Remember he did say "I mainly hunt quail, grouse, woodcock and occasionally pheasants." I'm not a grouse hunter or woodcock for that matter, but I believe they are easily taken with a 20g as are the quail. He didn't mention that this would be a 'clays gun' nor would I think to use my lightweight field guns for such regular duty...on occasion for practice? sure. The pheasant would be the only bird (if wild pheasant) that would even seem worthy of a 12g shell, IMO. If he's going to buy both 12 and 20g guns eventually, maybe it's more a question of what gauges are in his current arsenal as to which to buy first. If he's more comfortable/confident with a 12g, maybe that's what he ought to get for a first sxs just to ensure "small gun syndrome" doesn't errode his confidence with a new type (sxs) of gun. The same could be said for single vs. double triggers for someone to go from an auto (single trigger) to a sxs with double triggers for the first time can be a struggle with sight picture as well as the trigger differences. It can and has made many a person shy away or poo-poo sxs's and double triggers. My first sxs was a sst BSS for that reason. Change can be intimidating and changing one thing at a time can help transition.
