Is it true that 20g shotguns are not as powerful as 12 gauges? If someone got shot in the head with a 20g are they more likely to survive?

Yes, it is true that a 12 gauge has more muzzle energy than a 20 gauge. Get shot in the head by either at less than 50 feet and you have left to work with. Give up on facial identification or dental records.

The gauge determines the diameter of the barrel, with 12 being larger than 16 and 16 being larger than 20. If you are using the same length cases, the only noticeable difference will be the number of pellets in the case. Each pellet will do an equal amount of damage and all it takes is one in the correct spot to kill.

Nope & hell no.... The 12 gauge just holds more pellets. They do not fly any faster or harder than from a 20 gauge.

Not even close, both will do devastating damage. Infact your chance of surviving a shotgun blast to the head is right around 0%

Thats like asking would you rather get ripped in half with a v6 pickup truck or a v8 pickup truck.

However alot of guys like to down talk the 20gauge to feel like a tough guy.

The truth is 20 gauge shotguns have a better trajectory with slugs making it my choice of shotgun for deer hunting.

I own both and can reliably hit a watermelon sized target at 150yrds. With the 20 gauge.

The 12gauge on the other hand just slaps the dirt at 85yards like a pitty.

Both 12&20 can get all the same jobs done.

The 20 is just a slightly lighter package.

Aside from popular belief 20 usually recoils about equal if not more than 12s

Not true. Getting shot in the head by any gun makes it UNLIKELY to survive.

A 12g has more muzzle energy than a 20g. A 20g is not bad, but it is something you get for your wife or child as it has less recoil compared to a 12g. Even a .22LR will kill you if you get shot in the head, it does not make it a better round compared to others.

Well, yeah, a 12g has more muzzle energy than a 20g.

Neither one is something you'd want to get shot in the head with, though.

No you idiot getting shot in the head will almost always get you killed

shot in the head with either is jello. to find out ballistic information search internet

If someone got shot in the head with a shotgun, they won't survive. Period.