20 gauge weight range

[Ronald Scott]

I've been looking at picking up a 20 gauge Parker and see quite a bit of variation in weight of various listed guns. Obviously barrel length plays a role and density of wood.

What is the lightest that you've come across?

Also it seems like some 16 gauge on 0 frames can be pretty light -- 6lbs 5oz to to 6 1/2 lbs.

Is there any chance of finding a 20 gauge that weighs in at 6 lbs or under?

[Paul Ehlers]

I have an 0-frame 16ga that weighs in at 6lb's even so I see no reason that there wouldn't be 20ga guns that lite as well.

[Seth Irvin]

I have two VH 20 gauge guns that are both just short of 6 pounds.

[Dean Romig]

A 16 on the 0-frame, of an equal barrel length, has the distinct possibility of weighing less than a 20, all things being equal, because the chamber walls are considerably thinner on the 16 than the 20.





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[Seth Irvin]

I actually have an O Frame 16 that is less than 6 pounds also, but it has 24” tubes compared to the 26” tubes on the two 20’s.

[Ronald Scott]

Any opinions RE Pros and Cons of 16 vs 20? I would think if they weigh the same maybe all things considered a 16 might make a better shooter — Esp with low pressure 7/8 oz loads ...

(I’m not a collector— just a shooter)

[Brett Hoop]

My go to’s are 0 frames in both 20 and 16. Couple are straight gripped, couple are capped grip. Somewhat across the board for chokes, most common are 28” barrels.
The first to find a life long home was a 16, and I have always felt it carried like a 20ga. My Sporting Clays numbers don’t change with either.
Biggest issue remembering to load the vest with the correct headstamp.

[Dean Romig]

Personal preference is either a 28 or a 16.

Some 20's just seem to jar me more than the other small bores.





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[Randy G Roberts]

Any opinions RE Pros and Cons of 16 vs 20? I would think if they weigh the same maybe all things considered a 16 might make a better shooter — Esp with low pressure 7/8 oz loads ...

(I’m not a collector— just a shooter)

Possibly, possibly not. Depends on what you are shooting. Having said that, what are your shooting plans ?

[Jay Gardner]

Personal preference is either a 28 or a 16.


An added benefit of that combo is "friends" can't hit you up for extra shells if/when they run out. :whistle:

[Marty Kohler]

For what it is worth I like the neck on 16's they fit my hand and feel perfect.... Don't rule out a 1 frame 16 as they can be as light as an O frame as has been discussed many times on this forum and also if you get a little lucky you may find one with factory chokes I/C and F...which I believe are just right.....Good Luck in your search.

[Craig Larter]

Total weight is only one factor in my opinion, distribution of weight is way more important in my experience. The 20 gauge guns I shoot best have most of their weight between my hands. Therefore I prefer 26" guns in 20ga and shoot them better that longer barrels. I own 3 three 20/26 guns (Fox and Parker) and they weight between 5.14 and 6.10. They all feel great and shoot great to me. I know long barreled small bores are all the rage but I struggle with them. I had a 32" 16 ga Sterlingworth that felt unbalanced to me and I struggled with it.
So buy the gun that fits your ideal in terms of weight distribution, even if it's a 7lbs 20ga. Craig

[Jay Gardner]

Total weight is only one factor in my opinion, distribution of weight is way more important in my experience. The 20 gauge guns I shoot best have most of their weight between my hands.
So buy the gun that fits your ideal in terms of weight distribution, even if it's a 7lbs 20ga. Craig

"Weight between my hands"...perfect way to explain it. Last fall I traded a member of this forum for a 1-frame, 16 g, that weights 6.10. Admittedly that number looks a little heavy for a 16 g grouse gun, but it doesn't feel that heavy because of the distribution.

Chosing a 16 v a 20 is primarily a personal preference.

JDG

[Russ Jackson]

It seems with the Brother's P you can find almost any combination you want if you look hard enough ,I have a 16 Gauge that weighs in like a 28 Gauge !She weighs 5 Lb. 8 Oz. ,16 gauge PH Grade with Original Factory Twist Steel 22" Barrels ! !

[charlie cleveland]

i would not leave a light 12 gauge out of this picture...75 years ago a 12 ga hammerless gun with 26 inch barrels andcldinder and full choke was king among the quail guns....charlie

[davidboyles]

I started as a kid with a 16 SXS Fox in 1960. I think the saying 16 carries like a 20 and hits like a 12 is still true. There are plenty of fast departing blue quail that end up in my freezer to a 16 ga and plenty of late season doves flying high that share the same shelf with the quail!!!! I have 4 16's and my favorites are a steel DHE 30" and DHE Damascus 28" I almost forgot the VHE steel 30" chokes IC and Full.

[Ronald Scott]

Possibly, possibly not. Depends on what you are shooting. Having said that, what are your shooting plans ?

I put a lot of miles on in southeastern AZ hunting quail during January. For that I currently carry a 6 1/4 lb modern 28 gauge SxS choked IC, Mod which is plenty of gun until the shots get longer. I'm thinking a light weight 20 or 16 chocked IC, Full would be just about ideal. The same gun would work in the fall for woodcock and grouse in NH, Maine, and NB.

I'm looking at Parkers because I also shoot in vintage SxS sporting clays events -- they allow modern SxSs but I think a real vintage gun would be more appropriate. Since my fist shotgun was a Parker and I no longer have it -- a Parker it will most likely be.

A 6 lb 16 gauge Damascus Parker hammer gun in good shape would be practically irresistible ...

[John Davis]

Letter from Parker Bros. to H. G. Lipscomb & Co., Nashville, Tennessee, October 8th, 1912:

“We are in receipt of your order of the 1st for a gun to be shipped to Bennett & Campbell, Franklin, Tenn., and note that you have ordered a 20 gauge, 26 in. barrels, V. H. grade gun, to weigh 5 lbs., and this is lighter than we can possibly make this grade of gun, or in fact any grade of gun. About 5 3/4 lbs. is the lightest weight that we attempt to make any 20 gauge gun, and we could give you a gun now to fill this order, weighing 5 14/16 lbs., with 3 in. drop, if this would answer your purpose, and we would be pleased to ship the same at once.”

[John Davis]

Letter from Parker Bros. to William Meyers, Hampton, Iowa, March 17, 1927:

“We received your order of the 3rd several days ago. It has been entered and the $15.00 credited to your account. Factory, in checking up the specifications, advises us that the weight you have given is somewhat too light for a gun to be used with the 2 3/4" shells. Our light weight limit for this length in a 12/30 is 7 lbs. 10 oz., and the addition of the recoil pad and the 1/4" extra length of stock would increase that weight probably four to six ounces. The fact that you have specified a heavy comb would also tend to make the gun slightly heavier. It is impossible for us to accept an order for a gun lighter than as described above, and we trust it will be satisfactory to you to allow us to increase the weight as stated. A gun as light as you have ordered, would be unsafe in our opinion to handle the 2 3/4" loads, in which as you know, the heavy Super-X and similar powders are loaded. It is quite possible you would never use them, but there is always the chance that if the gun is chambered for them, either you or someone else may use these shells, and we have therefore established what we have found to be proper light weight limits. These weights are controlled by wall thicknesses of course, and these very from the breech toward the muzzle. We have entered the order for a full pistol grip stock, which we trust is satisfactory, and believe we can make up a gun which will please you in every way, even though the weight is greater than you desire, because it will be properly balanced, and will handle most satisfactorily.”

[Harold Lee Pickens]

My DHE 16 and VH 20 both carry 26" barrels. Factory letters both state 6 lbs even.

[Dave Noreen]

My 26-inch barrel 0-frame 20-gauge letters as six pounds, but my scale says six pounds 2 ounces.

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