Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Turkey Guns & Shooting => 20 Gauge Turkey Guns => Topic started by: Thicketmaster on March 25, 2013, 11:22:48 PM

Title: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: Thicketmaster on March 25, 2013, 11:22:48 PM
What are you guys 20 gauge effective range shooting at a turkey target? What gun shells and chokes are you using? I have a rem 870 20 gauge with a kicks choke and shooting mag blend and nitro 7s mine has a comfortable pattern to about 40 yards but it's only putting about 10 to 15 pellets in head and neck at that range?
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: savduck on March 25, 2013, 11:31:14 PM
Mine is as effective as any other gun throwing  4,5,6 or 7 pellets going 1100 fps. It hits just as hard as a 12 or 10 ga just has less pellets. Spend the time to set it up and you'll have a gun that will shoot just as far and as deadly as a 12.

Sold my 12 and won't ever go back.
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: 870BkWht on March 25, 2013, 11:55:31 PM
I have the same gun you have with a 21'' barrel and a Rem SF choke as well as a Primos Tightwad and both chokes seem to really like the smaller shot sizes like 6 and 7's and both of them will pattern out to 40 yards.  I personally havent gotten any more than 16 in the brain, spine, and lethal areas, not counting waddles, etc.  I will not hesitate to draw a bead and pull the trigger on a bird at 40 with the gun and either choke.  That being said, Im not one of those guys who gets hung up on how many pellets are in a 10'' circle, and I havent lost a bird yet using my patterning method.  To each his own.

I havent sold my 12 guage yet, but I do see myself carrying this 20 much more in the future.
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: WyoHunter on March 26, 2013, 01:28:14 AM
Quote from: Thicketmaster on March 25, 2013, 11:22:48 PM
What are you guys 20 gauge effective range shooting at a turkey target? What gun shells and chokes are you using? I have a rem 870 20 gauge with a kicks choke and shooting mag blend and nitro 7s mine has a comfortable pattern to about 40 yards but it's only putting about 10 to 15 pellets in head and neck at that range?
That's a dead gobbler as long as you do your part!
:newmascot:
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: gophert on March 26, 2013, 07:35:53 AM
Quote from: savduck on March 25, 2013, 11:31:14 PM
Mine is as effective as any other gun throwing  4,5,6 or 7 pellets going 1100 fps. It hits just as hard as a 12 or 10 ga just has less pellets. Spend the time to set it up and you'll have a gun that will shoot just as far as as deadly as a 12.

Sold my 12 and won't ever go back.

I agree with what Dell said.  My 20 will kill a bird a lot further than I am comfortable to shoot.  I got good money for my 12 ga when I sold it.  Most of these 20's will out shoot most 12's if you get them set up right. 

Tim

(http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y372/Gophert/Gun%20Patterns/IC562Big20XLTimPattern_zps1a5e9a5a.jpg)
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: turkey_slayer on March 26, 2013, 12:15:47 PM
40 yards all day long

(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g217/nate121080/IMAG0378-2_zps5d5ea556.jpg)
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: Sand Man on March 26, 2013, 12:40:18 PM
Quote from: gophert on March 26, 2013, 07:35:53 AM
Quote from: savduck on March 25, 2013, 11:31:14 PM
Mine is as effective as any other gun throwing  4,5,6 or 7 pellets going 1100 fps. It hits just as hard as a 12 or 10 ga just has less pellets. Spend the time to set it up and you'll have a gun that will shoot just as far as as deadly as a 12.

Sold my 12 and won't ever go back.

I agree with what Dell said.  My 20 will kill a bird a lot further than I am comfortable to shoot.  I got good money for my 12 ga when I sold it.  Most of these 20's will out shoot most 12's if you get them set up right. 

Tim

Ditto and Ditto!

Two 21" 20's I just built and patterned for friends:

First 309 in the 10" and 226 in the 20" for 535 total.

  (http://imageshack.us/a/img819/3466/20130313205720.jpg)

Second 218 in the 10" and 289 in the 20" for 507 total.

  (http://imageshack.us/a/img825/3041/20130313205820.jpg) 
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: dawei on March 26, 2013, 08:35:30 PM
For me, and using Pb ammunition only..........
• 20ga NEF® Ladies/Youth gun (Wife's) with 22" fixed Mod barrel - 30yds with Federal® FC 3" Mag  1185fps 1 5/16oz#5Pb (PFC258 5)
• 20ga Baikal® Mdl SPR220 SxS 26½" barrel; Colonial Arms® .570" & .575" Extended Turkey Chokes - 35yds with Remington® Nitro-Turkey™ 3" Mag 1185fps 1¼oz #5Pb (NT20M5)
• 20ga Mossberg® Mdl 500C 26" barrel; Wrights® SWARM .555" Turkey Chokel - 40yds with Winchester® Supreme® 3" Mag 1200fps 1 5/16oz #4Pb (STH2034)
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: BrowningGuy88 on March 26, 2013, 08:44:45 PM
With my setup - remington 870 and sumtoy with hevi 6's I am putting 30 to 35 pellets in the head and neck of a turkey Target at 40 yards.

I will take the 40 yard shot every time. I killed one Saturday morning and was glad I had a fudge factor cause I misjudged him.
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: Michigander on March 26, 2013, 08:51:49 PM
Holy crap, I shake my head at you guys shooting TSS. Those patterns really are unbelievable.  :z-dizzy:

But then again, if I wanted to shoot birds at 60 yards, I'd just use my bow all the time.  :TooFunny:
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: nogoodreezen on March 29, 2013, 06:28:39 AM
Here is a more real world pattern with factory loads. I wish I had some tss loads but this is pretty dang good with factory loads. Fed HW 7s at 42 yards. 138 in the 10 and a nice even fringe pattern as well.

Sent from my Motorola RAZR MAXX using Tapatalk 2

Title: Re: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: turkey_slayer on March 31, 2013, 09:25:03 PM
Quote from: Michigander on March 26, 2013, 08:51:49 PM
Holy crap, I shake my head at you guys shooting TSS. Those patterns really are unbelievable.  :z-dizzy:

But then again, if I wanted to shoot birds at 60 yards, I'd just use my bow all the time.  :TooFunny:

Haven't shot a bird yet at 60 and I've seen a bunch die ???
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: BrowningGuy88 on March 31, 2013, 09:34:52 PM
I will kill them anytime they get near 40 with my 20. Hevi 6's or HWT 6's out of the SumToy have a fudge factor and when I am comfortable I pull the trigger. I see no killing range difference in my 20 with Hevi 6's and my 935 with Federal lead 6's.

I hunt both cause I like both, but the 20 will do all that needs to be done!
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: old3toe on March 31, 2013, 10:43:23 PM
I would try to find a carlsons .575 for the magblends and or an indian creek .555 for your nitros if they are straight 7 shot..if you can get some nitro 4.5.7 shot they should shoot good out of the carlsons .575 as well..
Title: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: Balla1982 on March 31, 2013, 11:20:42 PM
Quote from: gophert on March 26, 2013, 07:35:53 AM
Quote from: savduck on March 25, 2013, 11:31:14 PM
Mine is as effective as any other gun throwing  4,5,6 or 7 pellets going 1100 fps. It hits just as hard as a 12 or 10 ga just has less pellets. Spend the time to set it up and you'll have a gun that will shoot just as far as as deadly as a 12.

Sold my 12 and won't ever go back.

I agree with what Dell said.  My 20 will kill a bird a lot further than I am comfortable to shoot.  I got good money for my 12 ga when I sold it.  Most of these 20's will out shoot most 12's if you get them set up right. 

Tim

(http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y372/Gophert/Gun%20Patterns/IC562Big20XLTimPattern_zps1a5e9a5a.jpg)

What turkey load do you shoot?
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: BrowningGuy88 on March 31, 2013, 11:33:27 PM
 He is shooting 1 5/8 ounces of TSS #9's handloaded into the Big20XL load.
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: Beak on April 01, 2013, 10:13:58 AM
 I just picked up an 870 20 gauge Full choke, 30 inch barrel. This is only to and three quarted inch chamber. How effective do you think it would be for turkey?
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: BrowningGuy88 on April 01, 2013, 10:17:28 AM
Quote from: Beak on April 01, 2013, 10:13:58 AM
I just picked up an 870 20 gauge Full choke, 30 inch barrel. This is only to and three quarted inch chamber. How effective do you think it would be for turkey?

I would buy the heaviest payload of 7.5's I could get and pattern out to 35 yards and see what you have.

Also, Nitro makes a 2.75" 20 gauge load of hevi that would be bad to the bone.
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: Beak on April 01, 2013, 11:31:33 AM
Okay Thanks Damen
Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: Sand Man on April 01, 2013, 01:20:01 PM
You can also cut the 3" hulls we are using for the TSS loads down, take out the felt spacers, and reload the same 1 5/8oz loads in 2 3/4" that we use in 3".  I bet it would be a flat ridiculous pattern thru a 30" barrel even though I'd hate tooting that gun around.
Title: Re: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: Michigander on April 02, 2013, 10:54:14 AM
Quote from: turkey_slayer on March 31, 2013, 09:25:03 PM
Quote from: Michigander on March 26, 2013, 08:51:49 PM
Holy crap, I shake my head at you guys shooting TSS. Those patterns really are unbelievable.  :z-dizzy:

But then again, if I wanted to shoot birds at 60 yards, I'd just use my bow all the time.  :TooFunny:

Haven't shot a bird yet at 60 and I've seen a bunch die ???

I was just kidding about the shooting long range. Those are some unbelievable patterns though.  :icon_thumright:
Title: Re: Re: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: turkey_slayer on April 02, 2013, 01:36:19 PM
Quote from: Michigander on April 02, 2013, 10:54:14 AM
Quote from: turkey_slayer on March 31, 2013, 09:25:03 PM
Quote from: Michigander on March 26, 2013, 08:51:49 PM
Holy crap, I shake my head at you guys shooting TSS. Those patterns really are unbelievable.  :z-dizzy:

But then again, if I wanted to shoot birds at 60 yards, I'd just use my bow all the time.  :TooFunny:

Haven't shot a bird yet at 60 and I've seen a bunch die ???

I was just kidding about the shooting long range. Those are some unbelievable patterns though.  :icon_thumright:

I thought you were but wasn't sure. No harm ;D.

Title: Re: 20 gauge effective range?
Post by: chatterbox on April 03, 2013, 05:47:13 AM
Alright boys.
My son has a Mossberg 510 20 ga with an 18.5" bbl. This year I'm not doing anything too fancy with it, as his weekends are gonna be filled with baseball, and we're not gonna be in the turkey woods as much as usual. Only modification I am making is adding an FFII to it.
Now, this summer I'm gonna get serious with it. Mossberg has a program where I can purchase an adult stock and forearm for 50% off, so I will be doing that.
I am looking to shoot the Hevi-13 7's.
I'm thinking about an SSX. Has anyone had experience with this combo?