12b v. 20b SxS field comparison

I have the Pedersoli 20b and the “matching” 12b. Until this weekend I had never sit there 12. My son and I went to our bird club and have both a good workout. The 20b has fixed choke marked IC/M and has browned barrels. The 12b has screw in chokes and blue barrels. The barrels on the 12 are 1-longer than the 20s. The 12 is slightly muzzle heavy and the 20 is very balanced between the hands. It hard to measure choke with a short choke gauge because the bored are actually 19 and 13 respectively. A long shaft dial caliper in needed to determine the real constriction between bore and choke. So I set up the 12 with what equates to the same constrictions as the 20 respectively. We used “square” loads and shot each barrel 3x at a patterning board, then shot 10 clay targets launched from the same position, and ended the day with an actual bird hunt. Using 7/8 ounce of shot, the 12 had a more random, spread pattern than the same load in the 20 in spite of the same choke. Moving to 1-ounce, both shotguns had virtually the same pattern. Moving to 1 1/8 ounce, the 20 threw messy patterns but the 12 had nice even patterns, like the 1-ounce result but with more shot within the same area. My 16- year old son is talented with a shotgun. He got the flying clay bird with every shot but the last of the 1 1/8 ounce loads. With the 12 he missed one of the 7/8 ounce loads. So 29 out of 30 with each gun. All the patterns and targets were with #8 shot. We then shot each barrel of the 20 with 1-ounce #7.5 copper plated, and the 12 with 1 1/8 ounce of the same. Both patterns are nearly identical from respective barrels of each shotgun. We proceeded to the field with the guns loaded as such. My son knocked down four chukar in a row with the 20 and one pheasant, then he missed one chukar. Switching the 12, he shot 2 chukar and a pheasant, then missed one quail and finished with killing one more chukar. So, these two shotguns performed exactly the same for the same shooter on clay targets and in the field. My son said the 20 felt a lot shorter even though in reality it’s only and inch less than the 12. He also said he held the 20 with his lead hand a bit more forward on the barrels than he held the 12. After, I shot a few clays with each and was able to switch between them easily with no change in results. I had the same hit/miss ratio with each. While not the most scientific experiment, we learned that loaded to its sweet spot, either was as effective as the other.

Second sentence should read…shot the….

Nice, what a blessing to have a boy that hunts with you. The fact he doesn't miss is a bonus. Thats a good example of finding the most efficient load for each gun. Loaded properly, a 20ga can do nearly anything a 12 can do.

Sparkitoff said:

I have the Pedersoli 20b and the “matching” 12b. Until this weekend I had never sit there 12. ..., So, these two shotguns performed exactly the same for the same shooter on clay targets and in the field. My son said the 20 felt a lot shorter even though in reality it’s only and inch less than the 12. He also said he held the 20 with his lead hand a bit more forward on the barrels than he held the 12. After, I shot a few clays with each and was able to switch between them easily with no change in results. I had the same hit/miss ratio with each. While not the most scientific experiment, we learned that loaded to its sweet spot, either was as effective as the other.

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I have the 20 gauge SxS with fixed chokes from Pedersoli as well.
On upland game, your results were as I would expect.
I'd expect the same on squirrel and rabbits, and using the modified choked barrel they should slay turkeys too....

Now, IF you wanted to go for waterfowl, what would you predict for the pair on ducks, and on Canada geese ?

I've found the 20 great for upland birds and small game, and I have no wish right now to try to do waterfowl with muzzleloaders, so it's an academic question for me.

LD

I have used the 20 gauge quite a bit on decoying ducks. The shots are 35-yards or less. I loaded 1 1/16th ounce of shot but used the 1-ounce shot cup for powder. My shot was #5 Bismuth. I have dropped plenty of teal, widgeon, redheads and mallards with that gun/combo. I tend to shoot the triggers back-front since the first shot is a little further away than the first - sometimes. The versatility of two chokes two triggers is great when decoying ducks can be at various ranges but you have to physically and mentally switch to the trigger you want and then to the other instinctively. Overall, now that I have used the 12b, I will pattern somewhat heavier loads and use it for decoying ducks. I am planning a Sandhill Crane hunt, and I will definitely use the 12b and I'm looking at 1 3/8- ounce loads if the patterns are good.

So what are you getting percentage wise for patterns?

Using the standard 40-yard, 30-inch circle stationery: Upper 40% to low 50% range with right barrel, Mid to upper 60% range with left barrel. Overall, I think the chokes are slightly more open than the standard for the names they are marked with.

Try a variant of the Sky Chief load. I found this to really tighten up patterns. 1or 2 OP wads, I use leather. 1/4" or 1/2" Fiber cushion or wool felt wad soaked in olive oil and beeswax or Bore Butter will work. Shot load and then another felt wad/fiber cushion wad to seal the barrel. All of my Pedersoli SXS love this combination and it definitely tightens up the patterns. Good luck.
Rob

Sparkitoff said:

Using the standard 40-yard, 30-inch circle stationery: Upper 40% to low 50% range with right barrel, Mid to upper 60% range with left barrel. Overall, I think the chokes are slightly more open than the standard for the names they are marked with.

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That's not very good. You can do better than that with a cylinder bore. Not a knock on you, just saying your loads can be better than they are.

Actually, I don't want a tighter pattern. My dog holds points until I flush the bird. I am killing most birds inside 25-yards and at most 40-yards. They come down dead or immobile and the dog is a great retriever. No need to tighten patterns for this kind of hunting.

Im with you, i just need a well filled pattern out to 25 yards. I dont even check patterns past that distance for shooting over dogs.

Hey, if it does what you need, enjoy, and have fun.

Chronographed my 12 and my 20. Only about 15 fps difference between them on average. The major difference in the amount of shot. My 12 gauges are choked on both barrels while my 20 gauge is cylinder and improved. Both are bird getters,, especially pheasant and sage chickens.