12 or 20 gauge for deer?

[BlackDragon]

Due to rule constraints around where I live, I am considering picking up a rifled bolt action shotgun for next season. I want to see if I can get comfortable enough and shoot it as consistently as I do my .308. So I'd like to get it now and put in a good amount of range time before next season.

I am currently looking at the savage 212 and 220 with rifled barrels, but I am not sure if the 12 gauge is the way to go or the 20 will be sufficient. I've never shot a 20 gauge to be honest, so I don't know how they stack up as far as recoil. But I can handle a 12 gauge just fine and it doesn't bother me.

Any opinions or firsthand experience is appreciated.

 

[Bananabandit]

I know plenty of people who use 20ga for deer. Recoil isnt bad esp if 12ga is controllable for you.

ive shot plenty of 20gas, owned a few. Sure they dont have the power of a 12ga, but very suitable for deer.

 

[S&W Fan]

I’ve killed many deer with my 20ga. Shotgun. With a rifled barrel they can be Very accurate.
may I ask , why a bolt action shotgun though?

 

[Robin]

Do they even make a 16ga. anymore. Better than both the others, less felt recoil than both.
Robin

 

[BlackDragon]

I’ve killed many deer with my 20ga. Shotgun. With a rifled barrel they can be Very accurate.
may I ask , why a bolt action shotgun though?

I'm more comfortable with a bolt action gun. Plus I have a habit of resting on things to steady my aim, and I don't want to have to pick up the gun in event I have to cycle for a follow up, however unlikely.

So, mostly a mental thing.

 

[BlackDragon]

Do they even make a 16ga. anymore. Better than both the others, less felt recoil than both.
Robin

The guns I'm looking at only come 12 or 20. I've never even seen a 16, lol.

 

[Nighttrain]

I use a 12 gauge Ithaca with a rifled brl, very accurate,

My father uses a 20 gauge 1100 also very accurate,

All the deer we have taken with proper shot placement, did not know the difference.

 

[GOYABEAN]

20g works well bigger issue is finding the deer

 

[MilesTeg]

I've shot probably 20+ with both calibers. Without going into the long story of why I went to a 20ga here are my quick observations.
12ga- used the old rifled slugs(most people consider junk ammo). I can tell you I almost never had to track a deer when shot with one.
20ga- I used lightfield sabots with a rifled barrel (which most people agree are among the best slugs). I only had 1 deer ever flop within sight distance. Most of the time I had a lengthy track and still had to put another round in them. I had probably 3 heart shot and 5+ double lunged and all of them I had to chase around hells half acre.

So my opinion is stay the hell away from 20ga at all costs. I do love 20ga for small game.

 

[Robin]

I have a very old Mossberg bolt action 16ga, with a two round magazine. I cut off the poly-choke and soldered on rifle sights. Its a smooth bore but it's pretty consistent out to a hundred yards using Federal power shocks hollow points. Great old gun, I wonder where I put it. Have to see if I can locate some 16ga. Fed's!!
Robin

 

[BlackDragon]

20g works well bigger issue is finding the deer

If I can hunt in my own county, there are PLENTY. Big reason why I'm considering it.

 

[BlackDragon]

I use a 12 gauge Ithaca with a rifled brl, very accurate,

My father uses a 20 gauge 1100 also very accurate,

All the deer we have taken with proper shot placement, did not know the difference.

I am definitely no marksman, just an average shot. In your opinion, will the extra energy of a 12ga help with a not-so-proper placed shot?

 

[Nighttrain]

I am definitely no marksman, just an average shot. In your opinion, will the extra energy of a 12ga help with a not-so-proper placed shot?

What we have seen a poor shot from either the 12 or the 20 gauge will leave a wounded deer to track, I've seen a poor shot placement from a 30-06 "gut shot" run for 100's of yards

 

[mca90guitar]

Muzzle loader

The 220 is a nice gun. Before rifle became legal my uncle bought two of them for his kids and they hammered a bunch of deer with them shooting 2 3/4 accutips.

 

[Bustedknees]

I traded the 20 gauge bolt action I had in my collection, it was down right uncool looking and embarrassing to use.. like fucking a fat chick, don't let your friends see you with one.

 

[Karpteach]

I have the 220 and have taken deer out to 159 yards (with accutip).

 

[BlackDragon]

I traded the 20 gauge bolt action I had in my collection, it was down right uncool looking and embarrassing to use.. like fucking a fat chick, don't let your friends see you with one.

Can't be worse than the bullshit I get for being cross dominant...

 

[Phauxtoe]

i just can't tell the difference between shooting a 12 or 20 gauge.

 

[1075tech]

Bolt action 12 gauge ?!?!. Have I got a deal for you!!. Cheap cheap cheap. Get some rifled slugs for a smooth bore and shoot cheap.

 

[Saltwater60]

Either one will do just fine. I just bought a Benelli and I chose 20 gauge due to it being lighter. Mines semi auto.

 

[Acer-m14]

my 20ga 3"mag single shot is worse then my 12ga pump on recoil ( after i did some work on the 12ga its like shootin a 22LR ) before that it has give a few the scope eyes LOL .. .. i'll stick with the mosin or 270 win .. but the CVA 50 cal is fun too .. lots of smoke lol ..

 

[Mak45]

The Savage 212/220 rifled barrel bolt action shotgun is a great choice.
I know 2 friends that have a Savage 220. Both said it is very accurate.
A while back I was shopping for a Savage 220, but came across a rifled barrel 12ga pump at a price I could not refuse.
All my shotguns are in 12 & 16ga, but I would like to use 20ga "sabot" for deer.

 

[BDinPutnam]

20g works well bigger issue is finding the deer

I didn't have any trouble finding mine (that I took with a 20 gauge mossberg 500 smooth bore). Went down like a bag of rocks.

Of course I shot the deer from about 30' behind my shed so might've had an advantage.

 

[BlackDragon]

I'm going to see what deals I can dig up. Seems like there isn't a price difference between the 212 and 220. Kinda sad they don't have a stainless barrel option for the 212 though. It might just steer me more towards the 220.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

I have a very old Mossberg bolt action 16ga, with a two round magazine. I cut off the poly-choke and soldered on rifle sights. Its a smooth bore but it's pretty consistent out to a hundred yards using Federal power shocks hollow points. Great old gun, I wonder where I put it. Have to see if I can locate some 16ga. Fed's!!
Robin

My brother has one too, 16 gauge with the old C-Lect Choke. Things almost like new. Hunted with it for years.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

My 2 cents. Had 1100s and 870s in both 12 and 20 gauge, hunted with them for years until rifles became legal in 2005.

20 ga. is a pleasure to carry. Noticeably less recoil than the 12, but still not exactly a .22 when shooting slugs. I'd ball park the recoil at 300 Win Mag in a pump or bolt. Naturally the recoil felt less in an 1100. With rifled slugs I wouldn't push the envelope much past 50 yards. Sabot, maybe 75.

12 ga. packs noticeably more wallop on deer, and on your shoulder. Your average slug load I'd say ball parks in the neighborhood of a 338 Win Mag.

Theres a lot to consider. What's the average range that you get a clear shot I your area? How much do you plan to shoot it? At the range for proper sight in you have to be willing and able to take some punishment. When you get fatigued, stop shooting. Inducing a flinch is wasting your time and ammo, and can likely affect your shooting anything overall.

There is no magic cartridge, shotgun gauge, bullet or slug that will make up for a poorly placed shot. If you don't have a clear shot at the vitals, don't shoot. Do you want to deer hunt, make a clean one shot kill with a well placed shot, or track a wounded deer all day (or after dark)?

Pick one within your limitations, that you have confidence in, and that fits you well. Shop carefully. Shooting a firearm you fear is a waste of time and money.

Good luck in your search, and good hunting.

 

[Harry Hood]

When not using my .308 I shoot a Ithaca 20ga. it does just fine for deer

 

[BlackDragon]

My 2 cents. Had 1100s and 870s in both 12 and 20 gauge, hunted with them for years until rifles became legal in 2005.

20 ga. is a pleasure to carry. Noticeably less recoil than the 12, but still not exactly a .22 when shooting slugs. I'd ball park the recoil at 300 Win Mag in a pump or bolt. Naturally the recoil felt less in an 1100. With rifled slugs I wouldn't push the envelope much past 50 yards. Sabot, maybe 75.

12 ga. packs noticeably more wallop on deer, and on your shoulder. Your average slug load I'd say ball parks in the neighborhood of a 338 Win Mag.

Theres a lot to consider. What's the average range that you get a clear shot I your area? How much do you plan to shoot it? At the range for proper sight in you have to be willing and able to take some punishment. When you get fatigued, stop shooting. Inducing a flinch is wasting your time and ammo, and can likely affect your shooting anything overall.

There is no magic cartridge, shotgun gauge, bullet or slug that will make up for a poorly placed shot. If you don't have a clear shot at the vitals, don't shoot. Do you want to deer hunt, make a clean one shot kill with a well placed shot, or track a wounded deer all day (or after dark)?

Pick one within your limitations, that you have confidence in, and that fits you well. Shop carefully. Shooting a firearm you fear is a waste of time and money.

Good luck in your search, and good hunting.

I probably wouldn't risk shooting at anything further than 150 yards, as I'm not used to it, but likely only going to be shooting within 30-100 yards in the woods. 100 being the extreme. That is if I go hunting where I currently have permission to.

This coming season I have 2 new options opening up to me, and I have yet to set foot on them, so I am unsure of the conditions. Once I've secured permission, I'll go poke around.

And I'm not a bad shot, I can hit where I want to hit at the range, but that's at the range. I'm expecting my newbie nerves to get me when it comes down to it. Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

I probably wouldn't risk shooting at anything further than 150 yards, as I'm not used to it, but likely only going to be shooting within 30-100 yards in the woods. 100 being the extreme. That is if I go hunting where I currently have permission to.

This coming season I have 2 new options opening up to me, and I have yet to set foot on them, so I am unsure of the conditions. Once I've secured permission, I'll go poke around.

And I'm not a bad shot, I can hit where I want to hit at the range, but that's at the range. I'm expecting my newbie nerves to get me when it comes down to it. Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

In that case, I'd be taking a hard look at what a 12 gauge has to offer.

Every season, when I spot a deer, I get a sudden adrenaline rush. I tell myself the same thing, every time. "Calm down, you need to make the shot". The year I don't feel the adrenaline rush, is the year I quit deer hunting.

"Plan for the worst, hope for the best". All any of us can do.

Edit: spelling

 

[pjzwtl]

When I lived in Putnam I used a mossy 500 20g with rifled barrel and shot bernneke sabots very accurate and no issues out to 100 yards but they were the only consistent load I could find for that gun and as is usually true with most shot guns you will need to find the sweet load for whichever one you decide