​​12 Gauge vs. 20 Gauge for Duck Hunting: Which One to Choose?

By
Sean Campbell
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It’s a regular debate between hunters on forums: should you use a 12-gauge or 20-gauge shotgun when hunting ducks? While both have their respective advantages and can help you to take down more ducks, they are best reserved for certain situations.

Which gauge do hunters prefer for waterfowl?

The research found that the majority of people who participated in a survey reported that they preferred to use a 12-gauge shotgun instead of a 20-gauge shotgun.

Is a 12-gauge shotgun really better than a 20-gauge? Let’s explore everything you need to know about the 12-gauge vs 20-gauge shotgun.

12-Gauge Shotgun: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • You might’ve heard that 12-gauge shotguns have more recoil than 20-gauge shotguns, and they do, but a heavier gun can enable you to shoot heavy loads with less recoil.
  • A 12-gauge shotgun will provide more pellets within a 30-inch circle. It has a larger shell, so it can accommodate more pellets to increase your chance of striking your target. The more pellets you have, the more you increase your chances of at least a few of them striking ducks.
  • Since a 12-gauge shotgun can handle heavier loads, this is beneficial because it gives you more opportunities to make a shot, such as if your decoy spread hasn’t worked well. This can especially be valuable when you’re trying to shoot late-season ducks that have become used to seeing different duck decoys so they’re less likely to be fooled into thinking they’re real ducks.

Cons

  • A 12-gauge shotgun is heavier than a 20-gauge shotgun. This makes it more laborious to carry around during a hunting trip, especially if you have to walk through water when duck hunting.
  • Since it’s heavier than a 20-gauge shotgun, a 12-gauge isn’t the most user-friendly choice for hunting beginners.

20-Gauge Shotgun: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • A 20-gauge shotgun is light, so it prevents recoil while being more user-friendly if you have to do follow-up shots when hunting. This helps you to maximize the shotgun’s potential.
  • It works well for duck hunting as a result of how it has enough pattern density to shoot birds that are within 40 yards.
  • It’s light enough to carry around when you engage in jump shooting. If you’ve ever gone jump shooting, you know that it can take hours to achieve success and you have to walk a lot. By using a 20-gauge shotgun, you won’t have to carry a heavy gun around. Its lightweight nature also makes the 20-gauge user-friendly for beginner hunters.
See also  .308 Winchester for Black Bear Hunting? Best Ammo (Round, Load, Cartridge) for a Successful Black Bear Hunt Hunting Calibers 04 Apr, 2020 Posted By: Foundry Outdoors Is the .308 Winchester a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for black bear hunting? The accurate answer is “it depends”. However, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether the .308 Winchester is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest black bear. As with anything, the devil is in the details. To answer the question completely, we would need to evaluate the downrange distance to the black bear, the bullet type, the grain weight of the bullet, the physical condition of the firearm, the size of the black bear in question, the shot placement, the local wind conditions, the expected accuracy of the shooter, the ethics of the ideal maximum number of shots – the list goes on. [Click Here to Shop .308 Winchester Ammo]What we can do is provide a framework to understand what average conditions might look like, and whether those are reasonably viable for a shot from the average shooter to harvest a black bear in the fewest number of shots possible, i.e., ethically. Let’s dive right in. In the question of “Is the .308 Winchester within the ideal range of suitable calibers for black bear hunting?” our answer is: Yes, the .308 Winchester is A GOOD CHOICE for black bear hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement.Let’s look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. Assumption Value Caliber .308 Winchester Animal Species Black Bear Muzzle Energy 2620 foot-pounds Animal Weight 340 lbs Shot Distance 150 yardsWhat is the average muzzle energy for a .308 Winchester? In this case, we have assumed the average muzzle energy for a .308 Winchester round is approximately 2620 foot-pounds. What is the average weight of an adult male black bear? Here we have leaned conservative by taking the average weight of a male individual of the species, since females generally weigh less and require less stopping power. In this case, the average weight of an adult male black bear is approximately 340 lbs. [Click Here to Shop .308 Winchester Ammo]What is the distance this species is typically hunted from? Distance, of course, plays an important role in the viability of a given caliber in black bear hunting. The kinetic energy of the projectile drops dramatically the further downrange it travels primarily due to energy lost in the form of heat generated by friction against the air itself. This phenonemon is known as drag or air resistance. Thus, a caliber that is effective from 50 yards may not have enough stopping power from 200 yards. With that said, we have assumed the average hunting distance for black bear to be approximately 150 yards. What about the other assumptions? We have three other primary assumptions being made here. First, the average bullet weight is encapsulated in the average muzzle energy for the .308 Winchester. The second important assumption is ‘slightly-suboptimal’ to ‘optimal’ shot placement. That is to say, we assume the black bear being harvested is shot directly or nearly directly in the vitals (heart and/or lungs). The third assumption is that a projectile with appropriate terminal ballistics is being used, which for hunting usually means an expanding bullet.Various calibersA common thread you may encounter in online forums is anecdote after anecdote of large animals being brought down by small caliber bullets, or small animals surviving large caliber bullets. Of course those stories exist, and they are not disputed here. A 22LR cartridge can fell a bull elephant under the right conditions, and a newborn squirrel can survive a 50 BMG round under other specific conditions. Again, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether .308 Winchester is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest black bear - and to this question, the response again is yes, the .308 Winchester is A GOOD CHOICE for black bear hunting. [Click Here to Shop .308 Winchester Ammo]This article does not serve as the final say, but simply as a starting point for beginner hunters, as well as a venue for further discussion. Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. Disclaimer: the information above is purely for illustrative purposes and should not be taken as permission to use a particular caliber, a statement of the legality or safety of using certain calibers, or legal advice in any way. You must read and understand your own local laws before hunting black bear to know whether your caliber of choice is a legal option.Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online.We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo.We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. Leave a commentComments have to be approved before showing up Your Name * Your Email * Your Comment * Post Comment

Cons

  • A 20-gauge shotgun has a lower muzzle velocity. This term refers to the speed at which the shot is released from the muzzle. With lower muzzle velocity at your disposal, this means that your shots will lose power faster, which makes the 20-gauge much more effective when you’re hunting waterfowl at shorter ranges. It’s not effective at long ranges.
  • This gun can’t accommodate non-toxic shots that are larger than the #2 shot. This isn’t user-friendly if you’re hunting large waterfowl, such as Canada geese, and require a BB or T shot to make your kill deadly. If you want to find out more about hunting geese with a 20-gauge shotgun, read our guide, “20 Gauge for Goose Hunting: Is It a Good Idea?”

12-Gauge vs. 20-Gauge: Comparison

Now that we’ve looked at the pros and cons of 12-gauge and 20-gauge shotguns, let’s explore their features to see how they compare in different categories.

Versatility

Both the 12 and 20 gauges can be used to hunt a variety of animals, such as waterfowl, turkey, and deer. However, since a 20-gauge has lower recoil than the 12-gauge, you can quickly do follow-up shots with it which is beneficial as you don’t want to leave a wounded animal out in the wild to suffer.

That said, choosing the 12-gauge makes the most sense if you want to hunt a variety of animals instead of limiting yourself to waterfowl. This is because it has better stopping power and a larger range, as well as being heavier. These features serve to boost its power, helping you to use it when hunting larger games. So, basically, you can’t go wrong with a 12-gauge shotgun in your backpack.

Efficiency

Since a 12-gauge shotgun has larger shells, this increases your shooting accuracy, even when shooting ducks from a distance. It also has a wider bore diameter so you can fit more shots into it, which results in a higher pattern density as compared to the 20-gauge shotgun.

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If you’re shooting ducks that are flying overhead, you’ll want to ensure you have a 12-gauge shotgun at hand. While you can use a 20-gauge to kill ducks, you won’t get a far range as compared to a 12-gauge.

A 20-gauge shotgun is most effective at closer ranges, whether you’re hunting waterfowl or deer. This is as a result of how it has a lower muzzle velocity than the 12-gauge.

Speed

The 12-gauge shotgun has an advantage over the 20-gauge shotgun when it comes to velocity. It helps you to bring more energy to your target.

Generally, a 12-gauge shell can hold 1 ⅛-oz of shot. By comparison, a 20-gauge will hold ⅞-oz. This extra amount helps you to get a denser spread at any range you’re shooting. What this means is that when more shot is released from the shotgun muzzle, more of it will reach your target to increase the chance of you killing more ducks.

Kickback

Recoil is an important factor to consider. When taking your shot, recoil in your shotgun could cause your body to move, such as if you jerk your shoulder, which can make you miss your shot.

A 12-gauge shotgun has a larger cartridge, so it produces more recoil. In fact, this is why some waterfowl hunters choose to use the 20-gauge shotgun instead. It’s more comfortable, and as a bonus, a smaller cartridge makes the 20-gauge shotgun lighter to carry around.

Weight

So, how much lighter is a 20-gauge shotgun as compared to a 12-gauge? A 12-gauge shotgun weighs approximately eight pounds when unloaded. By comparison, a 20-gauge gauge gives you about 6.5 pounds.

Price

When it comes to shotgun affordability, both the 12- and 20-gauge is worth it. The cost of ammo for each of these guns is similar, with 12-gauge ammo costing a few cents more per round than 20-gauge ammo, so you won’t have to spend a lot of money for either one.

So, Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re not sure whether to choose a 12-gauge or 20-gauge shotgun for your next duck hunting trip, especially because they both have important advantages, it’s good to consider the style of your shooting as well as your hunting situations.

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Choose a 12-gauge shotgun if:

  • You want the ability to shoot waterfowl as well as other types of game, without having to own different shotguns.
  • You want to be able to shoot flying ducks.
  • You hunt in a variety of locations and want to shoot ducks at long distances should the need arise.

Choose a 20-gauge shotgun if:

  • You won’t be shooting ducks at distances further away than 30 yards. An example is if you rely on decoys when hunting waterfowl, and will therefore only need to shoot ducks at close range.
  • You want a light gun that’s easy to carry, such as if you engage in regular jump-shooting activities.
  • When shooting ducks at approximately 30 yards or closer, you want high-pellet density, such as with the use of a #4 shot. This can help you to kill small ducks. To find out more about the #4 shot, read our guide, “#4 Shot For Ducks: Is It a Good Idea?”

Related Questions

What choke should you use for your 20-gauge shotgun?

The modified choke is the most versatile type that you can use with your 20-gauge shotgun. It works effectively to strike your target at around 15-35 yards.

Is it worth it to shoot ducks that are flying overhead?

Although this isn’t the best shot for beginners, shooting flying ducks can be beneficial. This is because you’ll have greater access to the ducks’ vital zones when they’re flying over you.

Conclusion

If you want to go duck hunting, should you bring a 12-gauge or 20-gauge shotgun?

In this guide, we’ve featured some important pros and cons to know about these shotguns, as well as how they compare in different categories. While both can work, they do shine in different hunting conditions.

Sources:

  • Mud Buddy
  • DecoyPro
  • Duck Tracker
  • Ammo
  • Ammo For Sale
  • Gun Tradition
  • Gone Outdoors

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