2 inch 12 bore

[Robert Delk]

Has anyone had any actual field experience with a 2" chambered 12 bore? My friend has a chance to buy one and is wondering how effective they are on pheasants. He is disabled and has to use a light gun but wants good patterns and killing ability.

[Ken Hill]

Robert,

I sometimes use a 2" 12 for wild pheasants in KS. I try to keep shots within 35 yards and don't have an issue. I use the RST #6 loads and also their #7 1/2. These are the 15/16 oz loads. My gun is proofed for 1oz loads. Your friend will have to figure out how well the gun he's looking at will pattern.

Ken

[Robert Delk]

He was thinking that with the short shot column that it might have a high percentage of actual killing shot on target as opposed to a longer shot column of the longer shells.How is the recoil? He has an implant in his left chest and can't take much pounding.He does shoot right handed.

[Ken Hill]

To me, recoil is a little less compared to a 2 1/2" 1oz load. I haven't tried the RST loads that are 1125 fps with 7/8 oz of shot. My gun patterns nice and even. My gun weighs 5 1/2 lbs. I have found very few articles (one in Doublegun Journal and a couple in Shooting Sportsman) written on the 2".

Ken

[Robert Delk]

Thank you. I'll check my index for those and dig up the articles for him.Just what he was looking for.

[Daniel G Rainey]

There is an article in the Shooting Sportsman May-June 2017 on the 2 inch 12 Ga.

[Ken Hill]

Robert,

Here's a link to the Doublegun site on more opinions on the 2" 12 on their cost http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=371520.

The Doublegun Journal article is in the Spring 1996 written by Douglas Tate. In addition to the Shooting Sportsman article above, there are 2 more: Mar/Apr 2007 and Nov/Dec 1997 written by Charles Fergus.

Ken

[Rich Anderson]

I used the RST two inch shell in a Stephan Grant hammer gun while Quail hunting this past winter. My gun is choked cyl/cyl and I had no problems at all and recoil was negligible. Is your friend looking specifically for a gun chambered for the two inch shell? He will have far more of a selection in looking for a light game gun and just using the two inch shell in a longer chambered gun.

[Robert Delk]

As usual,this forum has the answers based on experience. I never cease to be amazed at the knowledge/experience that can be tapped into here. Thanks to all that replied.