BPS 12 or 20 gauge

[pmang]

I was at Cabelas and I have decided to buy a BPS Cantilever Slug gun. They have them in 12 and 20 gauge. I have only used 12 gauge slug guns in the past. Is there an advantage regarding ballistics with the 20? Tell me what you would choose and why.

Thanks in advance.

[Cat Whisperer]

There is an advantage of the 20ga over the 12ga (but maybe not for most normal people).

If you do your own machining (I have a lathe and mill) the groove diamter of the 20ga is exactly 0.625" which is exactly 5/8" which is a standard size for many tools such as end mills.  Therefore easy to make your own mould.  In addition, it is a standard size of many materials.  I (and others) have made slugs from standard copper tubing that have been very accurate and are quite reasonable in cost as we make them ourselves.

Back to your original question of an advantage of ballistics - that's for someone else to comment on.

[jeager106]

You might not be set up tp make ammo from copper pipe so I'd go for the 12.
Wide selection of cosly ammo being the primary reason.
I've had about enough of the hype generated around sabot slugs.
They will NEVER make a rifle out of a shotgun even with a rifled tube.
At 75 yards as a maximum you can make smooth bore shotguns andd ammo behave in the 3 inch range without any magic trickery, just a few tips.
After 75 yards the smoothbore and slug get pretty "iffy".
The rifled barrel and ammo costing between 3 and 5 bucks EACH shot might get
you 100 to 120 yards of usable range.
My best sluggers with my best slugs give me 4 to 5 inches at 120 and that's it.
I have yet to see Hunting Harry post 2 inch 200 yard groups from any type of slug gun including the Tarheel or Salvage arms bolt gun.
Don't fool yourself into thinking you can get usable accuracy much beyond 125 yards with th sabot rifled bore, scoped gun combo.
it ain't gonna happen.
I'm talking two 5 shot groups at that distance at 2 inches, not 3 shots done once when Harry had a hang over.
I've gotten nice 3inch groups at 120 with a variety of sabot loads only to have teh 4th and 5th open up to 10 inches.
One #$^## with a license to make and sell reloads claimed he shot coyotes at 250 yards with his 870 cantlever 12 bore with Lyman hard cast 525 slugs.
I asked for the recipie. So much Bluedot, under the 525 Lyman and I got a dandy 18 inch 120 yard pattern.
Didn't work for me, hasn't worked for anyone else that tried them either.
BPI came put with a nice looking sabot for 9.99 for 50 in 12 bore only, that takes a 50 caliber jacketed bullet from 300 to 500 grains at velocities for the 500 grainer at 2400 f.p.s.
Baloney.
The 500 grain jacketed bullets spin inside the sabot while the sabot grabs the rifling.
Little problem ther as the 500 grain bullets hit the target sideways showing no stability at all.
Methinks there is a problem with the BPI sabot.
The thing is too large to lock in the 50 caliber jacket so the jacket is just along for a nice ride and you can forget the claimed velocity. It's a drunks dream.
Actual is about 1450 f.p.s. and that's with about half a cup of bluedot.
I think I can fix the BPI sabot but it's going to take a .503/506 bullet of all lead with some grooves running up and dnow to grab the inside of the sabot which is make of some sort of polymere that is slicker than teflon.
Still wanna go slug shooting or get a nice muzzle loader with one very well placed shot.
You will spend close to 200 bucks on slugs  trying to get 50 yard FIVE shot goups.
And you probably will never be successful.
I've made up my mind the rifled tube/scope and premium ammmo at 20 bucks and more a five pack will gain you 25 to maybe 50 yards over a good smoothie and good rifled slugs.
Don't discout the much cheaper smooth bore and Brenneke K.O. slugs ofen on sale for under 2 bucks a fiver.
Have fun what ever you do and when you get that magic 2 inch 200 yard groups please post a pisture of the taret.
Remember five shot groups.

[mspaci]

The 20 gu. lightfields I use are around $2.50 a shot & I can kill deer all day long with them at 150 yards. Couldnt do that with my smooth bore.  100 was the limit. Dont know what the groups are at that distance & dont care. They just kill deer. Slugs should be sighted in 2 inches high at 50 yards. I checked them at 100 & they are fine. I hold a touch high at longer ranges. As far as 5 shot 50 yard groups, I have no problem shooting 1-1 1/2 inch groups at that distance. I dont need to show off a target either. I know I did it several times when I did my part. I have several friends that can do the same. When I got my USH it took 10 shots to sight in. Cost $25. All in all the previous poster was right.  I gained 50 yards, but thats alot with a slug. Worth it to me anyway in a slug gun only county. 150 is by the way the max I would shoot my muzzleloader as well with 2 pellets. I practice a few shots at 50 & 100 before each season & go hunting. A couple of boxes a year I can handle the cost. Just my opinion & experience on slugs, Mike

[Bluegunner]

Unless you are a goose and duck hunter the 20 gauge works just fine.  I personally think it makes a better slug gun than the 12.  It's also a lot lighter to carry.  Some like the 12 better for turkey but if you call them in, (less than 40 yards) and head shot the bird, the 20 does just fine.  The 12 throws a few more pellets thus a bigger pattern but if you shoot straight the 20 is fine.  That's my 2 cents and I do own both.