip with no stock). If you feel the shotgun is too unwieldy get a shorter length stock or one of the M4 style stocks. You can't hit much with a only a pistol grip and the shotgun must still be pointed/aimed much more than the average person thinks from watching tv. At typical across the room distances, the shotgun pattern will only be a few inches wide so just pointing in the general direction with the pistol stock may not be good enough.

You will also find that it will kick the crap out of you. I've seen newbies lose their grip on that ultracool tactical shotgun they just bought. And that's before your hands are covered in sweat or maybe blood from an tactical engagement. 12g from the shouldered stock, given proper form, is controllable by even the smallest adults. Reduced recoil buckshot makes it even easier to use.

In the same gun, either 12 or 20 works for me. I greatly prefer the controls of the Mossy 500 over any other pump shotgun. I generally dislike the controls on the Maverick 88.

[Tatsumi67]

When I moved from 20 to 12 it wasnt that big a change, If you can handle 20 you can handle 12. the 12s for me at least do have more of an "impact" factor in a manner of speaking but I didnt notice that much of a change. Then again I am a pretty well built guy so...