When it comes to shotguns, the 12 gauge is ubiquitous. That’s because the versatility and performance of a 12 gauge shotgun is arguably unparalleled. There’s simply not much that a 12 gauge shotgun can’t do when it comes to hunting.

While a shotgun barrel at its core is nothing more than a steel tube, a myriad of choke tubes are available to alter the behavior of that steel tube. Additionally, there are hundreds of varieties of 12 gauge shotshells on the market from lighter clay shooting shells to heavy slugs.

Sometimes, a 20 gauge or .410 bore simply isn’t enough, in which case the 12 gauge will surely deliver.