turkey hunting gun question.

[Hunter_Smurf]

i have a 20 gauge single shot and was wondering if it would be sufficient to hunt turkey.

i have hunted them in the past but never took one. i use to use my 12 gauge but now with my neck injury i need the least amount of recoil i can get.

if 20 would work it has a 3 inch mod barrel should i use 2 3/4" shell or 3" how much kick does the 3 inch 20 gauge have over the 2 3/4" also what size shot.. i live in NY

[SHOOTALL]

a 12 ga. shooting  the same pay load will kick less than a single shot 20 and have a better pattern in most cases .
this might sound crazy but try steel and keep shots close as they kick less than lead .

[Doublebass73]

Your 20 will work fine. Just pattern as many different loads as you can to figure out
which works best and what your maximum range is. You don't need to buy into all
the hype of turkey shotguns, half the fun is seeing how close you can call them in.
Scouting and calling are much more important than the type of shotgun you use.

[dukkillr]

A good 2 3/4" 12 ga auto might produce less felt recoil than a 3" 20. 

Whatever you pick, look for lead 5s or 6s. 

Chokes are second only to camo in the degree to which they are over-rated.  They are a completely fabricated market by the companies that sell them and the magazines that advertise them.  Whatever gun you decide on, get a full choke, or super full, or whatever and get to killing.  Never think about your choke again.  I've probably killed a dozen turkeys over the years with a modified choke.  Your choke will influence your hunt about 5% of the time.  Your scouting and knowledge of the turkeys will influence your hunt maybe 75% of the time. 

[SHOOTALL]

only mentioned steel shot because of neck problem !
they do hold a tight pattern and a head shot at a turkey is way different than ducks and geese on the wing .

[Hunter_Smurf]

 A lot of good advice and i will take it all into consideration .

Just a quick tab,,,

I shot 2 today.



Remington 
   
   2 3/4"       

    #6             

  7/8 Oz           

 20 Yards       

20 Gauge     

[img width= height=]http://usera.imagecave.com/naked_smurf/2inch6shot.jpg[/img]



Winchester Premiums

       
     3"
     
   #5
   
 1 1/4 Oz
   
 20 Yards     
   
20 Gauge

[img width= height=]http://usera.imagecave.com/naked_smurf/3inch5shot.jpg[/img]

[prairiedog555]

I bought a Rem 870 youth model 20ga. 3in for my wife.  it has a 20 in barrel and is light.  I have a xtra full choke.  I now use it myself.  It is light and I walk a lot to get to out of the way spots.  Have killed lots with it.  Use Mag 4's or 5's. 
I have heard that 20's hold a tighter pattern.  Works for me.
Besides in my experience they either stay out of range 100+ yds. or come right in and mingle with my decoys. 
Boy do I love turkey hunting,  Can't wait.

[gstewart44]

Are muzzleloaders allowed in your state?    If so a 45 or 50 cal lead round ball  over 70 grains of FFF is very accurate and hardly kicks at all.   It would be good for those birds that hang out at 75+ yds.   I have taken one this way when they would not come in close.

[SHOOTALL]

if ya want a rifle , 22 mag.

[ncsurveyor]

I use a Savage 24V .222 over 20 gauge. (Providing you can use a centerfire rifle)

Its choked full, and holds a tight pattern.

[Davemuzz]

Hunter Smurf is showin the proof. What more do ya need?

Dave

[jvs]

I use a Mossberg 500 12 Gauge - 3 in. for Turkey Hunting, but I have found out over the years that I am probably overpowered for the style of hunting that I do.  Since I have it so long now I won't be changing.  But if I had to do it all over again I wonder if I would buy a 12 gauge for Turkey hunting.

I can give you some observations why.

I have ended up being able to call in turkeys consistently to within 10 yds. -  So I have no need for a shotgun that will toss alot of lead out to 40 yds.  I use 3in mag 1 7/8 oz #5's because that is what patterened best out of my shotgun or I wouldn't be using them.

Using a 20 gauge should be plenty of power and lead if you are capable of calling them in close.  The right Camo job, Calling and a good load will let you call turkeys in close enough that they will still be looking for you when they are within 10 yds of you.  I had them as close as 10 feet.

I have recently heard of guys in my area that use a .410 shotgun for Turkey and are quite successful at it.  Obviously, it will be your understanding of the Turkey and what you need to do to get them in close that will dictate whether you can use a 20 gauge or not. 

Yesterday Spring Gobbler opened up here in Pennsylvania.  I got my bird at 9:35 am at roughly 10 yds.  A 22 pounder that had his best Suit on and was doing his fancy dance.

[quickdtoo]

i have a 20 gauge single shot and was wondering if it would be sufficient to hunt turkey.

I finally got to the range to shoot my 20ga H&R TDC, got my best pattern with a Trulock .575" choke and Hevi-13 #6 and Rem HD #6, both are 3" 1Ľoz. I've been hunting with an 835 for years and just wanted something lighter to tote. The current issue of Turkey Call has a great article on the 20ga turkey gun.

Tim

[pap]

The best investment I have made is a Sims vibration labs recoil pad. I would recommend one highly. It reduced recoil on my 12 ga 3 inch mag considerably.

[rocko]

I did alot of experimenting on this very subject early this spring. the best combo i came up with was this. I had a New England youth model single shot. I wanted to get it ready for my daughter for youth turkey season. It is a fixed Modified barrel. I was afraid i couldnt find a suitable load to satisfy me, and actuallt get it to not hammer her..Well i tried a bunch of loads. And i finally decided to break down and try some 2 and 3/4 loads cause i was afraid the 3 inch loads just kicked too hard. So i went and checked the selection at the sporting goods store. I picked up a box of Winchester 2 and 3/4 super pheasent number 6s... They came in a box of 20, and i believe were right around 20 bucks.. So i shot it at 30 yards just to see, at it patterned awesome. Velocity was right around 1330 i believe... My 3 inch 12 gauge hevi shot is only 1050 i believe.. Plenty fast enough, and patterned great out of her gun. I would not hesitate to shoot a turkey at 30 yards with it..


And of course i had to work both days of our youth season so i didnt get to take her. And honestly im thinking about buying myself a 20 gauge to turkey hunt with, cause my bad shoulder sure doesnt like that 12 gauge kick..

[Davemuzz]

Well....I was looking for a "light carry" gun that would also not "bust" my shoulders while shooting those 3" Hevi Shot loads. This year I used my Encore ProHunter (with the Limbsaver stock) and I put a 12 guage vent rib barrel on it. The gun is very light and easy to carry (I have a sling on it) and with the Limbsaver stock, it helps tame those magnum loads.

Dave

[navylawdog]

I got my turkey this year with a 20 guage. I won't even consider using a 12 guage for anything because I feel that if I can't kill it with a 20 I shouldn't be hunting it with a shotgun. JMO!!!!

Navylawdog