20 gauge?


Dakota

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Dakota, I have killed a truck load with a Rem 870 20ga. Its just as lethal as a 12ga just not as many pellets. Get you a couple Nitro's for that 20ga and just give them a try. Yes they are a little high but just shoot one (its kinda like shooting a Mathews, once you shoot it you gotta have it). Give it a try

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I shoot a Benelli Nova 20 gauge. It has taken some work to test loads and patterns and the gun needed a tweak or two in the trigger department along with the forcing cone done but my testing in the end with Hevi*13 3 in. #6 At $24.00 a box has came up with this pattern at 40 yards. These are three targets that were shot one after the other,

IMG_4731-1.jpg

Here's my scoped Benelli on the range

TestRange.jpg

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I like the idea of a 20g for turkey killin....my only advise is to max out the shell size. If you 120 will stuff a 3.5" do it. Since you are trying to stuff the load of shot right down tom's pie hole you might as well try to feed him as much as you can. I run 3.5" in my 12g 870 and even though it's not my intention to shoot birds at 40yds I have and it's more than enough at that distance to drop em dead

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That's the issue. Most of us use a 12 gauge now, and it works fine. Does the buying of a brand new gun in a 20 gauge and outfitting it to pattern, justify the extra cost????? I'll stick with my 12 gauge.......

I have both a 12 and 20 (two of each in fact) so buying one isn't an issue. ;) I just want something a little more lightweight for running and gunning in rougher country. :cool:

Dakota :)

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That's the issue. Most of us use a 12 gauge now, and it works fine. Does the buying of a brand new gun in a 20 gauge and outfitting it to pattern, justify the extra cost????? I'll stick with my 12 gauge.......

O- Paul the weight difference in carry is all the difference in the woods. At times I feel like I've got a toy over my shoulder.

I like it so much that I am building a slug gun in a 20 now....

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O- Paul the weight difference in carry is all the difference in the woods. At times I feel like I've got a toy over my shoulder.

I like it so much that I am building a slug gun in a 20 now....

I can agree with you BT on the weight factor, good point there. But for me to change over from a 12 gauge, it's not in the cards. My scoped 1300 is already light enough as it is. Besides I have an awesome pattern with that Rhino .660 and Nitro loads. (wink).

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I killed a bird opening day this past spring with my 12 ga. so I decided to try and fill my second tag with my winchester 1300 20 ga. because I have never killed a turkey with it. I patterned it, and took it out the next time I went.

I went out the following Friday called a nice gobbler in along with a few jakes. I dropped the big gobbler at 45 yards with it...no problem. Just held the bead on the top of his head and watched him tip over. :cool:

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I have both a 12 and 20 (two of each in fact) so buying one isn't an issue. ;) I just want something a little more lightweight for running and gunning in rougher country. :cool:

Dakota :)

I hear ya Dakota...that's why I bought a Benelli SBEII a couple of years ago and put my old 1187 into a backup role. I'm not getting any younger! I did stick with the 12 though. Shoot a Rhino .660 in it with Nitro shells.

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Wife and oldest daughter are hunting with a 20 gauge 870 youth shotgun Dakota. Gun patterns best as it is setup for them with #5 remington nitro turkey loads, at least that performed best of all we tried. They have yet to shoot a bird, but the groups have been plenty good enough to kill a bird out to 35 yards.

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I like the idea of a 20g for turkey killin....my only advise is to max out the shell size. If you 120 will stuff a 3.5" do it. Since you are trying to stuff the load of shot right down tom's pie hole you might as well try to feed him as much as you can. I run 3.5" in my 12g 870 and even though it's not my intention to shoot birds at 40yds I have and it's more than enough at that distance to drop em dead

I don't think anyone makes a 3.5" 20 gauge or any 3.5" 20 gauge loads for that matter.

I shoot a TC Encore 20 gauge, Indian Creek BDS .555 choke, and Nitro straight 7. It will kill at the same range as the 12, pack lighter, and not kick near as hard. What's not to like?

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