!0, 12, 20 or something else?
Input, advice or just plain old bias opinion?
I will start I got two on 12 gauge so I am definitely biased!
lol
Treebeard
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Depends on what you are looking for. Each of them will get the job done.
20 gauge: generally lighter, less recoil, limited pellet count but with the correct load/choke combination will flat kill a turkey (ask Adrian Hare)
12 gauge: easily the most common and versatile. 3.5" max loads will reach on out there but at the expense of recoil. 3 inch 12 gauge loads probably account for the vast majority of turkeys killed each year. Most of my turkeys were taken with 2oz loads from a 3" 12 gauge. Shooting a 3.5" now just "for kicks"
10 gauge: Overkill in my opinion. More shot (up to 2 5/16 oz) with devestating patterns but with the burden of a heavier gun. You don't "need" a 10 to kill a turkey, but to each his own.
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My opinion - 12 ga. If the choke is fixed, then a Full is the route to go. If using choke tubes, then I am of the opinion that .670 is a good choice. I now use 3 1/2" shot shells, but my experience from about 1965 to 2005 tells me 2 3/4" high velocity #4 is plenty good enough for most situations.
In my opinion a 12ga. with 3" or 2 3/4" is all that you need. I would take a 20ga. over a 3.5" 12ga. or a 10ga. any day of the week. I would rather carry a lighter gun with lighter recoil and go home empty handed than lug around a heavy 10ga. and kill them at 60+ yards.
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In My opinion the 10 ga is the best option for a turkey gun. I have owned several 12 ga turkey guns and they are fine but the 10 ga I just bought has them beat the recoil is not bad at all it is less than the 12 ga 3.5 inch loads I fired and this is because the gun is heavier and the 10 ga patterns better than anyone of the 12 ga guns I have owned. The 10 is a Browning BPS I am shooting 3.5 inch #5 2 1/4 ounce Winchester turkey loads. I am not that big either and can easily handle the 10 ga. But whatever gun you all use to each his own and whatever You like is fine.
I like the 10 strictly for the payload it delivers downrange. Overkill, maybe, but I've yet to have one leave after introducing him to a load from the SP-10.
Gman
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I use a 12 gauge with 3.5's. I don't mind the recoil too much because it's not like I am shooting a dozen times at the same bird. If I am, I need to get my eyes checked.
The only advantage for a 20 gauge would be a lighter gun but you are not going to get as good a pattern out of a 20 gauge as you will a 12. I've never felt weighted down by a synthetic stocked 12 gauge of any brand so there is no reason for me to sacrifice the patterns I'm getting with the 12 gauge.
Nothing wrong with a 10 gauge but quite frankly with the rise of the 3 1/2 inch 12 gauge there really isn't anything you can do with a 10 gauge that you can't do with a 12 gauge now. And there are many more shells and chokes available for the 12 gauge compared to the 10. Lot more models of shotguns offered in 12 gauge to choose from too.
What is the better gauge for Turkey?
