20 gauge for ducks?

[NorthernGrouse]

I am considering giving up my 12 gauge and using my 20 gauge for duck hunting over water. I know lots of hunters are using 20s for turkey hunting but I haven't heard of 20s for duck hunting. Have you tried this? Comments on relative effectiveness compared to hunting with 12 gauge.

[Bluebulldog]

I've used a 20 for waterfowl for years.

When I started hunting, my 1st shotgun was a Stevens 58 bolt gun in 20 gauge. Using 2 3/4" shells.

Spend some time patterning the gun, and breaking some clays before season opener. If you do your job, it will do its.

[Oxaye]

I love my 20 gauges! Plenty of gun for ducks. Not ideal for field goose hunting when everyone else is trying to blast them at 50yd but aside from that no need for a 12.

[NorthernGrouse]

Thank you Bluebulldog and Oxaye! You have given me exactly what I was hoping to hear ;-)

[Sinker]

If you can centre the bird in your pattern a 20 is plenty for ducks. No difference than a 12 if you can centre the bird.

S.

[waterrat]

20 ga is plenty for waterfowl. Out of the four guys I run with, at least one will be shooting a 20 ga in the goose field. An ounce of 1's @1550 fps is an oz of 1's out of either as 12 or 20. The pattern is a bit different, so spend some time on paper. You will be amazed how effective they are. And so much fun. Really make the dude smashing away with a 3 1/2 in load of BBB's look at you like you got three heads , as you make a double on geese at 30 yrds with your wife's gun...

[Hunter John]

I haven't shot as much waterfowl as most of the guys on here have but I usually get a few hunts in every year, maybe 5 or 6. I use a Benelli Nova 20 and it works just fine, even taken a few geese that came into the duck decoys.

[line052]

20 is fine, pattern it at 10,20,30,40 yards to understand it's performance at each range. I use a 43 yr old 12 gauge in 2 3/4" fixed choke. It works just fine as long as I respect the limitations of this gun. To boot it is a semi.

[overtheir]

no problem in the corn field and over water pattern your loads at different distances as other have said

[4weight]

I own 6 20s now. It'll do just fine for ducks and geese in fields or on water. Just pattern the gun first.