Turkey hunt with 20 ga?
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 6
Turkey hunt with 20 ga?
I have turkey hunted before and I love it. I recently got a new remington 1100 20 ga shotgun and I'm gonna use it mainly for bird and squirrel huntin but I was wondering if I could turkey hunt with it? The barrel is 28 inches. What would I need to get for this gun to make it suitable for turkey hunting if it already isn't?
#3
You can do just fine with a 20ga. My daughter has a Mossberg 500 youth model that shoots the Hevi-13's out of a Jellyhead choke tube about as well as you could hope. My brother took a couple birds a few years ago with a Winchester SX3 in 20 ga. I think he tried to stretch the range a bit cause he missed one bird and had to shoot another one twice.
Just get 'em in close (30 yards or less) and you will have no problems.
Just get 'em in close (30 yards or less) and you will have no problems.
#4
Let me add that I believe that the premium shells (Nitros, Federal Xtended Range, Hevi-13) are better when using 20 ga guns. Not a necessity but you get a bit more pop than from the regular ol' copper-plated cheap shells.
I would also invest in a good choke tube. Make sure that it can be used for the heavier-than-lead shot. Some tubes are designed to shot lead shot only and will be damaged by the denser stuff.
I would also invest in a good choke tube. Make sure that it can be used for the heavier-than-lead shot. Some tubes are designed to shot lead shot only and will be damaged by the denser stuff.
#5
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 270
Yes, but get a good choke tube that fits your gun.
( Indian Creek is great but there are others that
are very good ) and most importantly pattern
your gun with at least several different types
of Turkey shells/loads. Nitro/ heavy 13 are
usually going to be the best---but you never know
every different gun has a type that it will pattern
best with. Set up targets at 20,30,40 and 50
yards. Try each different shell type at each
distance and then compare to know which
performs best out of that shotgun and then
you will enter the Turkey hunt confident
in taking your Turkey. Good Luck !
( Indian Creek is great but there are others that
are very good ) and most importantly pattern
your gun with at least several different types
of Turkey shells/loads. Nitro/ heavy 13 are
usually going to be the best---but you never know
every different gun has a type that it will pattern
best with. Set up targets at 20,30,40 and 50
yards. Try each different shell type at each
distance and then compare to know which
performs best out of that shotgun and then
you will enter the Turkey hunt confident
in taking your Turkey. Good Luck !
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location:
Posts: 2,186
Daughter uses a 20 Ga. Rem. 870 equipped with a Pure Gold .570 choke tube. She has killed several nice gobblers last 3-4 seasons. All have been at 40 +/- yards or less. She uses Winchester Supreme turkey loads. No issues.
#8
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: evans. colorado
Posts: 106
20 ga.
i have taken at least a doz. toms with a twenty ga. the gun happens to be a ithaca nid made in 1927 with full and mod. chokes. i do use a mag. shot cup with a mix of 1/3 6's and 2/3 7.5's copper and can flop them out to 40 yds, have had no lost birds. don't too worked up about it, try hunting and get them close
cheers
cheers
#9
I also own a remington 1100 (12 and 20) so i have to ask, is it a 2 3/4" or 3" chamber?
if its a 3 " any turkey load will be fine, but if its a 2 3/4" chamber you might have trouble finding turkey loads. I recommend using Remington pheasant loads and I have killed a few and never wounded any with them. but any pheasant load will work.
if its a 3 " any turkey load will be fine, but if its a 2 3/4" chamber you might have trouble finding turkey loads. I recommend using Remington pheasant loads and I have killed a few and never wounded any with them. but any pheasant load will work.