Alright experts, my wife is wanting to upgrade from her youth model 20 gauge to a compact 12 gauge. The bulk of the hunting will be for ducks. I've found a few compact 12 gauges with the same length of pull as her youth gun, but the question is would she be losing any benefits by having a 24" barrel vs a 26" such as effective range and pattern?

None, other than weight & balance, she will probably never notice the change.

Agree

A 24” barrel will swing a little “snappier” than a 26”. Shot pattern will not change appreciably with similar choke. The biggest difference I see is noise in the blind. Shorter barrels equal more/louder report. I like a fairly long barrel for blind work.

Thats what I wanted to make sure of. I forgot to add in the OP that she's only 5'1" and 105#, so she likes a shorter gun. I'm currently looking at the SX4 compact which will only be 1" longer than her current youth 20 gauge. I'm ok with it being louder as long as she has a gun she's more comfortable with

i had a 24" Super Black Eagle and a 20" Benelli M-2, they were killers. For your wife I wouldn't suggest the Benelli, , the recoil is harder with them. Look at the great Winchester, Remington s and Mossberg's, all gas operated.

Buzzsaw, we're currently leaning towards the Winchester SX4 compact

For decoying ducks I would be fine with a 24” barrel’d shotgun personally.


For waterfowl I shoot a Beretta A300 outlander in some type of real tree camo.

I am a shotgun snob and I think this is one of the best duck guns made. It comes with an adjustable stock ( shim inserts ) for length of pull. Also they have a 24” barrel option.

I’ve owned or shot about every common shotgun out there, owned some nice O/U’s and the outlander is my favorite waterfowl gun.

I think it paid $750 for it new and honestly think it’s value is worth double.


http://www.beretta.com/en-us/a300-outlander-camo-max5/

I’m going to have to remember this. May be in the market for a waterfowl gun someday.

+2

Love my A300. Picked up a black synthetic at Dunn's for $550 last season.

Except the recoil. Sounds like your wife is pretty little...make sure she shoots a box of 12 ga before you buy one and she's ok with the recoil.

Personally I'd keep her in a 20 ga if she shoots it well.

She shot my buddies shortened 12 gauge at clays a lot last season and shot it like a champ

The weight difference will make the recoil mute, a lightweight 20ga has more recoil than it's 12ga equivalent

I would suggest a 12ga Franchi Affinity compact, you can get it in 24" and 26" barrels, or if you want, you can buy the full size version and the compact stock is $105 giving you more options.

I hunt ducks with my Browning Citori lightning 20 ga. Use 3" mag #4 steel and I drop birds just as well as guys with 12 ga guns.
Think about shells, not a new gun.

I hunt dove and upland game exclusively with a 20 and I've shot my share of ducks with a 20 gauge as well, but if its gonna be a dedicated waterfowl gun, I would advise a 12. The extra capacity of the 12 will help put more pellets in the bird. My 20 gauge load only has a 7/8th oz. of shot in No. 4. Its not the power that's an issue its the number of pellets hitting the vitals.


My outlander with a load of 1 1/4 oz. of 3" black cloud isn't bad at all....my 12 year old could shoot it.

A 12 gauge semi auto isn't nearly as robust recoil wise as a pump or O/U 12 gauge

Yep. I own a $1500 Super Black Eagle II, it sits at home and I mainly hunt with my synthetic A300. I paid $550 as well. It's the best value on the market for a semi-auto shotgun.

$550 plus $15.00 in krylon spray paint and you have a semi-auto that's comparable to many guns over $1,000.

Not my experience. I have an A400 Xplor 20 ga, the lightest semi-auto on the market as far as I know, and it still has less recoil than my Beretta 12 with a limbsaver and a weighted fore-end.

Neither is bad, but it is noticeable....and I'm not 5'1" and 105 lbs.

Sounds like she's ready! Let us know what you get.

Looks like a pretty good deal....

https://texashuntingforum.com/forum...80-20ga-short-length-of-pull#Post7607571