It's all a combination.
I packed a 10 gauge for years. Pretty sure I killed 2, maybe 3 birds that I don't think I could have shot with a 12. We will never know though.
I have killed my closest birds with the old 10 as well. Probably 6 feet on one and maybe 10 yards on another.
This year I am leaning hard towards an IC/M choked 16 SxS. Load it up with 7 1/2 and figure out max distance.
If that's 25 yards then that's where I will try to get all of my birds which shouldn't be an issue since seeing 20 yards on my place is a chore w foliage on.
