sxs shotguns: 20 vs 12 for game?

[spike.t]

How did you like the rizzini? The gun I’m considering is from them.

They were o/u as said...they were lovely guns....kicking myself a bit as when stopped taking part in the shoot...it was a private one...got Paul to sell them...but not beating myself as much as couple of my double rifles that went.....

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

They were o/u as said...they were lovely guns....kicking myself a bit as when stopped taking part in the shoot...it was a private one...got Paul to sell them...but not beating myself as much as couple of my double rifles that went.....

This is what I’m looking at.

Iconic Scattergun: An Affordable FAIR Iside 20 Gauge — Full Review

With a company name of Fabricca Armi Isidoro Rizzini (FAIR), this little 20-gauge jewel has definitely pulled off an under promise and over deliver scenario with the Iside model. FAIR is a northern Italian firearms manufacturer that has been in business since 1971. They have been building and...

www.gunsamerica.com

 

[Saul]

Mmm...all those pheasant...ducks and odd goose can't have been paying attention then when I shot them with pair of rizzini 20 bore o/u with 26 inch barrels...my favourite length...in England in shoot I used to be in.....

If you can shoot a short barrel as well as a long barrel, then you are a better shot than I. It can certainly be done, but I find that using a longer barrel especially on smaller bore shotguns to increase my hits without costing me too much in weight or maneuverability.

 

[WAB]

It’s not so much that I want a compromise gun. I just thought the option of being able to use it for waterfowl/turkey would be nice. I already have a shotgun for those anyway.

The thing is that any gun I buy has to be proofed for steel and a lot of the high end fixed choke guns are not. Or rather that’s the impression I get.

I wasn’t clear, my apologies. I wasn’t suggesting that you buy a British gun, but that you look at their design specs as the basis for the gun you are selecting. There are very fine guns made at lower prices than the British trade. I would not fuss too much about steel proof. I’ve taken a lot of ducks with bismuth.

 

[Fallschirmjaeger]

If only one gun, a 12 can do everything a 20 can and pattern better. If the options were more open, the easy choice is a 16. Best of both worlds. A 6.5 lb 12 gauge is just about perfect for most things though, I believe. From dove, to grouse to mallards, a 70mm chambered 12 can handle most tasks in my opinion.

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

I wasn’t clear, my apologies. I wasn’t suggesting that you buy a British gun, but that you look at their design specs as the basis for the gun you are selecting. There are very fine guns made at lower prices than the British trade. I would not fuss too much about steel proof. I’ve taken a lot of ducks with bismuth.

What is your impression of the shotgun I linked in post 22?

 

[crs]

Oh, by the way, I have shot several wild turkey with my .308 while hunting deer. That is legal in Texas and never has put a dent in the turkey population.

As you may have noticed, my dedicated turkey gun is a 12 gauge with a .22 Hornet rifle barrel topped off with a scope that allow fast range and barrel selection . The Hornet is good for turkey out to 150 yard, but 75 -100 yards is my typical kill shot. The Hornet does very little meat damage. Same range limit for bobcat, coyote, crows and other such varmints.

BTW, I also have a .45-70 barrel insert that shoots 300 grain bullets into 6 inch groups at 100 yards - just fine for most woods deer.
Sort of a survival/camp gun rifle.

 

[Stephen Ausband]

This is what I’m looking at.

Iconic Scattergun: An Affordable FAIR Iside 20 Gauge — Full Review

With a company name of Fabricca Armi Isidoro Rizzini (FAIR), this little 20-gauge jewel has definitely pulled off an under promise and over deliver scenario with the Iside model. FAIR is a northern Italian firearms manufacturer that has been in business since 1971. They have been building and...

www.gunsamerica.com

Oh. Very, very nice!

 

[Nevada Mike]

I have been upland bird hunting with my dogs for a long time. I own 12, 16, and 20 gauge SxS guns - game guns. Usually I take a 16 or a 20 hunting with me. I like lightweight game guns. Turkey and waterfowl are an entirely different question.

Two prairie chickens and my 16 bore Fox...

 

[yhc]

I am with @Nevada Mike. Other than for water fowl I use either 16 or 20g SxS for upland game.

 

[WAB]

What is your impression of the shotgun I linked in post 22?

Far too light for accurate shooting on longer targets IMO. this would be an excellent gun for grouse/woodcock in tight cover. It will really struggle on longer shots, simply too difficult to control. perhaps look at it in the 16 or 12 with 30” tubes?

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

Far too light for accurate shooting on longer targets IMO. this would be an excellent hunt for grouse/woodcock in tight cover. It will really struggle on longer shots, simply too difficult to control. perhaps look at it in the 16 or 12 with 30” tubes?

Keep in mind that the 20g in the article is lighter than the 12 which is 6.4lbs (converted from kg) based on the website. Unfortunately I don’t think they parse the weights for the 28” vs the 30”.

 

[Nevada Mike]

Far too light for accurate shooting on longer targets IMO. this would be an excellent gun for grouse/woodcock in tight cover. It will really struggle on longer shots, simply too difficult to control. perhaps look at it in the 16 or 12 with 30” tubes?

A lightweight game gun is an demanding mistress. When I decided to get serious about shooting lightweight SxS game guns, I sold all my target guns and focused (with my coach) on lightweight guns only for about 5 years. I found that they require a far different approach/skill set than traditional clay target guns.

I shoot over pointing dogs (setters) so my average shot is well within 30 yards - often within 25 yards. The instinctive approach with a lightweight gun works well at these ranges. For shooting pigeons and doves (with lots of high incomers) I do better with my 29-1/2" MX20.

 

[shootist~]

For jumping up pheasants or similar, a light 20 carried at the ready will take more birds than a heavy 12 - and tired arms. My experience, anyway. And even 3" 1.25 Oz 20 ga loads don't recoil in field conditions.

Man was ment to have more than one shotgun, IMO. Best to pick the right tool for the job.

 

[spike.t]

This is what I’m looking at.

Iconic Scattergun: An Affordable FAIR Iside 20 Gauge — Full Review

With a company name of Fabricca Armi Isidoro Rizzini (FAIR), this little 20-gauge jewel has definitely pulled off an under promise and over deliver scenario with the Iside model. FAIR is a northern Italian firearms manufacturer that has been in business since 1971. They have been building and...

www.gunsamerica.com

Tried couple of times but seems gunsamerica won't load over here....

 

[wesheltonj]

Not sure wow much more the prestige model is, but it has ejectors.

 

[crs]

Dang, If I had known how complex this shotgun game is, I might still be shooting birds with my Daisy BB gun.
Bu my Dad just gave my brothers and me an old 20 gauge Parker, a lecture on safety, and turned us loose. It was not long before I was bringing in birds to clean and eat.
The only shooting lesson I ever had was years later and it was the best technique to break a clay launched straight up (probably needed because wild birds did not fly that way).

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

Not sure wow much more the prestige model is, but it has ejectors.

I like the look of the upgraded models but the base model is the only one with double triggers which is a feature I want.

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

Tried couple of times but seems gunsamerica won't load over here....

I borrowed some photos and and excerpt from the article. I’ll share a link to the fair website as well in a separate post.

“
The Iside I tested is manufactured similarly to its pricier, if not somewhat prettier sister the Iside Prestige, but without quite as many upscale cosmetics and with a few differences in features. According to FAIR, the Iside I tested was a lower-cost base model. With this model, you get a shotgun at a price point you won’t lose sleep over if you are taking afield, where it may get the occasional weather or brush abuse. It is available in 12-, 16-, 20-, 28-gauge and .410. There’s an option for whatever your heart desires.

SPECS

• Type: Side-by-side, breechloading shotgun
• Capacity: 2 rds.
• Bore: 20 gauge; 3-in.
• Barrel Length: 28 in.
• Overall Length: 45.5 in.
• Weight: 5 lbs., 8 oz.
• Stock: Oil finished
• Sights: Silver bead
• MSRP: $1,450

 

[ActionBob]

I vote for a 20. They are just sweet. Although a 12 is more universal, you really do need multiple double barrel shotguns anyway. And you're young yet so whichever you choose, you end up with the other and a 16 and 28 also

Take a look at the CZ offerings sometime if you want a nice functional double at a reasonable cost.