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Q:
In your opinion, is a 20 gauge closer to a 28 gauge or 12 gauge? What makes this so?
Question by younghunter360. Uploaded on December 22, 2011
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Answers (8)
A 20 gauge has a barrel bore of 0.729 inches
A 28 gauge has a barrel bore of 0.615 inches
A 12 gauge has a barrel bore of 0.550 inches
The 20 gauge is closer to the 28 gauge.
Oops, 20 = .615, 28 = .550, 12 = .729
Still, the 20 is closer to the 28
Mr. Pig Hunter already provided the barrel diameter, next you need to consider the payload.
In the standard American 2 3/4" shells, the 28 carries 3/4 ounces, the 20 gauge 7/8 and the mighty 12 delivers 1 1/8 ounces. So again, the 20 is closer to the 28.
However, the 3" 20 gauge magnum carries 1 1/4 ounces, equal to a 12 gauge, but not patterning as well as the 12.
Although the 28 is my favorite gauge, I reload for it, as its factory ammo cost more than twice that of 12 and 20 gauges. Also, the 28 is not as readly available as the 12 & 20.
If you are buying your first shotgun, get a 12 or 20.
By the way, please read my blog at http://awildbeastatheart.blogspot.com
Thank you for the info, I have quite a few 12 gauges, and 1 28 gauge, and had a youth style 20 gauge I sold like 2 years ago...I need something smaller than a 12 but don't want to go all the way down to a .410 and I would shoot the 28 but it is limited in the sense that it is expensive to shoot and only comes in 2 3/4" so I thought a 20 might be a good compromise of price to shoot and size.
Performance would be closer to 28 ga while cost of the ammo puts it in the same catagory as 12 ga
From a practical standpoint, for upland hunting, I would be just as comfortable with a 20 ga. as I would a 12, even on the long birds. A 28 ga, while I too love the gauge, begins to show limitations with it's 3/4 oz payload on birds beyond 35 yards.
If non-toxic shot is required, as in the case of waterfowl and some upland game in public production areas, I'm sticking with a 12.
With that said, I'll disagree with Sourdough Dave and say that a 3" 20 ga is closer to 12 ga. performance in what it can do.
You can look at the numbers all day, but a 20 will do most of what a 12 will, a 28 will be barely adequate for only some of the applications. Nothing wrong with a 28 gauge, but it's for small birds, small shot sizes, and short ranges.
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Mr. Pig Hunter already provided the barrel diameter, next you need to consider the payload.
In the standard American 2 3/4" shells, the 28 carries 3/4 ounces, the 20 gauge 7/8 and the mighty 12 delivers 1 1/8 ounces. So again, the 20 is closer to the 28.
However, the 3" 20 gauge magnum carries 1 1/4 ounces, equal to a 12 gauge, but not patterning as well as the 12.
Although the 28 is my favorite gauge, I reload for it, as its factory ammo cost more than twice that of 12 and 20 gauges. Also, the 28 is not as readly available as the 12 & 20.
If you are buying your first shotgun, get a 12 or 20.
Oops, 20 = .615, 28 = .550, 12 = .729
Still, the 20 is closer to the 28
From a practical standpoint, for upland hunting, I would be just as comfortable with a 20 ga. as I would a 12, even on the long birds. A 28 ga, while I too love the gauge, begins to show limitations with it's 3/4 oz payload on birds beyond 35 yards.
If non-toxic shot is required, as in the case of waterfowl and some upland game in public production areas, I'm sticking with a 12.
With that said, I'll disagree with Sourdough Dave and say that a 3" 20 ga is closer to 12 ga. performance in what it can do.
A 20 gauge has a barrel bore of 0.729 inches
A 28 gauge has a barrel bore of 0.615 inches
A 12 gauge has a barrel bore of 0.550 inches
The 20 gauge is closer to the 28 gauge.
By the way, please read my blog at http://awildbeastatheart.blogspot.com
Thank you for the info, I have quite a few 12 gauges, and 1 28 gauge, and had a youth style 20 gauge I sold like 2 years ago...I need something smaller than a 12 but don't want to go all the way down to a .410 and I would shoot the 28 but it is limited in the sense that it is expensive to shoot and only comes in 2 3/4" so I thought a 20 might be a good compromise of price to shoot and size.
Performance would be closer to 28 ga while cost of the ammo puts it in the same catagory as 12 ga
You can look at the numbers all day, but a 20 will do most of what a 12 will, a 28 will be barely adequate for only some of the applications. Nothing wrong with a 28 gauge, but it's for small birds, small shot sizes, and short ranges.
Post an Answer