Have you felt under gunned or felt like it handicapped you? I've always shot 12ga with 3.5" loads. Not too long ago, I bought my wife a sx3 nwtf 20ga. Put a ff2 on it and got a pure gold tempest .570. I sighted it in and it throws a very impressive pattern w/ federal 3" heavyweight 7s at 40yds.
I hunt lots of govt land and am now considering carrying this gun due to weight, handling, etc.
I've never taken a bird with heavyweight 7s but rumor is they are tough on birds.
Any thoughts? Comments?
I dont feel the least bit under-gunned using a 20.
As you mentioned, putting together a 20 that will cleanly kill a bird at 40 is very easy to do, components for these guns are only getting better and better.
I've got a great 12 but it doesn't see much action anymore.
Sent from Gobblers Knob, NC
1 of my best turkey decision I think ive made. The 20's are light and very deadly with the right shell/choke combo. I shoot a puregold temp. .555 with hevi 7's and fed hwy, getting in the 170s w/ hevi and 140s w/ fed
:z-winnersmiley: I am setting up a 20 to use this year, we shall see
Those sx3's are really nice turkey guns. I dont feel undergunned @ all. I have 12's and 20's but im more apt to grab the 870 20ga just because its so much lighter and is absolutely deadly with HW #7s. I shoot 3.5" Longbeard #5s out of my 935 and it patterns great too. Comparing pellet counts of my 2 loads in 12 and 20ga They are about equal. 340 lead #5s in the win LB load vs 337 Heavyweight #7s in the 20 ga. You might never want to carry your 12 again.Those shells take a 20 ga to a whole new level IMO.Sounds like you already have a killer setup.
Youth 870 20 gauge user here stoked with HW7's or H13 6's or 7's. I don't feel the least bit under gunned. I do like the light and easy handling of the 20 gauge.
My next turkey gun will be a 20, no doubt.
My son's little 20 will do anything my 12 will do.
Im using a Mossberg 500 20ga/ Tight-Wad / and the HW #7
Ive been gonna do it for the last couple of years and this years the year!
^I am with you all, giving the 20ga a chance this year, going to pattern it next week
I went the other "weigh," a 12 to a 10! :fud:
A lot of the 20 gauge guns I have looked at and own are as heavy as some of the 12's I own. I think it comes down to what size shot you prefer, if you like 7's then you will be happy with a 20. They are deadly ! I have a H&R pump set up with a red dot scope for my son, it is heavy for a 20 gauge and it helps reduce the recoil. It throws a wicked pattern with Hevi13 7's but is nowhere near as dense as the 2 oz loads in my 12 gauge guns.
Quote from: the Ward on March 21, 2015, 10:43:35 AM
I went the other "weigh," a 12 to a 10! :fud:
Which 10 did you go with and what is your set up?
I am starting to mess with TSS, and I'm sure a 20 is in my future.
Quote from: USMC0331 on March 21, 2015, 11:07:58 AM
Quote from: the Ward on March 21, 2015, 10:43:35 AM
I went the other "weigh," a 12 to a 10! :fud:
Which 10 did you go with and what is your set up?
I don't want to hi-jack the O.P.'s thread, but it's a Bps 10 26" barrel with a Pure Gold.680 shooting Remington HD hevi #6s with a mossy oak bottomland camo wrap. Got big plans to have it d&t for burris 336/ff3 combo and get a spare barrel to cut to 20" when finances permit.
Use both , depends on where hunting and the day.
just like multiple guns.
Hunt with both but the 20 gauge is business.
Beretta
170's in a 10 @ 40 HW 7's
been toting a 20 for 6-7 years now, turkeys are not bullet proof
I hunt with 10,12 and 20 ga. shotguns. The 20 is nice because it is lightweight and very portable. It is my favorite when I run and gun.
If you get a 20ga, plan on selling your 12ga... you'll never want to carry it again.
Until this year I've always hunted with a 12 ga and I've made the switch. I'm now even looking for a 28 ga.
I`ve been shooting the 20 for several years now and so has my son. No complaints
I honestly believe I have never killed a turkey with my 12 gauge that I couldn't have killed with my 20.
All of this talk of the lightness of the 20. When I got my M3500, I grabbed the 2038(maybe?) 20 guage version first by mistake. Wish I could have ended up with the weight of that one! I may consider this for next year. With either the fed hw 7's or the stuff people are getting with TSS now....