12 or 20

[yournodaisy]

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.

[darkgael]

I'm hunting Quail, Doves and Pheasants..will the 20 do as good as the 12?

The difference is marginal, depending on the load that you choose. If you shoot one ounce loads in both gauges, there is no difference.....except that that 525 is going to be easier to carry all day.
Is one ounce of shot enough for pheasant? Yep.
Pete

[gunut]

Go with the 20ga.....the 12 would be the better choice if you had thrown waterfowl into the mix....

[oneounceload]

Fiocchi makes their Golden Pheasant loads in 20 gauge - they will do the job. For dove and quail, a 20 is more than enough

[yournodaisy]

Thanks guys for your help..I think I will get the 20.

[BigJimP]

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.

[Bob9125]

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.

[the rifleer]

If you miss with a 20 you would have missed with a 12.

[thinkingman]

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).

[zippy13]

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.

California's lead-free condor zone isn't that far from WA geographically and politically. We have to use non-toxic bullets and shot in the condor zone. Both are more expensive than conventional lead loads.

[BigJimP]

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...

[Creek Henry]

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.

[scotts_4x]

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