Boomstick Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 (edited) Hey everyone I have a 12 bore benelli crio - and know that it will do the job for anything, but what about the smaller bore sizes.... a few questions 1) How does 20 bore compare to 12 bore? 2) What can you hunt with the smaller bore sizes 20, 410 etc? Are you limiting yourself by getting one? Are there advantages to the smaller bores? 3) What is your favourite bore and why? Cheers, Boomstick Edited March 8, 2009 by Boomstick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogfox Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 (edited) 20 bore has a smaller bore diameter that a 12, as does a 410, you can hunt game with all 3, but the 12 and the 20 would be the best for that, the 410 can be good for rabbits and rats, small vermin mainly and close range pigeons and crows, my favorite would have to be the 12 having shot both 20 and 410s, its just a far more practical calibre Edited March 8, 2009 by dogfox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 (edited) A .410 (3'') has about the same range as a 12b, just less lead. This goes for the same for 28,20,16 bores. You do see gameshooters using 28 bores every now and then, there harder to shoot as 12b (as there's less lead, and spred) but they'll hit a flying target as hard as a 12b- and often see as a challange to use over the larger bores. Edited March 8, 2009 by Bleeh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle eyes Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 (edited) One thing to consider with the smaller bores is the price of the cartridges. My son borrowed a 28g the other month and it cost me £12.70 for 50 carts. Steve Edited March 8, 2009 by eagle eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomstick Posted March 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 One thing to consider with the smaller bores is the price of the cartridges. My son borrowed a 28g the other month and it cost me £12.70 for 50 carts. Steve STREWTH! That is steep! So can anyone cite any benefits of smaller bore? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle eyes Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 STREWTH! That is steep! Yep thats what i thought which i why i ended up buying him a 20g ( £4.10 for 25 much better) Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomstick Posted March 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 Yep thats what i thought which i why i ended up buying him a 20g ( £4.10 for 25 much better) Steve Yer i don't blame you - credit crunch is bad enough without ridiculous cartridge costs!! Boomstick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Fudd Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 STREWTH! That is steep! So can anyone cite any benefits of smaller bore? never used them myself, but theres far less recoil off them than a 12 bore i prefer a 12 myself, i always think the more lead i can throw at something the more likely i am to hit it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 Smaller bores are interesting, I use an old folding .410 when ferreting or magpie shooting or shooting bunnies in rough ground (closer shots) so 25yd stuff really. The theory of same distance as a 12 bore and velocities I understand but don't agree with since you need not just 1 piece of shot to kill most game but a few and you are more likely to injure game at 40yds with the .410 ........ 25yds is very good however. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiff-TRG Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 So can anyone cite any benefits of smaller bore? Less recoil, often no need for so much lead and easier to moderate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexm Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...showtopic=78498 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 never used them myself, but theres far less recoil off them than a 12 bore Less recoil, often no need for so much lead and easier to moderate. Not strictly true, as a 32gm load from a standard 12g gun is easier on the shoulder than a 32gm load from a standard 20g gun. It is a question of the weight of the gun versus the load/speed of the cartridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolhamguns Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 boomstick 1. 20 will normally shoot a bit tighter than a 12. 20 will generally be lighter (and therefore swing quicker) than 12. But as per henry, if you shoot heavy loads (ie 28g + or VERY fast cart) you will probably suffer from recoil 2. what you hunt with a 12 you can pretty much hunt with a 20 - the range of cartridges are there - you just need to be a little more accurate. Can't give opinion on 28g because never had one - seen some good shots using them very well, but why they put 28g of lead through them i cannot understand - ouch ! through a 5lb s/s that must hurt. Only real advantage of smaller calibre is reduced recoil and noise if used with appropriate cartridge + YOU CAN FIT LOADS OF CARTRIDGES IN YOUR POCKET ! 3.Favorite caliber - .410 shot all my game for last 8 years with browning o/u 28'' m/c full + full More of a challenge - makes you think - but for me makes me shoot better. Brought enjoyment back to the sport. Many shooters go back to the smaller gauges later on - but confidence is key. Note though the range of cart for .410 is fairly limited, and although you can shoot your regular game at regular distances you have to really be 'on em', and, you will not be out wildfowling with one ! cg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomstick Posted March 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 Smaller bores are interesting, I use an old folding .410 when ferreting or magpie shooting or shooting bunnies in rough ground (closer shots) so 25yd stuff really. The theory of same distance as a 12 bore and velocities I understand but don't agree with since you need not just 1 piece of shot to kill most game but a few and you are more likely to injure game at 40yds with the .410 ........ 25yds is very good however. Less recoil, often no need for so much lead and easier to moderate. Yer this is what I was thinking - good for short range/less lead jobs, for experts in terms of the long range stuff Thanks http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...showtopic=78498 Lol - I weep at my hopeless mistake. I normally bang on about americanisation ruining the english language and now I have made a schoolboy error :( From now on I will not muddle my gauges and bores!!! Good info mate! boomstick1. 20 will normally shoot a bit tighter than a 12. 20 will generally be lighter (and therefore swing quicker) than 12. But as per henry, if you shoot heavy loads (ie 28g + or VERY fast cart) you will probably suffer from recoil 2. what you hunt with a 12 you can pretty much hunt with a 20 - the range of cartridges are there - you just need to be a little more accurate. Can't give opinion on 28g because never had one - seen some good shots using them very well, but why they put 28g of lead through them i cannot understand - ouch ! through a 5lb s/s that must hurt. Only real advantage of smaller calibre is reduced recoil and noise if used with appropriate cartridge + YOU CAN FIT LOADS OF CARTRIDGES IN YOUR POCKET ! 3.Favorite caliber - .410 shot all my game for last 8 years with browning o/u 28'' m/c full + full More of a challenge - makes you think - but for me makes me shoot better. Brought enjoyment back to the sport. Many shooters go back to the smaller gauges later on - but confidence is key. Note though the range of cart for .410 is fairly limited, and although you can shoot your regular game at regular distances you have to really be 'on em', and, you will not be out wildfowling with one ! cg Thanks for this answer mate - really thorough 410 with full and full sounds a little brave for me - Still fairly new to shotguns! Maybe when I'm a little more mature and clay shooting needs another fun injection B) For now My 12 GAUGE ( ) does me fine and dandy and keeps me thrilled! So then there we have it - Thanks for all the advice! I wont't be straying from the 12 any time soon then I don't think.....I'll just have a go with my friends' guns and that will keep me satisfied :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 Hi, Broomstick, The old adage "pattern kills" is true. Also true is that any pattern density for any bore of gun having the same degree of choke is the same. also, any shot size from any bore size has the same energy. Therefore, what, speaking generally, decides your effective range is the amount of pellets in your load. Again, speaking generally, (you really have opened a can of worms) from that you will see that a 20 bore will be just a few yards less effective than a 12, whereas a .410 will be about a half. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolhamguns Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 um - so generally from this you can assume that with a 12bore you can kill effectively from between 60 - 80yds ?- good luck ! or is it 20 - 25yds with .410 ? my calculator battery has run dry. cg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted March 11, 2009 Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 um - so generally from this you can assume that with a 12bore you can kill effectively from between 60 - 80yds ?- good luck !or is it 20 - 25yds with .410 ? my calculator battery has run dry. cg Depends what your shooting, with what cartridges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted March 11, 2009 Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 I said it was a can of worms which is why I didn't give any specific range figures. However, as we all know the GENERALLY accepted max range for a 12 bore is 40 yards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted March 11, 2009 Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 You do see gameshooters using 28 bores every now and then, there harder to shoot as 12b (as there's less lead, and spread) but they'll hit a flying target as hard as a 12b- and often see as a challange to use over the larger bores. Here's the hose pipe fallacy again. The assumption that because a gun has a smaller barrel bore it must throw a smaller pattern is a wrong one. Correct choking is the amount of constriction required to throw a 30" pattern at different given distances. By definition, 1/2 choke on a 12g will throw EXACTLY the same circle on 1/2 choke with a 20g or a 28g or a 410 - on the same load. IF manufacturers choke tubes are not doing this, then the choke markings are incorrect and the gun should be regulated. The ONLY way to know what a gun's tubes do is to pattern it on a plate and count the pellets in the circle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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