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So I'm walking through the local sporting goods store on on thier used rack is a Browing BPS engraved field model 20 gauge with a 26 inch barrel. I pick it up and start playing with it and am absolutely amazed at how easy it shoulders and how easy it is to handle. I'm one of those people who when someone says "shotgun" i default to 12 gauge, just never gave much thought to anything else, but damn this one is a great looking gun and is priced at 350 bucks.

My question is what limitations would it have in the field? I know lots of people like 20 gauges for deer guns. And I'd imagine it would do just fine for dove, quail, and trap. What pheasant and or waterfoul? How much do you really give up when going 20 instead of 12?

I have taken many a pheasant, quail and dove with one and when I was younger shot quite a few ducks with one. If you shoot a 20 gauge you will be amazed how effective it can be on any upland bird. Buy it and you will most likely love it.

Pheasants, quail, grouse, crows, rabbits, squirrels, feral cats, and a variety of other critters have fallen quite dead to a 20 gauge in my hands.

So pretty much anything outside of Goose and Turkey?

That's pretty much it, and I wouldn't totally rule it out on turkey.

I have been using one for the last few years. mainly drive deer dogs and turkey hunt. 40 or 45 yds should not be a problem for deer provided it patterns ok. # 6 hevi shot will also do for calling turkeys to 40 yds. the # 6's will also do on a goose at 40 yds. also if one shows up while swamp hunting. ALL STILL DEPENDS ON PATTERN. But the #6 h.s. will hold 150 plus shot in 30" at 50 yds. in my gun.
I have tried a few hand loads for the #6 hs and allowing for pattern differances, I can't tell the differance between 1 1/4 oz. and 1 oz. on the pattern paper at 50 yd. 150 to 195 shot.
Good luck, I think you will like it.
WG

I've shot Canada geese with a 20, with all the new non toxic loads out there most birds can be taken with a 20. Remember waterfowl hunting is best done over decoys so the majority of shots are within 35 yds. If that BPS feels good to you go for it. My teenage grandson uses one in 16 ga. and has harvested most bids with it, think the only thing he hasn't taken is a grouse.

I have taken turkey with a 410-bore. Therefore 20ga. is more then enough for turkey.

High flying geese, now that one I wouldn't try with a 20ga. much less a 410-bore. Turkey you can call in closer to compensate for a smaller gun. Geese don't work that way, at least in my hunting experience.

This is a Ruger Red Label, early model, in 20ga 3". You will note that it WILL kill geese and it HAS killed turkeys too.

The 20 gauge is not best for everything but it will work on most things, under conditions. I like my 20's, all six of them!

The 20 is capable of taking anything you can shoot - upland to waterfowl to 4-legged critters

We really enjoy shooting our 20's!
Seldom feel under gunned.

B.

Rabbits, pheasant, grouse, turkey, squirrel, ducks, geese, deer, doves can all be taken by a 20 ga. You do have to pick your spots on geese.

Anything up to deer.

BobK

The 20 can take any game that the 12ga can, it generally just does it at a lesser range. Given that an ounce of shot will easily take most upland birds on this continent out to 40 yards, and the 20 will handle an ounce of shot adequately, I don't think there'll be much of a problem.

However, (there's always a "however") the 20, in my opinion, tends not to be as efficient as some of the other gauges, particularly the 12. So, the bottom line is that if you want a nice bird gun, and you already have a 12, the 20 is a good choice. Just don't expect it to match the 12.

Frank

Pheasant, grouse, woodcock, ducks and yes geese. Slap a rifled barrel on it...mount a scope and you will have a dynamite little slug gun for deer....just stay away from elephants if you intend to make humane kills.

My son was shooting a 870 Youth Model for everything:



He killed his second swan dead-in-the-air with a single shot of 20 gauge Fasteel.

A lot of geese and turkeys have fallen to my 20 gauges.

Same as the 12 with proper load and choke combo. Just a slight loss in range. Usualy loss in max range is about 10 yards.

That browning BPS is a tank! You could get a 12 guage that weighs that much easily. Also note it has less drop then most guns. Anyways you have to shoulder a wingmaster and ithaca 37 in 20 guage. Even the 870 express weighs less then the BPS coming in at about 6 1/4lbs.

If you really want to feel the joy of a 20 guage try the franchi 48AL, or the ultralight ithaca 37. A 20 should be about 6 lbs or less. That bps is like 7lbs.