What is the best shot size???

buck_hunter14 · 10-19-2006, 11:47 AM

What is the best turkey shot number for a 20gauge?????? 2?4?6?

swamp rooster · 10-19-2006, 12:40 PM

yOU WILL HAVE TO PATTERN YOUR GUN WITH DIFFERENT SHOT SIZES AT DIFFERENT DISTANCES EVERY GUN IS NOT THE SAME.4 SHOT WILL REALLY KNOCKEM DOWN .BUT 6SHOT HAS A LOT MORE PELLETS ,SO 4 S WILL KILL A LITTLE FURTHER AND THE 6S WILL HAVE BETTER PATTERN AT CLOSER RANGES. SO TEST EM OUT AND SEE WHAT IT DOES,,,

Troutman10 · 10-19-2006, 01:03 PM

I used size 5 for my turkey this spring and it worked great around 30-35 yards. Try some different ones out and use what you think is best.

r33h · 10-19-2006, 02:30 PM

I use size 5 shot for turkey hunting as well and I killed a very, very nice gobbler from about 35 to 40 yards.

Pygmy · 10-19-2006, 03:19 PM

With a 20 gauge and it's smaller payload, you will almost certainly get the best patterns with # 6 shot..

With 12 gauge loads, especially in 3" or 3.5", thelarger shot sizes are worth trying, but with the 20 gauge you are pretty safe in staying with6 shot...The copper plated lead or hevi-shot usually will give you the best patterns...

philip_grubaugh · 10-19-2006, 05:37 PM

i took a kid out last spring for the youth season and he was shootin a 20ga. with number 4's and killed a bird at 40 steps. if that helps any

tkycaller · 10-19-2006, 08:12 PM

Make sure you pattern the gun so you know your limits and which shot produces the best chance for a quick humane kill.

40 yds with a 20 gauge is really testing the limits. I am sure you patterned it to make sure this was an ethical shot.

SJAdventures · 10-28-2006, 08:36 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: swamp rooster

yOU WILL HAVE TO PATTERN YOUR GUN WITH DIFFERENT SHOT SIZES AT DIFFERENT DISTANCES EVERY GUN IS NOT THE SAME.4 SHOT WILL REALLY KNOCKEM DOWN .BUT 6SHOT HAS A LOT MORE PELLETS ,SO 4 S WILL KILL A LITTLE FURTHER AND THE 6S WILL HAVE BETTER PATTERN AT CLOSER RANGES. SO TEST EM OUT AND SEE WHAT IT DOES,,,

Can't say any better than that.

Adrian J Hare · 10-29-2006, 04:20 AM

20 gauge is my number one gun for turkeys now. What I found to turn a 20 into a turkey killing machine is testing and testing all the angles on a shotgun for this sport.

The choke is the number one thing that will lead to a good shooting gun. Shot size is something that should be tested with the choke you have. As said above the 20 is very limited in the dencity of shot in the holl. Starting out with a good quality choke will cut the costs on choke and shell combos. Like most $$$ mean a big thing to most and what you want in the end is something you have to consider. By buying the cheeper chokes and then spend the dollars on ammo will lead up to the same amount or more then what it will cost to spend a $100.00 bill on a good choke.

I found after buying 3 different chokes at $250.00 in total is that one of the $90.00 chokes with a good #6 shotgun shell came to the end resault of a 40 yard + turkey killing machine everytime I squeeze off.

I could have saved all the dollars if only people had used this gauge for birds on a higher level. After the chokes, I spent money in shells and found that testing lead to a number 6 pattern that will find the mark out at the range I wanted.

Percision .575 choke with a #6 hevi 13 load is truely every good as most 12 gauge guns...

whitetailbuck88 · 10-29-2006, 10:03 PM

Your best bet is to go with a 3" turkey load which can be bought at any sporting goods store. I took a nice 20 lb longbeard last spring with them.