12 Gauge vs. 20 Gauge: The Shotgun Shootout

The versatility of a shotgun cannot be matched by many other types of firearms. You can select from a wide variety of gauges, barrel lengths, chokes, shot sizes, and more. This allows a shooter to utilize a shotgun for a multitude of purposes like hunting, home defense, and sporting clays.

However, all the different varieties and purposes can be overwhelming to new shotgun owners. Instead of covering every potential shotgun variation, it’s best to focus on the biggest question new shooters have: “Which gauge works best for me?”

Most prospective shotgun owners will narrow their choices down to two options: 12 vs 20 gauge.

The 12 gauge shotgun is the most effective one-gun solution for hunting, target shooting, and home defense. However, that doesn’t mean that the 12 gauge is the best choice for every situation.

In this article we will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the two most popular shotgun options: 12 gauge, and 20 gauge.

What’s the Difference Between 12 Gauge vs. 20 Gauge?

The difference between 12 gauge and 20 gauge shotguns are their bore diameters. A 12 gauge has a bore diameter of 0.729”. A 20 gauge has a bore diameter of 0.615”. This means a 12 gauge can fire larger payloads of shot at higher muzzle velocities, albeit at the cost of higher recoil.

12 Gauge vs. 20 Gauge: Understanding Shotgun Gauges

If you’re familiar with shotguns, then you know a lower gauge means a bigger caliber. However, if you’re new to shotguns or firearms in general, this can be a confusing concept to grasp.

Handgun and rifle calibers are defined by their internal bore diameter. A .40 caliber handgun has 0.40" diameter bore. The higher its caliber, the bigger the bullet the gun can fire. However, shotgun gauges are determined by a more archaic system.

Suppose you have 1 pound of solid lead. You divide it into 12 equally sized balls. You place one of those balls into the barrel of a 12 gauge shotgun. It fits perfectly.

This is not coincidence. It is by design.

A 12 gauge shotgun's 0.729” diameter bore fits a lead ball weighing 1/12 pounds. Likewise, a 20 gauge gun's 0.615” bore perfectly fits a lead ball weighing 1/20 pounds. This rule applies to all shotgun gauges: 32, 28, 16, 10, and so on. Only the .410 Bore is different. It follows the same convention as handgun and rifle calibers, having a bore diameter of 0.410”.

A Special Note on 20 Gauge Shells: Yellow Is the New Black

If you’re new to shotguns, you might not be aware that all 20 gauge shotshell hulls are colored yellow, regardless of payload.

This is to ensure that a shooter does not mistakenly load a 20 gauge shell into a 12 gauge shotgun. If that were to happen, then the shooter could subsequently load and fire a 12 gauge shell without noticing that the previously chambered 20 gauge shell is still in the shotgun – and not discover their error until the shotgun exploded in their hands.

For this reason, it is industry practice to load all 20 gauge shells with yellow hulls, making them easily distinguishable from 12 gauge shells.

Recoil

When it comes to having lower recoil, 20 gauge shells win by a country mile. As 12 gauge shells pack a heavier payload of projectiles and powder, they will always have more recoil relative to 20 gauge ammo. The accompanying chart compares the recoil three popular 12 and 20 gauge Winchester hunting loads exert against the shooter.

Less recoil gives a 20 gauge shotgun two distinct advantages.

The first advantage is the comfort factor. Although "felt recoil" is subjective, and therefore different depending on the shooter, the 20 gauge shell's objectively lower recoil impulse is undeniable. In addition to promoting greater comfort, lower recoil can improve accuracy by preventing the shooter from flinching in anticipation of pain during ignition.

The second advantage to lower recoil is faster, more accurate follow-up shots. If you need to line up two quick shots on a pheasant you just kicked up – or perform a mag dump in a self-defense situation – the lighter recoil of the 20 gauge will make your task easier.

Accuracy/Pattern Density

To understand pattern density, it’s important to understand how shotgun ammunition works.

A shotgun shell, or shotshell, has a plastic hull with a metal cap and primer at its base. Inside the hull is a powder charge. On top of that is a plastic cup known as a “wad” to hold projectiles known as “shot” (i.e. steel or lead balls).

The shot size you should choose depends on what you’re planning on using your shotgun for. For self-defense you would want to use something larger, like #00 buckshot (pronounced “double aught”). If you’re hunting something smaller, like grouse or pheasant, a smaller option like #8 birdshot would be ideal.

One common misconception is that once the wad and buckshot leave the shotgun barrel, it latter behaves like a swarm of bees, scattering quickly. Through shot does indeed spread out upon exiting the barrel, it remains in a much tighter cluster than Hollywood might have you believe.

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There are numerous factors that affect how projectiles disperse, such as minor imperfections on the surface of the shot pellet, muzzle velocity, and "stringing."

Stringing is a process where the shot at the top of the wad deforms less during ignition, while shot at the bottom of the wad endures the added pressure and weight of all the shot above it, causing it to deform. This means that the buckshot at the top of the column will reach the target faster (because it’s more aerodynamic) than the shot at the bottom of the column.

The width of dispersion of shot when it reaches the target is referred to as "pattern density." If the pattern density is too wide, then it’s quite possible the shot will miss a smaller target, like a quail, altogether. Conversely, if the pattern density is too tight, it will be harder for shooters to score hits.

Another factor that can affect pattern density is the type of choke tube being used in the shotgun barrel. A choke typically screws into the muzzle where it acts as a forcing cone, constricting the shot so it produces a more reliable pattern downrange.

As the 12 gauge has a wider bore diameter, it can fit more shot into a wad. This means it can produce a denser pattern than a 20 gauge shell.

Stopping Power

The 12 gauge shotgun is well known for its stopping power. It proved its effectiveness in the trenches of WWI and in the jungles of the Pacific theater during WWII. Pump-action 12 gauge shotguns like the Remington 870 and Mossberg 590 are valued by law enforcement officers, and can be found in squad cars across the United States.

There’s no denying that a 12 gauge load packs a huge punch. But how much? In the accompanying table we compare the muzzle energy of popular 12 gauge and 20 gauge shells.

Let’s compare the two rifled slug loads for the purpose of this explanation.

Although both slugs exit the barrel with the same muzzle velocity (1,600 fps), the 12 gauge's heavier slug has muzzle energy of 2,488 foot-pounds – about 33% more powerful than the lighter 20 gauge slug's 1,865 foot-pounds muzzle energy.

The disparity varies between different loadings. Even so, 12 gauge shotgun ammunition generally always has more stopping power than 20 gauge alternatives.

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Hunting

Both shotgun gauges are extremely popular for hunting almost all types of game animals, including upland birds, waterfowl, turkey, and even whitetail deer.

Proponents of the 20 gauge shotgun extol its recoil advantage over the 12 gauge, and suggest that it is more than sufficient for all medium game. On the other hand, 12 gauge aficionados will bring up the shotshell’s hard-hitting terminal ballistics and extended range.

Although the 20 gauge can be effective for hunting turkey, waterfowl, and deer, its major issue is that it requires the hunter to fire at close range. As the 20 gauge shotshell's striking energy is low compared to the 12 gauge, so too does it have a shorter effective range.

This is why the majority of hunters choose 12 gauge shotguns when they plan to hunt larger game such as deer, turkey, and even waterfowl. The 12 gauge's extended range and greater stopping power more than make up for the additional felt recoil in most cases.

However, for small game or bird hunting, the 20 gauge is usually the beter option. Its lower recoil permits the design of lighter shotguns. That makes it easier for hunters to quickly bring their gun to bear on a grouse or pheasant they just kicked up. Furthermore, the lower recoil of the 20 gauge allows for extremely quick and accurate follow-up shots.

Just make sure not to do something so foolish as embarking on a hunt without ammo. Check out our Fiocchi 20 gauge ammo page for abundant options.

There’s absolutely no reason why you can’t bring your 12 gauge shotgun bird hunting. It can easily handle any winged thing on the planet. If you can only purchase one shotgun, then the 12 gauge is the beter option as it truly does it all.

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However, if you have the financial bandwith to purchase both, then you will find a 20 gauge shotgun makes an excellent choice for small game when you don't feel like lugging around your heavier 12 all day.

Self-Defense/Home Defense

When it comes to home defense, it’s hard to beat a shotgun. Although some shooters contest that a handgun is the better choice, it simply does not compare to the sheer power that a shotgun offers.

It is inadvisable to use rifled slugs for home defense, as they typically over-penetrate and could hit an innocent bystander in the home or apartment next door. Buckshot doesn't eliminate the risk of over-penetration by any means, although it does reduce it. That and its uncontested effectiveness at close range are why you want to keep buckshot in your home defense shotgun.

There is some scholarly debate amongst ballisticians as to which buckshot is the best option for home defense. Many swear by 00 buckshot, as it is widely preferred by law enforcement. Others assert that #1 or #2 buckshot is more than sufficient for any home defense situation.

If you’re unfamiliar with buckshot designations, take a look at the accompanying chart illustrating their size differences.

As you can see, the difference between 00 buckshot vs. #1 buckshot is 0.03” in projectile diameter. Thoguh that difference may seem small, it has a significant effect on the buckshot pellets' weights. A 00 buck pellet weighs approximately 33% more – the reason why it gains more momentum in flight, strikes harder on impact, and is inclined to penetrate deeper as well.

That brings us to our next question: Which shotgun would be better for home defense: 12 gauge, or 20 gauge?

Many shooters prefer the feel of a 12 gauge shotgun for home defense. It’s what the military and police use. To many, that's all they need to know. Others prefer the lower recoil of 20 gauge shells, and feel they're more accurate with this ammo.

For close-range engagements, it won’t make much difference which shotgun you choose. Either would prove more than effective at defending your family's lives.

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Just make sure to load up with a quality buckshot (not birdshot or slugs) and you should be more than adequately prepared to take on any violent threat that enters your home.

Ammo and Rifle Cost/Availability

The beautiful thing about shotguns is their versatility. You have so many options – including break action, pump action, and semi-automatic – that the world is your oyster when it comes to shotguns.

Entry level pump-action models are typically inexpensive compared to most centerfire rifles and handguns. You can easily pick up a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 for around $300 new in box at the time of writing.

Check out our stock of Remington 12 gauge ammunition for more options.

This does not mean all shotguns are affordable. If you’re looking to get into sporting clays, skeet, or trap shooting, you'll find that most competition-ready shotguns go for fetch several thousand dollars.

Although a 20 gauge shotgun typically requires less materials to produce, there is very little difference in price between 12 and 20 gauge shotguns.

You will not lack for options for either gauge. However, there are going to be more options for the 12 gauge, as it is the most popular gauge in North America due to its versatility.

The same is true for ammo cost. Although the 20 gauge shells are smaller and require less material for production, there is very little difference in cost between 12 vs. 20 gauge.

Since we are in the subject of the ammo cost, don't forget to check out our Remington 20 gauge slugs page.

You will find more options when you are shopping for 12-gauge shells, as they are far more popular. There are still plenty of options for 20 gauge ammunition – just fewer.

Buying in bulk is always smart. Make sure to check out our stock of bulk 12 gauge ammo.

Reloading

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Reloading shotgun shells is something many enjoy doing. However, as shotshells are relatively inexpensive, most reloaders do not bother reloading used hulls.

The cost savings for reloading shotgun shells is so low that only high-volume shooters ever do it. It is usually cheaper just to buy new factory shotgun ammo. However, if you love the idea of optimizing your shotgun ammo, there’s nothing stopping you for loading your own shotshells.

Please note that shotshell reloading requires a specialized press that cannot be used for centerfire rifle and handgun cartridge reloading.

A Brief History of the Shotgun Shell

In their infancy, most firearms could fire a single projectile or multiple projectiles, as they all had were smooth bores. Early firearms like those used by the settlers of the New World needed this versatility to survive by hunting small birds to deer with the same gun.

However, with the introduction of rifling during the mid-16th century, rifles and shotguns became two separate entities with different purposes.

At this time shotguns were mostly used for bird hunting, but they also saw use in law enforcement and protection details.

Did you ever call “shotgun” as a kid when getting into a car? This phrase dates back to the Wild West, when the person sitting next to a stagecoach driver would carry a shotgun to defend against outlaws.

The first shotgun shell was introduced by the French gunsmith Casimir Lefaucheux in 1836. Most early shotgun shells were made entirely of brass, as paper cartridges were unreliable and couldn’t be reloaded.

Final Shots: 12 Gauge vs 20 Gauge

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There’s no denying that the 12 gauge is the “jack of all trades” option in the shotgun world. There plenty of target load options for sporting clays, trap, and skeet, heavy slugs for deer, and a variety of birdshot for turkey, waterfowl, and upland game.

Not only is the 12 gauge a potent option for all forms of hunting, it is also an extremely effective home defense option when loaded with quality buckshot shotshells.

However, just because the 12 gauge can do it all doesn’t mean it’s always the best option.

The 20 gauge shotgun has proven itself to be a capable upland bird gun, as it is fast, maneuverable, easy to carry, and packs enough punch to fell pheasant, grouse, and dove without issue. With proper ammo, it can also be utilized for turkey, deer, and self-defense at close range – and it can do all of these things with approximately 33% less recoil than a 12 gauge.

Which shotgun gauge is best for you depends on your personal needs as a shooter. If you are recoil sensitive and only plan to hunt upland birds, then the 20 gauge shotgun will be everything you need it to be.

The ideal choice would be to own both. However, if you are on a budget, then the 12 gauge shotgun is the best option as it does everything you could possibly want at a very reasonable price point.

Written by

Chris Dwulet