Missed160 Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Anyone here shoot a 20 gauge for turkeys? I am thinking about carrying one this spring, but, I also know that as soon as I do, I'll have a bird lock up at 45 yards. Just curious who carries one & what kind of range you have shot birds at. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kooter Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Re: 20 Ga? i just read an article in a turkey magazine about the 20 ga. they said with hevi shot and a good choke it should be ok. They said they shot one at 50 yards that they thought was closer and killed it dead. I think in the right hands it would be ok. I have no personal experience with the 20 but i think at 40 would be good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hookedonhunting Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Re: 20 Ga? Like said above with hevi and a good choke u will be alright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Re: 20 Ga? I used mine last year and i felt fine shooting it up to 40 yards. Cant say i ever got a shot at one. Im carring a 12 gauge this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M00N Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Re: 20 Ga? I only hunt with a 20 gauge when I hunt turkey or any bird for that matter. My reason behind it is a couple of things. It is a lighter gun, the barrel is shorter (Mines 20"), and the kick isn't as intense. I've tried several different styles of 12 gauge and they just don't fit me correctly. When I shoot a gun I want it to line up effortlessly when I put it on my shoulder so I just have to look right down the barrel to aim. My Remington 870 SPS-T Camo in 20 gauge did just that, so that's the gun I hunt with for turkey. I haven't shot a turkey yet with my 20 gauge, as I have not had a turkey nearly close enough. This is only my second year of hunting with this gun. My gun with Hevi-Shot or Nitro in it will pattern just fine out to 40 yards. Heck it'd probably pattern farther than 40 yards with Nitro in it, but I don't feel good shooting past that distance. Lead loads I can get a good pattern out to 30 yards and that is the distance I limit myself to when I'm using lead. If it wasn't so costly I'd always shoot Nitro Hevi-Shot 4x5x7 in 3" 1 3/8oz. 20 gauge. The shells alone are difficult to find and costly. I think a box of 5 cost $30 last time I looked. This year I have 2 boxes of Remington Hevi-Shot and 2 boxes of Winchester Supreme to hunt with. Once the Remington Hevi-Shot is used up I will not be buying anymore Hevi-Shot unless it's Nitro. Otherwise I'll be sticking to Winchester Supreme. I don't think even with a 12 gauge I'd want to hunt turkey past 40 yards. I'm just not confident nor comfortable with making such a long shot on a turkey. Last thing I'd ever want to do is wound a bird and have it get away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nut Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Re: 20 Ga? My boys hunt with 20 gauges. With their loads and chokes we limit them to 30 yards. LOL I limit myself to that with my 12 gauges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borch Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Re: 20 Ga? The hottest trend in the 20 gauge setup seems to be sticking a puregold or a tightwad choke in and shoot the hevi 13(if you can find them), rem hevishot or Nitroloads. Many are getting better patterns at 40 with this setup than they were getting with their 12 gauge setups. I'm very comfortable eith my daughter's setup, 870 youth 20 gauge, hastings .566 choke and Federal 1 5/16 oz #6 shot lead, out to 35+ yards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Re: 20 Ga? Just patterned my daughter's H&R single 20 ga. yesterday. It's a fixed modified choke........for now. The Remington 3" Hevi #6 throws an awesome pattern at 30 yards!! I truly believe that further testing will show it'll git 'r done to 40. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucksandbeards Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Re: 20 Ga? My son used an old Stevens single shot 20ga for 3 yrs killed bird's from 20 to 52 yds , got him a new Mossberg 20 for Christmas hope he has the same kind of luck with it.Shot it last weekend with 3" 5shot @ 40 yds had 28 shot in the head i think he's gonna b alright with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Colorado Bob Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Re: 20 Ga? I use a 12 guage for spring gobbler season but in the fall I use a Savage O/U 222 Rem/ 20 guage. I've killed them with the 20. I use Federal 3" #6 shot copper plated------seems to would just fine---never had a complaint yet the turkeys !! Never lost a bird. I'd hunt with it---the fun is calling them in close !! CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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