Is a 20 gauge shotgun good for deer hunting?
Mia Smith
Published Feb 16, 2026
Is a 20 gauge shotgun good for deer hunting?
Go with 12-Gauge or Larger for Deer This means most hunters will be best served by a 12-gauge. 16-gauges gauges can get the job done, and 20-gauge shotguns are easier for smaller hunters, but almost every deer hunter during shotgun season is toting a 12-gauge shotgun, while some will go even larger with a 10-gauge.
Can you use a 20 gauge for goose hunting?
Its increasing popularity may have more to do with an aging hunting population than with any ballistics breakthroughs, but I see and hear of more hunters taking 20s into the field now, using them to bag everything from teal to geese. Within its limitations, the 20-gauge can be every bit as effective as a 12-gauge.
What game can you hunt with a 20 gauge?
20-gauge shotguns are especially suitable for hunting game birds such as quail, grouse, turkey, and other game when using shot shells. A 20-gauge can also shoot slugs and buckshot and thereby become an effective deer-hunting gun.
Is a 12 or 20 gauge better for duck hunting?
In pattern density and shot stringing, the 12 gauge starts to offer a slight advantage over the 20, especially with larger steel pellet sizes commonly used for waterfowl hunting. One advantage too often automatically credited to a 20 gauge is lighter recoil.
What is the best shotgun to hunt deer?
Top 10 Slug Guns For Deer Hunting
- 1: Savage 212 and 220.
- 2: Winchester SX3 Cantilever Buck.
- 3: Remington 870 SPS ShurShot Synthetic Super Slug.
- 4: Browning A-Bolt Shotgun.
- 5: Benelli SBE II Slug Gun.
- 6: Weatherby PA-08 08 Slug Gun Combo.
- 7: Mossberg 500 FLEX Slugster.
- 8: Mossberg 930 Slugster.
How far can you shoot a deer with a 20 gauge slug?
Have a safe backstop when shooting. What’s the effective range of a 20 gauge slug for deer? As a practical matter, about 75 yards (or meters). Slugs are increasingly inaccurate at 100 yards and beyond.
What shot size for ducks 20 gauge?
The largest nontoxic shot size usually offered in 20-gauge is No. 2s (although a few rare loads have No. 1s), with 3-inch payloads seldom exceeding 1¼ ounce. That limits the 20-gauge to all but decoying shots at honkers.
What gauge is best for duck hunting?
20-gauge
Most Ladies and Youth models are in 20-gauge. Within reasonable range, the 20-gauge can be a good waterfowl gun, particularly with some of the premium nontoxic pellets such as Bismuth, Federal Tungsten Iron, Kent Impact, and Remington Hevi-Shot.
Can I hunt with a 20 gauge shotgun?
Here’s What You’re Missing. The 20-gauge is the underappreciated middle child of the shotgun family. But make no mistake, the 20-gauge is capable and versatile, bringing attributes into the field that none of its siblings can boast—whether you’re gunning for upland birds, ducks or big game.
What Buckshot is available for 20 gauge?
Home Defense Use The #3 is a good middle-of-the-road pellet size with a variety of length shells. Overall, the #3 buckshot is extremely versatile for any kind of shotgun application, especially using a 20 ga. Just make sure lead is allowed where you plan to go hunting or shooting.
What’s the best shot size for ducks?
| SPECIES | IDEAL RANGE | SHOT SIZE |
|---|---|---|
| Small Ducks | 15-40 yds | 4, 5, 6 |
| Large Ducks | 10-40 yds | BB,1, 2, 3 |
| Geese | 10-45 yds | T, BBB, BB |
Is it better to hunt with a shotgun or rifle?
The gun can simply do it all! When compared to a rifle, the shotgun tends to win the price tag battle as well. You can outfit a simple shotgun with a scope for considerably less than what you’ll spend on a naked rifle.
Is a 20 gauge capable of duck hunting?
For ducks, though, the 20-gauge is nearly perfect, especially in the early season when smaller, fast-flying ducks, like teal, are numerous and before the regular goose season has begun. The 20-gauge shotguns are light, usually weighing one or even two pounds less than their 12-gauge counterparts.
What animals can you hunt with a 20 gauge shotgun?
20-gauge shotguns are especially suitable for hunting game birds such as quail, grouse, turkey, and other game when using shot shells. A 20-gauge can also shoot slugs and buckshot and thereby become an effective deer -hunting gun.
What can you hunt with a 20 gauge shotgun?
20-gauge shotguns are especially suitable for hunting game birds such as quail, grouse, turkey, and other small game when using shot shells. A 20-gauge can also shoot slugs and thereby become an effective deer-hunting gun.
Is a 20 gauge shot gun small?
A 20-gauge shotgun is more suitable for hunting certain types of game or for some hunters because it recoils less, and the guns weigh less and may be smaller . 20-gauge shotguns are especially suitable for hunting game birds such as quail, grouse, turkey, and other game when using shot shells.