by Josh Smith » 03 Aug 2014, 2:01 am
Hello,
I used to have a Mossberg pump 12 gauge.
It was too heavy for Northern Whitetail. Many will disagree with this, but I found my 20 gauge smoothbore to do just fine. It had a much better trigger and excellent sights. I content it was more precise, but that may have also been that the ergonomics were better.
As well, the 12 gauge was too heavy for rabbit, squirrel, and other small game. I like to stalk them or take really long shots (as far as rimfire and shotgun go, anyway.) Stalking close, the 12 gauge tended to tear them apart, and 100 meters out, the spread was too wide.
They excel at knocking squirrels out of trees when the leaves are still on said trees, though, when you only get a flicker of fur to shoot at.
I did really liked my double 20 gauge. Never used it for deer, but for close-in coyote defense and small game hunting, it was perfect! I could choose the IC or Modified choke depending on distance. I sold it but shouldn't have.
The 12 gauge got demoted from field use to home defense use. These days, prefer a sidelock muzzleloader for deer, and have been looking for a smaller (.32 or .36) muzzleloader to supplement my Savage MkII BTVS .22 Long Rifle for squirrel and rabbit.
But yes, I have, and at moderate distances, the 12 gauge cannot be beat.
Regards,
Josh