I discovered the joys of the 20 gauge.

[Adam Helmer]

Time catches up with each and everyone of us. I just turned 80, feel fine and work my farm. I found out that my lovely wooded hills on the farm are getting steeper as small game season approaches. I love my 12 gauge guns, but the wife had a solution I agree with. She gave me a 20 gauge Rem 1100 for my birthday and a case if shells.

Trap range experience confirmed this lighter shotgun will do the do. For an encore, she gave me a Savage M24, 20 gauge/.22 Magnum for woods trekking. Old loyal hound and I trek daily and I always have a 20 gauge in hand for porkys, skunks and other varmits. The M24 has a stock shell carrier with a slug, a #3 Buck and a high brass #4, in case of need.

My neighbor farm owner is 78 and has 156 acres to tend. He liked both of my 20 gauge guns and will get his own next payday. He advised me, "I am slowing down fast, so a 20 suits me." Amen.

Adam

[Rhys79]

I inherited an antique Montgomery Ward Western Field M500CD 20ga pump action shotgun recently from my FIL, which is basically a Mossberg 500 with a continuously adjustable choke, and I love it. It's lightweight and easy to carry around in the field, and works great for squirrels, rabbits, and turkey, and with slugs can even take a deer with it, though I'll likely stick to my .270win for firearms season. I like the idea of that Savage M24 combo though, I may look into that instead of trying to lug the shotgun and a .22lr at the same time lol

[Adam Helmer]

Rhys79,

Thanks for your kind reply. The M24 is a break action .22M over 20 gauge, lightweight and with sling swivels. I estimate it about 6-7 pounds and short and handy. Here in northcentral PA we have deer, bears, coyotes, etc., but none are superior to a 20 gauge slug, well placed. Be well.

Adam

[Minerat]

I've carried a 20 ga since I was 16. I like a 12 but I never feel under gunned with a 20. Killed just as many wild ranging Colorado pheasants as my buddies over the years.

My 12s are reserved for ducks and geese over deks

Your wife is like mine, if in doubt she gets me a new gun for my BD. The more you shoot the 20 the more you will like it.

[Rhys79]

It looks like the M24 came in a variety of combinations. 22lr or 22wmr over 410ga or 20ga, as well as 222rem and 30-30 over 20ga. Here in Northern Indiana we don't have much bigger than coyotes besides whitetail deer. I'd probably be perfectly happy with the 22lr over 410ga to be honest. I'll have to drop some hints to the boss and see if maybe one shows up in my stocking this year

[Ithaca Gunner]

Dad always said that a 20ga. was all that was needed for upland game. He was right, I carried a lot more weight around with a 12 when a 20 would do the same thing in a smaller and lighter package. Dad nor myself ever hunted waterfowl, and turkey was taken with a rifle in the fall. I never hunted them in the spring, too busy shooting groundhogs. All along a 20 would have suited me for everything sporting.

[dverna]

Yes, the 20 ga makes for a lighter gun that still gets the job done. It was a good choice. Enjoy it!!!

I used to use a 28 ga for upland birds and it weighed under 6 lbs. It was a joy to carry and very effective within 35 yards. It is one gun I regret selling.

[pietro]

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FWIW, about 30 years ago, I got tired of the pounding I got from firing 12ga shotguns, and sold all of them in favor of 20gs .410's & 28ga guns.

The smaller gauges have taken as much small game (rabbits, partridge & pheasant) and deer (20ga) as did the 12's, w/o the battering.

My house gun is a homemade Mossy Shock Wave 20, my deer gun is an Ithaca Deerslayer, and my small game/bird guns are a 20ga SxS hammergun & a 28ga Ithaca Flues SxS.