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If I have to choose between one or the other, I go with 12. I think 12 is somewhat more versatile in consideration of hunting applications, as well as more effective when harvesting certain types of game. There is a wider variety of modification parts and ammunition available due to popularity, but ammo may not be as widely available.

I suspect have a very unpopular opinion about 20 gauge, it's the ideal platform to learn skeet shooting because they have less recoil and weigh less. For home defense, were someone to use a shotgun for the purpose, 20's have plenty of "stopping power" and a somewhat lower likelihood of penetrating multiple interior walls (important if you don't live alone). You will also find more ammo available overall because fewer people buy it.

My two cents.
SGT James Murphy
SGT James Murphy
2 y
They don't make 20 round clips for semi-auto 20guage.
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Like the Rock Island VR series, or Panzer BP/AR 12. I know there's a bunch of stuff like that, Kalashnikov, Remington, and Mossberg make variants of semi-automatic box magazine fed shotguns. They are fun to shoot, and if of a quality build work just fine, most of the reliability issues have been worked out.

As for keeping one ready at all times... The only discrepancy I've ever really heard of with them is if you don't routinely swap the ready ammo and magazines, the plastic case modern shells can deform over time and the magazine springs tend to wear out relatively quick. As far as fixes, finding or making old school brass shells and learning to reload those or find someone who can is a (remotely) possible option. Not stacking a full magazine can help with spring lifespan, but is hardly a fix.

Fun fact: Early lesson in time as an infantryman, randomly or organized, have the squad's riflemen load magazines with 27, 28, and 29 rounds. Theory being this helps to eliminate the probability that everyone will need to reload at the same time.
SSG Environmental Specialist
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Grew up with a 20 gauge
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The first shotgun I practiced with was 20 gauge Mossberg 500C.
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SGT James Murphy
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12 Gauge and if you can talk your uncle out of that old 10guage black powder rifle.
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