HD and Hunting 20g vs 12g is a different story.. but for hitting sporting clays what are the merits of one vs the other? Is more power needed to shatter a clay? (i would guess not). Are the shot spreads different? Does someone think velocity is different (that would matter for hitting a flying clay, no?).

 

Do guys bring their 12g because that is their hunting gun? So if i was to buy a shotgun strictly for sporting is there any reason to have 12 over 20 ?

I've use 20g quite religiously for sporting clays, trap and skeet. There are less varieties of ammunition for 20g but I've found target or light game loads in 71/2 to 9 shot are quite satisfactory for both.

If you ever get good at trap, and shoot from further than the 16 yard line, then you will want a 12 gauge to overcome the handicap distances. For now, you are good. I know I never got good enough for it to matter.

Excellent..

 

...my shoulder will thank you later..

 

:-)

The clay bird won't care if the shot came from a 20 or a 12 -- I reload both 20 and 12 --

 

20 gets 9/16ths ounce of shot and the 12 gets 5/8ths once of shot -- right now we shoot #8.5 shot -- Clays break the same with both guns

The few times I shot shotguns, 20 gauge was just fine, be it for Trap or sporting clays. This is not a 410. =)

Other benefits of 20ga is that the guns are typically lighter and may help with swing weights and muscle fatigue.

I don't think your handicappedcat 20 ga. I know that you can load sown to 7/8's shot in 12ga and be okay and that is what the amount of shot in 20ga.

 

I think the gun will be lighter in 20ga but fatigue won't be an issue unless your oyt in the field all day. I have both calibers and use both.

12ga is a big advantage over 20ga. I coach kids and as soon as they can handle 12ga that is what they shoot. If you think about it, there wouldn't be separate competitions for sub-gauges if there was not a big difference. Besides, a quality semi-auto 12ga will shoot very soft. Beretta 300 series are perfect as well as their newer A400's.

12GA, 2 3/4" length, 2 3/4 drams powder, 1 1/8 oz #8 shot, 1145 fps

 

LINK

I shoot with a fella from time to time that uses a .410 for Sporting Clays and a 28 gauge for Trap, he can hold his own with most people!