I've never held, let alone shot, a 2" 12, but I do have a 2.5" 6.4lb 30" damascus Lefever 12, and it swings like a dream and shoots like it too. I rarely miss with it. I'm a huge 16 guy, but it's basically like shooting a 16, except with slightly wider barrels. I can see the attraction to the 12ga option. You can't go wrong with either.