Salop Matt Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 (edited) Hi folks just after some advice. I have always shot a 12bore since the age of 15 but now the girlfriend has decided to get a license to join me clay shooting, a 12 is to heavy for her and kicks her. She shot a beretta silver pigeon in 20 and loved it ( shot well to) but also i have just sold my 12bore mirouku an am looking for a new gun. I thought as my girlfriend will be using a 20 carteridges will be more expensive unless we buy 1000 at a time and thought i may go for a 20 to so that bulk buying ammo will save pennys. I know the 20 will be fine for her only shooting clays but my question is i clay shoot, rough and game shoot and only ever have the one gun other than borrowing dads 12g S/A. Would you advise i go 20 or stick with 12 ? I do like the idea of the 20 but i cant decide if i will miss the bigger 12 in the feild ? Have any of you gone from 12 to 20 and felt it week or inadequet ? P.S. sorry for poor spelling but am dyslexic ! Edited March 10, 2008 by salop sniper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 There are 12g out there that dont kick and are cheaper than a silver pigeon. The browning cynergy is a great gun and has hardly any recoil, i have a shoulder problem and have had no pain from it at all since buying a cynerggy. I use 28g no 8 and there is no kick, with 24g she would be fine. Also, have you checked the price of 20g ammo against 12g? Youll be shocked if you do!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEAD SHOT Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 (edited) A very good question and one that so many of us will consider. More and more people are going 20 bore these days and the old fashioned idea of it being a ladies gun are over. Speaking from a rough shooters view, a 20 bore is absolutely ideal for armed rambling. A joy because of its lightness to carry around and perfectly adequate. I converted from a 12b and have no regrets. Go and buy today. Edited March 10, 2008 by HEAD SHOT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 I prefer my Silver Pigeon 20g for field use.. it's light, well balanced and very pointable... and so easy to carry around all day. Infact these days I seem to be shooting it more than the 12g In my book there is nothing a 12g gives me over the 20g for my shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 I'm firmly with Gary and Head Shot above. I'd go for a 20-bore. I can use a 20 for 90% of the game/rough shooting that I do, but then I prefer not to use cartridges heavier than 28g. If you are shooting high pheasants, or need extra punch, stock up with some 32g cartridges. Stick to 24g to 28g loads for the majority though, as that'll minimise the recoil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSA Shaun Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 Or get an Auto, less recoil that way too. For me I just prefer a 12g, sure its all down to personal preference tho :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted March 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 Cheers guys. Its the weight of the 12g that my girlfriend cant get on with as she finds it hard to swing etc. We arnt shooters who are out every weekend ! We look to go twice a month and do 40 or 50 clays and not for compition other than between our selfs. If we buy 1000 20g 7`s at £173 its 18p a shot, so a weekend of 60 shots (no birds inc) is £10.80 for ammo ! I can happily justify that esp as if am shooting on a weekend am not drinking and a drinking weekend has been known to cost £60 - £80 ( allways £40 +) a time with nothing to show at the end ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted March 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 PS. my dad still has his 12g S/A that i can borrow any time i want ! And the girlfriend refuses to use a S/A of any kind - just her preference ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SecretFollower Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 Sorry to hijack your post SS, but would I be right in thinking I'd be better off with a 20g too? I'm only 5' and not very strong. I used a 12g for my first lesson and got on with it fine but I'm not sure I'd cope with it for a whole morning clay shooting. My instructor said I'd be fine as long as I had the right ammo because I wouldn't get much of a kick, but having read a few posts on here I'm starting to think I'd be better off with a 20g. Any comments/advice would be very welcome. Thanks SF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 maybe a .410 would be even better, apparently its not the size that counts its how you use it :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted March 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 Hi SF, its difficult for me to say as i have no exerience of shooting with a 20g...... yet . Try some different loads in a 12g esp a 24gram load. If like my mrs the 12g guns themselfs are to heavy etc then ask round and see if anyone can let you try a 20g with 24gram ammo ! With the 20g use a 24gram load as am told that a 28gram load in a 20 can kick ! But as i say am not very knowledgeable so hopefully someone else can help you out ! .410 for clays . . . . . . . :blink: sounds bloomin hard work that ! But what ever the gun is, as they say will do the job if you point it in the right place ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden22 Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 (edited) . Edited November 7, 2008 by Maiden22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 (edited) Yes, there is a clear link between poor gun mount and perceived recoil. You need to get the butt placed accurately and consistently, or you will end up bruised and your hit-rate will suffer. I still practise mounting whenever I pick up a shotgun, a) to loosen up, and b ) to keep that muscle memory. Salop, I would add I pandered to my other half's wants when she took up shooting, and got her a 20-bore. We toyed with the idea of a lightweight 12. I figured that if I got her the best tool for the job (so that she wouldn't complain about the gun being unsuitable), she would probably enjoy shooting, and she wouldn't pay too much attention to the arsenal of firearms that I have been building up. That logic seems to be working.... Edited March 10, 2008 by Baldrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 Look at the Lincoln Jubilee. Superbly balanced 20g on a lightweight action. Bit more than their standard Premier, but worth the extra, although the Premier is good value if you are on a budget. Note that recoil is a ratio between the wt of the gun and the pressure of the load. Identical loads will recoil more in a lighter 20b - so if she's feeling less in the 20 used its either down to a lighter or lower pressure cartridge she's been using, or possibly mount and gun fit ( if she's holding the heavier 12b wrong or mounting it poorly, she may well get knocked about ). Since you can still shoot the big loads in a 20b, there is no performance loss, indeed, as noted buy others, even a 28g is very effective in the field and a popular choice in the states. A shorter barrelled 12b, where the balance is brought back so she's not supporting the long heavy barrels , is another consideration. Clayman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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