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.

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.

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.

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?”

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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