Making the Case for the 20-Gauge
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My grandson’s first mallard drake was taken with a CZ Bobwhite Model 20-gauge. At the time, he was a little recoil-sensitive, but with Migra Timber waterfowl loads—a 1 oz. stacked 4/6 steel/bismuth load in 3-inch shells—it was still manageable.
I need to get this out of the way from the very beginning: for the vast majority of my life, I have been a Browning A-5 man. My father had one, my brother had one, and I have two. I understand that some folks dislike the Browning A-5 because of that hump in the receiver. You won’t offend me by saying so—I get it. But I grew up with it, and I’ve used one for all of my wingshooting. Not everyone likes the same things, and thank goodness for that. After all, not everyone is attracted to the Wilford Brimley look, but my wife has gotten used to it.
Those Brownings were all 12-gauges. With them came light loads for doves, heavy loads for waterfowl, and even heavier loads for turkeys. I’ve always felt the 12-gauge is the ideal gauge—it can do it all. That has long been my belief and remains so today. My history with shotguns, however, didn’t begin with a Browning A-5 or even a 12-gauge.
Like many kids, my first shotgun experience was with my mother’s single-shot .410. From there, I graduated to my brother’s 20-gauge in 1966 after he received a Browning A-5 for Christmas and passed his old gun down to me. My own Browning would come six years later, on Christmas of 1972, my senior year of high school. When I unwrapped that A-5, I thought I had the world by the tail. My dad said it would be the last shotgun I’d ever need. He didn’t realize how deep my love of hunting would grow, or how many opportunities I’d have to chase different game in different places—and how much I’d come to appreciate well-made firearms.
Years later, my wife gave me a Mossberg Silver Reserve II over/under as a Christmas gift. With choke tubes and a 3-inch chamber, it was a versatile gun—light, easy to carry, and a delight to shoot. I opened many dove seasons with that Mossberg. Could I have taken more doves with a 12-gauge? Probably. But with age comes a new understanding of success.
A few years ago, I bought a CZ Bobwhite 20-gauge side-by-side with a classic straight stock and double triggers. I love carrying and shooting that gun. While I treasure the history of my firearms and the reasons I own them, the gun itself is a tool—a product of skilled craftsmanship. My true affection is reserved for the people in my life and my Savior.
I also bought a CZ semi-auto—not for myself, but for a grandson who was too young to use it at the time. My wife and daughter have both hunted with the Mossberg and CZ. Today, that semi-auto fits my grandson perfectly, and it has become his go-to for ducks and doves.
To be honest, I own my 20-gauges primarily for myself. They swing smoothly and are easy to handle. After a couple of back surgeries, I move a gun about like Frankenstein. While my newest Browning A-5 is lighter, I still enjoy taking the CZ Bobwhite for early-season waterfowl. And thanks to modern ammo, finding good 20-gauge loads is no problem. For doves, upland game, and even waterfowl, companies like Migra make outstanding options. I never feel undergunned, especially when hunting over decoys.
For my grandson, the 20-gauge was a blessing. He was so recoil-sensitive at first that I feared he might never hunt or shoot. But with lighter loads, he gained confidence—and with confidence came success. Today, he believes his 20-gauge can do anything Papa’s 12-gauge can do. Within certain limits, he’s right.
It’s tempting to say the 20-gauge is best for women and kids simply because of lighter recoil. While true to an extent, it’s not the whole story. Gun design and load selection matter, too. My Mossberg or CZ with heavy 3-inch shells will let you know it’s there. But the smaller frame of 20-gauge guns makes them easier for smaller shooters to handle and control. And with both 2 ¾- and 3-inch options, they’re versatile enough for almost any game.
The days of “growing into” a 12-gauge are behind us. With today’s advancements in ammunition, the 20-gauge can do more than ever. Consider that many seasoned turkey hunters now leave their 12-gauges at home in favor of 20s—or even .410s—thanks to TSS (Tungsten Super Shot).
The 12-gauge may still be the all-around king, but the 20-gauge makes a strong case for itself. And in my family, it has earned its place in the blind, the field, and the gun cabinet.
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