20 gauge cartridge choice?

[Dunwaters]

I used one for a season, mostly walked up pheasant/snipe/woodcock over pointers, and I couldn’t get on with it.
While an ounce of lead is an ounce of lead regardless, the gun itself ( a lightweight O/U game gun with 28” barrels) really didn’t suit me, far too light and whippy. Faster on a flushing bird than my 12 bore by around 5 yards but too fast handling for consistency on longer crossing shots. It came with 26Gm 7’s, I found them a bit lacking for bum shooting pheasant, the same load in 5 or 6 worked better. All were good old fashioned lead cartridges.
It was a pleasure to carry, but when the time came to use it we just didn’t suit each other, so parted ways.
Regardless of the bore, my standard load for what I do is 28 - 32 Gm of lead 6’s, I have no doubt 26Gm with a bit of choke would do just as well, this year I’ll be trying steel 4’s or 5’s….

 

[Malxwal]

Often the case with the switch to 20b. Took me years to get used to the lighter gun, even though the Brownings and Mirokus are almost comparable to lightweight 12s. Had to persist, and not fall back on the 12 whenever I had a bad day (I'm pretty crap most days to be fair).
Strangely, got on very well with a proper scaled 28b Beretta which is lighter than any 20b, lovely things.

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

Theres some really good cartridges out there and the longest birds ive shot are with my old 20.

My go to are high phesant extreme, rc sipe and gamebore black gold. 26-28 gram loads in 5 or 6.

Being euro shot sizes they are a little bigger and have a bit more knock down power

 

[HistoricBore]

Often the case with the switch to 20b. Took me years to get used to the lighter gun, even though the Brownings and Mirokus are almost comparable to lightweight 12s. Had to persist, and not fall back on the 12 whenever I had a bad day (I'm pretty crap most days to be fair).
Strangely, got on very well with a proper scaled 28b Beretta which is lighter than any 20b, lovely things.

See this month's issue of The Field!

HB

 

[Cranborne]

I use a lightweight side-by-side 20 choked 1/4 and 1/2 for walked-up shooting and find Hull High Pheasant 25gm 6 shot effective.

 

[Hales Smut]

I use a Beretta 687 O/U with double triggers and mobil chokes. We have to use steel for 15-20 years. Don't really remember.
With steel I use Rio 24g n°5 for pheasants and n°4 for hare. Hardly ever n°3. 99% of the time walked up over spaniels.
Chokes cyl- 1/4 , sometimes cyl- 1/2
When I still could use lead, I used 26g or 28g RC. 99% of the time n°6
I have an older Belgian SxS , but am a bit afraid using steel in it.