Author Topic: Turkey- 20 ga-3" vs 12ga 23/4  (Read 694 times)

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Offline dtkraj

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Turkey- 20 ga-3" vs 12ga 23/4
« on: February 10, 2008, 02:11:40 PM »
    I just made the post about the savage pump and started to think about it for turkeys. I planned on using my 12 ga wingmaster with a mod barrel in 2 3/4 but wonder if my new 20 ga,3" with a full choke would be more accurate? I'm new to turkey hunting and don't know much. Any thoughts? Also - what size shot and type of shot-30-40 yds max range?

Offline dukkillr

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Re: Turkey- 20 ga-3" vs 12ga 23/4
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2008, 03:16:10 PM »
With 40 yards I'd say you'll be stretching it for either of those choices.  I suspect you'd find the results to be pretty similar between your choices, but you probably should pattern them.  The 20 with a full might just be a better choice.  I shoot hevi-shot 6s and 5s.  I have shot lead in the past, and I've shot sizes from 7 1/2 to 4s. 

The whole game with a turkey gun is the number of pellets in the head.  That's why chokes are tight and payloads are large.  Buy a box or two and let it fly on some paper.

Offline Questor

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Re: Turkey- 20 ga-3" vs 12ga 23/4
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2008, 04:19:02 AM »
I think you will need to pattern the guns, but my choice would be the 12 gauge with modified choke and a hard shot comparable to Remington Hevi-Shot loads. I think you'd be able to get a decent tight pattern at 40 yards with it. If I only had the full choke 20 gauge I'd use relatively small lead shot, about #6. But I'd pattern it before using it. 40 yards is a long shot with a 20, even with a full choke.
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Offline prairiedog555

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Re: Turkey- 20 ga-3" vs 12ga 23/4
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2008, 12:32:35 PM »
My kid uses a Rem 870 20ga 3in with an xtra full choke tube and #4's.  It really starches them.  So I started using it also because it is so light.  Most of my shots are 35-45 yds and it works great.  It is a youth mod with a 20in barrel. 
I would reccomend it to everyone.