Thoughts on the season and the gear we use

airmedic1 said:
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For the last 45 or so years I've been a small bore advocate. I've shot 20 and 16 ga for upland since 1979 when I bought a 20 ga Remington 870. In those years I've killed 100's of quail and roosters! I've always used high quality ammo, not high velocity but stuff with quality hard shot and not the promo stuff! Since then the only time I've used a 12 ga has been for waterfowl.
Early this year I was in a slump and really struggled with my Rizzini Aurum Light and Caesar Guerini Tempio Light 20 gauges. I wounded and lost several roosters and I really despise losing wounded birds. This happened in Iowa, South Dakota and here in Nebraska. I shot Remington Express Long Range and Fiocchi Golden Pheasant loads of 2 3/4" 1 ounce loads of #5's and 6's and those are decent shells!
Halfway through the season I switched to a 12 ga O/U and my wounded and lost pheasants were done! I shot some Remington Express Long Range 1 1/4 ounce 6's and some Kent Fast Lead #5's at1330 FPS.

For years I have preached that all you need is a 20 or a 16 gauge for upland 'but I think a lot more pheasants would end up in the game bag rather than being coyote bait if everyone shot a 12 gauge. My 12 ga O/U weighs 6 pounds even, less than some of my 16 gauges and only 8 ounces more than my Tempio Light 20 gauge! I don't think I will go back!
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Interesting post. I had very similar results this year as well. Started off with the 20 and the 16...ended with the 12 and my bird in bag ratio increased dramatically. I ended the season using a Browning Maxus II Black Gold and have been on the hunt for a 12 gauge O/U myself.
 
Finding 12ga O/U's is easy but finding one that is light and easy to carry is more difficult!
I know that my reflexes have slowed over the years, maybe that is why I struggled more this year with wounding and losing birds with the sub gauges. I don't know?
I've heard people comment about recoil from a 6 pound 12 gauge O/U but I didn't notice anything this year when shooting at game but I'm not using 3" or high velocity ammo either.
I'm still going to shoot my 20 gauges at dove but I learned that I do better on pheasants with a 12 so I'll keep shooting it if the Red Gods are willing and I can hunt next year!
 
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