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12 gauge or 20 gauge? A guide to choosing a magazine-fed shotgun
We put the FS12 and FS20 side by side using our own specifications. The difference is not where most people expect it, with a three-question guide at the end.
"Should I buy a 12 or a 20 gauge?" is the question our dealers hear most. The answer is simpler than most brochures suggest: gauge is not a power contest, it is a match between your quarry and your own habits. Here is the comparison using FUMSAN's own specifications.
What gauge actually measures
Gauge is a traditional measure of bore diameter and it works against intuition: the larger the number, the narrower the bore. A 20 gauge therefore has a smaller bore than a 12 gauge, and carries less shot per shell.
How the FUMSAN series compare
A common generalisation says a 20 gauge is always lighter. That depends on the model. In the FS12 and FS20 series the receiver and action are shared:
| Specification | FUMSAN FS12 | FUMSAN FS20 |
|---|---|---|
| Gauge | 12 gauge | 20 gauge |
| Feeding | Magazine-fed | Magazine-fed |
| Action | Gas operated | Gas operated |
| Magazine capacity | 2+1 / 5+1 / 10+1 | 2+1 / 5+1 / 10+1 |
| Barrel length | 51 cm | 51 cm |
| Barrel type | Slug barrel | Slug barrel |
| Chamber | 76 mm Magnum | 76 mm Magnum |
| Weight | 3650 g | 3650 g |
| Mobile choke | Yes | Yes |
The difference is not weight or mechanism but the bore, and therefore the cartridge. That simplifies the decision to one question: which shell do you want to hunt with?
What the 12 gauge does well
A 12 gauge shell carries more shot, giving a denser pattern and a wider margin for error — useful for larger game and longer shots. It is also the most widely available gauge in Türkiye. The trade-off is higher recoil; the gas action absorbs part of it, but the difference remains noticeable.
What the 20 gauge does well
A 20 gauge carries less shot and recoils noticeably less. That shortens recovery time between shots and reduces fatigue over a long day — which makes it a common choice for younger or newer shooters. The FUMSAN FS20 is presented in our corporate material as Türkiye's first 20-gauge shotgun with a vertical box magazine.
Three questions to decide
- Which gauge have you shot before? Shoulder habit outweighs any table.
- How many shots do you fire in a day? Recoil differences accumulate.
- Which shells are easy to find where you hunt? The best shotgun is the one you can feed.
Conclusion
Both series share the same action, barrel and magazine options, so this is not a good-model / bad-model decision. If you are undecided, shoot both at a range before you choose.
