Lightweight 12ga and 20ga?

[Marplot]

I have two older guns. One is a 20ga, about 1880 with good Damascus barrel. The seller has been shooting Winchester AA Target shells. Is there a better shell that could be even safer for my old gun?

My second gun has 12ga, also older, but has steel barrel Nitro proof, but also late 1800s/early 1900s. What kind of light loads could I use? I do not plan to use either for regular shooting, but make a few shots.

Ready to make an order.

 

[anonymouscowherd]

For the 20ga I'd be really tempted to get some all-brass shells and load my own using black powder...

For the nitro proofed gun, any of the light target loads at wally world or wherever.

 

[Marplot]

For the 20ga I'd be really tempted to get some all-brass shells and load my own using black powder...

For the nitro proofed gun, any of the light target loads at wally world or wherever.

I like the 20g all-brass, but would need to set up for reloading them. Only think about shooting a few times. Maybe I can find a local guy who reloads 20ga.... Maybe I'll buy some brass. I love the way they look and really appropriate for this old gun.

 

[ADV09]

Based on my experience, my 20s tend to throw a higher percentage pattern than my 12s, when using the same size shot at the same yardages.

However, the 12 still technically outperforms the 20 even with a lower pattern percentage, because I’m able to shoot 1/4 or 3/8 oz more shot at an equivalent velocity, so I end up with more pellets in the usable pattern, plus many more pellets in the fringe pattern, thus giving me a theoretically larger size pattern.

In the field, this doesn’t really matter for me personally…until I need to shoot #2 or #1 size shot. Inside 35 yards, 20ga is equal to a 12ga..