20 Guage 870 Express
11-07-2005, 01:52 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 47
20 Guage 870 Express
Was just wondering whats the furthest you can shoot with this gun? And how effective is it for deer huntin? And can you take a deer down at 100 yards with it? I have one but havent used it yet for deer. I dont have a rifled barrel and i put a scope on it last year. What slugs and chokes should I use? Im thinking of using it this year here in ny. Thanks,
Matt
Matt
11-07-2005, 02:14 PM
#2
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 143
RE: 20 Guage 870 Express
I used a 20 guage 870 when I started out hunting, and I will tell you right now....you can't underestimate the power of one of those guys. My first year turkey hunting, I shot at a turkey running away at 55 yrds, and even with the choke I had in the gun, it set him down! I also used my 20 guage deer hunting, and I shot my first buck with it. The deer was maybe 40 yrds away, but it set him right down! I'd say at 100 yrds you're pushing it with a 12 or 20 guage, but if you make a good shot...I will guarantee the 20 has more power than you'd think!
11-07-2005, 02:36 PM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: mississippi by way of Florida
Posts: 357
RE: 20 Guage 870 Express
My personal experience w/ buckshot is, I won't ever do it again w/ the 20 gauge. Not enuff shot, not big enuff shot, not a good pattern past 30 yards or so (with their gun and a full choke)
Last year, my 7 year old dropped an 8 point where it stood at 30 yards. But my 8 year old shot two four points, the first one at 40 yards I think he plain missed on the first deer, but the second one about the same distance he hit. Couldn't find blood or any other evidence of the hit, but could tell by the deer's reaction it had been hit. Going to the spot where the deer was when my boy shot it, there were a few drops of blood and nothing else. Knowing it was a marginal hit, I left it alone and went back the next morning to see if I could find it. After a couple of hours looking, I found it in a downed treetop several hundred yards away where it had bedded down and bled out. Had 4 pellet holes, one in the neck (not lethal), one in a leg, one in the tail and one went through both lungs.
Using a full choke, I would limit the shots to maybe 35 yards, on our gun anyway. The pattern density just was not that good, and the size of the buckshot and number of shot isn't that great either, even using 3 inch mags.
I bought them a rifled, ported, slug barrel with a scope mount a couple of weeks ago. Using premium sabot rounds, it puts every shot within 4 inches at 100 yards. Let them practice with light bird loads at close targets and dryfire practice on more distant targets. When it comes time to shoot at an actual deer, they never notice how hot the loads are.
Just my experience.
R
Hank
Last year, my 7 year old dropped an 8 point where it stood at 30 yards. But my 8 year old shot two four points, the first one at 40 yards I think he plain missed on the first deer, but the second one about the same distance he hit. Couldn't find blood or any other evidence of the hit, but could tell by the deer's reaction it had been hit. Going to the spot where the deer was when my boy shot it, there were a few drops of blood and nothing else. Knowing it was a marginal hit, I left it alone and went back the next morning to see if I could find it. After a couple of hours looking, I found it in a downed treetop several hundred yards away where it had bedded down and bled out. Had 4 pellet holes, one in the neck (not lethal), one in a leg, one in the tail and one went through both lungs.
Using a full choke, I would limit the shots to maybe 35 yards, on our gun anyway. The pattern density just was not that good, and the size of the buckshot and number of shot isn't that great either, even using 3 inch mags.
I bought them a rifled, ported, slug barrel with a scope mount a couple of weeks ago. Using premium sabot rounds, it puts every shot within 4 inches at 100 yards. Let them practice with light bird loads at close targets and dryfire practice on more distant targets. When it comes time to shoot at an actual deer, they never notice how hot the loads are.
Just my experience.
R
Hank
11-07-2005, 02:57 PM
#5
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: WC FL
Posts: 26,323
RE: 20 Guage 870 Express
BREN 2115425 SLUG 20GA 2.75IN 7/8 5BX
Model#SS49317
$4.21
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
DYNAMIT NOBEL-RWS INC-ROTTWELL Brenneke Shotgun Slugs All BRENNEKE slugs feature the unique "arrow" stabilization for truer trajectory and accuracy which results from the Brenneke "nose cone" design and weight-forward construction. They are available in 12, 16, 20 and 410 gauges and both magnum 3" and the standard 2 3/4". 5 ROUNDS PER BOX SHELL SLUG MUZZLE
BREN 2115425 SLUG 20GA 2.75IN 7/8 5BX
11-07-2005, 03:01 PM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Blissfield MI USA
Posts: 5,293
RE: 20 Guage 870 Express
With a 20 guage smooth bore it will really depend on how well it shoots with what slugs. You will have to try some different slugs and see what works well.
Unless yours ends up being really accurate, I would say a 12 guage rifled slug out of a smooth bore is good for about 75 yards. You could probably take one out at 100 yards if you could hit it. You had best practice that shot before you try it.
If you want more range look into getting a rifled barrel for it.
I'm not a big fan of buckshot for deer.
Just my opinion any way.
Paul
Unless yours ends up being really accurate, I would say a 12 guage rifled slug out of a smooth bore is good for about 75 yards. You could probably take one out at 100 yards if you could hit it. You had best practice that shot before you try it.
If you want more range look into getting a rifled barrel for it.
I'm not a big fan of buckshot for deer.
Just my opinion any way.
Paul
11-07-2005, 04:04 PM
#7
Dominant Buck
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ramsey , Indiana
Posts: 22,545
RE: 20 Guage 870 Express
I'm using Federal Vital*Shok Truball cartridges , they're 3/4 oz. hollow point Foster style rifled slugs in 2.75" fired through a modified choke . I got a pretty impressive 5 round offhand grouping from them , and they sure played hell with the tree trunk my target was stuck to . My 20 guage is also a smoothie , and they grouped about as well as some that I've seen fromrifled barrels.
