20ga Turkey Gun

[Olympus]

I’m thinking about getting a 20ga for a dedicated turkey gun. Right now I have a Mossberg 835 12ga that I use, but I’d like to get a second gun to have when I invite other hunters to come with me. Having a 12 and a 20 would cover my bases for a gun that a smaller shooter could use.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

 

[Duster340]

Have had years of reliable service with my wife's old 20 ga Mossberg 500 with a 25" accuchoke barrel. Great value. Gonna try an old 20 ga Winchester model 12 with a 24" , "dial a duck" equipped barrel for gobblers come spring.

 

[Armored farmer]

my neighbor and hunting buddy uses a Benelli 3" 20ga. He says it patterns well and is easier on his shoulder than his 835 12ga.
In the photo is his gobbler with his Benelli, and my jake with my 12ga sxs percussion. A very memorable morning.

I know he uses his Benelli 20ga for ducks in Arkansas too.

 

[Olympus]

I was lookin at the Mossberg 500 Super Bantam Turkey, model number 54157. It looks like the stock has a spacer that can be removed for smaller shooters or you can put the spacer back in for a full length of pull.

Any thoughts?

 

[bannockburn]

Olympus

I was lookin at the Mossberg 500 Super Bantam Turkey, model number 54157. It looks like the stock has a spacer that can be removed for smaller shooters or you can put the spacer back in for a full length of pull.

Sounds like a good way to go in a 20 gauge. I still use my Mossberg Model 9200 as my dedicated turkey gun. Have quite a few rounds through it over the years and it still runs perfectly. As I get older I really appreciate a gas operated semi-auto 12 gauge along with a PAST recoil shoulder pad!

 

[JimKirk]

A Remington 870 youth model ...loaded with #7 heavyshot ... and a good Trulock choke ...

Light ... easy handling, .... deadly ....

 

[FL-NC]

I go for all the power I can get for turkeys. I hunted with a 870 12 gauge turkey model for a long time, and 3" #4 nitros are brutal to my shoulder. I switched to a Mossberg 930 12 gauge and couldn't be happier. I also killed a 26 pounder with a borrowed Bereta auto something or other last year- it was a great gun and didn't kick that bad. I would have bought one of them if not for my 930. 20 gauge is best for quail and the like, or people who just can't handle a 12's recoil at all, IMO.

 

[DDDWho]

I wouldn't clean one for it but I snapped this pic off by back porch last year. I live deep in the hills and hollers of the Missouri Ozarks, 3/4 of a mile down a one lane gravel road.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I was lookin at the Mossberg 500 Super Bantam Turkey, model number 54157. It looks like the stock has a spacer that can be removed for smaller shooters or you can put the spacer back in for a full length of pull.

Any thoughts?

my son shot his first tom with one it's a good shotgun I like it more then my 870 only because of the tang safety for me the big part of turkey hunting
is calling them in close

 

[Iroquois]

My son will be using a Remington 1100 LT 20 this spring. We went last week and patterned some 2-3/4” Federal 1oz #6 and some 2-3/4” Federal Heavyweight 1-1/8oz #7. Both patterned well at 30 yards, but the Federal #7 pattern was a little denser so that’s what we will roll with.

 

[Captcurt]

My son will be using a Remington 1100 LT 20 this spring. We went last week and patterned some 2-3/4” Federal 1oz #6 and some 2-3/4” Federal Heavyweight 1-1/8oz #7. Both patterned well at 30 yards, but the Federal #7 pattern was a little denser so that’s what we will roll with. View attachment 776855View attachment 776856

The #7's may have a denser pattern but you will not get the penetration at longer ranges. If you keep your shots under 30 yards you might be ok. These birds are super tough. A 20 ga will work as long as you are aware of it's limitations. You might consider trying Winchester Long Beards. I have chased birds since the early 70's and have played with dozens of chokes and different ammo. The Long Beards are the best that I have found.

 

[Iroquois]

The #7's may have a denser pattern but you will not get the penetration at longer ranges. If you keep your shots under 30 yards you might be ok. These birds are super tough. A 20 ga will work as long as you are aware of it's limitations. You might consider trying Winchester Long Beards. I have chased birds since the early 70's and have played with dozens of chokes and different ammo. The Long Beards are the best that I have found.

Thanks Captcurt that’s sound advice. We were planning on 30 yards and under, preferably under with the 20. What you said makes a lot of sense with #6 shot having more retained energy. I’ll look and see if I can find some Winchester Long Beards in #6 in 1oz or heavier loads. There’s still plenty of time to pattern some more loads! This is our second season turkey hunting so any advice from seasoned veterans is always appreciated.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I would look for some #5 shot Turkey are tough good luck
Hope your son gets a nice Tom

 

[Iroquois]

I would look for some #5 shot Turkey are tough good luck
Hope your son gets a nice Tom

Hey Luckydawg13, I’m actually shooting some 3” Federal Heavy shot #5’s in my 12 ga with great results. My concern with going to #5, from #6 and #7, is the amount of shot in a 2-3/4” 20ga shell. Will the pattern be dense enough? What has your experience revealed?

Captcurt, any experience with #5 shot in 2-3/4” in 20 ga?

My apologies to the OP if I’ve highjacked this thread!

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

#5 shot at about 20 yards this was one of the best days of my life when my son got his first Tom I let him practice with trap loads
when we were hunting he was loaded up with 3" #5 federals he never knew the deference after he pulled the trigger he was 12 years old at the time

 

[Iroquois]

Congrats to you and your son, nice bird! My son is 12 this year and I’m hoping we can connect. He’s been practicing with some #8 high brass, very similar to what your son had done. Your son must have been a little fired up to not feel the 3 incher! I’ll look for some #5’s and see how they pattern. Thanks for the info and sharing your experience!

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Omg he jacked up for a week

 

[12Bravo20]

I agree with what others have said about having a proper dense pattern no matter what gauge you use. A 20 gauge with a tight pattern will work.

My dad has an old Montgomery Ward/Western Field single shot .410 that has a super tight pattern. I have used it successfully on turkey hunts as a kid using no.6 shot 3” Winchester Super X shells.

Any gauge will work as long as you use good ammo and pattern your shotgun at different distances. Yes a bigger gauge will allow you to make farther shots versus smaller gauges but any will work.

Most importantly make sure you know how your shotgun patterns at different ranges and shoot accordingly..

 

[Iroquois]

I agree with what others have said about having a proper dense pattern no matter what gauge you use. A 20 gauge with a tight pattern will work.

My dad has an old Montgomery Ward/Western Field single shot .410 that has a super tight pattern. I have used it successfully on turkey hunts as a kid using no.6 shot 3” Winchester Super X shells.

Any gauge will work as long as you use good ammo and pattern your shotgun at different distances. Yes a bigger gauge will allow you to make farther shots versus smaller gauges but any will work.

Most importantly make sure you know how your shotgun patterns at different ranges and shoot accordingly..

12Bravo20

Thanks for your input. I feel good about where I’m at on patterning with what I’ve done so far. However, I will try some #5’s and see what kind of density they deliver. I have plenty of time to evaluate new loads.

 

[Captcurt]

Hey Luckydawg13, I’m actually shooting some 3” Federal Heavy shot #5’s in my 12 ga with great results. My concern with going to #5, from #6 and #7, is the amount of shot in a 2-3/4” 20ga shell. Will the pattern be dense enough? What has your experience revealed?

Captcurt, any experience with #5 shot in 2-3/4” in 20 ga?

My apologies to the OP if I’ve highjacked this thread!

I shoot a 12ga but have set up a twenty for a friend's daughter, plus one friend who I hunt with has used a 20ga for years. We both went to 3" Federal Premiums with copper plated 6's, but that was before the Long Beards came out. The LB"s have some adhesive or something similar to bind the shot together for tighter patterns.

 

[jmr40]

Two years ago I picked up an 870 youth in 20 ga. Told my wife it for the grandkids to use, but I tried it turkey hunting last year. It sure was easy to carry, but I wasn't impressed with the patterns compared to my 12's. Even with premium 3" shells and a full choke it was limited. I'm sure it would have killed a turkey at close ranges, but I never got a shot with it. And I just feel a lot better with the 12. Going back to it this year.

As far as recoil goes there simply isn't that much difference. The same shot charges will recoil from a 20 just as much as from a 12. I can just use a lighter load in the 12, get better patterns, and the same recoil. And since my 12 weights 1/2 lb more than the 20 I can actually use a little heavier load in the 12 for the same recoil.

 

[Sniper66]

My bro-n-law's wife has killed a few turkeys with her youth model 870. She is a petite woman about 5'3" and 125 lbs, shooting #5 shot

 

[WestKentucky]

Guage, choke, shot size doesn't matter as much as uniform pattern density. Your right to try a bunch of things and make an educated decision on what to use. My dad's old 16ga fixed full choke throws a great pattern with #4 high brass Winchester supreme pheasant loads. Almost as tight as an extra full turkey choke, but with that ammo it is very consistent on pattern density. I am convinced that many "missed" shots in dove fields, duck pits, and the like are kill shots where a bird got into a thin part of the pattern. Consistency across the pattern is better than really thick over here and really thin over there, and the two main things that control patterns are the wads and the consistency in powder charge. Kinda like metallic reloading, you just strategically try different stuff til you find what your gun likes and stick to it.