Here's my idea, i have a H&R 20ga pardner that sits unused. I'm wanna turn this into a turkey getter for friends who wanna go and hunt with me on occasion, or if it turns out well my self ;). I talked to H&R about a new vent rib topper trap w/ screw-in choke 12 ga barrel. they have them and I'm sending my receiver to them this week. anyone out there in OG land have something like this they use? and what after market chokes would you recommend? thank you for any help with this. John
I had the topper deluxe classic with that barrel. I got rid of it and wished i had it back. Good gunn
My hunting buddy uses a Pardner 20 with a 22" Modified barrel with the Federal HWT's and it patterns nicely to 35 yards. He killed his first bird with it Saturday morning.
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv192/mad815/024.jpg) Photo is of my single shot turkey NEF . I bought this shotgun as a regular 12ga. and sent the receiver to H&R for a 12 ga. tube with a screw in choke. It will take 3 1/2 " but I usually use 3" shells. I sent it back again to H & R to install a 20ga. tube with a screw in Choke. The Photo is of the 20 ga. I use Undertaker chokes in both the 12ga. and 20ga. -- I'm kinda hooked on the 20ga. with Federal #7 heavyweight flite control. I own 3 turkey shotguns but this utility gun has become the one I use the most. I will switch from 20 ga. to 12 ga. every once in awhile to give each a chance, so one Ga. will not get jealous of the other. No problem taking toms at 40 yds. Web
I'm building one right now. I bought a single shot 20 ga. Rossi and had Sumtoy thread it for chokes and lengthen the forcing cone. I'm expecting it back anyday now. :blob10:
Great stuff, thanks for the responses! It put a fire under my butt now to get this thing up and going.
What length barrel you have on the 12 ga mad815?
Total length minus the choke is 24" for the 12ga. and 27 1/2" for the 20ga. --- When I first started to use the 12 ga. with 3 1/2 " # 6 I filled the butt stock with lead weights to add weight plus I bought a Shooters Friend recoil pad. --- It will bite ya pretty bad when ya pull the trigger. I have switch over to the 3" , took the weight out and never looked back. If your 20ga. is regular full choke without a screw in choke you might try buying a box of Federal #7 heavyweight with flite control. It may surprise you on the pattern. Web
I will give that a try this weekend mad815, thanks for all the info. Does your 12 out perform your 20? Any advantage to the 12 over the 20? I'm sending my 20ga to h&r this week and they have a bunch of the 20ga tubes, but i was thinking on having them put a 12ga tube on instead of a 20. Your thoughts on this?
I have a couple.
Wow... Very nice! All 12s or is there a 20ga in the mix ? And any advantage to your 12 over your 20ga?
Bottom is a 20. The others excluding the rifles are 12's.
I have a Pure Gold .555 on the 20 with Hevi 7's and the 12's have TruGlo "Bansner's" .665 or Mad Super Max .675 chokes which I shoot 3" Win XRHD 6's.
What kind of patterns you gettin with your 12s over your 20?
QuoteIt will bite ya pretty bad when ya pull the trigger.
A 3" 1 7/8 Ounce Shell in an NEF / H&R Single will rock your world.
A 3.5" Shell would make you pray for mercy.
I'm not a number counter and take in all the info that others post here. I want my guns to give me even patterns at 30 to 40 yds and feel confident knowing my gun can cleaning kill that gobbler. The 12's have killed birds from 7 steps to 50 yds and these are one shot kills. I did try a Jelly Head .660 but in these guns with the Win XRHD's the pattern was blown. Others with different guns have said the Win XRHD like a tighter choke but just not this gun. If you can find them the Bansner TruGlo chokes shoot better than the new Gobbler Extreme's. I haven't tried a .670 so I don't know how they would pattern as an in between option.
The 20 is a solid 35 yd gun and has suited my daughter well. I didn't put a lot of time into chokes. My options are limited to Trulock threading. I have another receiver that I hope to send into Remington in the future and have the 20ga vent rib installed for myself and that will give me more choke options with the Invector threading.
Good luck. I hope this helps.
quote]
A 3" 1 7/8 Ounce Shell in an NEF / H&R Single will rock your world.
Agreed. The limbsaver pads for the synthetics stocks help but your giving up weight vs a wood stock.
Jmasters--- Having either a 12 or a 20 with a chance to change chokes makes for more options, better patterns for turkeys or change the choke for bird or rabbit hunting. The 12 ga. will put out more shot and might make a better pattern for turkeys , but I've yet to have any problems what so ever in killing Toms with the 20 ga. Some of the oldtime hunters here in upstate NY that started off years ago with 10ga. #2's are now shooting Toms with 20ga. Majority of the hunters use 12 ga. but the 20 is catching on. If you can afford it get both 12 ga. and 20 ga. with choke. Most of the time I try to call a tom up over a small rise to me . By the time I see him, he's maybe 30 yards from me. .308 or 30-06-- Ford or Chevy--- 12ga. or 20 ga. Just my opinion -- Web
this sounds like a fun little project
Thanks for all the help guys. i'll send some picks when i get this thing up and running.
in the process of building a H&R 20ga now
When everything greens up, I might try a hunt or two with my NEF 12 Modified, and some Hevi 13 or Magnum Blend. It patterns great at 25 Yards with Lead loads. I might could squeak out a decent 30 Yard pattern with Lead loads, but it would take HTL to get it to do 35 Yards. It's so lightweight, that I think I could walk in a little farther with it too.
I have an 1187SPT but currently hunt w a NEF 28" factory full choke barrel and 3" 2oz. # 4 plated shot. It is'nt the tightest pattern but at 20/30+ yrds it is more than deadly It is a joy to carry all day and I don't care about scratching it or laying it in the mud or using it to beat down briars etc as it cost $90 at a gunshow in like new condition. I wrapped it in the camo ace bandage type tape and added a slip on pad extender to lengthen the pull and added a snap-on HIVIZ sight and it is about perfection to me. It is brutal when I pull the trigger, but It's not like I shoot it everyday and pattening I limit to about 3 shots and I'm done for that session. I also hunt deer w a singleshot rifle or muzzleloader last 5 years when I gun hunt them. I do not take marginal shots at game, If I don't have a good shot, I don't take it and would rather take a Tom at 20/30 yrds or just enjoy the momment if he won't get closer.
Here is my TC Encore. Put mine down last Saturday.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v454/bgoode/6453E925-9B31-4D8B-B190-07C3891A154C-5804-00000794696F8040_zpseed0f007.jpg)
I love the 20 gauge! I have 3 H&R 20s, and 2 12 gauge H&Rs. All single barrels. Had one of my 20 gauge custom built with drop- in chokes by SumToy Customs and it is bad to the bone@at 25 yards turkey head gone!! :mycross:
I have a h&r 10 with a handi grip stock on it. Looks like the remington sure shot stock, Filled the butt stock with sand and it dont kick any worse than a mossy 3.5 inch gun.