20-gauge shotgun
20 gauge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Type | Shotgun | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of origin | United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Production history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manufacturer | Various | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Variants | 21⁄2"(63.5 mm) 23⁄4"(70 mm) 3 "(76.2 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Case type | Rimmed, straight | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Bullet diameter | .615 in (15.6 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shoulder diameter | .684 in (17.4 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Base diameter | .697 in (17.7 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rim diameter | .766 in (19.5 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rim thickness | .0484 in (1.23 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Case length | 2.76 in (70 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Primer type | Shotshell Primer | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Maximum pressure | 12,000 psi (83 MPa)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The20-gaugeshotgun,also known as20 bore,is a type of smoothboreshotgun.20-gauge shotguns have a bore diameter of.615 in (15.6 mm), while the 12-gauge has a bore diameter of.729 in (18.5 mm).[2]12-gauge and 20-gauge shotguns are the most popular gauges in theUnited States.[3][4]The 20-gauge is popular among upland game hunters, target shooters, and skeet shooters.[4]
Description[edit]
20 lead balls of the diameter of a 20-gauge shotgun bore weigh one pound, while just 12 lead balls of the diameter of a 12-gauge shotgun bore equals the same weight.[2]A 20-gauge shotgun is more suitable forhuntingcertain types of game or for some hunters because it may have less felt recoil than an identical shotgun in a larger gauge,[5]and guns may be smaller and weigh less, though this has changed since the introduction of the 3-inch magnum shotshell.[3]
Regarding the yellow body tube color that 20-gauge ammunition usually has, it has been reserved in SAAMI documentation saying "SAAMI has reserved yellow for 20 gauge ammunition" "This ammunition shall have a body tube that is primarily yellow" "Yellow shall not be used for any other gauge/bore shotshell body" "No other recommendations are made as to the color of service body tubes for other gauges/bores"[6] This color designation may be designed to aid in identifying 20-gauge shells. A 20 ga shell if mixed in with 12 ga. shells will enter the chamber and lodge inside the bore at the end of the chamber. If a 12 ga shell is loaded and fired behind the lodged 20 ga shell the result is catastrophic.[7]
Specifications[edit]
20-gauge shotguns are especially suitable for hunting game birds such asquail,grouseandmallardswhen using lead-free birdshot. A 20-gauge buckshot load would most commonly be utilized in close- to mid-range self-defense scenarios.[citation needed]Whileslug loadsare ballistically less accurate than rounds used inrifles,powerful, high-grainslug loads can provide improved ballistics for huntingdeerwhen paired with arifledbarrel.[8]
Recoil[edit]
While the 20-gauge is generally perceived to have less felt recoil than the 12-gauge, there are too many variables, including gun weight, type of shotgun, stock pattern, shot weight, shell size, etc. for that opinion to be a fact.[9][10]There may be little to no difference between the two when using target ammunition. Loads for waterfowl will tend to produce more felt recoil in a 12-gauge shotgun than in a 20, but this may not be the case depending on the gun used.[9]Full-power 20-gauge shells fired from a light 5 lb (2.3 kg) gun will have more feltrecoilthan those fired from a heavy 7 lb (3.2 kg) gun.[11]To do a true comparison, two identical shotguns, one in 12 and one in 20, with identical ammunition (other than gauge) have to be compared. In those cases, the 12-gauge does generate more recoil energy than the 20.[9][12]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Saami pressures. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2023, fromhttps://leverguns /articles/saami_pressures.htm
- ^ab"Introduction to Shotgun Gauges".chuckhawks.
- ^abBarsness, John (August 3, 2016)."The All-Around 20-Gauge".GUNS Magazine.
- ^abBourjaily, Phil (February 4, 2022)."12 Gauge vs 20 Gauge for Hunting Just About Anything".Field & Stream.
- ^DeRosa, A. J. (May 5, 2023)."What is the Best Youth 20-Gauge Shotgun?".Project Upland.
- ^"ANSI/SAAMI Cartridge & Chamber Drawings, 2019-04-23 Shotshell, PDF page 50 MISCELLANEOUS: BODY TUBE COLOR"(PDF).
- ^The Danger of Using Wrong AmmunitionHunter-EdArchivedJanuary 1, 2024, at theWayback Machine
- ^Maddox, Brandon (January 22, 2021)."SHOTGUN AMMO TYPES: BUCKSHOT VS. BIRDSHOT VS. SLUG".Silencer Central.Archivedfrom the original on November 7, 2022.RetrievedNovember 7,2022.
- ^abc"Shotgun Recoil Table: 12-gauge vs 20-gauge vs.410 – Backfire".December 31, 2021.
- ^Twenty Gauge versus Twelve Gauge: What is Best?.Randy WakemanArchivedMarch 3, 2023, at theWayback Machine
- ^Bourjaily, Phil (August 2, 2023)."Will the 20 Gauge Shotgun Ever Replace the 12 Gauge?".
- ^"12 Gauge vs 20 Gauge: Shotgun Caliber Comparison by Ammo".Ammo.
External links[edit]
- Cartridge & Chamber DrawingsANSI/SAAMI Cartridge & Chamber Drawings PDF links page
- [1]ANSI/SAAMI Cartridge & Chamber Drawings, 2019-04-23 PDF for Shotshells