I picked up a nice SxS 20 GA from a forum member. Though I have several 12 Ga guns, my only other 20 GA before now is a Savage Campers Companion that I got for a rabbit/squirrel gun. But I will probably be using the new 20 SxS for most of my Dove and Snipe hunting. I'm only set up to reload 12 and 10s, so I need to start thinking about store bought shells.

As most know there are two schools of thought with hunting shotgun shells. Some prefer a fast load which equates to a smaller payload. Some prefer a larger payload which equates to a slower load. And there are of course promotional loads which tend to have a smaller payload, softer cheaper shot, and in the slower range which do just fine with most 12GA bird hunting. But given a choice, I prefer a fast load with my 12s for most hunting circumstances.

So my question. A 20GA which with either direction will have a smaller payload to begin with. Are most going with the larger payload options knowing that the pattern will not be as dense as a comparable 12 GA load? Or is the fast load still a viable option?

This is in relation to hunting small fast birds such as Dove and Snipe and another factor to figure in is that I do a lot of my dove and snipe hunting with #7 steel loads.

Just something else to talk about while we are burning up and waiting for September. I was out scouting for a few hours yesterday after picking up the gun, so it's on my mind.
John

S/J, I don't reload for my 20ga guns, Beretta auto and a Browning O/U. I do shoot mostly 7/8th oz shells @ 1200fps (cheap promo shells).

I have shot some Rem Hvy Dove Shur-Shot 1oz@1165fps, Just fine. Rio 1oz loads are good, but I have never had any problems with 7/8oz loads and 1200fps seems to be the magic velocity too.

I threw the promo loads out there in my question and I do shoot them sometimes in my 12, but the question really was not in relation to them (don't exist in #7 steel that I like to shoot) But if your 7/8 promo load is killing the same number of birds as the 1 oz heavy load. A fast 7/8 load should work as well. I think my steel option is actually 3/4 oz, but there are generally more #7 steel pellets than in the same weight #8 lead pellets.

Ok, for example. My choices might be
7/8oz #7 steel 1225fps
3/4oz #7 steel 1470fps

20 ga I load a 7/8 oz lead at about 1150 fps. I like #8 for skeet and #7.5 for dove/quail.

With a 20ga steel load I'd go with the lighter faster load. With lead speed isnt as important and anything near 1200 will give you plenty of range with 7.5 shot and just a little less with 8 shot.

All that said if you really want to have fun playing with it buy a few boxes of various loads and put some on paper and shoot the rest at clays and see what you really like.

I shoot the Fiocchi 20GA #7 steel loads out of a Light 20 A5, they pattern well and kill well. I used them over decoys for early teal last year, and they worked fantastic.

I am guessing that is the 1470 load you are referencing. I shoot clays with that load as well. Last year Roger's Sporting Goods had them for $69 a case shipped, so I bought 10 cases, they were $5 a case less than lead loads, and I didn't have to drive to Cabela's and pick them up.


With the Fiocchi 3/4oz load you are getting close to 315-320 pellets in a shell and they respond very well to different choke tubes, unlike some larger pellet size/faster steel loads that can be finicky.

You hit the nail on the head. My favorite hunting load for 12GA has been the Fiocchi 1 oz speed steel at 1400 fps.

But the only comparable Fiocchi 20GA speed load at 1470fps is 3/4 oz and only has 315 pellets (a 1 oz #7 steel load has 420 pellets and the #8 lead load has 410 pellets). My concern is how much will that 3/4oz load open up holes in my pattern. It is designed more to be a target load where only one pellet is needed to bust a clay rather than a hunting load.

I just did some looking at various brands 20 GA offerings in lead and there really is not the broad range of offerings that the 12GA has. Most of the 7/8 to 1 ounce loads have a difference of less than 50fps. Unlike 12GA promo loads IMO, promo type lead loads for the 20 actually look pretty darn good in the specs. Not enough difference to justify any extra expense for the better loads unless they are on sale or clearance.

Anyway, sounds like that 3/4 load is working well for you. I may give it a try.

Sniper,

My 20s are my favorite bird and range guns. I reload STS hulls with Universal powder and a 7/8 bar. (that 7/8 actually weighs in at 9/10ths.) That gives me almost an ounce of shot at 1200 fps and 9600 lbs of pressure. 7.5 or 8 shot - doesn't matter. That load is big enough and fast enough to knock 'em down.

Love them 20s.

dp

All this kind of has me thinking that many of you guys want bigger faster loads and are trying to squeeze them into a 20ga load. The sweet thing about a 12 is you can shoot those light 7/8oz loads at those speeds but you can also crank up the speed on them...plus when all things are equal you'll normally have a better pattern with the 12.

I think most like the smaller gun because it provides more of a challenge.

Good Morin' John,

The family that we guide for down here loves to shoot their 20's when they quail hunt. Their guns are all "vintage" Ithaca's, Winchesters, and there is a Purdy thrown in on occasion most of which they get out of their grandfather's gun collection kept at the "big house".

Up until last year, they were shooting the Academy bargain loads such as the Remington #7.5 that you pay about $4.50 per box for. The problem is, they would hit a quail solidly, the bird would hit the ground like a rock, roll, and then get up an run (thank goodness for dogs with good noses).

We convinced them to re-visit their school of thought on the loads they shot because the guns they were shooting did not have the option of inter-changeable chokes; most are modified bores.

They researched the shot shells available and opted for the following:

1) Federal 20/2-3/4;1350 fps/3-3/4 drams/1 oz.#6 shot/Wing-Shok HV "Pheasant Forever". Able Ammo (Huntsville, TX) has these listed @ $17.81 per box (a slight bit pricey).

2) Fiocchi HV 20/2-3/4/1 oz.#6/1220 fps. Able Ammo has these listed @ $10.49 per box for up to 9 boxes and then they drop down to around $9.79 per box for 10+ boxes.

I wouldn't suggest shooting these rounds for skyblasting dove, but given the lesser frquency of pulling the trigger when hunting woodcock, quail, chukar, huns, and even a pheasant, you can't go wrong with either when shooting a 20.

Now when they square up on a quail, it lays where it falls.

RE: "I think most like the smaller gun because it provides more of a challenge."

True, but it's more than that. My 12 gauge Berettas weigh in at about 7.5 lbs., My 20 ga white wing weighs a little bit more than 5 lbs. Might not sound like alot, but when you quail bird hunt and walk eight or ten miles in a day, it makes a big difference.

peace

I was going to bring up the weight thing. Most 20ga are lighter but most are not in the ultra light 5 lb range. You can get a light 12 as well but if you are going for low weight then the 20 would be the way to go. But yeah I do understand the difference a pound makes when upland hunting.

For me I mostly dove or waterfowl hunt so gun weight isnt an issue.

For my Snipe hunting. It can involve a lot of tough walking. My new, and light, SxS 20 is definately going to be nice.

Just something I ran across looking at shells and a heads up if you shoot these.

Remington has a $2.00 a box (max $100) rebate on the STS shells right now. http://www.remington.com/pdfs/09REM5354_STS_RebateCoupon.pdf

Those STS are some good shells. I'm thinking that rebate would make them around the same prices as promo type loads.

Yep, especially if you catch them on sale, or catch a good coupon code somewhere.

I've shot the Remington Heavy Dove loads for a long time and I think for the price they are the best value out there...that and Rios.

Better shells will help. I know there are experts that shoot perfect with promo loads every time, but for most of the members/guests/hunters we have seen and worked with over the last 20+ years, better ammo helps.