Not sure if i should go with a 12ga or a 20ga. I currently have a Remington 12 ga 11-87 premier engraved semi auto. Looking to get a O/U shotgun also. Ive been shooting guns all my life but never have used any to actually to hunt with. Always just have been for plinking. Now Im 31 and recently started to buy some guns. Really have my mind set on trying out an O/U. Just needing some help on deciding weather to go for the 12 or the 20ga. All input is greatly appreciated. I really apprecate the THF because it is where I get all of my "hunting knowledge" from. As you can see im the Madfisherman. I fish. Fishing is my passion in life. Just really got into hunting about 2 years ago and really diggin it. My first dove lease was last year, and my first kill was a pig with my bow 2 years ago. Thats what really got this obsession started.

Just stick with the 12. Some people shoot the 20s for less recoil, usually a little lighter, and some might even say more "sporty." But you dont get the payload that you do with the 12. More pellets at your target increases your chances of hitting it. I think there's more times when someone wishes they had a 12 instead of a 20 than the other way around. Just my input.

Personally, I’d go for a 28 gauge. The perfect quail gun. For dove it would be the 16 gauge.

12 for Texas.

in a semi-auto, a 12 is good, in a o/u, its hard to beat the balance of a 20. a 12 just seems too bulky.

last season, almost by accident, i switched from a 12 pump to a 20 sxs......and i killed alot more birds

My O/U 20 gauge is s sweet little thing. It's light and feels good and is pleasant to shoot.

But when I want to get down and dirty I break out the 12 gauge. It really is the best all around gauge. 16 and 28 gauges are nice but it's a pain in the azz finding and buying ammo for them, and they are not as good as a 12 or 20. I know some hard core quail hunter is ginns get pissed of at that comment but oh well.

Start with the 12

Start with the 12. I know some o/u as long as you have a 12 frame you can swap in 20ga barrel sets but you could not do it the other way around.

My vote goes for the .12 ga. as well.

Love the smaller guages, shot 12 gs for years but in the last 5 years or so they have been just used for waterfowl and turkey, really enjoying the 20 and 28 guages. The 16 still gets some usage aince I now have a couple of those I inherited.

12 guage is more versitile but 20ga is lighter usually in gun and recoil. Hit percentage for me is about the same with either one

20 Guage, 3". You can shoot the lighter 20 loads for dove/quail and go to 3" loads for larger game....3" loads in a 20 will give you pretty much the same as you get in a 2 3/4 12. Besides, you already have a 12.

Get a 20 gauge--no question. It will be much more fun to shoot, you will not miss any more birds than if you shoot a 12 ga, and you already have a 12 gauge. You only need a 12 ga for turkey and ducks so get something different.

Why not get the 12 ga, and then you can get tubes for any of the smaller gauges. Thats what i would do.