Who also shoots smaller gauges?

Woodcarver said:

The most abusive shotgun I've ever shot (and just one round because of it), was a Rossi Partner youth 20ga. It was painful. I started my Grandson with my Grandpa's cut down (shortened stock) Model 11 20ga with light loads & he handled that well, despite being rather small in stature. The added weight of the Model 11 coupled with the semi action, pretty much negates any recoil. My Granddaughter used a TriStar 20ga simply because she couldn't manage the weight of the Model 11; amazing what a 1.5 pound difference makes.
Virtually all of my bird hunting is done with a 20ga or 28ga Beretta 686 these days. Big ducks and geese still find a 12ga pointed at them most of the time. Just returned home from a 3 week jaunt to North Carolina to hunt deer & ducks with one of my nephews. Only reason I used a 12ga for these wood ducks is I had no 20ga non-toxic shells with me.
The 7 rounds of sporting clays I shot at the Nashville Gun Club with my oldest brother on that same trip saw all 3 gauges used, just because they came with me. Most of the rounds were shot with the 28ga Beretta 686 though. Btw, the MEC course there is humbling, lol.
@rookhawk is spot on with coupling light loads in a properly fitted shotgun to start, and keep, new shooters into wing shooting. The tradeoff of quality for affordability is where some of us make concessions. It's easier (mentally) to cut the stock on a $600 gun than a $2000 one. Reliability is still mandated.
Woodies are one of the prettiest ducks. Got lucky as the second flew into the pattern shooting the lead drake....
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That's a Fausti Elegante Ducks Unlimited 12ga. I'm a fan of the Fausti made shotguns. Fit and finish far exceed what is normally found at their price level. Have several 12s, need to find one in 20, 28 and 410 now.

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