20 ga. 3in. vs 12 ga. 2 3/4 inch

dannej

I have a Win. o/u 20 ga 3 inch I have hunted with for years and really love. I found the 3 inch #6 shot a bit light for turkeys this year. I can get a 12 ga. barrel for my NEA 410 in 23/4 only. Would the extra 1/8 oz. of shot make that much difference in hitting power to make it worth while? HOw about with Remington Heavy shot? Anyone know a website where I can get detailed info on shotshell ammo, such as number of pellets per gauge/shotsize etc.?

He Dog

Actually a 12 guage in 23/4 might pattern better than the 3". You are likely to get more pellet deformaties with the 3" shells, because more of the pellets rub against the barrel and there is more pellet compression and deformation at the rear of a heavier load. The Brits worked out optimum loads for each guage years (centuries?) ago. The only way to improve on those load sometimes is to lighten them. If the choke on your gun is changeable go to an extra full if you have not already. Also consider the duplex loads with 4 & 6 shot made for turkey (I am not sure they are made for 20 guage).

aglore

Hevi-shot comes in 20 guage turkey loads. Try www.ballisticsproducts.com or go to www.waterfowler.com and see what the waterfowlers are saying about Hevi-shot.

AlleninAlaska aglore@gci.net

How would you rather die, 10,000 foot pounds of muzzle energy in the BUTT or a sharp knife in the HEART?

dannej

Thanks for the replies!

nord

Deformaties perhaps, but the real difference as I understand things is the length of the shot column. The larger the gauge, the more shot arrive on target at about the same time.

While that makes little difference on a piece of paper, it makes a great deal of difference on a target such as a turkey. Turkey pieces parts tend to move and time isn't on your side after the trigger is pulled.

Think about it!

nord

dannej

Thanks Nord! I did find some info in a book about number of shot that I found interesting....
The number of #6 shot pellets in each shell is:

20ga. 3 inch=281
12ga. 2 3/4 =366
12ga. 3 inch=450
12ga. 3 1/2 =506

With your point and this info I think I will be getting a new barrel for the NEF.

binder

I am new to 20 gauge but have gone quail hunting and found that even though this reuger red label in 20 swings nice(3"-2/4, 2/4dram loads), it doesn't seem to have the range as my 12 gauge has or the accuracy.
Could also be I have more confidence in the 12 gauge at 40 yards,

nord

Ruger Red Label in 20 gauge is as fine a domestic gun as exists. Range and accuracy is no different than a 12 gauge, with the exception that there are fewer pellets in total but a longer shot column.

It's your accuracy that's the problem. A 12 gauge covers that up by scattering more lead per round.

nord

buckdeer

my father and i are using remingtons hevi-shot this year for turkeys and couldn't be happier with the results. we get very tight patterns with 3 inch 12 ga. loads of #5 shot using a factory remington full choke. we have taken four turkeys this season and all died in spectacular fashion. i would try the 20 ga 3 inch hevi-shot first.

v35

Wouldnt no.4 or larger be better for larger tough small game?
What it loses in pattern it makes up for in greater energy per pellet.