dbHunterNY Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 I am currently using a 20 gauge for turkey hunting. I've shot a turkey with it, however it was close. What's your educated opinion on the effectiveness of a 20 gauge on turkeys? Does anyone know the approximate effective range of a 20 gauge compared to a 12 gauge? I haven't patterned mine and have only shot one turkey at close range. I was told I should be using a 12 gauge for turkeys, and that is why I'm asking these questions. - Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Pattern your 20 and see how far out it holds a good, dense pattern. That is how far you can shoot turkeys with it. Should work to 30 yards, anyhow. My kids have NEF/NWTF 20 ga. single barrels that I've had sent out for choke tube work. They both have XX-Full Comp-N-Choke tubes and should be deadly to 40 yards. They throw quite a tight pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Absolutley nothing wrong with a 20 for a turkey. Just make sure you know your pattern and gun/ammo's range. Keep pushing your target back till you can be confident you'll stack enough pellets in the vital zone and there you go. I dont shoot 20 gage for turkeys, but i'd think a 3" should do nicely out to around 35 yards or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twowetdogz Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Absolutley nothing wrong with a 20 for a turkey. Just make sure you know your pattern and gun/ammo's range. Keep pushing your target back till you can be confident you'll stack enough pellets in the vital zone and there you go. I dont shoot 20 gage for turkeys, but i'd think a 3" should do nicely out to around 35 yards or so. Ditto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rem308 Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 The advice above is great. Go out and buy a few different types of turkey loads for it and hit the range. If possible, have a friend with the same gauge shotgun join you, and plan ahead to have a variety of shotshells. This way you can test out 3 or 4 brands, even if it's only 2 or 3 shots each. You will find out all the info you need. The folks above are right, nothing is wrong with using a 20 gauge for turkeys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleA Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 My wife's 20 ga Winchester is a hammer with Remington's 3" Hevishot #6's out to 40 yards. Dont under estimate the 20's especially with the newer "denser than lead" loadings we have today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 A 20 ga will do the job just fine! I read an article a little bit ago that 20 ga is becoming more popular as a turkey gun. I've shot nothing else but a 20 ga for turkey, deer, small game. Get some different loads, try them out, see what patterns the best out to what distance. My turkey gun - Mossberg Super Bantam 500 20 ga - put doww it's first turkey last spring between 35 and 40 steps I'd say...thought the bird was closer till I paced it out....that was a dead bird for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solocam Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 You'll be fine with a 20 ga as long as you pattern it. I shoot both 12 and 20 ga. My 20 ga is a T/C with an Comp-n-choke XXFull and I am shooting 3" #5 Federal Premium Mag Shok and I am getting good shot out to 53 yards. I also have a Benelli SBE 12 ga with an Comp-n-choke XXFull shooting 3" #5 FP Mag Shoks and I am getting good shot out to 65 yards....and the yardage is the only diff with the two gauges. I the only bad thing I have found is you spend a lot of money to get the gun or guns to pattern the way you want. To do it right you really need to buy a few diff chokes and a few diff brands and size and #shot and try them all out till you get the pattern you want with that guns. Learn the gun, Know the gun, Be the gun! Hee Hee best of luck and happy hunting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 Most the kids in our Learn to Hunt Program use 20s and worked just fine. Like Strut said, pattern it, know your yardage and abide by it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kid Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 shot my first turkey with a 20 gauge =,, it'll kill um but i prefer my 10 gauge not taking any chances!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NiteRunner Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 A 20 will do the job, just follow the advice that others have given, it Works!! I always use a 20, yes some of my birds have gotten away, but I would blame that more so on my aim... The longest shot I've taken is a 40 yard shot, and that bird dropped on the spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKYhunter Posted March 16, 2009 Report Share Posted March 16, 2009 I use a TC Encore 20 gauge with a Indian Creek .555 loaded up with Nitro Hevi-Shot straight 7. It's a fifty yard gun. The 20's, especially when loaded with Nitro or other hevi-shot, are just as deadly as the 12. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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