I've hunted pheasant for many years using a 12. I recently got a 20. I'm comfortable with it in close for things like quail but the longer shots that are often required for pheasant give me some pause. I've never used it on pheasant, so I want some advice. Is 20 acceptable for pheasant and how much am I giving up versus the 12?

https://fiocchiusa.com/shotshell/golden-series/golden-pheasant/203gp5.html

I'm aware they make pheasant loads in 20. Still, my question remains.

1.25 oz of #5's @1200 fps, with a lighter gun, you're giving up nothing. What is it you think you're giving up?

Sort of depends on what choke you have or even more how it patterns. Then again, get some shells and go hunting and see how it goes. I inherited a 20 over/under and have enjoyed using it for sporting clays. We just don't have much game around here on land that is open to hunting. I would not hesitate to go afield with my 20, given suitable loads.

I use nothing but 20.

Evening Bag FS by FredMan, on Flickr

I don't know

I don't know what I don't know, hence the question.

Pheasants are tough birds and the shots are often further than other game so if any upland bird is going to show the weakness of a cartridge I'd think this one would.

Thank you. I only pheasant hunt once a year at most. I agree I have to use it to know for sure but I don't want to waste my trip either. Thanks for the data point!

Good data point. Thank you.

16ga is the answer.   Or used to be.    Shame that option is off the table, more or less.   I use 20ga.

In as few words as possible.  NO  28ga. or .410 yep

I use a 20ga exclusively for upland.
However,  I reload all my ammunition.
1 oz of #6 in a IC/Mod SXS is a joy to carry.
Today was cat tail sloughs and river bottoms alot of long range shooting.
Mossberg 500 with a 26" full choke and 3" #5s , 1.25 oz loads at 1,350 fps.
All shots were 30-45 yards,  4 rounds and 2 roosters bagged.

All my buddies switched over to 20ga about 3 years ago also.

All right - maybe I make the switch completely to 20 too. Thank you and thanks to everyone else as well.

I used a Remington 1100 Lt and a sxs for years in 20ga #6 shot…

I hunted over gsp no challenge at all..

They drop like a ton of bricks…


I ended up needing a challenge and went with a cva 12 sxs black powder with 2fg 1 1/8 load of #6..  

No.  An ounce of 6’s, 5’s, or 4’s from a 20 ga vs 1 1/4 ounces from a 12 wont have any practical benefit for your average shooter.

Stay away from pricey ammunition, it’s unnecessary and often the loads are pushed so fast that the pattern suffers.  Pattern stringing is real but it’s overblown and a non factor.

Most people shoot 12ga better, not be because there’s more shot, but because the gun is heavier and swings smoother.  Light 20 GA’s are wonderful to carry but stop as soon as they start.  This translates into amplifying shooting flaws, the most common being lifting your head.  A heavier 12 will likely have some momentum and swing through just a little longer vs. a light 20.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge proponent of 20 ga afield.  Just understand if you choose to shoot a 20, that your mechanics are much more important and it has little to do with the ammunition.

Preserve birds? 20 gauge all day.

Wild birds i would still use a 12