Check out our wide range suitable for game of small, medium and large size CHOOSE CARTRIDGES BY GAUGE ALL GAUGE GAUGE GAUGE 12 GAUGE 16 GAUGE 20 GAUGE 28 GAUGE 36 GAUGE 410M And trust me, it doesn’t exist. You know good and well that YogiBearWhoopieCushion has it coming. I wouldn’t say the same thing for all types of versatile big game hunters. Rabbit is one of the top desired game animals for meat and is hugely abundant and well established in most areas. Large game is where buckshot and slugs come into play. Some of the lowest priced shotguns on the market carry some of the highest credentials. Today, an online search for 16-gauge shotgun shells delivers an abundance of offerings from all the major shotshell manufacturers as well as a plethora of smaller companies getting into the game. What this gun actually is is a partially machined 12 gauge receiver with a goofy tapered barrel stuck in it. I was a smaller kid, and the 12-gauge kicked a little too much for me. The 12-gauge offers more power than the 20-gauge and shoots ammo designed for its larger bore. Shotguns are also great tools for shooting small game, especially if you are driving the animals or hunting over dogs. and give you a fairly straightforward summation of the information and also a piece of advice. 12-gauge shotguns have bigger shells than 20-gauge shotguns, so they throw more pellets and they typically kick harder. Short Lane have whats called the Stack-N-Pack adapters for the 12-gauge. Especially in thick brush. It’s the proper amount of power for a wide range of animals. The Perfect Small-Game Gun. There are a lot of areas in CA where I can hunt small game but they only allow shotguns with non-lead shot. March 27, 2019 October 9, 2019by Wade Thiel. But first, here’s a primer on shotgun terminology and how it applies to you. What are your thoughts on the 12-gauge shotgun? If the bulk of your hunting is going to be for smaller sized small game, such as rabbits, quail, pheasants, etc., then feel free to go with a 20-gauge. Because of this, I ended up hunting with a 20-gauge shotgun. Wade divides his time among various outdoor activities in both urban and rural environments. Shotguns are sized according to the bore diameter. It would also be beneficial to take a firearms self-defense class if that’s how you plan to use the weapon. But don’t go thinking that you need an arsenal of rifles and shotguns in order to be an effective small game hunter. You will not be disappointed. Hunting small game with Winchester rimfire and shotshell ammunition … it doesn't get any better. A versatile small-game hunter should regard his firearms as the foundation of his hunting gear. But then again, there is just something about that 410 loaded with some #4 shot. Big bucks, land management, rut reports, and tips for the whitetail obsessed. The 12-gauge offers more power than the 20-gauge and shoots ammo designed for its larger bore. That’s good to know that the twelve-gauge would be good for both small and large game. 12 Gauge: The 12 gauge is by far the most popular shotgun size in the United States and possibly the entire world. If you can only own one gun as a hunter, I’d suggest you get a 12-gauge shotgun. 6 Shot would work. Both camps have a loyal following that will argue for their side until the cows come home. Part 1/2 . Stay up to date on new products and offerings. I would say most adults don’t need to either, and many younger hunters and shooters can easily handle a 12-gauge. An exception to the gauging measurement in shotguns is the .410, which is a small firearm that manufacturers measure by the bore size. Shotguns for Hunting Small GameThe coolest thing about shotguns is how inherently versatile they are. If you could switch the projectiles out for larger or smaller ones, then I could see it being a good way to fit the animal your hunting. 12 Gauge Ammo Shells; 12 Guage - 2-3/4" 1-1/8 oz. Using a 12-gauge is an overkill for the small game at close range. #7.5 Shot - Winchester Super-X Game Load - 25 Rounds ... Winchester's Super-X Game Load shells provide the quality and reliability you have come to depend on from Winchester. davers, Jul 18, 2020 #2 While some people out there will advocate for other weapons, there’s no denying the 12-gauge shotgun is an extremely versatile one. In today's market, I'd go with the cheapest ammo. The extra power makes it more effective in the field. Oct 13, 2012 On my 12 gauge for grouse hunting I have an 24in barrel that gives me plenty of room to swing when I’m in thick cover. There are … Especially shotguns for hunting small game. Use #7 1/2 or 8 shot. As I grew, the kick of the gun was less impactful. Just get a small game load. Grouse and partridge hunters also find the 20-gauge to be the ideal combination of portability, ease of use and lethality—little wonder it was once referred to as the queen of upland guns. Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:20 pm . There are different sizes of birdshot, which are numbered according to size. ... **Action and Gauge: **A 12-, 16-, or 20-gauge makes the most sense. It’s been used in self-defense, police, and even military scenarios for decades. If that same shotgun accepts multiple types of barrels, and many do, it might also be used very effectively for whitetail deer. The .410 is named after its caliber measurement; the diameter of the bore is .410 of an inch, just as a .308 rifle cartridge is .308 of an inch. I will be hunting doves, rabbits, squirrel, and groundhog. The smaller the number, the bigger the size of pellets in the shell. Hi Kushanav, I’d suggest first taking the gun to a good gunsmith to ensure that it’s in good working order. It has been a fight stopper from the old west to World War Two. This will piss off a lot of shotgun snobs, including some guys who really know what they’re talking about. For birdshot, the larger the number, the smaller the pellet. Shotguns make shooting a moving target much easier. Before that, I’d hunted with BB guns and a .22 rifle. The Pedersoli Classic Side-by-Side 12-Gauge is stylish, with exposed hammers that fall on No. All of them work admirably. 12 gauge is probably the most popular choice among shotguns in the United States. Rabbit is generally hunted with a shotgun. An adventurer by nature, he is always up for a challenging hike, fun hunt, or day out on the water with friends and family. It’s a real thing 12gauge is multipurpose weapon but it’s have certain limits as reange wise. The extra power makes it more effective in the field. No matter your pursuit, Upland Game Loads level the equation with bird-stopping surety. Shotguns shoot three different types of shells: birdshot, buckshot, and slugs. It’s adept at bringing down game of basically all sizes. Then there are those that hunt small game like rabbits and squirrels with a 12 gauge. As a result, a 20-gauge shotgun is smaller than a 12-gauge. Usually, 12 gauge and high brass, small shot rounds such as a #8 are most commonly used. 4, 5, 6 or 7 cartridges are permitted, as are crossbows and bows and bolts and arrows … 12 gauge is such a popular shotgun shell that most of the time, when people are talking about their “pump action” or “semi auto” shotgun, the gauge is completely left out. While it might seem that a versatile shotgun would be costlier than one with a narrower range of capabilities, the opposite is true. The only two gauges worth considering are 20 gauge and 12 gauge. These aren’t hard and fast rules, though. It’s the proper amount of power for a wide range of animals. None of them are perfect. This is a point of contention among some hunters, but the 12-gauge is generally the better gun for large game. With smaller pellets, you also get more pellets in a single load. Tree Stand Hunting for Beginners: Tips to Make Your First Hunting Trip a Success, Advantages to Using Your RV as a Hiking, Backpacking, or Hunting Basecamp, The Importance of Blaze Orange When Hunting. The smallest shotgun used for hunting purposes is the .410 for rabbits and squirrels, typically, while the largest is the 10 gauge for geese and swans. I didn’t need to worry about it as much. Produced in just about every type of shotgun from semi-automatics to pump actions and everything in between, the 12 gauge is the shotgun of choice for big game, turkey, waterfowl, upland, and small game hunters. By Phil Bourjaily. When I first started hunting with a shotgun, I was maybe 10 or 12 years old. 7/8th oz shells make the 12 ga awesome for small game- you can even go less than that with good handloading. You should hunt with the shell that you feel comfortable with that will kill without destroying the animal. I've never taken a rabbit or squirrel with a shotgun, and wonder... do you have anything left if you hit one with a 12 gauge (#6 steel, 24" w/mod choke)? Here’s why it’s such a good hunting gun. Some shooters don't realize these "clunky guns" are poor examples of .410s. The 12-gauge shotgun is a versatile weapon also because of the design of shotgun ammunition. Many hunters regularly kill deer and other large game with a 20-gauge, but I’d suggest a 12-gauge over a 20-gauge. I have been asked many times if a 12 gauge is too much gun for hunting small game. I shoot squirrels all the time with a 12 gauge and it doesn't blow them to pieces. Then there are slugs, which are single projectiles, like a bullet in any rifle. Technical hunting apparel and purpose-built gear for the avid hunter. Shotguns that use the term “gauge,” such as 10-gauge, 12-gauge, and 20-gauge, rely on an arcane system that correlates the bore diameter to how many lead spheres of that size it would take to make a pound of weight. Of rhe shotguns, that would probably be the 20. Possibly the most common type of 12-gauge shotgun load, birdshot comes in a variety of sizes. In a given year, an enterprising hunter might use his or her shotgun to hunt everything from mourning doves weighing five ounces to wild turkeys topping out at twenty-five pounds. https://www.themeateater.com/.../using-shotguns-for-hunting-small-game Required fields are marked *. Birdshot and buckshot both fire multiple metal pellets. The MeatEater Newsletter has our picks for the week's best hunting, fishing, wild foods, and conservation content along with special deals and recommendations for subscribers. Back when fixed chokes were the norm, a 12 gauge was a bit much for small game in close, so the 16, 20, 28, […] It does not have a vent rib on the barrel. But for you folks who don’t have the money or inclination to accumulate a collection of firearms, don’t fret. 12 Gauge For hunters that prefer the larger shot size (4 shot) and heavier loads, go with the Mossberg 500 12 gauge. A buckshot shell has pellets like birdshot, but those pellets are much larger and suitable for larger game. Good for the gobblers and turkeys that don’t move as fast as ducks. October 11, 2004. Optics aren’t nearly as integral to small game hunting as they are to big game hunting. 12-gauge shotguns are perfect for small game when loaded with the right kind of birdshot. The Bull Stops Here For example, rabbits, squirrel, quail, and doves should be hunted with a size 6 or 7 and 1/2 birdshot; geese, and ducks should be hunted with 2 to 4 birdshot; pheasant and Turkey with 4 to 6. When he isn’t enjoying the outdoors, he’s writing, reading, or tinkering with motorcycles and cars. If you can find 12 gauge shells loaded with 1-oz of shot and fired in either a full or modified choke this would be a nondestructive load for small game. If you own a vault full of shotguns, that’s great, as long as you spend enough time with one of them to learn how to use it. Your email address will not be published. Having the ability to fire a 20-gauge or a .410 bore shot shell would be a handy choice. This applies to the hinge action shotgun (single shot or double barrel). By and large the “big gun” is the 12 gauge. In your search you may find an old Wingmaster 870 youth model 20 gauge from the late 1970s or early 1980s. Shotguns shoot three different … I'd recommend #4's for easier to extract from meat pellets You can also hunt larger game with a 20-gauge shotgun, but the 12-gauge provides more power with honestly only a little bit more kick. The regular: 1 1/4 oz will also work fine but I'd use a improved cylinder bore for this 12 gauge load on Squirrels and Rabbits with #6 or #7 1/2 size shot. But here I’m just going to cut through a lot of the B.S. From the loading table to the field to the dinner table. The 12-gauge is probably a little big for small game, but it’s been the most popular gauge for … To achieve this level of versatility with a rifle, you’d need a caliber that was ideal for everything from squirrels to moose. There are some hunters that shoot with buckshot loads for the longer ranges. I always laugh when I see guys stumbling & bumbling through the woods with a 30″ barrel on a gun that’s better suited for turkey or duck hunting than grouse. A person could spend days reading up on these arguments in dedicated firearms magazines, and you’re welcome to do so. I’ll have to think about getting a shotgun like that if I decide to start hunting for my friends. i dont want to put a lot of holes in the meat. I have used a Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun with a 2.75 inch slug, for hunting white tail deer for years. Its the ideal prepper shotgun with such capability. If you want to bring your level of preparedness up to 100%, that can be easily achieved with the addition of a .22 caliber rimfire rifle. The 12-gauge shotgun isn’t just a good hunting weapon. Upland Loads Lead Game Loads. The shotgun was a step up, and I took some time practicing shooting with my father. I have a old 12 gauge shot gun of my grand fathes. Note E : 10, 12, 16 or 20-gauge shotguns using shotgun shells between 2.60 mm and 3.40 mm in diameter, muzzle-loading or breech-loading rifles and shotguns using shot between 2.60 mm and 3.40 mm in diameter are also permitted. There are different sizes of birdshot and buckshot. Even though rimfire rifles and pistols are great choices for hunting small game, a good shotgun also has its place in a small game hunter’s gun collection. Note D : 4 Buck, F or AAA or smaller shotgun shells are permitted to hunt small game. By shopping carefully, either used or new, you can purchase a single shotgun that will cover virtually 95% of the small game hunting opportunities that this continent has to offer. Non-toxic shot. I think that apparel and optics are equally as important than firearms but for small game hunting, it’s absolutely true: guns matter and they matter a lot. Field Grade: Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:43 pm Posts: 37 Location: Tennessee I use Remington game load from Wal Mart as well as their cheap Federals, both with 1 ounce load and 1250 or 1290 fps. A 20-gauge shotgun has a bore diameter of .615 inches, and 20 lead balls of that size would weigh one pound. Opinions wanted for the best shotgun round for small game. Each of these types of shotgun shell has a specific purpose, which is what makes the shotgun so special. Ammunition for these gauges is widely available and highly versatile, and there’s no practical reason to stray into the more esoteric gauges. Load the gun with the powder charge, followed by a card wad, a thicker felt cushion wad, up to an ounce and a half of shot, and cap it off with another card wad. Available in 12, 16 and 20 gauge, and .410 bore, and lead shot size options ranging from BB's all the way down to #9 – it's suitable … "This is about unenforceable registration of weapons that violates the rights of people to own firearms. 11 percussion caps for ignition. When shooting 7/8-ounce loads, the recoil is noticeably easier on the shooter than is a 12-gauge of similar weight, which typically shoots loads of more than an ounce. I've killed lots of squirrels with 20 gauge, 16 gauge, 12 gauge and .22LR. In recent years there’s been a lot of spirited debate about the relative attributes of 12-gauge and 20-gauge shotguns, spurred in particular by advances in ammunition. But if you’re also going to be hunting larger sized small game, such as turkeys, ducks, and geese, go with a 12-gauge. Because many of the 16-gauge shotguns carried afield are considered classics, bismuth has been the go-to load for a lot of hunters wanting a non-lead option. In the past, people made their own ammunition from purchased lead pieces. Ed, Your email address will not be published. A variety of 12-gauge ammo shot patterns allow hunters to target game from small to medium sizes. However, 16 gauge, 20 gauge, and even .410 bore may actually be better choices for hunting small game. What size would you use I was thinking shot 4 with the IC? Bcoz If my threat is a human being then which bullet will be more effective. It’s adept at bringing down game of basically all sizes. Personally, I prefer the 12 gauge #4 shot, in 2 3/4 inch. Because it’s better for large game, and can handle small game duties with ease, the 12-gauge shotgun is the most versatile hunting weapon out there. With many options of birdshot, you can see how a shotgun can be used to hunt essentially any small animal. Hunting for more than fifty years I have owned a fair number of shotguns: two 12s, five 20s, one … In most places it is illegal to hunt migratory waterfowl with lead shot, and non-toxic … Yep, the 12 gauge certainly isn’t the best gun for everything but it can do most things very well. Upland Small Game. A 12-gauge has a bore diameter of .729; twelve lead balls of that size weigh a pound. The 12-gauge shotgun is a versatile weapon also because of the design of shotgun ammunition. I want to keep on hand steel shot for my 12 gauge that I could use for small game but would also be suitable for ducks. Leave a comment below. But, many small gauge guns are adaptations on 20 gauge or even 12 gauge frames. Yes you can hunt small game and game birds with the big 10 gauge, but it is more recoil than most people want to deal with on a regular basis. Birdshot pellets are a lot smaller than buckshot pellets. It’s a weapon that can do it all. Shotgun Shot Size for Small Game Kevin Felts 12.14.16 When using a shotgun for small game, there is a debate on whether to use #4 or #6 shot. I really feel some kind of satisfaction from taking game with a single shot firearm, as compared to a semi-auto or bolt action. No. But it’s in very good condition, bcoz of the maintenance probably. Why it'll get you more rabbits and squirrels. I don have any other gun so instead of game if I use it for my self defense which bullet you suggest I should use Slug or a buckshot. Slugs are perfect for larger game, like deer. Post subject: re: 12 gauge small game loads? It is a deer killer.