Originally Posted by
Todd1700
So denser patterns are a bad thing for turkey hunting? Guess that's why you shoot Nitro's.
And I never said that a 20 gauge sucked as a turkey gun. I simply said that typically you will sacrifice something on pattern for the benefit of lighter and easier to carry. And typically you will.
On the one hand you sort of chastise me a for knocking the typical 20 gauge pattern you will get at 40 yards compared to a typical 12 gauge pattern using the old, "Dead is dead, how dead do you need them to be" line. Then you turn around and admit that you use a 8 dollar per shell Nitro duplex load that probably puts 3 1/2 times as many pellets as you need inside a 10 inch circle at 40 yards. So which is it? Am I still wrong to think a better pattern is more desirable or is just marginally good enough the standard we should all aim for? Your posts here seem to support one side and your choice of shells the other.
Todd,
Firstly, I have not "chastised" you. In fact I invite you to read through my earlier post where I stated that I "didn't disagree entirely" with your comments.
As for my support of "marginally good enough" 20 gauge patterns, do you consider 200+ hits in the 10 at 40 yards "marginally good enough". I think it is far more than "marginally good enough". If you open the link I posted you can see it for yourself.
And just because I shoot 3.5 Nitros doesn't keep me from appreciating the fact that a properly set-up 20 gauge is a capable turkey gun. My understanding of the attributes of both guns enables me to fully appreciate the merits of each. I don't have to pick one or the other - I love them both.
I shot a 20 for many years in my youth so I know the gun well and appreciate it for what it is. If you read through the thread you will see that I stated my intention of moving to the 20 gauge at some point as my main turkey gun.
I have no problem whatsoever with denser patterns. In fact I believe fully that one should seek dense, uniform patterns regardless of the gauge they choose to shoot.
And for the record, the Nitro H51013M loads (4x5x7) I bought last year didn't cost $8.00 a shell. Frankly, I wouldn't care if they did because ammo accounts for a minutely small percentage of the jack I spend to be able to chase turkeys from March to May across Tennessee.
MC