What is the better gauge for Turkey?
 

!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:woot:
Treebeard

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.

love my rem. 870 12ga.... no more, no less. like mc said 10 is overkill and 20 is not always enough. IMO

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.

in my opinion the 12 gauge is the best..you cant beat the versatility, from longbeards and deer to squirrels and quail

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

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.

I voted for the 12 gauge.

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.

Another vote for the 12 gauge.

With all the new Ammo makers, The new trukey shells out peform, the shells of yester year.
With the extended range of the new shells.
With that said, I do think that a 20 ga will do a good job.
Plus the reduced recoil.
Espeasly if you are older, or have joint problems.
I have had rotator surgery on my right sholder.
So I think 20 ga is a good one.

JMHO

LOL, I just love to read replies like this quote above,

To answer your question in my opinion, any shotgun that is truely tested and setup to cleanly take turkeys at an eithical range. I have worked from the 10 gauge right down to now the 20 gauge and because I had a goal in mind to turn a 20 gauge into a true 40 yard gun, I spent money and tested different chokes until I now own a 50 yard turkey killing machine in a 20 gauge. I tested the 50 yards, twice last spring on camera and dropped both like rocks. Now not that I want to shoot birds that far out, but when a 40 year shot presents itself, I don't have to second guess for one minute that my gun can't do it. I have seen to many turkey hunters tell me that their gun can pattern well to only see turkeys running off after the shot. The average turkey hunter will NOT spend money to find the best combo for their guns, they make do with what they think is the best and most times it will work in an average range.

So Todd, I hate to disagree with you, but I have a 20 gauge that will out pattern a lot of 12 gauges at 40 yards my friend.

I spend a lot of time on these forums only giving my opinion to these type of questions to save most of the guys expence as I have been at the range with a lot of turkey guns and have seen what these guns can do when tested properly....

I am going to agree with Adrian here. I love the 20ga for turkey hunting, and I have several that will out perform a lot of 12ga's. It is very hard to beat the 20ga for lightweight, ease of handling, and pattern.

Todd

I don't disagree entirely with what you are saying about the 20, but take a look at these patterns from another site (scroll down the page).

http://www.nwtf.org/message_board/ub...971#Post174971

One of the latest trends in turkey guns is guys going "back" or "down" to the 20 gauge. It has been brought about by the emergence of heavier-than-lead shot and better turkey chokes. Hevishot 7s make the 20 gauge what the 12 gauge used to be with lead. 150+ hits in the 10" at 40 yards actually surpasses anything I ever got with lead 6s in the 12 gauge.

I'll say this - I often carry my son's 870 youth 20 gauge when we hunt together. Compared to my Mossberg 835 fully loaded with a low-power scope that 20 gauge feels like a feather.

When I tire of shooting the cannon I presently use I will be back into the 20 gauge realm.

And I love guys who think that because one exception to a rule can be pointed out that it changes the rule. Sorry but 95 percent of the time if you invest the same amount of time and money into guns of the same type a 12 gauge will out pattern a 20. I shoot heavier than lead shot through mostly Indian Creek chokes. No matter how good DTL shot and good chokes might make a 20 gauge they will typically make the 12 gauge that much better still. Volume of shot, it's a good thing.

But by all means go compete in a NWTF shoot with your 20 gauge against all the 12 gauges on the line. If you beat them you can come back and give me all kinds of heck about it. You won't though. Sorry.

So lets review. What's the only advantage a 20 gauge has over a 12 gauge? It's lighter just like I said before. Class dismissed.

You simply can NOT beat the 12 gauge with its incredible array of various loads and sizes. Its simply to versatile to ignore.... the best of the best.

I believe the original question was "what is the better gauge for turkeys?" - not which gauge shoots the densest patterns.

Given the broad criteria of the question asked by the originator of this thread, the "better" gauge would then be that which an individual hunters considers "best" for them.

If you are using denisity of the pattern at 40 yards as the sole criteria by which to judge "best" then, certainly, the 12 is better than the 20. Similarily the 10 is better than the 12 and so on.

On the other hand how much deader can you kill a turkey at 40 yards than what a properly set-up 20 gauge with appropriately tested hevishot can do? Dead is dead.

I would simply offer that the twenty may be "better" for some people because it offers a nice balance between lethality, weight, handling, and recoil. Stating that does not mean that the 12 or 10 gauge is any less lethal.

Adrian never said his 20 throws a denser pattern than a 3" or 3.5" 12 gauge. He, myself, and others were simply pointing out that the twenty is a fully capable turkey gun in the hands of a hunter that is willing to invest the time to make it one.

Respectively, we're not talking about winning still target championships here.

For the record, I shoot a Mossberg 835 with 3.5", 2.25 oz Nitro 4X5X7s.

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

No, but a 20 gauge that will do that is not exactly a typical example of what the average joe can expect now is it? Whenever you speak in general terms someone can always pipe up and offer an example that defies the norm. But when offering someone advice I find it best to let them know what the norm is first. Then if they want to try and defy the norm that's their business.

Though it seems to be repeatedly implied that I did, I challenge you to point out where I said a 20 gauge wasn't capable.

Agreed, and they are more easily and often achieved with a 12 gauge vs a 20 gauge. If there was no difference then everyone would carry the lighter gun for turkey hunting.

I had two buddies both try to go the 20 gauge route because of how much lighter and easier to carry they are. After spending all the money on the guns, polishing the barrels, buying about 5 different chokes apiece and running 6 different types of shells through those chokes, neither was very satisfied with the results compared to the guns they had been using. At least for one of them it wasn't a total waste because he has a young son that can use the 20 gauge he purchased.

And when you consider that the average Joe out there probably isn't going to invest nearly that much time and money setting up his new 20 gauge, I stand by my claim that "IN GENERAL" their results will be substantially inferior to a 12 gauge.

Your right Todd a 20 gauge 1 1/4 oz load can not compete with a 2 oz load 12 gauge. That Nitro 4x5x7 is near impossable to beat and all the loads I have tested with a 20 gauge is straight #6 as far as making a normal off the shelf 20 gauge a turkey gun, that is no problem and I have done it with Remingtons. Mossbergs, and Benelli's but what a turkey hunters needs to keep in mind the patterns out of a 20 gauge is not going to be close to a 12 gauge because of the volume of shot in the shells, impossible. However a shooter can upgrade that 20 with a good choke and load combo and still out pattern the factory setup so if a shooter can put 60-70% of the shot where it needs to be then why would you need more, If died is died ?

The reason I like the 20 is only because it is lighter and shorter on the most part and it can kill them as died as a 12 in my eyes, but over all, the 12 gauge is a better gun for turkeys. I guess in my view also, I like the challenge of this gauge because I've killed my share of birds over the years.

Is there a better turkey gun? Yes I would have to say Benelli's because they all seem to pattern better on a higher level then other brands and I have also noticed this while testing guns...

Think I'm done with this thread ...

I know that 12 gages are the norm, but they aren't necessary, and a 10 gage is just plain overkill. I use a 20 gage Charles Daly pump with an Undertaker choke, at 30-40 yards it will shear a gobbler's head clean off with pellets as small as 7.5s, with 4-6s it will kill him dead in his tracks. It's the load, not the gun.

I agree that a 20 guage will kill a turkey but to say a 10 is overkill is not right. Most people believe that a 10 has more recoil than a 12ga also this is a myth I own one and have fired it with winchester 3.5 inch turkey loads #5, 2 1/4 ounce shot the recoil is minimal. Dead is dead though your 20 may kill out to 30 yards my 10 will kill a turkey that is out around 60 yards which is not an ethical shot but If I had to take it I would. Use whatever gun you want to use though. I will always use a 10 ga or a 12. Good luck this turkey season.

I carried a 12 gauge 870 Rem with a Rhino tube and 3 inch Environmetal 4X5X7 H378 loads for several years. Great combo to say the least. Killed many a bird with it.

Last year just for grins I put a PureGold .555 tube on the wifes 20 gauge Remington 870 Express, picked up some Envirometals in straight 7's and added a Red Dot.

I gave up nothing with the little 20. Denser patterns at 40 yards, and the result, bang, flop, at distance greater than 40, although I don't advocate long distance shooting with any gauge shotgun.

No more lugging the 12 around for me. In fact no more 12 period. Sold the whole thing lock, stock and barrel, as turkey hunting was the only thing I used it for.

:hail: Count me as a big fan of the 20. Properly set up for turkey hunting, it'll do anything my 12 ever did, and a whole lot easier to tote around, which is definitely a plus over a long season of running and gunning.

I'd say it depends on what is you definition of best. That being said, I shot my first turkey with a 2 3/4" 20 gauge. Then, as I got older, I used a 12 ga 3", then a 12 ga 3 1/2". And I got my share of turkeys with them. I consider them to be the most versitile.
However - since I've grown older and wiser. And I am getting better at getting old Mr. Longbeard in closer, and with the improvements in turkey loads, I switched back to a 3" 20 Ga. In truth, I actually got a Rem 870 youth model. This shotgun is very light compared to my 870 12 ga, shorter so it fits me better when sitting and the 3" payload is plenty for turkey out to 30 yds. once you find the right load for your individual choke.

12 ga. is easily the most common.a 10 gauge will,kill um and do some of the pluckin for ya!and cook some of it!lol

All guns are very capable turkey guns. I have shot turkeys with all three guages. The 10 guage I had shot like crap so I quit using it, the 20 guage I out grew, and the 12 guage will drop em dead at 70 yards with hevi shot. I know folks who have shot them with 410s. Anymore I prefer a sharp stick and got out of gun hunting them.