20 Gauge for waterfowl

[huntnmachine]

I bought a Winchester SX4 20 gauge last year before waterfowl season and had good success with it on ducks using Score 3" steel # 2. I found the pattern to be very tight for a 20 gauge with a modified choke tube.
Question for 20 gauge users. What ammo/choke tube combo do you find works the best?
Second question: What ammo/choke tube combo do you find works best for geese or is a 20 too small for geese.

[finsfurfeathers]

Going to be interesting reading the different opinions and recommendations.
Was wondering your determinent for "to tight". If you're having good success simplest solution would be to open up the choke to an improve modify or improved ylinder.
As for geese a pellet out of a 12 is the same as a pellet out of a 20g thing is your success window is smaller thus either you have to be a really good shot or keep the shots closer to keep the pattern density the same.

[trimmer21]

I've been practicing this summer with my new Stevens 20ga O/U using modified and IO chokes and skeets and a ground thrower. I've had good results with Winchester Blindside 3" #4 & 5 out to 40M. Anything coming into the dekes and I'll take them,but,passed that and I'm leaving them for the young lad with the 12ga. The Doc read me the riot act about this shoulder and I'd really like to avoid rotator cuff repair.

[Sprite]

If you're having good success simplest solution would be to open up the choke to an improve modify or improved ylinder.

Improved modified is tighter than modified.

I shoot a 20 gauge almost exclusively for waterfowl these days -- both ducks and big heavies. I shoot SCORE 3" #2s and an extended improved modified choke. I like the tighter choke, as I find crippling to be lessened by it, although you do sacrifice your margin for error.

As long as you're realistic about your range and shoot decoying birds, they die all the same! I will say though on those days where the wind whips up or the geese just aren't doing it quite right, the 12 gauge with 3" BBs reigns supreme.

-Nick

[boilerguy2412]

I've been using a 20 Gauge for the last two seasons on and off. Once the clock hits November i usually put it away. Can certainly still kill birds with it throughout the season but I usually switch to my 12's in November. I like using a extended Mod. Choke. with 3" #3's or 4's.

I generally like to shoot everything with 3's but they are getting harder to find due to the short supply of ammo.

I find shooting my 20 to be a lot more fun. I often find I usually end up bagging more birds with it because I am a lot more mindful of my shooting distances.

[Couliewalker]

I use black cloud 1 oz # 3 for ducks and BB or 1 for geese out of a sx3 20 gauge.
I find that geese are easier to kill than ducks with the smaller gauge.Here's why.
It's bigger,it will receive more hits.Try hitting a teal at 40yds,it may get thru the pattern,not so with a bigger bird.
We all try to make clean kills and follow thru with every wing tipped bird to avoid wasting any game which I think is a sin.So use enough gun for your shooting skill.
A goose at 35 to 40 yds is just as dead with a 20 as he would be with a 12 if the pattern is on the bird.If you're crippling birds with a 10 gauge,you will not fare better with a 20.
There's a you tube video hunting ducks with a .410 at hagermans farm I found very interesting.
The reason they cited to switch to the smaller gauge was that the smaller "bang" tended not to scare every other bird in the marsh.Made for entertaining viewing,check it out.

[Markster]

I have limited experience as we don’t have alot of ducks available here, ( and my shooting is less than great) but when i shoot my winchester 2200 pump in 20, i have always had great luck with black cloud, 3” 3’s, modified choke. I don’t take long shots anymore as i like to see the birds decoy.
Best advice is to listen to Sprite.

[Pigeoneater5000]

I use a 20ga until the snow flys. Score ammo, 3 inch #2's. I shoot a double barrel sxs. so one choke is improved and other is a mod.

[Bluebulldog]

I've used my 20s almost exclusively for a number of years.

#2, or #3 steel, 3" using either mod choke, or a Carlson's extended choke for either mid or long range.

Pattern fine, and drop them no problem.

Pattern your gun, and get some practice on clays.

I've often been the guy dropping the bird that everyone else missed with their 3.5" 12s. But I'm also the guy that goes through a couple of flats a year shooting skeet. You do your job, the gun and load will do its.

[Ouzel]

I started out with a .410, then a 28 ga. as a kid duck hunting. I then shot a 20 ga, exclusively back in the lead ammo days until steel came in. The early steel was garbage, I considered quitting duck hunting. I then switched to a 12 ga, and never looked back. Now steel is much more advanced, but why bother with a 20? The guns kick so little with all the stock and gas action improvements that recoil isn't an issue. I prefer the slight extra range I can get from the 12, and up close it is more deadly, less cripples. Naturally anyone can use whatever they choose, but coming from a guy who has used everything, hard to beat a 12. Mine is a Benelli SBE II, btw, no plans to get an SBE III either. just my personal 2 cents.