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BigJimP · May 11, 2013, 04:42 PM

With a Skeet Choke ....Shooting 7/8 oz in a 20ga ...will give you the same effective 30" pattern as shooting 7/8 oz in a 20ga.. Shooting a ( with a skeet choke) 7/8 oz in a 20ga will give you the same effective 30" pattern as 1 oz in a 12ga...etc..../ so you're understanding of a 12ga having an inherently bigger pattern is flawed.

Pattern size is a function of the choke you use ..not the gague.

Density in the pattern goes up - if you shoot more shot...so if you shoot 7/8 oz of shot there are less pellets in the pattern than if you shoot a 1 oz load.

So some shooters do a little better with a 12ga and 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz of shot than they will do with a 20ga and 7/8 oz of shot ...but it isn't because the pattern is bigger / its because there are more pellets in the pattern ( so the outer edges of the pattern might get you an extra bird here and there when you essentially miss with a 12ga).
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But in Skeet/ if Skeet was your only game ....a lot of shooters, shoot just as well with a 20ga as they do a 12ga.
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It comes down to which gun suits you better.
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But unless you're a real serious competition shooter ( and it doesn't sound like you are ...versatility is the issue here )...and for a first gun, that's why some of us are recommending a 12ga ....and then add the same model in a 20ga down the road if you want a stand alone 20ga shotgun.

In 5 Stand, Sporting Clays and Trap ...a 12ga is a better all around gague because you can easily go to 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz loads ....and that is not easy to do in a 20ga ( especially one with a 2 3/4" chamber ( you can't shoot 3" 20ga shells in the Citori XS Skeet model ).

The extra weight in the 12ga Citori XS Skeet - reduces recoil ...and over time ( like a 4 day tournament ) that's a big deal.
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Down the road with the 12ga version ...you can go to full length "tubes" like Briley Mfg tubes if you want - and then you can shoot 20ga, 28ga and .410 in just one gun. There are pros and cons to "tube sets" ( not choke tubes ) full length sub gague Tube Sets...but that's another discussion.
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Scores in the 22 range are not bad...but they aren't competitive in any tournament either..( in 12ga, 20ga, 28ga or .410 ).....not even at a local club level ! ...let alone by region, state, etc...where 10% or more of the field will run 100 straight in Skeet competitions.

My hunch is you'll reach your potential sooner ( with more 100's straight ..in a 12ga as a new shooter than you will with a 20ga / and have a gun that's more versatile).

May 11, 2013, 04:42 PM	#14
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	With a Skeet Choke ....Shooting 7/8 oz in a 20ga ...will give you the same effective 30" pattern as shooting 7/8 oz in a 20ga.. Shooting a ( with a skeet choke) 7/8 oz in a 20ga will give you the same effective 30" pattern as 1 oz in a 12ga...etc..../ so you're understanding of a 12ga having an inherently bigger pattern is flawed. Pattern size is a function of the choke you use ..not the gague. Density in the pattern goes up - if you shoot more shot...so if you shoot 7/8 oz of shot there are less pellets in the pattern than if you shoot a 1 oz load. So some shooters do a little better with a 12ga and 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz of shot than they will do with a 20ga and 7/8 oz of shot ...but it isn't because the pattern is bigger / its because there are more pellets in the pattern ( so the outer edges of the pattern might get you an extra bird here and there when you essentially miss with a 12ga). ------------ But in Skeet/ if Skeet was your only game ....a lot of shooters, shoot just as well with a 20ga as they do a 12ga. ----------- It comes down to which gun suits you better. ---------- But unless you're a real serious competition shooter ( and it doesn't sound like you are ...versatility is the issue here )...and for a first gun, that's why some of us are recommending a 12ga ....and then add the same model in a 20ga down the road if you want a stand alone 20ga shotgun. In 5 Stand, Sporting Clays and Trap ...a 12ga is a better all around gague because you can easily go to 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz loads ....and that is not easy to do in a 20ga ( especially one with a 2 3/4" chamber ( you can't shoot 3" 20ga shells in the Citori XS Skeet model ). The extra weight in the 12ga Citori XS Skeet - reduces recoil ...and over time ( like a 4 day tournament ) that's a big deal. -------------- Down the road with the 12ga version ...you can go to full length "tubes" like Briley Mfg tubes if you want - and then you can shoot 20ga, 28ga and .410 in just one gun. There are pros and cons to "tube sets" ( not choke tubes ) full length sub gague Tube Sets...but that's another discussion. ------------- Scores in the 22 range are not bad...but they aren't competitive in any tournament either..( in 12ga, 20ga, 28ga or .410 ).....not even at a local club level ! ...let alone by region, state, etc...where 10% or more of the field will run 100 straight in Skeet competitions. My hunch is you'll reach your potential sooner ( with more 100's straight ..in a 12ga as a new shooter than you will with a 20ga / and have a gun that's more versatile).