predator11
Eight Pointer
Have gun will travel
Posts: 196
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Post by predator11 on Apr 16, 2006 20:54:03 GMT -5
I like a Beretta 3901 in 20 guage for upland game. It will shoot 3" shells if you need more punch for phesants and chukars. I like a 1 oz. load of 5s in the 2 and 3/4 inch shells and 1 and 1/4 oz of the same #5 shot in the 3 inch. I shoot the modified choke tube a lot.
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Post by snipehunter on Apr 18, 2006 10:46:19 GMT -5
I am late getting in on this thread but figured I'd weigh in anyway. I use compact gun in either twenty or twenty-eight gauge. By comact I mean a short O/U or sxs with barrels 26"-27". Longer barrels are more common (or in vogue) right now but like everything else the tide will once again turn sometime in the future. I just got a lightweight 410 and will use it sparingly this year also. Weight variation doesn't seem to matter. I use guns weighing from 5 lbs 3 ounces to 7 lbs 4 ounces with similar results.
SH
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Post by randywakeman on Nov 6, 2006 23:08:12 GMT -5
With a little time at the patterning board, you will convince yourself in a hurry that there is no tangible difference in 20 ga. vs. 12 ga. assuming a quality shell and a quality choke with 1-1/4 of shot. The only thing I've noticed is that some 20 ga. barrels don't not handle #4 shot well at all; not the case in 12 ga. I don't bother with #4 shot much, as it hurts the pellet count too much to properly populate a pattern much past 45 yards with 1-1/4 oz. loads. Whoever came up with theory that "early" pheasants flush close and late season birds flush farther out forgot to inform Illinois pheasants. This bird, shot yesterday, was dropped right at 55 yards, as were the previous two. We've had a wet three weeks here, so there is still a lot of standing corn-- making the last couple of days into much, much more walking than opening weekend normally requires. I'm not getting any younger myself; after walking 15 miles a light 20 ga. (like the B-80 in the pick) is on the bird and fired before one of my pig on a snow shovel 12 ga.'s touches the shoulder. I don't bother with 12 gauges much for the field anymore; a 20 with good shell and choke is more than adequate-- and a lot more fun when walking ditches and filter strips. A still user a Sweet Sixteen quite a bit-- that's even less of a payload: 1-1/8 oz. of #5's.
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