If I have been told that 12 bores are out of favour once I have heard it a dozen times over my now long shooting career. I just put it down to salesman talk and my reasoning is this you can obtain loads for 12 bores ranging from ˝ an ounce to 2 ounces so because you have a 12 bore does not mean you do not have to use the heaver loads. Also because of my advancing years and the associated aches and pains my cartridge load is now down to 21 gram this coupled with the slightly weightier 12 bore gun means that the recoil is down to an acceptable level for my not so good as it was shoulder so what will shoot a lot will shoot a little.
I think I would like to make a prediction which is “Ice Skates will be compulsory for travelling to hell” the day manufacture of the ubiquitous 12 bore is ceased.

The only lessons in my life I truly did learn from where the ones I paid for!