March 11, 2012, 01:41 AM | #1 |
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12 or 20
Ok guys...heres my question. I have a few 12's in autos but want a Browning 525. I found one I like in 20 gauge with really good wood. If I'm hunting Quail, Doves and Pheasants..will the 20 do as good as the 12? I know 20 gauge might be a little light for pheasant's..but I know a lot of people prefer 20 anyway. I guess what I'm asking is am I going to lose a lot by not getting the 12? Also the 525 light is alloy reciever or steel? Thanks boys.
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March 11, 2012, 04:01 AM | #2 | |
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20
Quote:
Is one ounce of shot enough for pheasant? Yep. Pete
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March 11, 2012, 08:26 AM | #3 |
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Go with the 20ga.....the 12 would be the better choice if you had thrown waterfowl into the mix....
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March 11, 2012, 09:03 AM | #4 |
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Fiocchi makes their Golden Pheasant loads in 20 gauge - they will do the job. For dove and quail, a 20 is more than enough
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March 11, 2012, 11:16 AM | #5 |
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Thanks guys for your help..I think I will get the 20.
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March 13, 2012, 12:37 PM | #6 |
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The 525 is no longer in production -- or in the Browning catalog ---but I don't think it was made with an alloy receiver../ I think they were all steel --- but I don't recall they ever made a "light" model either in the 525 series...
I can tell you for sure - the model 525 I had - was a steel receiver. If you have the serial number for the gun ..you can research it with Browning / and call them - and they'll tell you if they had an alloy receiver. |
March 13, 2012, 01:17 PM | #7 |
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My vote goes for the 20. Read Randy Wakeman's article about the 20 gauge equipped with Federal's Heavyweight load for pheasant at http://randywakeman.com/PickingaPheasantLoad.htm.
After reading that, I don't think you will have any doubts about the 20's ability to handle pheasant. |
March 13, 2012, 04:58 PM | #8 |
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If you miss with a 20 you would have missed with a 12.
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March 14, 2012, 02:38 PM | #9 |
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I drop more roosters with my newer 20 than I did with my old 12.
Fit has everything to do with it. Fiocchi 3" and Winchester Supreme 3" lay the smack on them. I am concerned that my state may institute a non-toxic requirement for all hunting and don't know what I will do if that time comes. Buy the 525 20ga or send me a link to it (just kidding.......not really kidding...I'm shopping for same right now). |
March 14, 2012, 02:43 PM | #10 | |
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Quote:
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March 14, 2012, 03:37 PM | #11 |
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Thinkingman,
There are a lot of stores that still have 525 series Citori's in 20ga ...new in the box....Buds, etc...and I'm confident DJ's can get you one ...( probably for around $ 2,500 ) ....but I don't see many of them used on the market...at gunshows or whatever... DJ's has a used Benelli SuperSport 12ga, 30" barrel for $ 1,400 ...pretty clean...in the rack for sale too....( just saying...) ...or at least it was there late last week ... It'll cycle 7/8 oz loads as long as they're 1200 fps ...so you can load it down to a 20ga load...if you want... |
March 14, 2012, 11:00 PM | #12 |
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The new Franchi 20ga recoil gun is supposed to be good. I'm not a big fan of recoilers but some of their problems (stiff recoil mostly) seems to have been designed out of that model and it is reasonably priced. I like its other features most autos don't have. If I were in the market for a 20 auto, I'd look at that one.
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March 14, 2012, 11:09 PM | #13 |
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Zippy, I live IN the condor range and I do NOT have to use lead free shot for upland hunting. For waterfall hunting you must use lead free but that has been the rule for 20+ years. Please get facts straight before spreading bad info.
-scott |
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