
Is the 12 gauge dead?
From A Break in the Action by Ryan Doughty
June 12, 2026 · 53 min · Season 7 · Episode 8
About this episode
The episode discusses the relevance of the 12 gauge shotgun in modern hunting compared to sub-gauges.
For more than a century, the 12 gauge has been the default answer in the shotgun world. It was the gauge that did everything—quail, pheasants, waterfowl, rabbits, and just about anything else a hunter might pursue. But today, sub-gauges are more popular than ever. Twenty gauges, twenty-eights, and even .410s have developed devoted followings, leaving some hunters to wonder: has the 12 gauge become more gun than most of us actually need? Joining me to explore that question is Gregg Elliott of ...
People in this episode
Host: Ryan Doughty
Guest: Gregg Elliott
Topics covered
- shotguns
- hunting
- firearms
- sub-gauges
- 12 gauge
Keywords
- 12 gauge
- shotgun
- hunting
- sub-gauges
- firearms
Mentioned in this episode
Products: 12 gauge, twenty gauges, twenty-eights, .410s
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