German gun quality versus British shell weight

Did superior German gun quality outweigh Britain's advantage in gun size?

No; a fine smaller gun still faced heavier British shells that were more numerous and likely to cause greater damage on a hit.

Germany could produce a very good 12-inch weapon, but British ships were already moving to 13.5-inch guns and then 15-inch guns in larger numbers. With broadly comparable hit rates, the heavier British shell was more likely to penetrate and would cause more damage after impact. The comparison depends on the whole fighting system rather than gun quality alone. Technical excellence in one weapon did not overcome shell weight, production scale, and fleet numbers.