Turkey Hunting 12 or 20 Guage?

[FL-NC]

I have several shotguns, but the one that can "do it all" is a Mossberg 930 with the standard barrel (28"?) and a shorter one (22"?). 3" mag and a collection of screw in chokes and I can use it for anything with feathers. It has much more capability than my old Rem model 11 or Ithaca 37 ( both 2 3/4" with IC barrels) and is much less punishing than my 870 express magnum. The Mossberg will be hitting the turkey woods next weekend in Tennessee.

 

[natman]

I am hunting with the remainder of this old box of shells. Notice the price.
View attachment 1072188

I used the 12 ga 3" 2 oz. version of those same shells for many years with great success. Alas, since I live in California I can no longer hunt with lead.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I have several shotguns, but the one that can "do it all" is a Mossberg 930 with the standard barrel (28"?) and a shorter one (22"?). 3" mag and a collection of screw in chokes and I can use it for anything with feathers. It has much more capability than my old Rem model 11 or Ithaca 37 ( both 2 3/4" with IC barrels) and is much less punishing than my 870 express magnum. The Mossberg will be hitting the turkey woods next weekend in Tennessee.

Choke? Choke? We don't need no stinking chokes! Just kidding. But Bessie does just fine with "open cylinder". !!!

I have a 12 gauge, 3" single shot that I would love to have threaded for chokes. What I like about double barrels, ML or shell gun, is that you can have two chokes at once. I've shot a lot of ducks with a double barrel, being able to choose the choke at the moment, depending on range. Same with pheasant. My Rem11 has a modified, does good on grouse and partridge, and even quail. Never have shot a duck or pheasant with it. Would not hesitate to use it on Turks, but Bessie, and my Great-Grand-dad's double would be/are my first choices. My Mossberg turkey gun has been gathering dust for 15 years now.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

And she does fine on grouse, just load it different.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Great-Grandfather's 2&3/4" double, loaded with black powder does not seem to have a problem either. Although, her left barrel is full choke.

 

[Captcurt]

Wonder how that whole thing got started, the need for goose loads to kill a turkey at 25 or 30 yards. ?

Yeah. The last bird that I shot was at the awesome distance of 15 feet. Several years ago I had one about that close and shot the front half of his beak off. Both of those birds could have been taken with a 410 and target loads. I still like my LongBeards though.

 

[FL-NC]

View attachment 1072382
Choke? Choke? We don't need no stinking chokes! Just kidding. But Bessie does just fine with "open cylinder". !!!

I have a 12 gauge, 3" single shot that I would love to have threaded for chokes. What I like about double barrels, ML or shell gun, is that you can have two chokes at once. I've shot a lot of ducks with a double barrel, being able to choose the choke at the moment, depending on range. Same with pheasant. My Rem11 has a modified, does good on grouse and partridge, and even quail. Never have shot a duck or pheasant with it. Would not hesitate to use it on Turks, but Bessie, and my Great-Grand-dad's double would be/are my first choices. My Mossberg turkey gun has been gathering dust for 15 years now.

How far off can you get a good pattern for a turkey with that Davey Crockett gun?

 

[Ugly Sauce]

How far off can you get a good pattern for a turkey with that Davey Crockett gun?

She's absolutely good for 35 yards. Don't tell anyone, but I load it with a modern 12 gauge plastic shot-cup contained in a paper wrap or "cartridge". That makes a big difference, as does loading it with a full two ounces of shot. The first Turk I ever shot with it, I thought was out of range, but I thought "what the hell" and pulled the trigger. It dropped like a rock. But, I did not pace it off. Also use a mix of #4 and #7 shot. Where I hunt they seem to either hang up and not come in, maybe gobble a couple times and/or vanish, or come in really fast and up close, nothing in between that I have experienced so far.

Old Bessie is...Queen of the not-so-wild frontier!

 

[daniel craig]

12ga 870 because that's what I have and don't plan on buying another shotgun.

 

[JFrank]

1920s Winchester model 12 12 gage pump