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Dave McC · July 8, 2000, 06:10 AM

For tyros, and those who might need an answer but for some reason hesitate asking questions...

Gauge is an old fashioned method of measuring the bore of a longarm. It's the number of bore diameter sized balls to a lb. So, a 16 ga ball would weigh one oz. Thus, the smaller the number, the bigger the bore.

Here's a rundown of what each gauge excells at, in appropriate sized and weighted weapons.

10 ga,the largest legal gauge.Use is limited to waterfowling and turkey hunting these days, some deer hunting with buck or the mighty slug.

Pros: Payload, for when you absolutelu have to put several oz of lead or a big load of steel out there.

Cons: Weight, kick and expense.Most tens also swing like railroad ties.

12 ga, the most popular gauge these days. Used for nigh everything, and works with proper loads. More variety and styles of shotguns are available in this gauge than any other, and maybe more 12s are sold than the rest combined.

Pros: Available ammo can tailor the load to game from moose to mice,and it's found everywhere. Most 12s are quite portable,and handle well for the average shooter,with acceptable recoil levels.

Cons: The Magnum craze, combined with the American concept of how much a shotgun should weigh, has created myriads of 12s that swing like clubs and still kick like H*ll. If your 12 is loaded with a 1 1/8 oz field load, it should weigh about 7 lbs. More, it's harder to tote,less it kicks a lot.

16 ga, the classic American upland gauge. A little light for waterfowling, but perfect on game smaller than turkey.Good 16s will/should weigh a full lb less than a 12 ga of similar design, and produce better patterns than the same weight shot in a 20 ga case. An oz of shot is the classic 16 laod.

Pros,carries like a 20,shoots like a 12. Also, many used 16 ga doubles from classic makers like Fox and Parker are available cheaper than their 12 and 20 ga counterparts.

Cons: The ammo and gun makers kinda squeezed the 16 out, making 16s on 12 ga frames,thus heavier, and loading the 20 ga up to 16 ga levels, like the 1 oz load now so common.
Ammo selection and availability is less than for the 12 or 20.

20 ga,the smallest of the common gauges. Very popular for beginners, kids,ladies, and experts.Not very good for waterfowling or turkey, it serves well for upland game and clay sports.

Pros: Lighter weight and oft better handling.

Cons: The popular 1 oz load in a light 20 can be a vicious kicker. The better choice is a 7/8 oz load.

A coupla notes....

ALL of the above gauges will work for HD or slug use on deer with proper ammo. More important is how well the shogun is set up and the shooter's skill.

While there is a 410 shotgun, it is of such limited value I hesitate to include it here. Lots of kids start out with the 410, but they would be better served by the 28 ga, which had a bit more shot and tends to have better patterns.Alas,most 28s are expensive customs, and not the sort you'd want to expose to a kid's abuse. There should be a market for a decent, inexpensive 28 double on a true 28 sized frame but it's not offered.

Also, a pattern of any gauge will be the same size as those of other gauges, same choke. The difference is in density. A 28 can kill a bird at 25 yards as well as a 10 ga, but the pattern may not be dense enough to do it at 40+.

Questions, comments,donations?

July 8, 2000, 06:10 AM	#1
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	For tyros, and those who might need an answer but for some reason hesitate asking questions... Gauge is an old fashioned method of measuring the bore of a longarm. It's the number of bore diameter sized balls to a lb. So, a 16 ga ball would weigh one oz. Thus, the smaller the number, the bigger the bore. Here's a rundown of what each gauge excells at, in appropriate sized and weighted weapons. 10 ga,the largest legal gauge.Use is limited to waterfowling and turkey hunting these days, some deer hunting with buck or the mighty slug. Pros: Payload, for when you absolutelu have to put several oz of lead or a big load of steel out there. Cons: Weight, kick and expense.Most tens also swing like railroad ties. 12 ga, the most popular gauge these days. Used for nigh everything, and works with proper loads. More variety and styles of shotguns are available in this gauge than any other, and maybe more 12s are sold than the rest combined. Pros: Available ammo can tailor the load to game from moose to mice,and it's found everywhere. Most 12s are quite portable,and handle well for the average shooter,with acceptable recoil levels. Cons: The Magnum craze, combined with the American concept of how much a shotgun should weigh, has created myriads of 12s that swing like clubs and still kick like H*ll. If your 12 is loaded with a 1 1/8 oz field load, it should weigh about 7 lbs. More, it's harder to tote,less it kicks a lot. 16 ga, the classic American upland gauge. A little light for waterfowling, but perfect on game smaller than turkey.Good 16s will/should weigh a full lb less than a 12 ga of similar design, and produce better patterns than the same weight shot in a 20 ga case. An oz of shot is the classic 16 laod. Pros,carries like a 20,shoots like a 12. Also, many used 16 ga doubles from classic makers like Fox and Parker are available cheaper than their 12 and 20 ga counterparts. Cons: The ammo and gun makers kinda squeezed the 16 out, making 16s on 12 ga frames,thus heavier, and loading the 20 ga up to 16 ga levels, like the 1 oz load now so common. Ammo selection and availability is less than for the 12 or 20. 20 ga,the smallest of the common gauges. Very popular for beginners, kids,ladies, and experts.Not very good for waterfowling or turkey, it serves well for upland game and clay sports. Pros: Lighter weight and oft better handling. Cons: The popular 1 oz load in a light 20 can be a vicious kicker. The better choice is a 7/8 oz load. A coupla notes.... ALL of the above gauges will work for HD or slug use on deer with proper ammo. More important is how well the shogun is set up and the shooter's skill. While there is a 410 shotgun, it is of such limited value I hesitate to include it here. Lots of kids start out with the 410, but they would be better served by the 28 ga, which had a bit more shot and tends to have better patterns.Alas,most 28s are expensive customs, and not the sort you'd want to expose to a kid's abuse. There should be a market for a decent, inexpensive 28 double on a true 28 sized frame but it's not offered. Also, a pattern of any gauge will be the same size as those of other gauges, same choke. The difference is in density. A 28 can kill a bird at 25 yards as well as a 10 ga, but the pattern may not be dense enough to do it at 40+. Questions, comments,donations?